THE HUTT ELECTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 386, 5 July 1879, Page 11

THE HUTT ELECTION.

The nomination ot candidates to represent the Hntt district in the House of Representatives took place at noon on Monday at the Court House. There were about forty persons present.

Mr. Ebenezer Baker, Returning Officer, read the nomination papers as follows : Mr. Nathaniel Valentine proposed, and Mr. R. Cl llano seconded, Mr. Henry Jackson. as a proper person to represent the Hutt. Mr. Willi ah Milne proposed, and Mr. David Speedy seconded, Mr. Thomas Mason. Mr. Jackson, on coming forward, was received with cheers. He said his speech would be a brief one. He had already expressed Ins views pretty fully, and it was unnecessary to go over the same ground again. He would however mention that should he be elected, he would endeavor to reduce the burden of taxation on the poor people, and impose it more fully on those who were able to afford it. He would advocate the settlement of Crown lands on the deferred-payment system, the conferring of borrowing powers on local bodies and foir ter mg local industries. He would bo in favor of securing another loan in order to carry out public works. lie believed iu manhood suffrage and triennial Parliaments. Mr. .J ackson, in answer to a question, said he had never opposed a toll being taken off tbe Hutt bridge. Mr. Mason, the other candidate, then briefly addressed the electors, and recapitulated the remarks made by him at bis former meetings. He promised if elected to fulfil bis duties faithfully.

A show of hands was then taken with the following result Mr. Jackson, 24 ; Mr. Mason, 9. A poll was demanded by the latter gentleman.

A vote of thanks was accorded to the Returning Officer for the impartial manner in which he had conducted the proceedings. Mr. Baker, in reply, said that his duty in connection with Hutt elections had always been light, because of the orderly behavior which had characterised them. Pie trusted that the forthcoming election on Wednesday next would not prove any exception to the general rule.

Wednesday was the day fixed for the election of a representative for the Hutt constituency, this seat having been rendered vacant by tbe resignation of Sir William Eitzherbert. The polling places were the Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt,° Taita, and Wainuiomata, the head quarters being at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Lower Hutt, where the returning, officer, Mr. PI. Baker, presided, being assisted by Mr. Power as poll-clerk, each candidate alio having a scrutineer. The candidates were Messrs. Henry Jackson and Thomas Mason, two gentlemen of almost identical political views, and each being well known to the electors. It was, to a certain extent, expected that the contest would be a keen one, —at all events, by some of Mr. Mason’s friends—and the large majority which the successful candidate secured was consequently somewhat of a surprise to many of that gentleman’s supporters. The committee of Mr. Jackson worked very hard in the interests of their candidate, and several vehicles were actively engaged during the day iu conveying electors to the polling places, each vehicle bearing a flaming placard advising all and sundry to “ vote for Jackson, the Liberal candidate.” The posters were also displayed in shop wiudows, and other prominent places. Mr. Mason’s comns«jsee did not appear to work with such zeal, Mid no posters bearing the lather gentleman’s name were to be seen. The polling commenced at 9 a.rri., and was kept up briskly throughout the day ; a very large number of people giving their votes.

The proceedings throughout were very orderly, but few cases of drunkenness coming under” our notice, and nothing whatever approaching to rowdyism occurring ; there is however nothing remarkable in this, Hutt elections being celebrated for the quiet manner in which they have been conducted. The special train which left town at noon took away a goodly number of voters residing in Wellington, anxious to record their votes for Mr. Jackson. The poll closed precisely at 4 o’clock, and no time was lost in making up the returns, these being forwarded without delay to headquarters with the exception of those from the Upper Hutt, which —from causes explained in our local columns—were not received till G p.m. The official state of the poll was publicly declared by the Returning Officer at 4.30 p.m. yesterday, but up to our going to press we had net received the returns, meanwhile the supporters of Mr. Jackson will be glad to know that their candidate has been returned by a large majority, as ascertained from the rough state of the poll, which we give below. These figures may be affected to a slight extent by a more careful scrutiny, but of course the result will not be altered: —-

Majority for Jackson, 99.

Jaokson. Mason. TjO'.ver Hufct ... 125 45 Upper ilutfc ... 42 13 Taita ... 11 18 Wainuiomata ... 5 8 183 84