The Wellington Suburbs Seat.

Hastings Standard, Issue 241, 8 February 1897, Page 3

The Wellington Suburbs Seat.

[BY Tei.eou.U'H

(P. /- P/. v. ./ i-ti-il.)

Wki.ungton, This day

The hearing of the petition against the election Mr T. W. Wilford, Wellington suburbs, began this morning, before the Chief Justice and Judge Connolly. Messrs Chapman and Morrison for the petitioners and Messrs Skerrett and Bean for Mr Wilford. Most of the morning was taken up with the opening of the case. Mr Chapman explained the grounds relied on were bribery by money payments and promises to obtain employment to electors, and that Mr Wilford registered on the electoral roll in respect of a non-residential qualification only. He proceeded to detail the names of per-ons alleged to have been bribed ; and with re-peer to the other grounds relied on, he said Mr Wilford appeared to be registered upon a freehold qualification and since the Act of 1800 no- such qualification existed. He stated they would produce a letter in Mr Wilford's hand-writing asking the Premier to give a post to one Muldaney. This letter had never reached the Premier. In the election petition George Lindsay said he was joint secretary of Mr Wilford's Mitcheltown Committee. He denied absolutely that he had ever received any money from Mr Wilford, but before the election he had received £3 6s to pay sundry accounts owing' by Mr Wilford to others. Several persons had claims for services at the previous election which they stated were* not settled, and witness told Mr Wilford that it would be better to id ve him money to pay them. He got a cheque, and paid one Biddle, a scrutineer, 10s ; he paid l*:< 17s for rent of ball, and was to pay the owner of the hall the back rent, but not finding him he returned the rent money to Mr Wilford. One Young claimed £1 1 - as messenger, but the Committee had only provided 10-. and witn"-"s refused to give him anything at all a- he r.ouM not take 10s. Mr Chapman proceeded to examine witness as to his feeling toward- Mr Wilford, and Mr Skerrett objected unless Mr Chapman received permission to treat him as hostile, lie was then informed that if be answered truthfully he would be indt nmifi td against any criminal proceedings; but he denied he bad said it was no use Mr Wilford coming to Mitcheltown, unless he squared up for last election, or that he had promised anything to Draddock and Spring.