DECLARING THE POLL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 229, 29 September 1887, Page 5

DECLARING THE POLL.

Auckland NortH. of the poll for the ffi itricb of Auckland North took elect , 1 o'clock this morning, in the if _5l Queen-street. About 500 perm Present, amongst them being th c ndidates for NeAvton and (^s E. Withy and Flaffry.' rrv,nraDaon, "Vaile, and Farnall ASS!;fpSnVthe y were received Officer) R» "proceedings by deEg *c result of the polling to have JJ I as follow: Mr T.Thompson ... •» - ?08 MrS.Vaile 36 Informal " Majority for Mr Thompson, 35. „. Collins accordingly declared Ml „_,ilv elected to represent AuckS^fiftS Parliament. (Loud *R. »T As for the informal votes, they although the ballot had now fes s™Km_ forl7 years, a large nam-ggaS^-StJt-yrt know how to jrtSSS: papers when they received on rising to address the \w7 was received with loud and *? ft} \rmhuse Ho said that he ffnftdSthc electors atany length, I on. intended to make a few remarks, tfr the very arduous and wearisome itwhiJi had taken place-not only on Sm day, but long previous to ifc-a SBof & electors had declared fi"nthe ballot in favour ot his canchdaSTindhad appointed him the represenS of Auckland North in the coming Biament. It was a very proud position to any man to be placed m. The reprentation of that district was an honour Stobartinaa in the district.might well Tpoudof. It was a district second to D on in the colony in the matter of populaSandproperty- He only hoped that hi 2ns in the forthcoming Parliament would be such as to give the electors no L for regret for the course they had Lted. (Applause.) One matter upon which they might congratulate themselves in this district was that, however keenly the election had been fought, there had been no unpleasantness m connection with it. (Applause.) Of course there had been the usual little ebullitions of feeling between the friends of the opposin- candidates, but he hoped that all that was now past and forgotten. As for himself, he offered bis hand to his opponent freely and fairly. (Suiting the action to the word, Mr Thompson strode for .yard amid load applause to where Mr Vail c Avas silting and tendered his hand. Mr Vade, however, coldly waved it aside, and a perfect storm of hooting and groaning at once boke out from the audience.) Mr Thompson said he would leave the electors to say whether Mr Vaile or himself had been most humiliated by Avhat had just taken place. (Load and prolonged applause.) Irnever, he would let that rest. Probably fa opponent was still a little sore, and he wnld therefore quite understand it. He hid only further to say that he took that opportunity of thanking fully and heartily ___ Committee, who in the most arduous rniuiet, and without hope of fee or rerad, had worked in his interests. Noav tht tie straggle ivas past he represented ta who had opposed him equally Avith ttaewhohadsupporfcedhim. He shouldonly ajkther at the present time that it Avas wely necessary that the constituents t-i-Oj-lially co-operate with their memtor, __■-,_. assured them that any communication, he might receive from any elecTor would have his prompt attention and every consideration irrespective of the consideration whether they had opposed or supported him. He had only one other point to allude to. It had ta brought prominently forward int_iselection,and upon it the election had turned. He referred to the necessity for railway reform. (Applause.) He had never been opposed to Mr Vaile's scheme receiving a trial. On the contrary, he had favoured it (applause), not. because he believed it should be carried out in its

entirety, but because he saw the necessity to absolute reform in railway management He would pursue the same course nonad would advocate Mr Vaile's system receiving a. fair trial. He believed also with due respect to Mr Vaile that he himKit could better assist his scheme out of ™iiament,than in it, for to use the gentleman sow words—his own active supervision would be necessary, and tnab superwm could.not be given if he were a member of Parliament. In conclusion he ™Ud lust say that, any pledges or prorosanehad given would be strictly and S^Ny carried out. Hs. had done so wtlerto and he did not; think lie could be J™*ift any promise which he had « toed to carry out. He thanked the ■won again for the support they had fwntanandhe- hoped when he came beZ\^f* m they would be quite satistCi, ** actions and rea<ty to renew (Loud aoplause.) uL If received with considerable UW- 6 ? nd hissing- He said that he had Xff dedto fchank those gentlemen SiSW him in this elecfcion > bufc 3?d tS 6 platform Jusfc new- When offeredK- came forward and I^ m fhand it was with very great SSI thf fc he refused to accept it. gjuseand uproar.) He did so for this 3 wuf* f™ 6 charges had been HbrnTnVv 81108 to tmV election. tie Z T*l any means s«re that tii iiu!h: momei>t was not rightly PKcifcv i^K d ? ee himself from comae of hi 3e Charees' t^nhe would be •KJJ^Htod. and be quite handß wifch him. While CSSS^S 8 matter he misht tell them »*.wfiW h8 acciden£dly met the 1^ 6 had beensometthyte, Wdi • b6J Ween himself and Mr I *6 most ? enial manner h 5d n J OrWard tasked him if as he L maDage t0 bury the m." & (5,^ T° rk for the common « liT^ offered Mr Whyfce to bury tut ! of .his to s£» iftchet, and he yenRdfaa*friL7t th? y would firm fe fctte b. e.n<*forth and would do ?**«*«,* public S°od. Mr H<C° n *S sPe?* to him of Zm>"lsl^ *er of his rejection. h^iLT 110^ *at you did »uso.) .. i^ b T e UPin the House." I? throni SOl-u^y 5w so Wxr? thout y°ur p«s----r. Prompt^o,. the fact 2?" B« wiP* t0 contesb this s??**C^3 t0 have thafc SSwSo? 1? ref??n settled. That &Rtite he.dfi^ofall to « tt*S n 7¥ eecfcors who had sft, H« *L ifor the elecfced UK£ lifcical secretary hftt« 8 ;..J».«»U nob speak in * gentlemen who

formed his Committee, and who had worked so energetically, and had carried out _ this contest on such fair and honourable lines. He felt more especially indebted to theAi for having carried out his instructions to use no undue influence or give away drink. (Prolonged applause.) They fought the election fairly and honourably, but the combined influence of too little beer—(applause and hissing) He was prepared to prove his assertion, and he was prepared to say still more. If candidates would speak straightforwardly and distinctly, and despise thesedishonorabletriekswhichtookplace at elections, we should have greater purity in them, and have better men in Parliament. He said that any man who contested a seat in Parliament, and who shrank from coming in contact with pitch had to face that ordeal, and that was the cause of so few men coming forward. Mr Vaile went on to refer to a press account of an interview with himself, but challenged its accuracy. If the electors really wanted to knew what had lost him the election he would tell them straight what lost it. The police arrangements for the conduct of the election were ,of the most incompetent character. (A voice: "So they were," and applause.) The Act distinctly stated that no more than six electors should be let into the polling booth at the one time. At the commencement of this poll the booth was fairly rushed, and lie was in possession of the fact that his opponent's agent (Mr Clifton) was inside the booth and positively directed some electors how to vote. (A voice: " Where were your scrutineers?") His scrutineers were at the table doing their best. (Uproar.) He knew that for a fact, and he asked those who delighted in honour and fair play to expose the fraud committed in thi3 elec tion. He was prepared to stand the expense if they would do that and try and upset this election. (Uproar.) He would tell them one little thing which would show at once that if he had thought it proper to descend to those tricks he could have won the election easily. (A voice-. " You could not.") A man was sent to him with this kind of proposition : "There is a syndicate representing 56 votes ; the owners of them all want to vote for you. Won't you do something for them? They want a little help." He asked them what kind of help was meant, and the reply was " 10s each." _ He answered " You tell them to go to Jericho with my compliments." The person referred to said " It is all very fine, but if you want to win the election you must do as other people." He replied, " Well I don't want to win an election as other people do." The individual in question then wanted to bet him 20 to 1 that he would not go in, but he declined to bet a copper. If they wanted evidence, there it was (flourishing a letter). It was signed "Geo. Weekes," bush contractor, and intimated that the writer, ■who was at Waotu, having a great admiration for his railway scheme, would come down to Auckland and vote for him, if the sum of £7 11s were paid him for expenses. He utterly despised and rejected such a thing, and he asserted that the man who would ride into Parliament by such bribes as these were more to be despised than the men who offered them. (Applause.) He contended that the men who carried an election by a free distribution of beer was infinitely more to be despised than the unfortunate creatures who drank the beer. (Applause and groaning.) It was for the reason that he wanted to see their elected member free himself from all complicity in these matters that he refused to shake hands with him. (Applause.) But while he felt thus in connection with the beer, he did feel very keenly and bitterly the action of the press towards him. He could not help feeling that the press of Auckland had acted towards him in a most unfair and uncalled for manner. (Applause.) Why he should be so strongly opposed both by the leading journals and the little journals he could not understand. He could not see any legitimate reason for it. There must be some influence at work of which he knew nothing. (A voice : " Bribery, I suppose," and loud laughter.) He had lived in Auckland since its first paper was printed on a mangle, and from that day until this he ventured to assert such as he referred to had never before occurred. If these papers could have had anything to say against him he could understand it, but he felt clear on that point. (Applause.) This matter of the Press was a rather serious one, and if he spoke warmly on the subject he hoped the gentlemen of the press would not think he was sneaking unkindly. It was because he felt it keenly, and because lie saw that a great public injury had been inflicted. (Laughter and applause). The "Herald" took, up this position: It directed the people to vote for his opponent, simply on the ground that he had voted to eject the Ministry. If a man were entitled to claim support merely because he voted to eject the Ministry, then all he had to do was just prior to the dissolution to vote for the existing Ministry. The press had asked loudly for new men. New men came forward, and the press did its best to keep them out. That seemed a most extraodinary position to take up. Then the Star took up this position :It opposed his candidature on the ground that if he entered Parliament he would be less able to force his scheme upon the attention of tha House if he were a member than if he were not. It was the most unutterable bosh ever talked. I He had told them Mr Whyte's opinion and it confirmed his own. (A voice : " What's Whyte got to do with this election ?") Ho had a right to quote Mr Whyte's opinion. The Star went on further to say that it would be unseemly ( v unseemly " was the word) for him to be in the House while his measure of railway reform was being discussed. Would anyone tell him why ifc was not unseemly for Bright and Cobden to be in the British House of Commons—why it was not unseemly for Sir Wilfred Lawson to be there —or why it was not unseemly that other great reformers should be Members of Parliament? (Applause), Who could better . carry through reforms than the men who originated them? Their member had been pleased to say— and he was glad of it—that he was prepared to do what he could. But what could he do? (Applause.) He had never spent two minutes talking to him about his scheme. (Mr Thompson: "That is not true, sir," and applause.) Major Atkinson was the only leader in the House who understood his scheme. On Saturday the Star objected to his election to the House because he might thrust his reform on the Government by his vote. (A voice : " That's right.") Why then could he have more power outside the House if inside it he had power to thrust his reform on the Government by his vote ? Throughout these general elections in this province and in the Southern districts as far as Invercargill candidates had found it necessary to speak favourably of his railway reform in order to get into the House. Every candidate in this province has had to give more or less attention to the scheme while the press of Auckland actually excluded him from the House, because of his railway system. Mr Vaile went oh to speak of the time, trouble and expense it had caused him for rive years and he said that if this were to be the reward for such exertions very few men would be tempted to. serve the public in such a way. At the same time he freely and gratefully acknowledged the liberal and •warm assistance the press had given him in promoting the scheme. Mr Thompson in reply to Mr Vaiie said that with reference to the syndicate of 50 votes for 10s each, if he were disposed to be spiteful he should say that they were taken to the place where the ©vrners thought

there was the best chance of getting the money. (Laughter and applause). That was his only reply. If Mr Vaile wanted any further information he would probably get it from his agent Mr Hickey. (Renewed laughter and applause.) The Returning Officer took leave to completely exonerate the police from the charge of incompetency, made against them by Mr Vaile. Tiie polling place was rushed on opening the doors, but the policemen speedily restored order and kept the traffic clear for the rest of the day. During the first 4 hours 800 votes were recorded and during the whole day 1,500 or an average of nearly three a minute for 10 hours. The police did their duty well. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer closed the proceedings. Auckland West. At 9 o'clock this morning Mr Thomas Cotter, Returning Officer for City West, officially declared the result of the poll for that district. The attendance of electors was not very laige, only about 150 being present. A few of Mr David Goldie's supporters—foremost amongst whom was Mr Fred Jeune—drove to St. James's Hall in a drag decked out with flags and drawn by four greys, each bearing a flag on its head. Upon arrival at the Hal], MrGoldieexpressed annoyance that any of his supporters should have exhibited a spirit that might, be considered as crowing over an adversary. Ml- Thomas Cotter, as Returning Officer, opened the proceedings by referring to the fact that Messrs Goldie, Morrison, and Shera had been duly nominated as candidates for Auckland West on the 19th of the present monbh, and that on Monday, the 25th instant, a poll had been taken when 1,456 votes were recorded, the result being as follows :—

David Goldie 717 J. M. Shera 523 E. W. Morrison 209

He therefore declared Mr David Goldie duly elected as the member of the House of Representatives for Auckland West. The announcement was received with applause. Mr Goldie, in returning thinks, disclaimed any connection with the conveyance decked with flags. He did not wish it to appear that he was crowing over the defeated candidates. He said that in future he was the representative of all the electors, and not merely those who had contributed towards his return. He knew that many of his Roman Catholic brethren had voted against him from conscientious motives, and he could only say that he respected them for acting conscientiously, and he could assure them that if any Roman Catholic in Auckland West had a grievance which he wished to bring before the House, he, as their representative, was fully at his service. Perhaps in the past he had said many hard things against the Roman Catholics, some of which would probably have been better left unspoken. Well, he could only say that in the future he would try to be a little more considerate towards nis Roman Catholic brethren. He also regretted that some of his own friends had not been able to vote, owing to, perhaps, tho laches of the postal department, as their names had been struck off the rolls, owing to letters sent out by the Registration Department not having been forwarded to tho persons addressed, and therefore the names of some of his supporters were struck off the roll. Consequently he had to lose those votes. He had also, like many others, to complain that many persons who had promised their support had not registered their votes for him. As a matter of fact, he had polled 263 IeBS than the number of votes promised to him. That of course was simply the natural result of the touting systom. The only regret he had was that at the nomination day remarks had been made insinuating bad motives and actions to himself. In order to prove that these were utterly false, he had, through his solicitor, placed at Mr Shera'a disposal evidence of a documentary character which would prove conclusively that these insinuations were groundless. Thac evidence was also at the disposal of any of the electors of Auckland West. No doubt when Mr Shera made those remarks he fully believed them. He had also himself used unwise expressions regarding bankrupts, which were illadvised just at a time when so many persons were compelled through bad circumstances to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court. He hoped that now the election was over all these matters would be forgotten. He thanked them for returning him, and if at the end of the next three years he found lie could not satisfy either the electors or himself, he would be only too pleased to retire and make room for a better man. (Applause.) Mr Shera then came forward amidst some applause. He took the opportunity to thank most cordially the 523 gcntlemon who had recorded their votes in his favour. He also thanked his Committee for the untiring energy which they had displayed on his behalf. He only regretted that, owing to various circumstances, they were not able to bring up sufficient voters to return him at the head of the poll. He now took that opportunity to thank the 210 gentlemen who were waiting to bo sent for to record their votes in his favour, but who were unfortunately neglected. (A voice : "They must have been a good deal interested in you, when they didn't turn up.") He regretted to say that during the course of the contest he had no cause to thank the press for the courtesy which they had exhibited towards him. Two papers had condemned him with faint praise, and a few days before the time of polling had been utterly silent; but the-Stab had attacked him in a most nnequivoca manner. Although the Editor of the Star must for a long time have known his opinion with regard to free trade and protection, that gentleman had thrown a veil of doubt over his professions as an avowed protectionist. He considered this unfair. There was however one little paragraph inserted in the Star last Sapurday under the heading of Table Talk—probably by one gentleman (here the speaker coughed three times) or individual connected with the paper. He considered it personally insulting and libelous. It was something to this effect: " Three Orange Pup 3 contesting Auckland- West." The editor of the Stab was a gentleman, and he therefore fully acquitted him from any participation in such a gratuitous insult. For his own part he had been taught from his youth upwards to keep free from all ■ paity politics. There ivas also another matter which he wished to direct attention to in the interests of the public at large. He was sorry to say that the Registration Office had been used by Mr Goldie's Committee to intimidate the electors. (Cries of "No! No!" " Sit down.") It was his intention to take the best legal advice obtainable to learn whether under such circumstances the election of Mr Goldie was valid. He might say that the present system of registration required altering. (Mr Goldie : " Hear! Hear !" Reference had also been made to what he had said on nomination day. But he could only say that when he made the remarks he fully belie ved th em and he believed them now. At the same time it was not in his nature to say words which would hurt any gentleman's feelings, and therefore he hoped that nothing which had been said during the election would be borne unfavourably in mind. He had no charges of treachery to make against his own supporters, but there was a class of men who were influenced by a short leader in the newspapers, but these were not the working men—they at least had been true to him. As he had said before, the struggle had been between tolerance and intolerance, and unfortunately in the present instance intolerance had got the victory, but the day would come up again when, if his health and other circumstances would permit, he would have no hesitation in again

fighting the battle. After again thanking his supporters Mr SherS resumed his seat. Mr Morrison was received with prolonged applause. He also thanked the 209 electors who had voted for him. Unlike his friend, Mr Shera, he had to complain considerably of treachery. He had to complain of having been "cold" or use a slang term. When he came forward he had double the number of pormises personally given to himself than the number polled. Many things had contributed towards his defeat. Rumours had been circulated without fou/idation that he did not care whether or not he got in, so long as Mr Goldie was returned. He might tell them that he had no connection with either of the other candidates, nor with any organization of any description—including secret societies. He thought that the time had come when candidates should be selected from the public platform alone. For his part, he had depended solely upon the working man, and some of them must have sold him. He had little doubt now that many of them felt that they had made a mistake. He did not refer to Mr Goldie as a man, but they all knew that a large section of the electors did not like Mr Goldie on account of his extreme views upon some matters. The Catholics did not want Mr Goldie, neither did another section of thecommunity. The Press too had worked against him. The position had not been o£ his own seeking, for he had been asked to come forward. But he could teU them that if ever the electors wanted him to come forward again he would be very shy of it. (Laughter) He had simply thought that as he had time to spare and was a little acquainted with politics ho might prove of service to the country, but because he had dared to speak of Mr Ballance and Mr Larnach in terms which they deserved, he had been crushed by the Press. Pressure had also been brought to bear upon the electors. He hoped that when their representative, Mr Goldie, went to Wellington, ,he would try and further tho efforts of Mr Mitchclson to do away with tho touting system at elections. When he looked upon the perfect organization of tho various societies — secret and otherwise —which selected their particular candidate, and enjoined all their members to support him, his wonder, was not that ho had not been returned, but that he had got any votes at all. (Laughter). Tho "Herald" had gone back to its own principle of inconsistancy, and what was the result? They had not got a united party returned. It had supported free traders and protectionists. In coming out he had no other object but to serve the country, as he had the time and money to do so. He thanked both those who had voted for and against him (applause), and he would go off that platform without the slightestanimosity against any person whatever. Mr Morrison resumed his seat amidst applause. Mr Goldie then moved a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. This was seconded by Mr Shera, who remarked that he wished it had been possible to allow the electors to enter by the front door and leave by the back. Mr Cotter in returning thanks regretted what had passed with regard to the registrations of electors. Ho quite ageced with what both the candidates said, although under the old system it was an amount of trouble when the rolls were made up once a year, but he thought it Avas a greater mistake to keep the roll in a transition state until almost the day before the election commenced. Every man, be he a bank manager or a poor man, had a right to vote, and should think it worth his while, should be able, to see some time before the writ was Issued that his name was upon tho roll. With regard to the extrahour for polling he could only say that he wished some of those who called out so much for the Eight "Hours Bill could have a taste of polling from nine in the morning until seven in the evening without any adjournment. He was glad that the time had been ample for the 1,460 electors to poll their votes excepting early in the morning, when about 250 electors wanted to record their votes in the first five minutes. With regard to the electors entering and leaving the buildin"1 by separate doors be could only express sorrow at any inconvenience that might have resulted. There had been so much said about back door influence that he thought it better that electors should be seen leaving the building by the same door through which they had entered. He again thanked the electors for their kindly expressions of goodwill, after which the meeting dispersed, some of Mr Goldie's supporters taking a ride in the triumphal car. That gentleman, however, steadfastly refused^ have anything to do with it. Parnell. The official declaration of the poll for this electorate was made at 10 o'clock this morning at the Parnell Hall. About 50 electors were present, with the returned member, Mr Moss, and his late opponent, Mr George. Captain Thomas, Returning Officer, made a few remarks congratulating the electors on the spirit in which the election had been conducted, and then declared the result of the polling to be—Mr Moss, 648; Mr George, 618, giving Mr Moss a. majority of 30. Therefore.he declared Mi^Moss duly elected. Mr Moss then came forward and thanked the electors for the manner in which they had supported him. "His election had been a "soldier's battle," and was a triumph of the working., men—the backbone • of the Liberal party — over interests strong adverse. His supporters had included some of the large-hearted from the " upper stratum," and a very considerable section of the more thoughtful and cultured of the young New Zealanders, of whose support as a born and bred colonial himself he was very proud; but, above all, his return was due to the solid front presented by the working men, whose numbers must always make them a powerful element in the party to which they attached themselves. He earnestly hoped for their own sakes, and for the sakes of their children,that they would hold firmly to the Liberal party, whose sympathies and traditions should draw them to it with hooks of steel. He was very proud of the support they had given him, but he was more proud of the triumph they had achieved for the Liberal cause by saving Parnell from going under the control of the Tory party. He urged the working men not to be induced to isolate themselves but to stick to the Liberal party, in which they would be a powerful element. United with the Liberals of all classes, they would occupy a high position and always exercise great power. Alone that power would be much diminished.' They had nobly asserted their independence in this election, and he should never forget the support they had, despite the strongest adverse influences, given to him. He had especially to thank the Committee, without whose indefatigable exertions victory would have been impossible ; and he had to thank the Liberal evening 'press for the invaluable aid they had also given. He could only once more express to them all his sense of the generous confidence they had placed in him in the past, which they had now renewed, and which he would do his utmost to deserve in the future. Mr George also thanked those electors who had voted for him. He attributed his defeat principally to the use that had been made against him of the reduction of wages in the Union Sash and Door Company ; to the mistaken idea that he wished for wacres to be reduced to 4s a day, which he ° had denied; and to the opposition of the Stab. He was confident that Mr Moss would never have got in if it had not been for the support accorded him by that journal. He had worked hard for his election.and canvassed freely,but he would not do so next time. He thought Qftnvass*

ing should be made illegal, as it was not fair to the electors. He then shook hands with Mr Moas and congratulated him on his success.

Mr Moss proposed, and Mr George seconded, a vote of thanks to Captain Thomas, the Returning Officer, and with three cheers for each of the candidates the assembly broke up. Ponsontoy. The official declaration of the Ponsonby poll took place at the Ponsonby Hall at 10 o'clock this morning. Mr Thornton, Returning Officer, presided, and Messrs Peacock, Wright and Cooper were accommodated with seats on the platform. There were about 200 electors present. The Returning Officer, in opening the proceedings, said that the length of time taken in enumerating was due to the care taken by himself to secure absolute correctness. He thanked the electors for the assistance given to him in conducting the poll in an orderly manner, and then announced the official result as follows :— Thomas Peacock 560 Charles S. Wright 548 Edward Cooper 187 There had been 19 informal votes. It was his duty to declare Mr Peacock duly elected a member of the House of Representatives for the Ponsonby district, in conclusion theßeturningOfficer said that an impression seemed to prevail amongst a certain section of fche electors that the ballot was not perfect. He assured them that it was perfectly secret. Some of the electors, acting under the impression that they thought they had voted correctly, had torn the official number off the corner of their ballot papers, and so had rendered them invalid.

Mr Peacock, who on rising waa received with considerable applause, said that in thanking the electors for his election as the representative of the new district of Ponsonby he desired to say a few words on two matters which had a bearing on his relationship with his constituents. He had found during the progress of the late election that a misapprehension existed amongsi the working men that he was in some way or another adverse to their interests. A feeling had been fostered during the election. He wished to disabuse their minds of this impression. To no man in Auckland intimately connected with industrial pursuits could this apply less fairly than to himself, because he had always had sympathy with the interests of the working men. The question more particularly related to the rate of wages and the hours of labour. The rate of waged was regulated by the inevitable law of supply and demand, with which no one could interfere, and as to the other question he was thoroughly in accord with the eight hours system (applause), and no fear need be apprehended of any danger to it from him. As to the second matter regarding which he desired to speak, he found that rumours had been circulated that he was somewhat, unapproachable in his manner. He could not understand how this was ; no man in Auckland gave a more cordial recognition to anyone than himself. He asked them to speak of him as they found him, and not to mind what others said. If any of the' electors wished to confer with him on any matter, if they saw him or wrote to him ho could assure them of a courteous answer and attention to their wants. They must be aware that it was difficult for him to remember so many faces, and if they desired to speak to him personally he trusted that they would make advances. In conclusion ho thanked them for the honor- they had conferred upon him, and plcd^ d himself to use the best of his ability to merit their confidence. (Applause. ) Mr Wright, who was received with prolonged applause, said " Defeated but not disgraced " his friends said he had come out of the contest, and he now desired'to thank those who had supported him. Those who had read the morning's paper would see some remarks that he was supposed to have made respecting his defeat, but the reporter who had seen him did not seem capable of getting the reason to which he had attributed his defeat. Well, the first cause was one which arose previous to the election. He had procured " claims to vote " for 2» persons who were entitled to be on the roll, but through some inadvertence or mistake the papers were lost. Mr Collins then promi?ed him that if lie obtained duplicates of the papers he would see the matter rectified. He (Mr Wright) secured papers representing 22 out of the 25 electors, when the Registrar refused to pJace them on the roll. He knew that at least 18 of these electors had attended at the polling-booth with the intention of voting, but of course were not allowed to do so. That 18, if polled, would have secured his return. Then of the 16 informal votes that had been rendered invalid in the manner described by the Returning Officer, he was informed by his scrutineer that 10 of them had been palpably in his favour and only two were for Mr Peacock. Even then he (the speaker) would have had a majority of at least 30 if persons not entitled to vote had not been placed on the roll,and|re^arding whichhe had forwarded objections. One of these which he specially noticed was G. S. Jakins,who was on the roll in respect of property he had sold for some years and had been away in Christchurch. He had objected to Jakins's name appearing on the roll, but it had been retained, and yet that man had the audacity to vote,and he had every reason to believe that others had done the same. Another cause of his defeat was the infamous Etateroents that had been made by supporters of Messrs Peacock and Cooper as to his honesty, which he denied, and were utterly without foundation and had no bearing or truth. There was yet another cause, namely that 112 non-resi-dents had voted—persons who though not residents in the district, had property qualifications. He believed that 30 of Wiese votes had been recorded in his favour, and 82 against him, so that, though the residents in the district had returned him, those outside the district had held the balance of power and had swamped his election. He said to the electors—do away with plurality of votes! Depend upon it Mr Peacock would not support one man one vote.

Mr Peacock here interjected that he had distinctly stated that he would vote for the abolition of plural voting. Mr Wright: Well, Mr Peacock's past attitude respecting measures for the abolition of plural voting justified him in believing that in future he would continue to support that system. In conclusion he had to thank the residents of the district, who by their votes had practically returned him. He had now come out as a public man, and he would endeavour to show that a statement that had been made concerning him—that he did not carry weight—was false. In every institution with which he had been connected he had been assured that he had given satisfaction to the majority, though it was outside the power of any man to please everyone. Mr Wright resumed his seat amidst cheers. Mr Cooper said that he might also say that though beaten he was not disgraced. (Laughter followed and applause which lasted nearly a minute.) He did not feel the least ashamed of the position he occupied, although he was at the bottom of the poll. (Applause.) He had at first felt hopeful of winning, but when polling day came he began to think that he might. lose. He had had the press against him—and one section of it rather bitterly against him—yet he wished to speak respectfully of the press, becausehe knew its power. He felt that the " Herald " had done him the greatest harm by anarticlewhichhadstatedthathis coming forward was splitting the votes. One paper i had insinuated that the object of his coming

forward was to assist another candidate. He wished to disabuse their minds oi this, and appealed to those who knew him if he was likely to lend himself to anything of the kind. It was a statement that one could only deny—not disprove. He thanked his supporters who had voted for him, even though they felt that they were supporting a forlorn hope. With regard |to those who did not vote for him, he felt that it was not out of illwill, but many of them doubtless felt that they would be throwing their votes away in giving them to him. He had come out too late, but he was thankful for the feeling of sympathy that had been expressed by those who had been pledged to vote for the other candidates. The feeling had given him great encouragement,vand in the future he would take an opportunity of testing that feeling. He had also to thank the other candidates for their friendly and amicable feeling, and considered that the contest had been the least bitter of any in the Auckland district. (Applause.)

A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, proposed by Mr Peacock and seconded by Mr Wright, terminated the proceedings.