THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 7332, 3 October 1887, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

As soon as the defeat of Mr Bryce was definitely known at New Plymouth, it was decided to send him the following telegram, to which were annexed a large number of signatures of local residents:—"As members of a community which owes much to the wisdom and firmness displayed by you during your term of office as Native Minister, we beg to express our sense of the loss which New Zealand sustains by your absence from Parliament."

At the official declaration for the Taieri, Mr Fulton, in the course of his remarks, said: "I have to thank the energy and determination of the gentlemen who supported me. I that I feel prouder at the result of this election than I was with' that of the previous one, because on looking around me, and seeing the large number here who supported me heartily and willingly, I can see that I was supported by what I bdfeye to be the intelligence of the djstrict.' 4 f ew fftrniera opposed nw, but they were a very few.' (MrCharters : 'You don't know that.') Yes; I do know it. Well, all I have to say, gentlemen, ia that I again thank those who worked and voted for me, and that the Taieri district has again pronounced its preference for a representative whose character they know and who has lived amongst them for many years and who has pronounced for the strictest eppnoiny, rather than for one who professes to go in for the sake of what he cap ' grab ! for the district, though you will find me doing my best for the interests of the Taieri." Mr Carncross said:—"l defy or challenge Mr Fulton or anyone to show that i gral)' wag the main plank of my platform; it is utterly wrong to make such a remark concerning me. I may not have an opportunity of appearing before you again; and I will gay that, although a. defeated aandidate, I fegl very proud of the position I occupy on the poll j and also, gentlemen, that as sure as I am standing here before you, I am per? tain that if it had not been for the terrorism that was exercised by certain of Mr Fulton's supporters over certain other people in the district Mr Fulton would not have been at the head of the poll. I say, gentlemen, it is a well-knovkn positive fact in Mosgiel that some of Mr Fulton's supporters intimated to certain men in Mosgiel who were on my Com, mittee that if they worked or voted for me they would get no more work from certain quarters. That is not ejegtioneering; it is monstrous tyranny. Any man who could aet like that to win votes has not a heart big enough for a rat.—(Applause.) Bear in mind, I do not blame the men who were thus coerced into silence ; tliey are men in a dependent position, aif>d wpre forcep} oyer to tf}e other side, but I have the utmost "contempt tor those men who could prostitute their influence in thus bringing it to bear on those I have mentioned. I acquit Mr Fulton of any share in tfiat; it was his misguided supporters who have dpnp }t. J J have proved to ypu before that I can take a defeat like a man; and not malign worthy motives—(applause) I 'have only referred to these unfair means brought against me i& the interests, of common decency and in the interests-of those who may come after me."l• ■ Two of the supporters of Captain M'Kenzie,' for Waikaia, caused the defeat, of their candidate. They believed in voting early and often; consequently they voted at' two' pojling places; iThe result'was to aye a majority'bf three. 'Their apt was djsQoye'reii when all' the roturhg were examined', and f;lieir double votes disclosed. The result was to land then? man \a a'njinorjtv of' ijne. jjacj th.ey beep satisfied with one vote eash, the Captain woujd have been returned by one w vote, They should believe in future in the potenoy of the old maxim that honesty is the best policy. :