Taranaki 26 January 1857. My dear McLean, The result of the election of Superintendent you will have received in Auckland by last mail. Instead of writing to you, I sent a long letter to Turton who could be anxious to know how the day fared with us. It was all over at 1/2 pt. 1 when Charles Brown gave in with a majority of 95 against him. Every one now knows he went to the poll without reasonable prospect of winning. Of support he had little for he had forfeited it, and his best men had given him up long since. The contest was not his merely, but that of office-seeking hangers on, who circulated false reports in his behalf to the last. C. Brown got into office by a trick perfectly fair in politics, yet a trick for all that, and he had not the discretion to keep in. All his misdeeds as Superintendent and Member of Assembly were brought against him, and as a last resource he appealed to the feelings of the Electors, telling them he would do the work for £250, and if they rejected his offer, he had nothing to depend upon except his property in the bush which was settled on his family. The electors properly estimated this mock sentiment by holding up a forest of hands against him. There was less excitement than at the election of 53, perhaps because the strength is now on one side, but nearly every one wore dark blue, the Town was all blue, and the ladies made banners of their veils and gave Cutty such a welcome whether he dealt in sense or moonshine, that a Bill is really to be brought in by the Council disabling Bachelors from continuing to hold the office of Superintendent. A good deal of money must have been expended at the Election. The example was first set by the Brownites who bragged of having subscribed £100. Very likely C. Brown had nothing to do with it - perhaps knew nothing of it, still it appears to have compelled Cutfield or his friends to follow the lead by securing 5 of the 7 publics, where there was a sort of open house for the 2 days. It was ridiculous to attempt anything of the kind against monied people like the Keys and Cutfield. The ex-Superintendent was invited by Cutty to dine with his supporters at the Albion, Cutfield's head quarters, on the day of the Election. I was there, and never saw such a house full, people were feasting in every room, and to add to our discomforts, a band of 65th. fellows forced their music upon us after every toast. I find it is 12 o.c. The Council election terminated on Friday. The following is the result. . Humphries 84 Watt 78 Sharland 74 Gledhill 64 Hulke 95 H. Atkinson 87 H. Richmond 83 T. Bayly 80 T. King 80 Parris 73 Elliot 67 . (without a poll) R. Brown W.C. King A.W. East H.H. Wood Excuse haste, W. Halse.