HURUNUI.

Mr R. H. Rhodes, who was called on at short notice to act a» returning officer, made his arrangements very complete, and directed xnatters from the principal booth at Aariberley, though the largest polling was at Kaikoura, and as there were thirty-four polling places this necessarily, caused delay in getting the returns completed. Ashley, Seftan, Waikflri, and Mackenzie had the largest returns. It was expected the con* test would be close between Mr Rutherford and the ex-member, Mr Meredith, who, had won four jpreviouK oonteste for Mhtej— -that of 1890 with 643 votes, bjating the late Mr J. D. Lance fay 32 yoke; 1893 with 1668 votes, beating Mr W. Maofariane by 590 rotee and Mr D. Dick by 1579 votes; 1896 wi*h 1700 votes, beating Mr H. F. Reeoe and Mr GK Renner: and 1899 with 1944 votes, beating Mr T. H. Caverhiil Jjiy 751 vot«e. . A, W. Rutherford (G) ... 1577 H.F.BeeoB(O) ... ... 880 n B. 'Meredith (G) . . 835 G. W. Forbes (G) ... 206 G. T. Pulley (G) ... 68 Informal ~. .... 11 Majority for Rutherford 697 In 1899— R. Meredith (G) 1943, T H Caverhiil (0) 1192, majority for Meredith 751; total 3135. '■; CX)URTENAY. 0. Lewie (0) , ... . ... 1635 J. Rennie (G) ' ... ""'' ... "'llß4 J. Barrett (G) ... \ ... 401 Majority for Lewis ... 351 New electorate.