THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4425, 19 January 1876, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

•FRAXKXI2ST. RETURN OF MESSRS. LUSK AKD HAMIJN. Tiie election for the return of two members to the House of Representatives, for tne District o£ Franklin, took place yesterday. The Public Hall, Otahuhu, was the principal polling-place, and there a large number of the votes were recorded. A number of <:abs, a four-horse .'bus, and a ■special train, ran from town to Otahuhu during the clay conveying electors to that place. Of the five candidates two— Messrs. Lusk and Hamlin were the candidates of Sir George Grey' 3 party, Mr. Woodward was also hostile to the Government, while Mes"srs. Goodfellow and May were favourable tctbe present Ministry. There was not any great excitement over the election. Everyone appeared to be busy and earnest in the matter, and no time was lost in rowdyism. The supporters of Messrs. Luskaud Hamlin were particularly active in their canvass for votes. Voters were hunted up from all parts of the city and suburbs, and taken to the polling booth at Otahuhu. As many as sixten voters were taken in one 'bus, and several cabs were kept busy the whole of the day.. All the tovra and Otahuhu votes were recorded at the principal polling booth, but few voters were brought in from the country, as they preferred to vote at the district pollingplaces. It is rarely the case that more interest is felt in a contested election than was felt yesterday; party spirit ran high, but the proceedings were very orderly. Three constables were present, but their services were not required. No one attempted to create any disturbance further than what might be caused by a somewhat boisterous advocacy of, or opposition to, one or other of the candidates, in which word-battles several free and independent electors thought fit to indulge. These, however, were rare occurrences, and the proceedings altogether were very monotonous to those not actively engaged in the interest of either of the candidates. The general opinion, upon the close of the poll at Otahuhu, was, that Messrs. -Lusk and Havnlin had polled two to one agavnet the other candidates. This proved to be incorrect, as Mr. Woodward polled nearly as many votes as Mr. Hamlin, and within twentynine as many ae Mr. Lusk, who secured the majority at Otahuhu. Messrs. May and Goodfellow ran upon the same ticket, and in their interests the following circular was issued-: "Your vote and influence is respectfully solicited for Messrs. May and Goodfellow, whose interests are the same as your own. They will support : 1. Keal local government by liberally subsidised Road Boards, Municipalities, &c. 2. One Parliament and onepurse for the whole eolouy. 3. The land fund to be made colonial revenue, which can never be done, if we play again into Mr. Macandrew's hands by supporting Provincialism. 4. A national system of secular education, to be paid for out of the colonial purse, and not by a poll-tax. 5. A redistribution of Seats and Parliaments every three years. 6. Free grants of land similar to the Vesey Stewart settlement. Don't split the Abolition vote '." At half-past three o'clock a number of vehicles arrived at the pollingbooth, and there was a crush to the door, but five minutes afterwards all the excitement had died away, and but few other votes were polled. The result of the poll at Otahnhu was not know J. until five o'clock, when it was announced in the usual way, and was as follows:— Lusk, 135; Hamlin, 124; Woodward, 106 ; Goodfellow, 95; May, 51. This announcement was received with cheers. Three cheers were given for Messrs. Lusk and Hamlin, and three cheers for Mr. Woodward. The returns to hand shew that Messrs. Hamlin and Lusk have received the majority of voters throughout the district. Mr. Lnsk obtained the majority at Otahuhu, Bombay, and Maketu, Mr. Hamlin the majority at Pnkekohe, and Mr. Goodfellow at Papakura, while Mr. Woodward had the majority at Howick. The polling throughout the district was as f0ll0,T3: - " Wood-Good-Lusk. Hamlin. May. ward, follow. Papakura ..37 42 40 7 45 Walroa South.. 16 2» 22 2t 25 Makctn ..25 24 5 2 B Otahuhu .. 135 124 51 106 05 Pokono .. 1C 23 0 8 5 Pukekoho ..57 (S3 47 16 33 Bombay ..20 17 15 10 Iβ Howick ■■ iX - 1 al S5 ° Total .. ..317 340 197 201 23S There are still two returns to come in (from Waiuku and Patumahoe), but they are erpected to increase the majority of Messrs. Lusk and Hamlin, and, at all events, they cannot now alter the election. Messrs. Goodfeliow and May, who were the Ministerialist candidates, are at the bottom of the list, while the Opposition candidates, Messrs. Lusk and Hamlin, are far ahead. In the Franklin district, therefore, two supporters of the Ministry are supplanted by two opponents.

RODNE¥. KETtntN OF IEK. SHEEHAN. We give the complete returns for this district: — Sheehan. Moat. Mahnrangi .. ..47 32 Mahurangi He»di .. 65 45 Matakana 10 25 Omaha .. .. •• B 15 Port Albert .. .. 23 SI. Kaukapakapa .. .. U g Fuhoi _39 _J^ 226 208 Mr. Sheehan is thas elected by a majority of 18. [By Electric Telegraph.] [fbom otjr owu correspondent.] Taubahoa, Tuesday^—The final declaration of the poll for the East Coast district took place to-day. The numbers were :— Head 215 Morris 206 Kelly IS6 Jlttiho .. .. .. «• 10 Mr. Norria, on behalf of Captain Morris, entered a protest against Csptain Read for unlawfully treating, for corruption, bribery, and undue influences. The electors, who were met in great force, were enthusiastically .eupporting Mr. Norris's protest. The Eowena has not made heruppearance. Sto is supposed to be sheltered at Mercury Bay. ■VFattejiata —The polling for the District of Waitemata takes place to-day. There are four candidates—Dr. Lee, Mr. W. J. Hurst, Mr. J. S. Macfarlane, and Mr. T. Henderson, and it is expected thxt the election will be close. There are pollingplaces at Devonport, the Huia, Stokes' Point, Whau, Lucas' Creek, "Wade, Kaukapakapa, HelensviUe, Riverhead, and Henderson's M*M-. ■ BAY OF ISLANDS. Rt/sseix, Tuesday. The latest polling returns place Williams 47 ahead of Lundon. The Mongonui, Wanearoa, Oruru, and Kaitaia returns are not ylt received. It ii believed that Williams will go in, but with a. very small majority. NORTHERN MAORI DISTRICT. Further returns received from Pakia are as follows :—Rei Te Tai, 63; Hon Karaka Tawhiti,, 56 ; "Wi Katene, 50 ; Mitai renetana, 7. It is still believed to lie between Karaka and Puihi Pi. MOUNT IDA. ' ' ' The result of the polling at Naseby and St. Bathans for. Mount Ida election is :—De Hatonr, 163; Chapman, 42. Other returns are to come in, but will all increase Mr, De Hatonr'g majority , . . . 'j^,..

The following shew 3 the present position of the elections :— ~'-u-rtii™ Centralist!. Opposition. ; Axr«rxun>TOn •• •• ' ':': :: ::^:Soi& aESoa. ::■' •• ■'■» ..W. Montgomery Ashlky .. ..J. E. Brown ISS? V Dr - Henr} 'V. V.w. Iμ^ Christchobch. B. Richardson E.C J. Stevens ..TV. S. Moorhouse Cavershau •• ..Seaton CtivE ..J- D. Ormona DU.-EDIX .. _ ..E. StOUt " " ..W. J. Lamacb Dhkstan .'.' .'.' ■• "Py ke East Coast ..Held »">mii»< Eden .. J. A. Tole. . S t£55JT. Karaitiana Eomont .. - ..Major Atkinson .. .. fc i-itiSKUJT .. •• •• ;;j.- H a m u n Crßisy'* Bell ..Carririgton Gckvldikk ..Wakeneid Grey Valley..Woolcock ..Kennedy Heatucote ..J. J. Fisher ••_..,-•„,+ Hokitika ..Barff •• iNVERCir.aiLL Lumsaen I>VTTEr.ToN ..M. Ansley Kaiapoi ..C. C. Bowen Motiteka ..Hnrsthouse IUsAWTB ..W. Johnston .. .. Mmm* Wood Marsdkn- ..Sir B.Dougla3 .. BIODNTIDA DeUatowe Kelsox ..O. CurtU ..J. dbarp Nelson Sub'bs ..A. Richmond New Plymouth T. Kelly . •• •• Netyxon •. •• •• . ,w. Swanson Napieji .'.Sir r>. McLean o "™a •.• w - R : Bus . sdl ..aii^*.' PA«X«*J, .. -. •• ..B. G.WOod Pt. CUAT.MEK3 .."W. Bcyuolds EiveS™" .7 ' *. aU(:e .V "flodgkinson HoDNFT •• ..J- SneenfttL JJoslyn " '.". Burns Seltttk ..Htzroy Southern Maori _~„, DisTiti' t .. •• •• ..Taiaroa iS "W.Bowe .. ..Sir G. Grey TAIEBI D,Be i? TtJAI-EEA J. C. Brown TiMARU ..E. w. Stafford .. Totara ..Tribo "Waikouaiii ..G. McLesn "Wakatip .. Menders WAITAKI .. ;; ;; : ;HWOP M Waipa ..A. Cox ■Wallace Joyce Wellington ..E. Pearce „ ..G. Hunter Country* Dis A. Brandon WAiiiAKArA ..J.C.Andrew ..H. Bunny Waikato East..! , . TVhitaker ■WAKOAsni ..J. Bryce ..Sir J. Vogel .. .. Waik.ia Bastings Western Maori . . District .. •• ..HoamrTano "Waimea .. .. Baigent This makes the Centralists number 41, and the Opposition, 39. Amongst the Centralists, however, the Ministry have really very few supporters.