DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

WAITiK£ Tbe offisiil d-:clar»ion of the poll for the Waitaki eleot>»^ts took place at Pukeuri school hoaft y^iter Uy at 12 v ioi. There we etbait a doz>a eleo v .ori

present, mostly tnj»e rtiiding in the immediate JooaH'y.

Mr W.G Filleul, returning offijer, read over the number* polled at tbe vsriom placsa, and a'aled that there bad beeo aonae slight informal es and diicrepmciet

whbh, however, did nol aff-cwhi result, which wat exac ly the atme as reportad by fc> c Pre^» — namely, Mr Dunc«n, 702 ; Mr Reid, G73 ; raaj arity for Mr Dnnc«n, 29 He therefore declared Mr Thoans Duncan duly elected.

Mr Daasin : Mr Returning Officer «n3 fellow electors, — This completes tbe sot in tbe dram* lor this time, in tbe returning of a member f>>r tbe district. There had no doubt been a fcretfc deal of feeling displayed, but be hoped they would do as the Maoris said, "Bury t'ur hat» ch^t," and that any illfeeling engendered woul 1 at ouce be forgot tn ; and he hoped gooi would be tbe result. This was the third oeoasion on which he bad

thanked them for placing him at the top of tbe poll. Ha coqjidered it an honor, and be ft It it was n pouifiorj of responsibility and trnir. He would •] > h:s bast o »erv#

tbe interests of th- c<>.< uy, and hoped to give them saiWac i>j ; and when tbe term was up if a m t-j suitable man did oot come forward nc miaht again enter the conceal Probably during the haat of the contes his feeliags hrtri led him to say things which had been better left uasaid. But no the whole tho elec ion bad been* very fairly con'eved, at leait by his side. He thanked th< m for the confidence tht-y had a^ain shown in him ; and bad much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to the returning officer for tbe trouble he had t»k«o during ibe election to have every thing efficently. earned out.

Mr Filleul briefly rotarncd thanks, and stated be felt a pleasure in doiDg hia duty.

OAMABCT. At 12 o'ol-ok tho Raiurn'ng Officer (Mr H. W. R ibinson) dtolarsd the atatt of tho poll to ba bs follows : Hiilcp 531 Frith 345 Church 100 Mr HUlop was declared duly elected. Xc Hi»lop cams f^itwarJ tv *ckaow*

ledge bis thanks, He said he was pleased to see that the cous'i uency had not been carried swir hy the spirit of discontent that had „ iiuded flume of the consMm enctcs. Unfortunately in many ounsu'ueuoies tried men had been rejected for men who in some initances had never beeu heard of before, and in others fur taen who had betn tiied but found wanting. He was glad to bos that the O.ireiru confiii v noy had t»o' hi?n al^gethtst uiiUiiudfnl of p^tet services. He would at all limcn serve those who voted rgainst him as fsi'hfu.ly a 6 \hose who had voted for him. To those who had voted against him after promising to support bira he would Bay that he only hoped they wcukl rise to a better conception of ILeir privileges. H? thanked his Coraniutee, who had woiked zaalougly and encrpetically to Bfcuie h\n rcfuni, ond tho debt of gratitude he owed t'aem ho hoped tbe con■titueucr, even these who vo'td against him, would nlao be able to acknowledge hy his (Mr Bialop's) (uturo pctions. Ho hoped it was not egotistical lv him to Bay «o. Mr Frith said he was thankful to thoao who had voted for him, bdc! although he had nol been successful he felt proud that he hod polled bo well. Ho also thanked those who hai voted for Mr Hisl< p, for indoifg so he felt no doubt they had done it lor the best. In the uex> emotion he hepbd ho would bo more sucetssful. Hq hoped and trusted that 'he cu.ioe the electots had made on Monday last would be to their advantage. He had a hiyh opinion of Mr Hislop, and ha hoped the constituency would give him all the a«iistanc=j and encouragement in their power.

Mr Church said it was his privi'e^e and duty to tlank the 100 electors who had voted for him. He had not cauvaeesd or asked for a vote, ac he heid that ihat was altogether opposed to the liberal principles of the ballot. He hoped the memberelect would do aa ranch for them as he (Mr Chu r ch) iuteuded to have done had he been eleoted. He might Bay that be had not coerced a v..te, nor cringed for it like a epauiel. He had not canyanaed for votes on the Sunday preceding the election like one of the candidates. (Oh ! oh !) He again thanked those who had voted for him. !

Mr Hislop proposed a vote of thanks to the returning officer. If he made any reference to the remarks of Mr Church it would simply be "eour grapeß " This concluded iha proceedings, aud the Salvation Army Bind, crowded into a spring oatr, struck up a doleful air, to an accompaniment by Jimmy Kelly, and the small crowd dispersed.