PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

HOKTTJKA.

showed him it should be done. He would do hia utmost to make WestlandWf; of the first Provinces in the Colony. *T|is v/ffaonly a matter of time, aud a very sbor£ time too- giihe Province had got re^ourii&f e^ttft. any. in New. Zealand. „•'&- coin elusion he than Led them from the bottom pf.-his. .hearty iqr ietucn|ng bjnv-^-Xhfc-ctioice of members to-day 'showed that the d^tPi&ha4-4A r ap}U£ciatioa:o£>,the.:pi»fKdv sort of men.tq chjoo^e.., r H<| thanked them the more ; becauM be had" been returned, notwithstsmiing- his ""^ttpir" eWTTonsT Some people expected that in an election a candidate should spend his £l£o or '£200, but he might tell them solemnly that, business would not stand it. Perhaps in a future election, if business would admit of it, he might spend £150. He begged to thank those who had voted for him. Mr Hawkins then appeared and said that he wai greatly obliged to those electors who had given him their support. It had been stated by Mr Todd that they had returned proper men. It was also stated by this morning's paper — the Register — which he called Mr Todd'k organ, because Mr Todd was 1 one of the proprietors, that he (Mr Hawkins) was tpo clever for them. He took this as a great compliment. This was not the place to make a long speech, and there was no denying that he was the defeated candidate. But although he was defeated he was not disgraced, and he thanked his 199 supporters. He might say that he did not care before, and he did not care now about the result, and he thought that he was better out of the Council and that it was left to three men who would, he knew, do their duty well. Therefore he did not regret his defeat. He had fought the figh! single-handed, although he had had adven rising done for him by some persons who had put an advertisement in the papet without his authority, asking for pjumpei i on his account. . The Returning Qfficer said that tlu official declaration of the poll would take place on Friday at noon. Mr Todd then came forward and sai that he could not let the opportunity pu ; of replying to Mr Hawkins; It was tru! that he was a shareholder in the Register* but he bad not influenced it in any wa_> i If it could be prove that he had brought anj unfair influence to bear upon this electio; he would resign his seat to-morrow. I'lj had worked without evfeu a committee it this election. He said this merely ii vindication of his character.

Shortly before five o'clock, the result of the election for the Provincial Council the polling for which took plat;e yesterday, was declared at: thj Count House by the Keturning 6ffic r, aiad was a • follows :, — ! White ... ';.,. ... 378 Tabarfc ... i 257 Todd ... ... ... 231 Hawkins ... j. 199 Mr White, on being called, came forward, and said that he bad to thank thtelectors for returning him at the head or ; the poll. He was greatly pleased at occu- ! pying the position in which they had j placed him, as it would serve to restore' i any damage his prestige had sustained ' during the late electfou for the rfuperintendency. He could assure them that hewould do his utmost as their representatife to merit their continued confidence. He would not now make any further speech, but begged to thank those -who had voted for him. Mr Tabart then came forward, and said that although this was the first time he had been to the poll here, he had been returned second, a position to which he had hardly looked forward. The eloctions did not end with to-day, but the constituencies should lend to th& members a certain amount of moral aid, in order to enable them to provide for the weh'are of the Province. Already some croakers had been heard, who had said that annexation to Nelson was the only chance for this portion of the Coast. The electors might ! rely upoa it that he would do his utmost to render the Province of Westlwnd a success. He thanked those who had given him their support.

Mr Todd on mounting the platform said he was a proud' man to-day. It had been said to him by some "Toold, you'll he sure to lose " because he had iaot given sufficient time or taken more interest in the election. But Todd was not afraid. He had consulted the interest of thve district frpra the day that he put foot into Westland, and he was now going to do it in a practical manner in the new Provincial Council, in the way that his experience