THE WAITEMATA ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4424, 18 January 1876, Page 3

THE WAITEMATA ELECTION.

MEETING OF ELECTORS. ! A. very numerously attended meeting . alectors was held in the Devenport Hall, North Shore, last evening. About 50 electors were present. Mr. Wm. Atkin took the chair, and read the circular calling the meeting. The object of the meeting was to consider the advisability of giving a united 3upport to one of the candidates at the ensuing election for the district of Waitemata. Mr. 0. May proposed the first resolution, ivhich was as follows :—" That it is desirable that the electors of Devenport and Lake districts should give a united support to one candidate, at the polling for Waitemata on Wednesday next." In support of the resolution, Mr. May said he considered it of the utmost importance that the motion should be carried and adhered to. If this was not done, he felt convinced that Dr. Lce : would be returned by a block vote, when he would only represent a little more than one fourth of the voters. He also explained that the meeting had not been called in the interests of any one candidate. The candidates were not directly informed of the meeting. Its object was to find out the opinion of the majority of the electors, and to assist them in returning their candidate in opposition to Dr. Lee. Mr. McKay seconded the motion. Mr. Buckland asked if the candidates had been consulted to this extent as to whether, if tho vote of the meeting was adverse to them, they would consent to retire. If this was not so, he did not see the good of the meeting. Hβ would like to know if there was any probability of tho candidates retiring. The Cuaibiian said that he was not propared to answer the question. It had been thought desirable that whatever was done should bo apart from the candidates entirely—that the electors should meet and j discuss the matters for themselves. |

Mr. Wμ. Brown considered the object of the meeting was to find the majority

and ask the minority to give way, and to give a block vote. For his own part, as the candidates were of the same political creed, aud pretty equally matched, he was willing to vote with the majority, provided they could carry aman in in opposition to Dr. Lee. He was of opinion that there was no partnership whatever in connection with the meeting, and had not the slightest idea of the feelings of the candidates iu relation to the meeting. The motion was then put, and carried, there being only one dissentient voice.

Mr. May said he had nothing to say in support of the next resolution, as it followed

naturally on the former one, and was, in fact a part of it. The promoters of the meeting had some earnest talk over the matter, and they had decided that they would not ask them to hold up their hands for the candidate, but would give them the opportunity they would have on Wednesday next—that of voting by ballot, so that they might vote privately. Cards had been printed and perforated, and could bensed in favour of their candidates. He would be bound by the majority, and he believed a large number of gentlemen would also be bound by the majority. He moved, " That it is desirable to givoSrach support to the candidates who may receive a majority of the votes of doctors at this meeting." Mr. Brown seconded the motion.

Mr. Allan O'Neill said that Dr. Lee had been proposed by an old resident of thirty years' standing, and had been seconded by a young gentleman—a rising genius in the place—and he would, if his candidate, Mr. Hurst, retired, support Dr. Lee. He said there were SOO electors in the district, and it was not right for SO people at a meeting to dictate to them./ The Chairnan said there was no dictation whatever, it was perfectly optional whether electors voted or not.

An Elector said that it was stated in the Star that Dr. Lee had dealt wrongfully with public money, and he thought this matter should be considered.

Captain Rattray said that no one knew better about that than Mr. O'Neil.

This being told by the Chairman to. Mr. O'Neill, that gentleman, in reply, said : I must state distinctly it is a thorough calumny. Mr. Leaman thought that the candidates would not be bound by the meeting at all; it was simply a question for the electors themselves.

Mr. Taxneb was of opinion that the proposed voting would place the electors in a peculiar position. Supposing they were pledged to a candidate who received a minority of votes and who refused to retire, then they "would be obliged tobreakoneof the pledges if they voted at the meeting. In case neither of the candidates withdrew, they could not all keep their pledges if they voted svith the meeting. The Chairman admitted that this was a difficulty, but considered that unless the course proposed in the resolutions was adopted they would lose the election, and Dr. Lee would be returned.

Mr. Sibbins wished to know what proportion of electiors there were present. Mr. Seaman said that in the North. Shore and Lake districts there were 108 resident electors.

Mr. May thought that in the face of the danger of Dr. Lee being returned as the representative of only one-fifth. part of the electors, the candidates would relieve their supporters of the promises made to them. The motion was then put to the meeting and carried.

The Chairman asked that no elector would take a ticket, unless he would feel boundin honor to vote with the majority. • i Upon this announcement being made ja number of electors left the room, and others refused to vote/ .. " ; ' .. ■— \

Mr. May then suggested that the votes should not be taken to bind the electors, but simply to shew the feeling of the meeting, and,

if possible, by-that means to induce-some of the candidates to retire. This course was agreed to, and announced from the chair. The tickets were then distributed, and afterwards collected in two hats. The ballot vote was placed r in one hot, and the unused cards in the other. : Both hats were taken to the chairman, who, supposing them to contain ballot papers, emptied them on the table, and thus : accidentally y destroyed the--ballotj. effectually. When the applause and laughter which was evoked by this mishap had subsided, it was agreed that it was not worth-while to again take the ballot. The meeting passed a vote ,pf thanks to the chairman, and separated. ;