THE AVON ELECTION.

Return of the Government

Candidate.

The election of a representative for the Avon district, in place of Mr Harper, took place yesterday, when the appearance in the principal Btreets of conveyances bearing placards, and electors indicated that the partisans of the respective candidates were adopting the usual means of bringing their men up to the poll. The result was looked for with much interest by those who considered it would be an indication of the popular feeling towards the Government, as one of the candidates, Mr Blake, had so unreservedly declared himself a supporter of the Treasurer's Tariff. At about 7 o'clock it was known in town that at Papanui Mr Dunlop had a majority of 28, and it was not till more than an hour later that it became known that at Biccarton the votes had not only wiped off the majority, but showed a majority of three on the whole vote for Mr Blake. The numbers polled were aB under : — Papanui Eiccarton Total Edwin Blake ... 162 93 255 William Dunlop 190 G2 252 Informal ... 7 3 10 In 1884, when Mr Dunlop contested the seat with Mr L. Harper, he polled 820 votes, and was in a minority of 7.7. The total number of votes polled on that occasion was 729, while yesterday they were but 617,