KAIAPOI.

Fine weather favoured the polling. The No-license party expected to carry reduction, and the more sanguine expressed thetSpinion that "No license" would be carried on the three-fifths majority, but at the last moment in the Rangiora portion of the electorate* several who xiad been marked on the rolls in favour of the prohibition party decided to withhold their votes till colonial no license or compensation was granted to hotels which might be closed simply on the polling. Mr Verrall, who was nominated, was never taken very seriously. The arrangements made by Mr M. Lynskey, Returning Officer, were very complete, and the staff of officials got on with the work very well. At Eaiapoi, the principal place, in the Volunteer Drill-hall, there was a steady poll, and those who could go early did so, and in the afternoon the employees from the Mill and the stores potted their votes, so that there was quite a lull for an hour before closing time. The supporters of Messrs Moore and Buddo had booths near the hall, and the W.C.T.U. had a tent in close proximity, from which latter injunctions were made to strike out the top line. At Rangiora the deputies were kept very busy in the driii hall, and there was a heavy polling for Mr Buddo, who resides in the neighbourhood, Mr Moore, residing at Kaiapoi, being expected to have the larger part of the poll there. In the districts of Woodend, Clarkville, Ohoka, East Eyreton, and Swannanoa Mr Moore expected a majority, and Mr Buddo's committee expected to lead at Oxford, Southbrook and Fernside. Both candidates ' were actively driving about, and the leaders of the temperance party* were specially alive in Kaiapoi and Rangiora. The polling was: — .. .£ .4 .at Kaiapoi ... ... 846 ( 1021 62 Rangiora ... ... 275 613 10 Woodend ... ... 152 109 24 Oust ... ... 81 45 3 East Evreton ... 79 19 3 West Eyreton ... 129 185 7 Oxford ... ... 55 120 2 Ohoka ... ... 70 58 30 Fernside 60 84 5 Southbrook 75 155 17 Waikuku ... ... 66 35 0 Carlton ... ... 42 27 1 Vcew Hill Plains ... 12 23 " 2 CSarkville ... ... 94 37 3 Swannanoa ... ... 36 9 11 Totals ... 1704 2177 124 Majority for Buddo 473. In 1896— R. Moore (O-) Buddo (G.) 1886. : Mr Buddo thanked the electors at Kaiapoi and Rangiora, The results of the polling were exhibited at Rangiora by Mr Jennings, and at Kaiapoi by Mr Eagle. -