THE ELECTIONS.
CITY NORTH. The declaration of the poll took place at the Temperance-hall, Albert-street, at noon yesterday. Some fifty persons were present. The Returning Officer (Mr. Rawlinson) announced that the numbers polled by each candidate were as follow :—Mr. William George Garrard, 4; Thomas Peacock, 346 ; William Lee Rees, 320. Majority for Mr. Peacock, 26. He declared Mr. Peacock duly elected. Mr. Peacock thanked the electors for the honour conferred upon him. He was especially grateful to tho§e gentlemen who had acted for him, and vigorously promoted his candidature, as well as those who voted for him. Yet it was his desire to represent the constituency as a whole, doing the best he could for all. The election had been carried on in a fair spirit. He would endeavour to gain the approbation of all parties by attending to the wants of the district. Mr. Dunxingham returned thanks on behalf of Mr. R-.es. He explained that an unexpected change in the time-table of the steamer rendered it impossible for Mr. Rees to remain until the election was over. He had no doubt, however, Mr. Peacock would make a good member. WAITEMATA. The official declaration of the poll for this district took place last evening, in the Devonport-hall, North Shore, at 7 o'clock. The Returning Officer (Mr. Seaman) having explained the circumstances which induced him to fix the hour for the declaration of the poll, said that there were 1905 electors on the roll, of which 1494 could have voted, but as a fact only 807 had actually voted. The numbers were :—For Alison, 241 ; Hurst, 566. Majority for Hurst, 325. He therefore declared William John Hurst duly elected to represent the electoral district of Waitemata in the Parliament of New Zealand. (Cheers.) Mr. Hurst, in thanking the electors for his return, referred to his past career in Parliament and to several of the Bills which had been brought before the last Parliament. He concluded by saying that he would do his utmost to advanco the district, giving special attention to the out districts. (Cheers.) Mr. Alison did not appear, and Mr. Hurst moved a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. Mr. Seaman, in acknowledging the vote, said as Registrar for the district he had endeavoured to make the roll as complete as possible. Something was said about the Registrar having the right to put qualified persons on the roll without being asked to do so. He consulted the Colonial Secretary on the subject, and was informed that it was his duty to make the roll as complete as possible. WAIPA. Hamilton, Wednesday.—At noon yesterday the Returning Officer, Mr. T. Kirk, declared the poll as follows: —Whitaker, 432 j Jackson, 301; Johns, 236. There were ten informal votes. He then declared Mr. Whitaker duly elected. Mr, Whitaker thought the electors had been nearly talked to death as it was, and he would say little. He could not, however, but return his thanks to those who had supported him. He was the first person who had been returned twice for the constituency. He would further say that he was determined to bury all animosities, for the enemy of to-day might be the friend of to-morrow. He was proud of the Hamilton vote, and again begged to thank the electors geuerally. Major Jackson said he was there to thank those who had supported him. If all those who had pledged him their support had kept their engagements, he would have been at the head of the poll, and if the contest had been solely between himself and Mr. Whitaker their places would have been reversed. One thing lie wished Mr. Whitaker to realise was, that a great number of those who resided within his district, and who were rich in landed property, were natives, and that though they could not strictly be called his constituents, still they were deserving of his care. He hoped Mr. Whitaker would endeavour to alter or amend the laws bearing on the transfer of their property in such a manner as to guarantee at least that they received fair play—that all those who wished to purchase might be able to do so on an equal footing, and so as to ensure that the natives received the greater portion of the value of their property, and not, as now, that four-fiftli3 of the proceeds should be otherwise accounted for. He would not have alluded to this matter only that he had not hoard that Mr. Whitaker had given utterance to his opinions on this question, even in a small way. He trusted before the meeting of Parliament Mr. Whitaker would yet do so. It was with the object of protecting the interests of both races in these land transactions that he had mainly been induced to bccome a candidate, and that would be an excuse for his so pointedly drawing Mr. Whitakcr's attention to this matter. He wi.s not ashamed of having been beaten in this contest, and had no cause for regret, having exhausted all lawfill means at his disposal. He was not beaten on any practical issue, but by a side wind, or, to use a nautical phrase, some of the wind was taken out of his bails by another passing object. .He hoped next election for Waipa to oceupy a better position. Mr. Johns took exception to being described as a side-wind or a passing object taking the wind out of Major Jackson's sail 3. He was as long a resident in Waipa as Major Jackson, and no man could say anything against his public character. He ran to win, and not to secure the return of the other candidate, although he admitted but for his standing Major Jackson would have headed the poll. The votes recorded for him v/erc uubought. He could at least say that. He thanked those 236 electors who so unselfishly gave him their support. Major Jackson explained that he intended to impute no unworthy motive to Mr. Johns' candidature, or that lie was in collusion with Mr. Whitaker, but the fact remained that but for Mr. Johns' candidature Mr. Whitaker must have been beaten, and the next election would show this. Mr. Whitaker protested against any such assumption. With one opponent different tactics could have been used, and the same result secured. He then called for three cheers for Mr. Johns. Three more were given for the other candidate and the Returning Officer. Napier, Wednesday. — After revision of the voting papers Mr. Sutton proves to have a majority of 10 over Captain Russell. Mr. Smith's majority over Mr. Ormond is reduced to 24. Several cases of impersona- , tion, and other illegal practices are reported ' from Waipawa, but it is not known whether any particular person shall take the initiative. The Herald suggests that the polioe 1 throughout the colony should be instructed f to assist Returning Officers, as otherwise, in wide districts, like Waipawa, it would be almost impossible to convict personators. Intercargill, Wednesday.—The Returning Officer for Wallace, after several scrutinies of the returns, has finally declared Mr. i Daniel (Opposition) eleoted by a majority of i one. The Returning Officer's action and dei cision have caused considerable comment, i and it is probable that Mr. Hirst, the de- , 1 eatcd candidate, will take the matter into Electorate Court,
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New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6265, 15 December 1881, Page 5
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1,220THE ELECTIONS. New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6265, 15 December 1881, Page 5
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