THE ELECTIONS IN WELLINSION.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5074, 12 December 1881, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS IN WELLINSION.

[Bγ TBLB&B&PH.3 I PBOM OtJB COBMtSPOKDIWT.j WELLINGTON, December 11. The result of the eleotion in Wellington province is that the Government have gained juit the one additional seat given to Wellington by the Representation Act of laat sessien. The two former city members, Messrs Levin and Hutchison, one on each side, are reelected, but the third seat goes to Mr 0. Johnston, brother of the Postmaster- General. North and South Wairarapa, Hutt and Foxton (formerly Wellington county), again retHrn Ministerialists, and so doe* Waitotara (formerly part of Wanganui), while Mr Watt, who is a Ministerialist, has wrested the other Wanganui seat from Mr Ballanee. But against this must be put the loss of Bangitikei by Bir W. Fox, whose successful rival is an " Independent." However, bis leanings are believed to be Ministerial, and as I hear that Mr Bnohanan, the new Wairarapa member, who was at first classed as independent is also a safe Ministerialist, the net result is that Mr Hutchison, who if an ultra-Greyite, is the only Opposition candidate returned in the whole province. He was looked on as certain to be ousted by his two opponents, Messrs Coffey and Edwards, who foolishly treated the whole contest as tying between themselves, and utterly disregarded him, while he was working quietly bat very assiduously, and making great capital out of his loss of the Mayoralty. Had Messrs Coffey and Eiwards arranged for one to retire, the practical effect would have been the return of a compact body of Ministerialists for Wellington province. In Tβ Aro, Hutt, and Foxton it was unquestionably the uncertainty which attaohed to the action of Messrs Stafford, Jackson, and Buller respectively (who otherwise were favorites) which led many to vote for Messrs Johnston, Mason, and Wilson as safe Ministerialistf. The same mistake was made, however, in Te Aro as in Wellington, that of fighting a " trianpultr duel," and it was fully expected J that Mr Bhaw would slip in between Mr Johnston and Mr Stafford, as Mr Hutcheion did between Messrs Coffey and Edwards. The party management was thus exceedingly inefficient. It is reported that Mr Ballance's election was lost through the breaking down of a vehicle containing seven of hie supporters, who were consequently too late, but the story is not implicitly credited. There are also rumors that Sir W. Fox may be able to upset Mr Sievens* return, whioh was by a majority of only two, but this too is looked on as very dubious. The Corrupt Practices Act was a oamplete dead letter, cabs and carriages flying about as freely as ever, placarded with the candidates' names and the places at the disposal of the voters, while eatables and drink* ables were accessible to any extent. A good deal of regret is expressed at Mr Bunny's defeat, and forty or fifty persons went out by a special train to vote for him, as he is looked on as a valuable old servant of Wellington. There was tremendous excitement in the city till the returns from the ohief parts of the oolony were published. Willis street was blocked right across by a dense crowd till midnight; and the results from each electorate as reoeived were displayed at the " Evening Post" office. According to a local calculation the result of the European elections gives the Government 45, Opposition 34, doubtful 12; but counting the Maori voters, and allowing for the Ministerial leaning of the Independents, it is computed that an early division on a no-confidence motion would show— Ministerial 52, Opposition 42, the Speaker of cor-se making up the total of 95.