GENERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4419, 12 January 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

EDEN.—DECLARATION OF THE POLL. The declaration of the poll for this district took place yesterday, at 3 o'clock, iu the new Public Hall, Newmarket. Besides the elect of the district and the defeated candidate, there were not more than half-a-dozen electors present. The Returning Officer read the results of the polling, as follows : — Tole. Taylor. Newmarket .. .. .. 200 136 Panmure .. .. ..41 54 WhftU _22 _22 Total 263 212 Majority of 61 in favour of Mr. Tole. The Returning Officer formally declared Joseph Augustus Tole, Esq., duly elected member of the House of Representatives for the District of Eden.

Mr. Tole said: Mr. Returning Officer and Gentlemen Electors of Eden,—l feel the position I occupy to-day very much. No one could be more deeply sensible of the honour and privilege which you have conferred upon me than I am, and when I look back at the peculiar circumstances surrounding my candidature and election, my gratitude becomes still more increased. I was brought out under the disadvantage of being unknown, even by sight, to most of you, and in politics thoroughly untried. My surviving opponent was a long resident in the district, and had moreover been before you thrice as many months as t had been days. The influential committee of gentlemen who, with the approval of Sir George Grey; and in the interests of this province, invited me to stand were made the object of every malignant .shaft of. calumny; ,and ridicule which it was possible for a hireling newspaper to direct against them.' My religious creed, even, was not free from its slanderous columns, and was dragged alarmingly by the same newspaper before" the public mind, with - a view to interpret that creed,into a .disability..; But notwithstanding all ~ tHese "accumulated "disadvantages, which! you were wise enough to regard with proper contempt, you carried meto this - happy"p"oint _ bf succesa vfhich I r regard as a victory of r no common magnitude;:' gentlemen,—l thank most jheartily,..and am ...proud,.pfsbe. Bpint of tolerance that you have* displayed * on all aides/ despite®these dishonest and despicable efforts—to divert your at ■ tention from _ the main, issue before the country. - It is' not so much the you have chosen as it-is 4he-principle; and hereafter[it will.be recorded of Eden, with honor,

' that in the hour of need, not less worthily than the rest of the constituencies in this province, she espoused the cause of justice and truth, and did her dnty. The election, I am happy to say, has been conducted with temperateness on both sides; and though Mr. Taylor has not been so successful as my-j self, still he enjoys this consolation, at least, 1 that his friends left nothingundone for his service throughout the contest. In conclusion, I can now only assure you that I shall endeavour to serve you faithfully and courteously ; and I trust that when next we meet you will have the same reason to be as satisfied with my conduct.as I have been with yours. Once more, gentlemen, let me I plainly and heartily thank you.

Mr. A. JE. Taylor said he came forward as the defeated candidate to return thanks to the electors who had supported him in his candidature. He trusted the gentleman who was elected woiild uphold the credit and advance the interest of the district; although bound hand and foot to his party, he would have many opportunities of serving the district. He hoped the expectations of the electors would be fulfilled, and that the phalanx of Auckland members who would go to Wellington would get for the province all its just rights, and place it in the prominent position held out in the promises of that committee to which they were pledged. A vote of thanks was passed to the Returning Officer, and the proceedings termi r nated.