THE SYDENHAM LICENSING PETITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8580, 30 May 1891, Page 5

THE SYDENHAM LICENSING PETITION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. press ASSOCIATION.]

Christchoksh, Friday. Tjie hearing of the argument in the Case of the Sydenham Licensing election, which .it is sought to declare void, was taken • in Banco this morning, before Mr. Justice Denniston. The case is exciting considerable interest, the Court being .well-filled with public, among whom are a number of ladies. A strong bar is engaged in the case. Messrs. George Harper, J. Bickertou, Fisher, and T. W. Stringer; are for the plaintiffs, and Sir Robert Stout, Messrs. Cargill and-. Widdowson for, the defendants. '■ , ', Mr. Harper, for the plaintiffs, argued' that as the Governor appointed any one of the local bodies having jurisdiction in Sydenham to appoint a returning officer for the licensing election, there was no elective office in respect of which a returning officer could act. \ Mr. Stringer followed,:' submitting that under the Local Elections Act the recent election was not an election at all. Sir R. Stout, for the defendants, contended that "local body" in" the Local Elections Act meant only /the borough or county council or road board, and that the Drainage 1 Board and Other bodies having jurisdiction in Sydenham had no jurisdiction for the purpose of appointing a returning officer for the licensing election except the borough council,, the one which had appointed the 'returning officer. ■■■ He submitted further that there was no invalidity of the election provided it were properly conducted in other respects. ' The Court adjourned at , half-past five p.m. Sir R. Stout will resume at ten a.m. to-morrow.