THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE COUNCIL ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8886, 24 May 1892, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE COUNCIL ELECTION.

The election of a member of the Auckland University College Council by the members of the General Assembly took place yesterday. There were two candidates — the retiring member (Mr. J. 11. Upton) and Mr. Jackson Palmer, M.H.R. The poll, which was conducted by Dr. Kidd, Registrar and Returning Officer, began at ten o'clock a.m., and closed at five o'clock p.m., resulting as follows : — .T. Palmer 13 J. Upton 9 Mr. Palmer was therefore declared elected. The election took place at the University College buildings, whore a ballot box was placed for the votes. Very few votes, however, were sent in yesterday. Practically all of those polled, or at least enough to constitute a majority, were given days before, by papers signed by the electors. These papers, each of which authorised the returning officer to record the vote of the sender, ranked as equivalent to personal attendance. Some of tho papers were lodged before the time for receiving nominations hud expired ; but Dr. Kidd did not record any votes until yesterday, the day of the poll, especially in view of the contingency that an elector declaring his vote at an early stage might wish to recall it before polling day. Though the returning officer holds that the papers which were sent to him before the period for the nomination of candidates had ended, were not in themselves votes, but merely documents giving him authority to record certain votes, the objection has been raised that to receive them at that stage must invalidate the election, and it is understood that somo of those interested intend to contest the matter.

Following a practice which obtained in previous years, the Council had authorised tho Registrar to conduct the election. That portion of the Auckland University College Act which bears upon the subject is as follows ;—" The first election of members of tho Council by members of the General Assembly, shall be held in such manner as the Governor-in-t ouncil shall direct, and subsequent elections by members of tho General Assembly shall bo conducted by the Council in such manner as the Council thinks fit." The Registrar, have received the authority, and having consulted the Chairman, invited nominations, and appointed a day for the polling. The Council afterwards took a lcjal opinion upon the question, when they were advised to hold a special meeting to declare their sanction of what had been done,and togive directionsas to the maimer in which the poll should bo conducted. This meeting was hold yesterday morning, before the poll began. Sir (i. M. O'Rorke presided, and there were also present —Miss Edeer, Bishop Cowie, Colonel Haultain, the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Crowther), the Rev. W. Motley, and Dr. Mackellar. A resolution, proposed by Colonel Haultain, approving of the terms of the advertisements of the Returning Officer, and directing that the election should be procee ed with in the manner indicated in these public notices, was adopted unanimously. This meeting, the Registrar states, was held not to remedy an irregularity, but to more effectually provide against any objection which might afterwards be made.