THE ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume XXXII, Issue 4408, 16 September 1879, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

ASHLEY ELEOXION.:, The declaration of the poll took place at the Town Hall, Amberley, on Monday, 15th instant. I ' The Returning Officer (Mr Whitefoord) said he had simply to announce that'the state of the poll as returned from the several polling places on the day of the election was substantially corteofc. He said it appealed that, afc one or two places, some votes, amounting to sixteen in ell, were informal; but, as they did not affect the result, he did not think it could in any way invalidate the election ; nor did he think it worth while ■to open the ballot papers. There was, also, » possibility of several names on the electoral roll being in duplicate, or even in triplicate, and, on the other hand, there might be persons in each of the several districts having qualifications " though not on the roll," of the tame Christian and surname... as those whose names appeared as owners or eccupiers of property in the different placer, and they might vote innocently, under the impression that they were the particular persons enrolled. Hβ thought that there sheuld be a better revision of the roll, and that clerks to Road Boards should . attend the Court end give every assistasce in their power to the revising officer; otherwise it opened the door to personation and other corrupt practices, fie said, also, that he considered voters very careless of registering their names and qualifications till an eleotion ensued, and then they regretted their laxity. He had nothing further to add, but he would declare Mr William Sefton Moorhouse duly elected to represent the Ashley district in the House of Bepresentative*. The result of the polling was : W. S. Moorhouse 337 W. 0. Fendall ... ... 272 r 3. A. Cunningham ... 58 Mr Fendall asked the retnrning officer how it was that a number of elector* who had paid rates for above six years were struck off the roll.

The Beturning Officer said he bad no control over the matter. Hβ thought such electors •hould look after their own interests. Hβ knew that the year before last the rate roll was objected to upon purely technical grounds. Mrßenn said he had to apologise for tho non-attendance of "Mr Moorhouse that day, as through a mistake in publishing the date, he was not aware the official declaration of the poll would take place before Wednesday. He only became acquainted with the fact; at half-past ten that momiDg, and that was of course too late for him to be there in time, but he (Hγ Bsnn) had received a telegram from Mm saying, '• Pleaee tell friends I thank them heartily, and will publish addrese tomorrow." Mr Fendall eaid he was defeated, but, as he told them before, he did not consider it any disgrace to be beaten by so powerful an opponent as Mr Moorhoute. He ssid they must be well aware that he had been swamped by the electors from town. [Ones of " No."]] He thought that on the next occasion they would clearly tee that it was to their advantage to return followers of Sir George Grey, i as it could not be to the advantage of the settlers to return Mr Moorhousa. He would again return thanks to those who had sapported him, and would recommend the 1 country people, whether he came forward again or any other candidate of the same yiewr, to be as energetic as their town friends in these matters. " ' ■ Mr Onnniagham said he had come forward ] too late in the day, but his friends insisted . upon bis going to.the poll, and should it be his good fortune to b» called upon again, he

I should be happy to enter the field and share I the glories of yictory or defeat. I A rote of thanks to the Beturning Officer I concluded the business. x _ ..