LICENSING ELECTION PETITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4325, 26 March 1884, Page 3

LICENSING ELECTION PETITIONS.

City North,

Yesterday hearing of the petitions of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, under the Regulation of Local Elections Act, against the eloction of Licensing Benches for certain licensingdistricts in and about Auolc land was commenced before Mr H. G. S. Smith, R.M. Messrs E. and S. Hesketh appeared for the petitioners ; Mr Theo. Cooper appeared for the acting committees representing the temperance societies j Mr T. Cotter appeared to watch the case on behalf of the Mayor and Corporation of Auckland as having the control of the Regulation of Local Elections Act. Mr Cooper took exception to the hearing of the petition till the charges were stated with greater particularity. Intimidation, for instance, was alleged, but it was not stated where or by whom.—Mr E. Hesketh said if the allegations in the first five paragraphs of the petition were proved, the eleotion must be declared void. After referring to the alleged irregulari» ties, he said if it could be shown that these irregularities took place, the Court would have to say whether they defeated the fairness of the election, and if the allegations of the other paragraphs were proved, then there could be little doubt as to the result. Tho petitioners would bo able to show that these nominations wero informal. — Tho Returning Officer (Mr Ridings) was then examined at length. He said the nomination took place, at the City Council building. That is in the East Ward, and not in the North Ward... The ordinary notices were given. Witness supervised the eleotion, which afterwards was held. Witness posted the names of the candidates outside the place of nomination. That was also in the East Ward. There was one person's name posted who was*not a candidate, Mr Can', Witness appointed Mr Henry Pollard to be his deputy.— Further evidence was taken on paragraphs 1, 6, and 7, of the petition, which are as follows :—(1) That notice of the time and place of the said election and the situation of the polling booths was not given within the time and in the manner required by " The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876." (6) That the Returning Officer for the said district was not able to fulfil the duties of his office as such Returning Officer at the said election, and he did not appoint any substitute to attend the said election for him. (7) That the said election was held and conducted from tho commencement of the voting to the closing of the same without there boing present any Returning Officer or his substitute.—Counsel were then heard, and His Worship said he would take time to consider the arguments. The Court then adjourned till Friday, when the petitions from City East, Auckland South, Karangahape, and Ponsonby will be taken.