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New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 2996, 7 December 1896, Page 2

The result of the election is now clear. The numbers are nearly all in, and those which are still to come cannot affect the result. That result is tabulated in another column. Of tho 14 Auckland seats eight have gone to tho Government, five to the Opposition, and one to au Independent, Mr Crowther. The rest of the North Island has 20 seats. Those are equally divided between the two parties, ton going to the Government and ten to the Opposition. Counting the three new constituencies won by the Government, tho Government gains are seven, their losses ate five, and eight seats remain as they were. The gains are Manawatu, Pahiatua, Egmont, Otaki, Wellington Suburbs and two Wellington seats. Tha losses are Taranaki, Wanganui, Napier, Waipawa and Kangitikei. In tha South Island, the Northern and Western part with six seats, a.e., Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland, has given them all to the Government. Canterbury with 14, has given nine to the Government and five to the Opposition. This is a clear gain of five to the Opposition. In Otago, nine of the 16 seats have gone to tho” Government, six to the Opposition, and ono to an Independent, Mr Kelly, of Invercargill. Of the 34 North Island seats the colours are— Government, 18 j Opposition, 15 j Independent, 1. Of the 36 South Island seats, 24 go to the Government, 11 to the Opposition, and 1 to the Independents. The totals for the 70 seats of both islands are— Government, 42; Opposition, 26 j Independent. 2. Thus the'Government majority is 16. It is a working reliable majority, safe on crucial questions. The Liberal victory, therefore, is substantial as well as striking. Another result of the election is that Prohibition has suffered severely. In the last Parliament the Prohibitionists numbered 23. In the House elected on Friday they number 11 all told. That party has lost more than half its numbers. Moreover, the local option poll has gone uniformly against them. Prohibition has been hit hard enough by the popular verdict to throw its pause back 20 years. Labour loses a few votes, three as a matter of fact, but the cause of Labour cannot without further evidence, for which we must wait for next session, be said to have met with anything like a disaster. The casualties of tho battle are rather heavy. Mr W. Kelly, Major Harris, Messrs Button, Mitchelson, B. M. Smith, A. D. Willie, S. Carnell, C. Hall, Dr Newman, Messrs T. Buick, Alfred Saunders, W. Collins, G. W. Russell, J. McLachlan,. Buddo, Pinkerton, Earnshaw, MoNab, Green and J. Mackintosh are the list of tho departed. The now men are Messrs Hereies, Holland, Bollard, Brown, Carson, O'Meara, McLean, Hunter, Symes, Field, Lethbridge, Hntcheson, Fisher, J. C.Wason, T. E. Taylor, Bolleston, E. G. Wright, Moore, Seobia Mackenzie, Fish, G. F. Richardson, T.W. Thomson and Gilfedder. Of course, we are sorry for the Liberals who havo fallen, and the Opposition will regret their losses also no doubt. The Ministerial side is improved in debating power decidedly by the result of the elections. On tha other side Mr Eolleston will make up for the loss of Mr Mitchelson, and Mr G. F. Richardson is a great addition to their power. The effect on tho general character of the House requires very little notice, Mr Soobie Mackenzie will contribute a teW set speeches, Mr Fish will contribute lots of ability ami power, so will Mr Fisher, and the rest we leave ia the hands of our readers, ’/.’1.i0 can seo for themselves that certain had qualities have been lost and certain bad qualities haya been gained, and that at the same ti W o certain good qualities have been lost and other good qualities gained. The worjflßg of the new mixture must bo seen before its real character can be appreciated.