THE OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7002, 25 July 1884, Page 4

THE OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

DUNE DIN CENTRAL. The official declaration of the poll for Dunedin Central district took place at tha Garrison Hall yesterday. The numbers were unaltered, Mr Bradshaw's majority bsing three. Thirty - three informal votea were given. r -

Mr Uke (roturning-ofiicer) declared Mr Bradshaw duly elected, Mr Bkadshaw thanked those who had voted for him, and especially his Committee, for the great sacrifices tkey had made to get him in. j He knew what they had done, because in going round the district he found that almost the whole constituency had been canvassed by some member of the Committee before him.— (Laughter.) This was not the time for making promises, bul to carry out promises made; and so far as he could he would do so, and perform what he had undertaken in his first published ■address.—(Applause,) Next week he would leave for Wellington, and the first thing ha intended to do was to record his vote against the present Government.—(Cheers.) If the Government were defeated it would be impossible to Hay who would be called on to form a Ministry ; but if Sir Julius Vogel was the man he would support him.—(Cheers and disapprobation.) Hisses did not affect him. 3Tor 10 years he had been in Parliament before, aad he was hardly absent one day from his duty. If ho could manage it he intended to be in the House at all times, and to see to his conetituents' interests and the interests of the Colony generally. He would vote against any Government that he considered was doing an injustice to the Colony and to Otago,—(Applause.) In conclusion he promised to keep his promises, and on his return to Dunedin to call his constituents together and give an account of his stewardship. Mr Bracken, who was received with cheers, said that he considered the election as much a victory for him as it was for Mr Bradshaw. The result was due to the want of energy on his part, and to his dependence on the votes of the entire working classes, which he considered he was entitled to for the service he had rendered their cause during the Parliament just closed.—(Applause.) He took his defeat in very good part,—(Hear.) So far as Mr Bradshaw was concerned personally he had the greatest respect for him. That gentleman had conducted the election in a fair and honourable manner; at the same time he (Mr Bracken) could not help saying that a portion of the Press of this city had not treated him fairly. He had been misrepresented and mis-reported. He did not object to fair, honest, manly, and open criticism— in fact he courted it. He thought it was the duty of journalists to_ point out shortcomings on the part of public men, but not to pick them to pieces when they could not point out where they were wrong.—(Applause.) The electors had been told that he was a nonentity, that he lacked commcn sense, and that he was a failure in politica. Let them ask those gentlemen who had worked with him in Parliament whether he was a failure.—(Cries of " No."} He had received a number of telegrama from members of the House which would disprove what had been written. One of these just placed in his hands would echo the sentiments of the others, and he would read it: "Regret to hear of your defeat; it takes away most of the pleasure of my own victory. You deserved better treatment.Man's ingratitude in political matters 1b immeasurable." —(Applause.) That came from: one of the most honest politicians in the House—Mr Seddon, of Kumara. So far as Mr Bradshaw was concerned, he (Mr' Bracken) was satisfied that he had sufficient intelligence to serve Dunedin Central faithfully—perhaps as faithfully as he had done. He (Mr Bracken) could only say that during the time he had been in the House he had acted faithfully, honestly, and to the best of his intelligence for tha interests of this constituency, and of New Zealand as a whole.— (Applause.) He thanked sincerely those who had voted for him, and also the Committee who had worked so energetically for him. During =the contest it had been stated that he intended leaving Dunedin to take up hi 3 residence in Wellington. At that time he had no intention of doing so, and would have remained among his constituents, had he been elected. But now the case was different. He had had uffcra to go to Wellington, vand he intended to leave this city in two or three weeks' time and take up his permanent residence there. Although away, ho would never forget this Queen City of the South, where he had first made a name, and had made so many friends ; and he would never forget the kindness of the citizens in electing him to the honourable position which he had held.—(Great applause.)

Mr Gbant spoke, and concluded by proposing a vote of thanks to the returning-officer. In seconding the proposition, Mr Bbadshaw expressed the opinion that Mr Ure had proved himself the premier returning-ofiicer in New Zealand.—(Hear.) The proceedings then closod.