WAIPA ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1127, 13 September 1879, Page 2

WAIPA ELECTION.

The official declaration of the poll was made on Thursday afternoon by the Returning Officei, H. W. Northcroft, Esq., There was a large attendance of electors at the Courthouse, and -of the four candi fates, Messrs Whitaker, Cunningham and McMinn were present. The Returning Officer then read the state of the poll as follows : —

Majority for Mr Whitaker, 109. ! Tho announcement was received with, loud cheers, and the Returning 1 Officer then said: I hereby declare Frederick Alexander Whitaker duly returned a Member of the' New Zealand Parliament, for the Electoral District of Waipa. He uurther thanked the electors for the quiet and orderly manner m which the election had heen carried out, from its very commencement; Mr Whitaker then came forward, and said that, 14 months ago, ho had stood on those steps, a defeated candidate ; to-day, j he was happy m standing there, as the successul one. He was proud to stand m Such a position, placed there by a constituency which was, not a mere pocket borough, but one of the most independent electorates m the Colony. He would not detain them long, but would point out one principle which they should ever continue to bear iv mind, namely, that the truest form of liberty was contained m a sound system of local self-government. Waipa had shown that it would not be dictated to by Centralism, m the election of its representative. There was something more than the mere return of a particular individual m its late action, there was the assertion of a great principle. They must remember that on them, as the frontier settlers, devolved the duty of going forward and peopling the country beyond. It was on them, and not on those m Auckland, who had sought to dictate the course of action they should take, would fall the brunt of further colonisation southward. They had asserted a correct and proper principle at this election, and he congratulated the people of Waipa on their spirit. Of the support of the people of Hamilton, he never had a doubt. I Not only Hamilton, but all parts of Waipa had stuck to him and he could not too warmly thank them, but he took it as the greatest of compliments that he had received so large a support m his own settlement, that the old proverb had been proved by the exception to the rule, and a prophet had been found with honor m his own country, and among his own people. As for the other candidates, he could only say that he had the greatest respect for them, and, before concluding, would call for three cheers for the defeated candidates. Three cheers have been given, m response, Mr Cunuingham thanked those who had voted for him. He had been beaten, but not shamefully defeated — not distanced so badly m the race as to make it appear any presumption for him to have come forward. 1 heir member elect was pledged to the support of the Liberal measures m which they all agreed, and he (Mr Cunningham), would feel proud to see him distinguishing himself m carrying them into effect m the Legislature. He took the occasion to thank the Central Committee for their support. It had been stated that he was their nominee, but it was not so. When he came forward as a candidate, the Auckland Central Greyite Committee was not m existence He than ed Mr Whitaker also for the kind manner m which ho had always referred to himself, and the other candidates The centest had been carried on without personality, or ill-feeling, on either side. In conclusion, he would cordially thank the 262 electors who had voted for him. 'Ihree cheers having been called for Mr Cunningham, and heartily responded to, Mr Me vlinn said the remarks he should make, would be m proportion to The uhuiber of votes he had received — very few. He was the opposite of Mr Whitaker, for whereas fourteen months ago he stood there the successf ul candidate, he now took the reverse position. He had every confidence m Mr Whitaker, that that gentleman would go down to Wellington and act zealously for the benefit of the district. He thanked him for the courtesy he had shown to himself and brother candidates, and m return would find him two or three little matters for the benefit of the district to attend to during the session. Three cheers were then given, for Mr McMinn, and, Mr Whitaker having proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer., the electors dispersed.

If i ■ Mil p o m Hamilton . . 121 39 1< i Ngaruawahia 45 26 l l Mercer . . 43 32 l o Ohaupo ..22 8 54 Puherimu ..25 18 14 Alexandra . . 41 35 11 2 To Awamufcn 23 6 '7 9 Paterangl ..2 7 9 1 Raglan . . 95 17 > 12 2 Whatawhata 20 15 1 2 > Totals .. 371 262 49 26