FRANKLIN NORTH PETITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3606, 1 March 1882, Page 3

FRANKLIN NORTH PETITION.

The petition against Major Harris, member for iTranklyn, will be hoard at l'apakura on Wednesday next, before the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Gillies. Messrs Jackson and Kussell will instruct counsel on behalf of Mr Buckl.and, while Mr li. 11. Lusk will repsesant Major Harris. At a sitting of the Supreme Court in Chambers yesterday, an np[l cation was mado to Mr Justice Gillies, in the matter of the petition of Mr W. ■F, Buckland, the unsuccessful caudidate, to authorise certain amendments to be made in the petition, also to strike out other clauses. (1) In respect of a voting paper which was refused on the ground of informality, the particulars on the face of the paper not being sufficient. (2) In relation to a paper sent in by a person named Dovell, in regard to which it was stated that the Keturniuc; Ollicer had asked certain questions, and attached certain conditions. (3) In respect to Another elector in which the Kcturning Officer allowed a certain vote which was disqualified by the statute. The following aro the principal allegations in the petitions :—That at Mungere the Deputy Kcturninj; Officer, in counting the votes, declirod a certain vole to be informal, and refuted to count the same, whereas your petitioner bolievcs the same to have been a good vote. That at Howick a man named Dovell was intimidated. That livo (persons under ago were allowed to vote, That two persons were allowed to vote from the one residence. That petitioner only appointed one scrutineer at Otahuhu, having been told there would be ouly one ballot* box, That at Otahuhu only 298 persons leceircd voting papers, while 304 papers were placed in the ballot-box, That in the case of Dovell, the Deputy .Koturning Officer attached a condition before giviDg him the voting paper. Tbc Court declined to .'strike out any clauses in the petition on the gtouud that it would be interfering with the jurisdiction of the tribunal empowered to try such cases, but consented to allow the amendment of a clause by inserting the words "on the ground that the name was placed in writing on the face of the voting paper."