THE WELINGTON ELECTION PETITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9403, 9 January 1894, Page 5

THE WELINGTON ELECTION PETITION.

' [BY TKLKaRAPH—OWN ebßfc^&NDKN*.] ; V:; ' s *'•' c ' WELLiNQTfts, Monday, I Mr. James, the Returning Officer, ! arrived in Wellington IftßtSjjgbfc.■' The mystery which enveloped the names of the petitioners is dissolved, bub so far as 1 It' relates to the service of -this • petition * Itself. 1 , the deposit zof £200 »9' the ' security, and the specific charges - Involved, there ft 'a great deal of obscurity, '- ' The charges ' jiri the petition are general, viz., "That the'said> Sir Robert Stout did at divers times and places make payments, (etc.," bub the clause which provides for, the.hearing "of ' the petitions ». (4) under 1 the electoral 4 law, provides that eaoh charge shall he specific and "its particulars" l eet out in the petition. Then as to the manner of the nervlce of the petition on the • Returning Officer.'' "I hear that Mr. James found one copy; of the petition in hfs officii 4 placed as if 'it had been Carelessly thrown in at 'the window; the window having been ; raised .from the outside for that purpose but there-was another copy served nt ! his; house. : This looks as if there ' had. been some' care taken to avoid irregularity of service. ! The names subscribed ; to the petition' are ; Robert James Lindsay, described as a " "com* positor"(an elector, residing in ' Taranakistreet), and John ' Roberta; (an • elector, residing >• in Herbert-street), described ' as a "waiter." ' It is said that Lindsay is employed in the-New Zealand Times office, hub so far as I' .'have ' been' able. to ascertain there 7 is' no : suggestion whatever that anybody belonging to the (ioverhment has had ; any part' iin originating lor promoting the 5 petition. Then, as to the security; « It was ' stated the petition originated with the " liquor party," but this is strenuously denied. It was affirmed thab ...when the petition / was brought to some of the hotelkeepors in this oity they condemned the attempt to. upset tho election. I observe'in the Southern papers it *" has been stated' that the liquor party hare had a [ hand in it to the extent of providing the money for the deposit. ' The rumour here is that, although the liquor interest here has had nothing to do with the business," "the trade" in another of the ! leading r cities have "found the money;" This is improbable from the ; character of the document which provides the guarantee. If the money came from a distance it would most likely be in a different form. ' Ib is, I am told, a bank receipt for £200, upon which no one can operate except the' Judge who may preside at the inquiry. ' No doubt this may be as good as' gold, but many people think thab the sequrity should consist of carrenb coin of the realm. 'I do not think tho point is Very material, supposing that it satisfies the Chief Justice, to whom the petition ''-was"forwarded- this" morning. His Honor the Chief Justice will' appoint two Judge? of the Supremo Court to hear the petition, and fourteen days* notice will be given of the hearing., /

. [by telkorapu.— association. Wellington, Monday. The Post says E. O. Canavan lodged a protest against Sir R, Stout's return on tho ground of corrupt practices, but afterwards withdrew it. ■ •,. ;■i ! - ,w'