ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT A COUNCILLOR.

Evening Star, Issue 11893, 22 May 1903, Page 4

ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT A COUNCILLOR.

Mr E. H. Carew, S.M., sat this afternoon to hear a petition by tho electors of South Ward, in the Borough of South Dunedin, under the Regulation of Local Ejections Act. 1876, and the Municipal Corporations Act, ISOO, and the amendments thereof. The petitioners contend that the election to the office of councillor for South Ward in the said borough, held on April 29, 1903, at which William Cuttle and James Edward Offen were declared to be duly elected, was void, on the ground that Thomas Meston. one of the persons signing the nomination paper of the said James Edward Offen, was not entitled to sign. They prayed, them fore, that an inquiry be made into the said election, and that Offen's election might be declared void, and the candidate next highest on the poll, not being already declared elected, or whose election is not vo'd, shall be declared duly elected. It was admitted by the declarants, and by Mr Offen. inter alia, that the name of James Meston appeared on the district electors' roll in force for South Ward on tne date of nomination, and that no scrutineer required the re'urninp officer, nor did the returning officer, put to the said James Meston when he proposed to vote, the question set forth in section TO of tho Municipal Corporations Act of 1900. Mr Hanlon appeared m support of the petition, and Mr Gallaway for the respondent. The question upon which the case hinged was whether or not the roll was conclusive. After hearing evidence Mr Carew announced that he would reserve his decision.