THE HUTT ELECTION.

* The election of a member of the House of Representatives for tho Hint district, to take the placo lately vacated by the Hon. Sir William Fitzhorbnrt, took place yesterday. Messrs. M. Jackson and T. Mason were the only candidates, and the friends of each worked hard to secure the return of their man. Tho opinion of most people was that Mr. Jackson had by far tho best chance of being returned ; but, nevertheless, Mr. Mason's friends determined to fight the battle to the end, and they did so ; but to thuir astonishment, and indeed to the astonishment of Mr. Jack<on and his supporters, Mr. Mason was fcund, at tho close of the poll, to be nearly 100 votes behind his opponent. A number of, rosideuts In the city who had votes at the Hutl. went out by special train at noon, and gave (.heir support to Mr. Jackson. The^e were four polling place, tho priuoip"l beiug the Resident Magistrate's Court b'- use, Lower Hutt, and the following are the numbers of votes polled at each place :— Jackson. Mason. Lowe." Hutt ... 125 45 Upper Hutt ... 42 13 Taita 11 18 Wainui-o-mata ..i 5 8 183 84 Majority for Jackson 99 The result of the poll would have been known shortly after 4 o'clo -k had not tho returns from the Upper Hutt been kopt back owing: to the telegraph office at that place being closed. It appears that tho officer in charge of the station is a sort of " man of all work," and when he receives a telegram from town ho has to go out and deliver it, shutting up the office until he gets back. He happened to be out delivering a message when the Deputy-Returning Officer at the Upper Hutt made up his totals for transmission to his chief at the Lower Hutt, and, consequently, tho rosuit of the poll was not known until about «,n hour after the proper time. When it did become known, however, general satisfaction was expressed, and Mr. Jackson was warmly congratulated by his friends. The public declaration of the poll will be made by the Returning Officer, Mr. E. Baker, at half-past 4 o'clock to-morrow afternoon.