WELLINGTON ELECTION.

• MR. DUTHIE HEADS THE POLL, RETURNED BY Ah OVERWHELMING MAJORITY. A BLOW TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE PREMIER ON HIS DEFEAT. [fly telegraph.— PßESS association.) Wellington, Wednesday. The election passed off very quietly; in fact it was the most sedate election held in Wellington. This was partly owing to the extra number of polliug booths preventing undue crushing, and partly to the instructions given to the returning officers and police to allow no interference with voters. There were Hi booths, and Mr. Duthie had a majority at 12 of them, the final corrected result being Duthie ,„ ,„ „ 7283 Kirk „ ,„ 0234

Majority for Duthie ... 1029 When the result was made known Mr. Duthie very briefly returned thanks. Mr. Kirk, speaking later on, said he had abstained from personalities, and had fought as good a fight as he could, He did not believe the labour party had split their vote.

The Premier also spoke from a carriage on Lamb ton Quay. He said he hoped the next election would reverse the decision, and that the best man would have been Mr. Kirk. A great many who now said they were supporters of Mr. Duthie would not have dined say so last night. There had been an undercurrent for the last four or five days, but notwithstanding the pressure brought to bear against them they had fought a good fight, mid the result showed there were over 6000 people who still believed in progress and enlightenment and the prosperity of the town. The following are the details of the polling :-

Duthie Kirk Skating Rink ... 891 1,365 Drill-shed 701) 477 Exchange Hall 1223 884 Criterion Theatre ... ... 363 360 Clyde Quay 412 362 Riddiford-strcet 318 171 Willis-street ... , „, oofj 440 Tinakori Road 342 190 Buckle-street , „, 20!) 353 Hoys' lnstitute g|fi 167 Sailors' Rest , „, 2lii) 274 Choral Hall 266 151 Kent Terrace 4;",[i 164 Webb-street 286 151 Adelaide Road 207 319 Sydney-street 4(j5 &■>

Totals 7,283 6,251 IliV TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. The polling in tho morning opened with drizzling rain, but as the day advanced the atmosphere became cold and dry. Voters presented themselves at most of the booths 1 when they opened at nine a.m. Tho : Premier, like the early bird, was at the ■ Sydney street booth," and visited tho several booths during the day. There is a lively correspondence going on between the Minister of Lands and Mr? George Hutchison, M.H.R., ro the Colonial ! Distribution Company. Mr. Hutchison said publicly in a recent speech that . the whole of the capital for that company was underwritten by the Bank of New Zealand, thereupon the Hon. Mr. Ward wroto to the manager of tho Bank, and received an answer as follows :— Mr. Ward to Mr. Tegetmeir. Dear Sir, -Mr. Geo. Hutchison is reported In to-daj's Post to hare stated pub'idy last evening that "the people of tho colony had not yet been told 1 hat when in London that year, 1815, the Colonial Treasurer required anil got the Brink of .Now Zealand to underwrite the whole of the capital (£'.'85,0110) for the Produce PisMiration Company." As far as I am concerned there isiioUvesticoi'ftriuh in the charge mid by Mr. Hutchison onanist me. I should lie etui, as you were managoi ill London of the Hank at the time referred to, if you would stale whether any representation or request 10 the Bank was made by me to underwrite any of the capital of the company referred to I propose to publish this letter and your reply -Yours faithfully, J. (I. W*ltn. Mr. Teiietmier, to Mr. Ward. Dear sir-In reply to your letter of this date, I have to say that there is m> foundation f..r the statement repotted to have he,n made by Mr. Hutchison, concerning yourself and the Hank, in IS!):.. The Hank did not underwrite any portion of the capital of the Colonial Consignment and |)istributin<; Company.—Yours faithfully, C. (i.TI-OETJimii. Continuing, tho Minister said that every statement made by Mr. Hutchison must bo taken with the same reservation as that charge. Tho Colonial Distributing Company had nothing to do with politics. If it interfered with his public duties as Minister of Lands ho would at once resign his posi lion on tho company. The charge was false. (Applause.) Mr. Hutchison, in his speech at the Theatre Royal last evening, upon being apprised of this contradiction (then being made in another placo), reaffirmed his statement that the Bank of Now Zealand had underwritten tho Nelson Company's capital. He declared that he was prepared to substantiate that statement, and produce "unimpeachable" evidence. It is believed here that an inquiry of soino kind must take place, and that the facts will be brought before Parliament ill the early days of the coming session. Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.D.R., writes to the Post as follows :—" When speaking at Clyde Quay on Monday evening, tho Premier stated that 1 had asked him to reinstate Detective Henderson in tho police service. Tho statement is absolutely untrue. In the presence of my colleagues, Messrs. C. Lewis and 0. J. Smith, I point blank refused to support Henderson's reinstatement, or to intorforo in the department's decision in his case. The Premier probably uttered this fabrication in tho hope that it might take tho edge off tho damning facts now being elicited as to his control of tho police force." Scarcely sufficient time has elapsed for the Premier to make a reply. Tho above two matters absorb all the political talk just now, except the polling. All the streets in which the large booths are situated are blucked with peoplo. A man had his jaw fractured last) night in the Theatre Royal. He was "disorderly," and was struck in tho face by another person with the above result, Tho circumstance that Mr. John Hutcheson, M.11.R. for Wellington, has taken no part in the recent election is much commented upon. It is stated that he has an irreconcilable difference of opinion with the Premier. Ho has expressed himself thoroughly dissatisfied with tho conduct of the present Government. It is reported as. probable that he will act with tho Independent Liberals during next session of Parliament.