The Waitemata Election.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2940, 16 September 1879, Page 3

The Waitemata Election.

DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

The formal declaration of the poll for the electoral district of Waitemata was made at noon to-day in the Devonport Hall by the Returning Officer, Mr Thos. Cotter. There were only a few electors in attendance. The numbers polled were announced to be as follows :—

In addition to these there were three informal and five double votes. Mr Wood's majority was 250, and he therefore decbired the gentleman the duly elected member for Waitemata.

Mr Wood said that after all the turmoil and trouble of the election he had very great pleasure in thanking the electors for the hearty manner in which they had received him, and for the very large measure of support which they had accorded. He returned his sincere thanks for the result of the contest. It was imposssible to express his sense of what he felt to be duo to the people of every part of the district, for they had worked spontaneously he would not say for him individually, but as the representative of the cause which he had at heart. He was very much obliged to them indeed for placing him in the flattering position which he now occupied. The elections throughout the Colony were now over. Although we knew the persons who were returned it was extremely difficult to divine what the real state of parties would be when they met together next week at Wellington. Two things, however, were clear —one was that the majority which the Opposition possessed last session had been wiped out, and the other was that the personnel of the House itself had been largely altered. His view of the position was this. In consequence of the alteration in the personnel of the House there would be much less of that rabid personal antagonism to Sir George Grey himself which was displayed in the last Parliament, and the probable result was that the Government would have a majority in the House—perhaps a small one. At any rate the new Parliament would be inclined to treat Sir George Grey and his goveromeut fairlyj and not to meet him in the first instance with a vote of no-confidence before hearing his explanations, seeing his measures, and giving him an honest trial. He would once more thank the electors for the cordial way in which they had supported ais candidature, and for the position in which they had placed him. Mr Macfarlaue was sorry that ho could not follow the good old rule of allowing everything to be forgotten after tin exciting election and of taking no further notice of any unpleasantnesses that had arisen during the contest. He felt that it was due to himself t« make some remarks regarding the pait taken by the Government in the elections. He was confident that before long the Government would by their actions bring the country into disgrace. They had acted throughout moat improperly. There should be no Government interference whatever in such matters, and there would not either if their professions of former years were carried out. He remembered about five years ago the present Premier charging the late Sir Donald McLean in the House with having through an emissary attempted to sway an election on the East Coast, and how on that occasion Sir .Donald McLean solemnly insured that he had done no such thing—that he knew his position better—and how he expressed the hope that no Minister would dare to do such a thing. Now they could compare the serious light in which the matter was viewed at that time, and the things which had taken place recently. Telegrams had been sent to the electors in yarious parts of the country to support this candidate and the other, and the Premier had been going from place to place addressing the constituencies with which he was in nowise connected. It was quite right that he should go to the Thames and address the people there, but to stump other electorates was not only a disgrace to him, but it was further subversive of all constitutional rules. It was contrary to the practices in every country that he hau had anything to do with. He had not long since published the resolution which the House of Commons had passed on the subject, but lest they hid not seen it he would read it to them. It "was: " That it is highly criminal in any Minister or Ministers, or other servants uader the Crown, directly or indirectly, to use the powers of office in the election of Kcpresentatives to serve in Parliament, and at attempt at such influence will at all times be resisted by this House, as aimed at its own honour, dignity, and independence, as an infringement of the dearest right of every subject throughout the empire, as tending to sap the basis of its institution." la the face of a decision like that it was very extraordinary that the eleuions, particularly the Auckland one, shouH have been interfered within the way they »ad. With reference to the speech of the Piemier himself, delivered in Auckland, he vould now only say that he intended to refer v,o it seriatim through the press. It contained gross fabrications—gross untruths-andif he did hot prove it to be untrue then let thj people discard him for ever from Auckland. Sir George Grey had made some very vile statements, and therefore he (the speaker) could notblame the electorsforwhattheyhai done. The statements brought before thim he (the speaker) was prepared to prove were not true. He might just advert to me of them, and that very briefly. They had heard the Premier's utterances regarling the Triennial Parliament* Bill. Well, he was in the House when Sir George Grey introduced it, and he noticed that somt of Sir George's intimate friends—amonjat them Messrs Macandrew and Stout—waited" out when the diviaion came on. Now,if the Premierhad wished to carry the measure he had only to say so, and his party wond have supported him through with it; Bit he did not do so, and it. was consequent!' thrown out. Then Dr Wallis introduced the Bill, and he (the. speaker) counted twelve of the Premier's intimate friends, including the whip, who walkec out of the House instead of voting. However, he would take a future occasion to prove all things. There was a good time before the next election for showing the falsity of these statements, and his only regret was that they had Ministers capable of misleading the country. He repeated that the country had been disgraced by iiicoo <«.t:nns of the Ministry. The gentleman then moved a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, u-a v. .w~>ri having seconded it, it was passed. Mr Cotter briefly replied, and the proceedings thus terminated.

Wood. Macfar. Devonpovt Helensville Henileison's Mill Huia Kaukapakapa... Lucas' Creek ... Riverhead Stokes' Point ... Wade Whatipu Whan ... 232 ... 49 ... 22 1 9 ... 10 G ... 21 ... 20 ... 15 ... 48 82 3 3 2 4 2 9 21 31 11 15 433 183