DEFEAT OF ROLLESTON, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1893, Page 5

DEFEAT OF ROLLESTON, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

OVERWHELMING MAJORITY FOR GOVERNMENT. A CRtTSHING DEFEAT. BCOBIE McXEN^IE DEFEATED tfefe great 28th of November —Election day-r-is now but a memory of the past. In Whangarei there was very little excitement during the day, in fact, we may say none at all, though a number of vehicles were busy carrying electors —particularly the ladies —to and fro. And it is only now when writing this report we are reminded that it was the first time the ladies had ever voted j well, this great revolution in the franchise made no perceptible outward difference. The ladies went quietly to record their votes; tvithbut any fuss or excitement, and so far as Whangarei was concerned anyhow the new regime was ushered in almost imperceptibly. If the ladies had been going to Church, the proceedings could not have been carried out more quietly and correctly. If the same experience has been witnessed everywhere, the fault-finders with women having a vote will find here at any rate little room for complaint. The arrangements made at the polling booths by the Returning Officer, Mr Robt. Mair, were ample, and everything passed off smoothly and without a hitch. The first return to come in after the close of the poll was from Otaika, which gave fiarrisoii a majority of 1. Tlie "Whangarei returns were out about 7 o'clock, and most people were surprised at the large majority for Thompson. Though his return was considered certain even by extreme opponents, his majority was generally put down at between 300 and 600. Returns came in rapidly now, and Thompson's majority steadily increased till it passed 1000. The last returns reduced it again to below the four figures. The returns were posted at the Advocate office as they came in and extras were printed every half-hour. The Auckland returns did not come to hand till midnight. A large crowd gathered outside the Advocate office, and though there was a good deal of quiet banter, everything passed off quietly. During the election some very hard things were §aid, and the usual election perversions were as thick as flies around a carcase. Quite a number of leaflets were in circulation, all of which were alleged by some persons to have been issued by us. A printer is compelled by law to attach his name to all leaflets, &c, printed by him, and electioneering agents did not fail to represent that we issued them. Between 10 and 11 o'clock, Mr Thompson's admirers got a couple of torches, and, securing the Member, took him shoulder-high first to the Whangarei Hotel, then to the Settler's and finally to the Commercial. Both the Whangarei and Commercial Hotels had their tables laid for supper, and were thrown open free to the public. Mr Thompson thanked his friends, and assurred them it was the proudest day of his life, and that he would devote the next three years of his life to the service of Marsden. Following are the complete returns : —