DECLARATION OF THE POLL FOR THE TAURANGA ELECTORATE.

At noon to-day H. W. Brabant, Esq., R.M., Returning Officer for the Tauranga electorate, made the official declaration of the polling for the candidates for the representation of the district in Parliament. There was a large attendance of the electors, including friends of the several candidates. The Returning Officer announced the result of the polling at the various polling places as follows : —

Majority for Captain Morns over Mr Stewart 10. The Returning Officer went on to say that no votes had been recorded for the other candidate, Mr Rowe, and it becamo his duty to declare elector 777, George Benthnm Morris duly elected to serve in the next Parliament of New Zealand for the district of Tauranga (applause). Captain Morris (the new elected member), Mr G-. V. Stewart, and Mr William Kelly, then addressed the electors, after which Captain Morris moved a vote of thanks to Mr Brabant for his services as Returning Officer. i Mr Stewart had great pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks. They all knew Mr Brabant as being a most impartial judge, and he thought their, special thanks were due to him for the i great pains he had taken in connection with this great contest. The motion was passed amid applause. Mr Brabant, in returning thanks, congratulated the electors on the very orderly and ht might add good-tempered manner in which | the contest had been conducted. He thought that no improper pratice of any kind had been indulged in, and so far :\» he could tell no dual voting or personation had occurred. If dual had taken place, it must inevitably have been detected. He thought the contest had been a fair one, well fought. However, the misfortune was that in consequence of there being three candidates a great number of persons must be dissatisfied, but as far as he had seen, the contest had been a fnir one throughout (applause). This ooncliidad the proceedings. [The spooi-hus o!'' Captain j\L>rris, Mr Stewart, and Mr Kelly are unavoidably held over.]

Stewart. Morris, Kelly. Tauranga 136 165 98 Puriri 14 36 11 Hikutaia 12 9 Owharoa 22 23 22 Paoroa 11 28 14 Waitekauri 5 7 22 Katikati 71 11 14 TePuke 14 28 7 Maketu 2 12 2 Whakataae 27 7 6 Opotiki 58 41 67 Ohinemutu 6 16 29 Taupo 4 5 0 Total 371 381 301