HE GENERAL ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9907, 28 November 1893, Page 2

HE GENERAL ELECTION.

POLLING i)AY, It is scarcely likely that any of our readers ill be allowed to overlook the important fact iat to-day is the day fixed for recording their )tes for the election of members to the House : Representatives. The polling booths are amerous, so that in the City and Suburban )nßtituencies at any rate there should be no reat obstacles in the way of every elector jcording his or her vote. HOW TO VOTE. » As there is a good dealc? misapprehension ispecting the way to vote, it may bo as well to ~ ay a few words on this subject. Each elector n proceeding to the polling booth will be asked is or her name by the returning officer or his eputy, who, finding the name on the roll, lands to the elector a-ballot paper. The lector, with the ballot paper, retires to the ecess provided and then strikes out the names f candidates for whom he or she does not lesire to vote, and after folding up the paper hould drop it into the ballot box. An lector in the City constituency must not leave nore than three names on the ballot paper, and n all other constituencies not more than one lame. A City elector need not, however, leave hree names onthe ballot paper. If he or she lesires to vote for only two candidates, then raly the names of the two for whom a vo^v^F*^ lesired to be cast should be left; or an ele£!: ;an "plump" for a candidate for the Cit^itriking out all but the name of the one candS**"*2^ late. It is important, also, that electors should realise that their..ballot papers will be rendered informal if they sign their names to them or j/ they mark them in anyway other than by striking mt the names of those candidates they do not iesire to vote for. ' THE POMAHAKA PURCHASE. • • .. (Feom Ouh Own Cobeespondent.) ; : -Faoierston, November 27. On the 23rd Mr Scobie Mackenzie sent the following telegram to the Hon. J. M'Kenzie:— I engaged the Palmerston Hall for 27th on express understanding that you were to have half °i it- I now invite you to make use of it to address the people, each of us taking 20 minutes at a time.—Scobie Mackenzie. - The answer was.— Your wire to hand this morning. re Palmerston Town Hall on 27th inst., I regret that you hava delayed so long in giving me the information aa to the express understanding on which you engaged the same, consequently I have made my . own arrangements without your assistance.— John M'Kenzie, Kakanui. The following telegram was also sent to Mr John Douglas, Palmerston:— _ . In consequence of your letter to the press, I now once more give you the opportunity of defending as man to man what I shall denounce in the face of the whole people on Monday night as . a shameless imposture practised upon the people of New Zealand.—Scobie Mackenzie. . To the above Mr Douglas replied as follows:—■ Scobie Mackenzie, Waihemo.—Your telegram reached me at noon to-day. Being laid up since Wednesday with a bad cold, Dr Hislop was then present treating me. I should certainly decline, except through the press, discussing matters of importance with any man displaying, as you do, such utter disregard of truth; whose logic is buffoonery more entertaining than instructive your aim being to smother the truth before it - could disprove—and what is more, expose—your vile, false accusations. It is reported that ere my reply was published you well knew those vila accusations to be . false. At any rate, you "now know this to be the case, so please not to inaka further utterances affecting my reputation. Your buffoonery is only equalled, by your treachery in pretending willingness_ to answer, but not yet answering, my queries in time for both your reply and my rejoinder to have been circulated before election, as have been your cowardly, vile, falsa accusations.—John Douglas. AUCKLAND PROSPECTS. (FBOM OUB OWN CtoMUBSPONDENT.) : Auckland, November 27. With regard to the City and Suburban elections it is hard to say how matters may eventuate, owing to so. many conflicting interests and divers party tickets. For the City the contest may be reduced to seven, Messrs Sheraand Vaile and Captain Fernandez being out of it. Doubts are entertained whether Sir G. Grey will head the poll, and some fear he may fall between two stools. Me has alienated and offended a section of the Liberal Association by his disavowal of' any connection with their ticket," and the more fieryspirits talk of. plumpiDg for the remaining two, Messrs Napier and Thompson. On the other hand, the National Association have excluded him from their ticket, say that as the Liberals brought him out, let the Liberals put him in, and that voting for him would be throwing away a vote needed for their own men. The direct veto people, again, are going for the three pronounced men—Messrs Withy, Button, and Tudehope. The Star to-night contemplates the possibility through these various causes of Sir George's defeat, and says Auckland will make herself the laughing-stock of the colonies if 6uch should prove the case. After reviewing his services and gifts, to her, it urges the women of both parties to give him at least one of their spare votes ,to prevent the contingency/of his possible defeat. Sir George is emplojing no agents or scrutineers, and is having no committee rooms, leaviDg every thing to the decision of the people at the ballot-box. Mr Napier has come to the front within the last two days, owing to) the Catholics having—under sanction, it is said, of ecclesiastical authority—determined to vi te for him despite his being opposed to aid to denominational schools. . It is reasoned that even with this disability it will be a gain to the Catholic Church to get into the House a clever and ambitious representative of that body. Mr Napier has apparently a good Bhow. with Messrs Thompson; Crowfcher, Button, and Withy contesting third place. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson is regarded as safe for Eden, while Messrs Shepherd Allen and Lawry are expected to finish very closely together. ;: • '"...'■.' Mr Tudehope, the Labour candidate, had a good meeting to-night. The trade societies are working heartily, for him. They are confident that if they'do riot place their man, he will at least occupy a respectable position. The Star has; dropped Mr Napier, and urges the working ( classes to vote for Mr Tudehope. Mr Napier at his meeting, to-night spoke bitterly of the t - attitude of the daily pres3 towards him. ' NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. Avcklasd, November 27. '*-'- The Hon. E. Mitchelson addressed the Eden electors at Devonport. His speech was a lengthy reply to the Hon. Mr Ward. Mr Napier : addressed a large meeting of electors at the City Hall to-night. A telegram was received from the Premier to the chairman of the Liberal Association stating that all true Liberals were on the eve of a great battle; It was the cause of the men, women, and children of the country against a select few who for so many years had dominated Parliament to the detriment of the country, and who, whilst having enjoyed all the benefits resulting from the expenditure of public money and increased population, had heaped taxation upon the ■ shoulders of the many. Napier, Novembefi!7r~~—^~ The Hon. J. G. Ward addressed one of the largest public meetings ever held in Napier the Gaiety Theatre to-night, the building being packed from the dcor to the" back of, the stage. About1 *0O women were present. Mr Ward spoke for • nearly three hours. His speech was in the ■ main the same as that delivered at Winton, but he devoted considerable, time to replying to criticisms of the Government's finance by the Hawke's Bay Herald and Mr P. S. M'Lean at a recent meeting held under the auspices of the" Women's League. The whole address was a trenchant defence.of the administration of the Ministry, and he was well received. He indicated that he would not support giving a Minister a seat on the board of Railway Commissioners with power of veto, but thought a Minister should have a seat. He concluded by advocating support for the Ministerial candidates for Hawke's Bay.. At the, conclusion a rote thanking Mr Ward and expressing confidence in the Government and pledging the meeting to support Mr Carnell, the Ministerial candidate, was carried unanimously. Mr Sutton has retired from the contest for Napier. Wellington, November 27. Mr T. Wilford, Ministerial candidate for the Suburbs seat, intends to take legal action igainst those persons who have been circulating certain statements reflecting on him. The open-air temperauce meeting on SaturJay night was .the scene of some rowdyism. '. Stones and eggs were thrown, and the speakers rere several times thrown from the platform. : n consequence of this action a sort of vigilance ommifctee has been organised by the Trades Council and the Liberal Convention for their ; peu-nir meeting to-night, and the services of' tie police have bsen invoked. ■ ■• ■ - , Mr Macdonald addressed a crowded meeting t the Opera House, and dealt with the charces gaiust the Government trying to-bribe candi- c ates to withdraw, and claimed that when I ivestigated the charges had utterly broken • 3wn. The Premier, despite his extreme oarseness, spoke for an hour, and called on i ie Liberals to vote straight, and do their * tmost to keep the Conservatives out He pclmed to nominate the Government ticket. '■ r P. Buckley followed with a very brief v Idress, merely saying he had taken up female ' auchise against his conviction, and passed it : irough unaltered. Ministers met with ay, ry ■ » ■rdial reception, and the candidate cpt a vote v thanks and confidence. **" tj^ .. -1- Nkls °s. November 27. Xhe most exciting meeting held in Ndwsn ok place at the Theatre to-night, wheu Mr >hn Graham received a vote of thanks and ' nfidence, but his opponents were present in the Port Hall, but someone took the key <' a admission could not be gained. The fioiU -morrow promises to be a bitter one.