THE RANGITIKEI BY-ELECTION.

THE FIRST BALLOT.

Mr Hockly Leading, Mr Smith Second.

Second Ballot Next Week.

Great interest was shown throughout Rangitikei yesterday in the bye-election for that seat. The result, though anticipated in the northern end of the electorate, was rather a surprise to the electors at the southern end, where it, was generally expected that Mr Meldrum would be the runner-up. As it is, Mr Hockly, not having secured a majority of the votes polled, a second ballot will be necessary, and this will take place next week,, when "Messrs Hockly and Smith will submit themselves to the verdict of the electors. Notwithstanding that the- Liberal Party was split at the first ballot, the loyalty of the defeated candidates is shown by their spontaneous offer of help to Mr Smith in the second toaHpt. Messrs Meldrum, Hornblow, and Geergetti, their committees andsupporters, imve been prompt in their action to secure a, united Liberal vote, and the final return of a candidate representing the Liberal majority in Rangitikei may be confidently anticipated. , Following was the voting at the various booths: —

3«s g 1 HUNTERyiLLE - WW * ° W (principal) 181 8 257 14 12 TAIHAPE 113 403 93 27 69 MANGAWEKA - 52 61 25 111 72 EASTBROO|[ :: 83 11 65 4 49 Aberfeldie 12 3 l Awarua ... 2 4 2 1 Bell's Junction 14 19 6 1 1 Bennett's Siding- . 765 4 3 l Fordell 112 10 33 2 . 14 Kaweka Road 4 — 4 Koeke. 13 1 22 5 2 Kakatahi t 14 11 20 1 1 Kauangaroa 18 2 4 0 0 Upper Kjlwhatau ... 23 14 1 10 5 Lower Kawhafau 9 5 6 if 5 Long Acre Valley ... 13, 1 9 ~ _ ** anu i • , 7 6 5 310 Moawhango 15 9 20 3 Marybank,.. 56 4 10 — _ Mangamalra ;.. s 49 1 12 4 _ Mangaonoboi 25 6 32 1 Mangahoe Road 30 1 2 47 23 16 IS 11 w »ka 6 27 » — 1 Otairi -^. „.....„ 33 ,i_, l6 _- _ °k«a ; 82 2 8 — .3 Ohingaifa .... 57 36 15 12 2 Polgrfeen's CoAtfer .... 42 6 3 — _ Pukeokahu 7 4 2 19 - go»kM>r© . f . 31 — 11 l i Fobomu .. l -.»..^l 7 14 - ****. ~t.r...':. 41 42 22 2 2 Kangiwaea i... 4 6 3 2 — Ruamii ..^; 15 7 4 4'— Rualnne _*. .17 23 10 4 6 Silverhope 60 1 911 £ orere 1 24 21 16 6 £*>«>a 21 5 8 2 3 Turangarere Railway stationr 5 49 7 1 l Turangar«re Schoolhous" f9 19 4 - _ Toi-Toi 11 1 _ ••<_ Tauakira 13 1 2 3 Tiriratikawav 12 3 6' 4 2 Tfe Fapna< Block 9 14 7 _ _ 2**" : - 20 '67 14 15 29 Upokongsrp 59 . 2 8 18 5 Ufper Turaijna Valky 14 — 24 1 — 9 3 S 1 3 v>^aurai "....:.' 12 14 4 -WVgaelui ■/.■..':..:.•....• '86 4 11 2 3 Waqdin'e : 5 10 3 212 1 8 Win^a 12 27 8 11' 5 Win*