TARANAKI ELECTION.

OPPOSITION CANDIDATE RETURNED. MAJORITY OF 364.' HEAVY POLLING BY THE INDEPENDENT. . [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION - .] New Plymouth, Tuesday. Tub election for the Taranaki seat to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mi'. E. M. Smith, Ministerial supporter, was held today, • and was attended I with keen interest throughout the district. When the returns began to come in it was thought that the contest between Mr. Dockrill, the Ministerialist, and Mr. Okey, the Oppositionist, would be a fairly close one, but later Mr. Okey took a decided lead. The final returns were —,' / '.■.•;'".■■".' ' \ ' Mr. H. Okey (Opposition), ... 1991 Mr. E. Dockrill (Ministerialist)... 1627 Mr. W. G. Matone (Independent "„' liberal) ... ... -~ 1010 Informal, votes, 23. Total names on roll, 6205 ; ; votes cast, 4651. , . On the'declaration of the' poll Mr. Okey addressed a great crowd from the balcony, and paid a tribute to the manner in which the. campaign had been conducted. His aim would be to represent the electorate to the best of his ability. Mr. Dockrill, in returning thanks, said he was the victim of circumstances,of a split Liberal vote. . Mi'. "Malone, in a short speech, expressed satisfaction at his position, and announced that from to-morrow his campaign for the general election would be commenced. Mr. Massey essayed to .'; speak,. but was denied a hearing. Mr. Carroll, in a speech of 10 minutes' duration, congratulated Mr. Okey and Mr. Massey on their victory, and gave the credit for it to the superior organisation , of the Opposition party. The' 'Government, although numerically it had a substantial majority, had succumbed to a split in the vote. He was confident that with a straight-deal at the general election the result would be signally reversed. He referred to the splendid spirit in which the election had been fought, and congratulated Mr. Dockrill on the solid stand he had made, and referring to Mr. Malone, credited him with, having made a splendid show single-handed, although, he had been a disconcerting element to the Liberal party. He concluded by calling for cheers for , the successful candidate. ' Mr: Massey subsequently spoke, and briefly accepted Mr. Carroll's challenge for a -straight go if he would make it a leasehold versus freehold issue. • " .At' the general election the flat* Mr. E. M. Smith,: secured 1953 votes, and Mr. Okey 1717. The total number on that polled was 5215. ■■; There wera on that occasion three other candidates, Messrs.. Bell ringer, Tisch, and Mills. . ,'";-■ , THE NEW -MEMBER. I Mr. Henry James Hobbs Okey, the new j member for Taranaki,, is a native of New Plymouth, and was born, in Frank'ey Road, half-a-mile from ■■■ his '; present homestead, in 1857. He, was educated in Plymouth, and has . practically.'',; spent. his ; whole life : thore. *-m it, . former., ,«atLU» antl.-.sheep-"dealer. The Okey family is among the oldest, and most respected.., in • Northern Taranaki. ... Mr- Okey. for many years has taken part in local government, and for 25 years has been a member of the Frankley Road Board, and for many years chairman ■and secretary, and is chairman at the present time. He was for 12 years on the . Taranaki County Council, and for nine years its chairman, retiring about 18 months ;- ago. He is a member of the School Committee. He was instrumental in forming the Frankley Road Dairy Company, and has been chairman of directory from its inception till now. For one year he was president of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, and for many years its,vice-presi-dent. •.; Ho is now a member of the Licensing Committee, having been, elected without a. poll by mutual agreement between the temperance party; and the trade! He has twice previously contested. the TaTanaki seat- He unsuccessfully stood as an Independent Liberal on the first occasion. His election to the House of Representatives is the coping-stone of a long period of public usefulness. ■- "■ i ■ ■■■ ■■■'-■ ■■■ "- ->" :