THE ELECTIONS.

As far as the city of Christchurch is concerned J the verdict with regard to the new Begulation of Elections Aot must be given as very favorable, whatever may be said as to the operation of the sister measure, entitled the Corrupt Practioe3 Prevention Act. The elections whioh took place yesterday in and around the city were marked by an utter absence of many of those objectionable features which characterised similar contests under the previous law. It was not unnaturally expected that so much political excitement being concentrated into one day, it would be displayed in a manner not altogether conducive to that order and quietness which should distinguish so important an occasion as a general election; and this would probably have been the case but for the stringent provisions of the Corrupt Practices ' Act, which prevented, to any noticeable extent, i the hiring of cabs, the nse of placards, and the | practice ot " treating," all of which have hitherto formed important elements at election I contests. The only placards visible were a few displayed in the interests of Mr Wyun Williams, a candidate for Heathcote, and Mr Thomson, a candidate for Christchurch North, but it must be presumed that both these gentlemen took care to keep themselves outside the Act. Very few hired cabs were used compared with the practice on previous occasions, but any deficiency in this respect was amply supplied by private vehicles furnished by the friends of the respective candidates; and as far, at any rate, as one or two of the town electorates were concerned, it may be questioned whether the facilities for the conveyance of voters to the poll were not as great as would have been the case had the hiring of vehicles been allowed. With regard to the other "corrupt practice" referred to— that of treating—perhaps the most remarkable, at any rate the most gratifying, feature of the day's proceedings was the absence of anything like drunkenness or rowdyism. On the whole we may say that if the experience of the other large towns in the colony has been anything like that of Christchurch, the recent alteration in the law regulating the conduct of elections has been productive of most beneficial results. Tnia remark applies more particularly to the actual progress of tbe election contests. Of course there may be one or two respects in whichthe new law has not altogether given satisfaction. We heard complaints, for instance, from some quarters about the polling booths not being properly located, and mistake! having been made in the registration of electors. The greatest excitement prevailed in the Christchurch South electorate, and the Oddfellows' Hall was throughout the day the scene ef considerable animation. The contest in the adjoining constituency of Christchurch North, although conducted more quietly, was not less keen, and the proportion ot the number polled to the total number of electors on the roll was nearly as great. In reference to the use of cabs a rumour was current yesterday that, following the example set in some of the northern constituencies, one of the candidates for a city electorate literally "drove a coach and four" through the provision in the Act relating to the hiring of cabs by becoming the actual purchaser of a number of vehicles, intending to retire from that line of business as soon as possible after the elections. The resultß at the different polling booths were made known within a reasonable time after six o'clock. But although the Act does not provide for such a thing, the different returning officers, and particularly those in the large town electorates, would not have taken upou themselves toe much responsibility, if they had in an unofficial way made some announcement of the rough states of the poll, instead of allowing the information to leak out through one or two semi-private channels to the inconvenience of the public, who, in some instances, congregated outside the polling booths to the number of some hundreds. A great deal of anxiety was evinced in Christchurch to hear the result of the elections in the Canterbury country districts and in other parts of the colony, and a considerable number of personß waited outside the Pebss office until a late hour to receive the different telegraphic and other reports as they arrived. It wul be seen by reference to the appended returns that so far as Christchurch is concerned the number of votes recorded, even in the electorates where the contests were most keen, did not bear such a large proportion to the total number of electors on the roll as might have been expected, considering the amount of political excitement that has been worked up in the city within the last few weekß. The results of the various elections throughout the colony have reached us by telegraph and otherwise as follows :— CHBISTCHUBCH NOETH. There were two candidates for this seat—Mr S. P. Andrews, one of the farmer members for the city, and Mr Thomson. The election resulted in the return of the latter gentleman by a majority of 111. The returning officer was Mr Q. L. Lee. The total number of electors on the roll was 1800. The following is the rough state of the poll :— Thomson ... 577 Andrews M 466 Majority for Thomson ... 11l The poll will be officially declared at noon today. CHBISTCHUBCH SOUTH. j In this district, at the polling place—the Odd- 1 fellows' Hall, Liehfiohl street—the business proper ef the day commenced at a very early hour, the first vote being given immediately on the opening of the doers at ten o'clock. Throughout the day voting went steadily on, without any rush, however, although about noon the Beturning Officer had a busy time of it. The crowd which, as usual, gathered outside the doors was not at all excited by the occasion, and indulged in nothing beyond, occasionally, a little good humored chaff about the personal peculiarities of some of the voters. A very large number of vehicles, considering their supposed prohibition, were employed in bringing up the friends of the candidates. Amongst these, an immense drag drawn by four horses and tooled by Mr Leach, was conspicuous. There were also many private turn-outs, ranging in character from the snug brougham to the costermonger's cart, which, together with some few licensed hackney carriages, seemed to be well patronised. Shortly after 7 p.m., the result of the day's polling was obtained from the Beturning Officer, and on this being made known the crowd speedily melted away. After this the only amusing incident of the day occurred. The successful candidate's friends organised a little convivial meeting at Coker's Hotel, when one overjoyed individual swarmed up the flagpole which surmounts that establishment, and after announcing the triumph of his party was rescued from his perilous position by the united efforts of his fellow enthusiasts. The numbers were: - Mr John Holmes 673 Mr John Anderson 560 Majority for Holmes ... 113 762 electors did not record their votes. STANMOBE. Out of 1701 voters on the roll of this new electorate, 1048 recorded their votes yesterday. The result was as follows : — Bings- Phillips- Knights- Ti. land. town. town. Pilliett ... 74 213 96 383 Cowlishaw.. 56 250 56 362 Flesher ... 109.; 143 51 303 Majority for Pilliett 21 SYDENHAM. The polling for Sydenham resulted in the return of Mr W. White, jun., by a majority of 499 over the next highest candidate. The following is the unofficial record of the numbers:— Sydenham. Addingten. Tl. White 464 198 662 Clark 144 19 163 Treadwell ... 90 21 111 Andrew ... 63 7 70 Majority for White 499 ST. ALBANS. The result of the polling for St. Albans was as follows :— Adding- Avon Bd. Bo*. ton. Office. Tl. Brown ... 41 177 218 Wilson ... 23 145 168 O'fleill ... 17 63 85 Majority for Brown 50 Out of 710 voters in this district, only 471 recorded their rotes. HEATHCOTE. The friends of the various candidates were on the alert, and continued busy during the day bringing up voters to the poll. Considerable dissatisfaction was caused at Woohton by a number of voters who were waiting in the lobby of the hall for nearly half an hour being shut out from voting at the close of the poll, but had these been all polled the result would not have altered the position of the candidates, which was as follows :— Heathcote. Halswell. Tl. WynnWilliama ... 233 10 243 Hornbrook 158 9 167 Fisher 113 6 119 Majority for Wynn Williams 76 LYTLELTON. AHwright 259 Richardson ... 248 Webb 246 Majority for Aflwright ... 11 BAJAPOI. Kaiapoi. Woodend. Bangiera. TL Wilson ... 205 57 168 510 Lea ... 82 48 213 341 Majority for Wilson ... ... 179 '

After the result was known Mr Wilson was carried by the electors to his carriage, and the horee being taken ont he was drawn home amid a perfect shower of flour. The declaration will be made on Monday.

LINCOLN. Springs- Preb- Sprey- Lin- Tl. ton. bleton. don. coin. O'Callaghan 55 81 66 75 277 Perymau ... 24 44 49 37 154 Majority for CaUaghan 123 SELWYN. Dunsan- South- Lees- Brook- Tl del. bridge, ton. side. Hall ... 76 129 218 44 467 Lockhead 10 38 114 7 169 Majority for Hall 298 ASHLEY. Dixon. Pear- Guild. Pater- Cubson. Bon. ningham. Oxford ... 22 241 15 12 7 ViewhiU ... 34 61 28 1 4 Ohoka ... 24 18 103 1 4 W. Eyreton andLoburn 12 25 23 2 88 Clarksvffle 34 61 28 1 4 Oust ... 56 40 33 2 5 7o£ 446 230 19 112 Majority for Pearson—2l6 COLEBIDQE. McMillan 358 Enys 141 Jebson 118 WAKANUI. i The polling for Wakanui election took place yesterday amid great excitement throughout the whole electorate. The following are the details of the voting at the booths: — Waaon. Ivees. Purnell. ABhburton ... 178 253 21 ißakaia 186 66 26 Longbeach ... 63 82 24 Seafield 13 34 3 445 435 74 Majority for Wason—lo. Nine informal votes were tendered at Ashbin ton, three at Bakaia, aud three at Longbeach. Mr Iveaa threatens to protest against the election, owing to minora voting at Bakaia i and other irregularities. CHEVIOT. Saunders. M'llraith Fendall. Amberley ... 60 80 41 Kaikoura ... 132 76 28 Waiau 3 84 3 Botherham ... 13 43 0 Waikari ... 23 32 10 Leithfield ... 13 14 21 Befton 43 19 35 Ashley 30 23 9 Cheviot Hills ... 20 13 0 Hanmer Plains 2 25 0 Totals ... 339 359 147 Majority for M'llraith—2o. GEBALDINE. Wakefield. Postlethwaite. Hayhnrst. Temuka ... 204 182 20 Waitohi ... 22 19 5 Kakahu... 17 40 3 South Bangitata 25 34 0 Winchester 82 14 1 Woodbury 37 16 14 Geraldine... 96 213 20 "483 518 63 Majority for Postlethwaite—36 TIM ABU. Turnbull 413 Gibson 150 Partridge 71 Majority for Turnbull—263 PENLNSULA. Gotten 284 Donelly 203 Seatou 298 Lewis 54 GLADSTONE. Sutter. Fisher. Newton. Anderson. Burkes PaBS 1 48 0 0 Fairlie Creek 40 46 I 1 2 Washdyke... 168 83 I 0 5 Mount Peel... 7 31 I 0 8 Paceora ... 35 8 0 4 "251 "216 "~~1 "~19 One return to come. OAMABU. Shrimski 396 HasseU 337 Muroott 122 DUNEDIN CENTBAL. Bastings ... — 263 Bracken 340 Graham 43 Dickson 76 CargUl 320 DUNEDIN WEST. Hon. T.Dick 459 Stewart 457 DTJNEDINEAST. Green 487 Davis 470 DUNEDLrTsOUTH. Fish ... 565 Boss 253 DUNSTAN. Pyke 452 Frazer 297 Four returns to come. mount"ida. DeLautour 205 McKenzie ... 177 Five returns to come. ' CLUTHA. Thompson 172 Jowett 187 Five returns to come. MATAUBA. Thompson ..?*—*F"~ Bichardson 143 McKenzie ... 145 Eleven returns to come. ' HOKONTJL Cowan 161 Driver 340 . Finn 66 Eleven returns to come. WALLACE. Hirst 181 Daaiella ... H 216 Ellis 133 Johnstone ... M 15 Buttolph 13 Hodgkinson 84 Mclntoßh 192 Five returns to come. WAKATIPU. Fergus ... ... 324 Mcßride 36 Thomson 323 Eight returns to come. *- MOEEAKX. I M'Kenzie 464 Williams 171 TUAPEEA. J.C.Brown 482 J. F.C.Browne 444 BBUCE. Murray , 411 Adams! 466 Butherford M 549 AWABUA. Kinross ... 48 Bains ... ... 229 Smith 104 Joyce 526 Three returns to come. WAITAKI. Bead 53 Duncan ... ... 90 Ten returns to come. WMKouArn. Green 155 Thompson 110 Three returns to come. iTHAMES. Sheehan ... 546 Speight 529 Majority for Sheehan — 17 BAY OF ISLANDS. Lundon 294 Hobbs 525 Majority for Hobbs 331 MABSDEN. Alderton 223 MeLeod ... ~. M , ... 86 Mitchelson ... ~ 245 Nine returns to come. BODNEY. George ... 332 Shepherd .„ ... ... ... 180 Parneß ... 2 Seven returns to come. WAITEMATA. Hurst 43t Allison 177 Eight retena to came. 1

_ .. FRA.NKLTN NOBTH. xfucUand n^. Luke ... f^ Major Harru ... i°* Gordon ;;; ;;; One return to come. FRANKLYN SOUTH. SSS ::: ::: ::: rIS Six returns to come. , , WAIPA. J°?faon 3^ Jonns 17ft WMtaker " 393 Three returns to come. COEOMANDEL. Cadman <»» Brodia oai m«i», .:: :;: ;;; $ iive returns to come. AUCKLAND CITY NOETH. Peacock 34g Bees 329 Majority for Peacock ... 2g AUCKLAND CITY EAST. Six George Grey 349 Clarke 315 Majority for Sir G. Grey,.. 3j AUCKLAND CITY WE3T. Dargavillo 2SS Fleming 201 Wallii ng Majority for DargaviUo—s3. MANUKAU. O'Borke „ 377 Mc Goo Kg Majority for Sir G.M.O'Eorke 215 PAENELL. Moss 393 Monk 215 Majority for Mosa ... ... 173 EDEN. Tole 45i Wood leg Majority for Tole 263 WANGANUI. Watt (Ministerialist) ... 397 Ballance _ 393 NAPIER. Buchanan ... 4gg McSweeuey \%^ McDongall 287 Majority for Buohanan—Bo2 HAWKE'S BAY. Enssell <>33 Sntton (no return sent) Seven returns to come. TAUEANGA. Stewart 337 Morris 229 Kelly 181 Nine returns to come. PICTON. Connolly .„ 317 Eyes , 220 Three more returns to come. WAIRAU. Dodson 433 Seymour 260 Four returns to come. TABANAKI. Trimble ; 128 Coleeby 31 Seven returns to oome. EGMONT. Major Atkinson ... ... ... 737 Hutoheaon ... 400 One return to oome. THOSNDON. Levin 772 Dwan 223 Majority for Levin 544 TE AEO. Shaw 843 Stafford 331 Johnston „ 397 Majority for iohnstoa—-55 WELLINGTON SOUTH. Hutchison ... 471 Coffey : m Hendrey ... U Edwards 217 Majority for Hutchisoa-81 HUTT. 'V Masoa 3fe Jackson 34& Marks ... B Sinclair ••• 14 Majority for Jackson—43 EANGrnKEI. Stevens <- Fox j® Majority for Stevens ... ... 2 WAIBABAPA SOUIH. Bunny ... gf Buch&naa *«* Boye 102 Three retnrna to coma. FOXTON. Newman ... ... ••• ••• *»■ £™ncis « BE. ::: ::: ::: :g WUeon 3i5 EusseU ... ISB Two retnmß to come. WAIBABAPA NOBTH. Beeftam gg Eenall 34D Four returns to oome. WMMEA. Shephard fg Bichmond W Majority for Shephatd ... 1® INANGAHUA. Eoerea ... M Weaton 'i? McLean . Jl One email return to come. BULLEB. O'Connor g Munro ... .... •w 8 Four returns to come in. WAIPAWA. Ormoßd «» SmHh 6W Three returnß to come. BAST~COAL>T. ' McDonald *» Locke f| Gannon HJ Porter ® l Five returns to come. HOKITIKA. ... Eeid • g* Fitsgerald ... « s Soreral returns to oome. GEETMOUTH. ... Petrie «• g* Guinness w Three returns to come. KUMESA. _,„ Seddon g Blake » Jff Two returns to oome. EOSLYN. „.» Hodgkinson ... g Scott... fff Bttthgate ... | ; .. - m