BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 15

BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT

THE FINAL RETURNS. AUCKLAND, June 9. The following are the final figures for the Bay of Islands election: WM. STEWART (M.) ... 5217 George G. Menzics (O.) ... 2316 THE NEW MEMBER. Mr Stewart is an Irishman by birth, having been born in County Antrim 53 years ago. Ho arrived in the dominion with his parents when five years of age, and, except for a short period when he was serving as a cadet in the Post and Telegraph Department in Wellington, has always been closely connected with the township of Kawa Kawa. After owning and conducting a drapery business for a time in Auckland, Mr Stewart commenced as a storekeeper in Kawa Kawa, and right up to the present time has always had largo commercial interests in that place, where he is regarded as a power in the welfare of the town. For the past 22 years Mr Stewart has taken a keen interest in local body matters, and at the present time he holds the position of chairman of the Bay of Islands County Council, and is also chairman of the Bay of Islands Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Some time ago he retired from business to engage in farming pursuits, but he still retains an active interest in public and commercial life. Ho was a member of the recent Gum Lands Commission that toured the north. Mr Stewart has been a consistent supporter of Mr Vernon Reed, and is extremely popular. Mr Stewart has not previously sought parliamentary honours. STATEMENT BY SIR J. G. WARD. AUCKLAND, June 8. Sir Joseph Ward arrived hero to-night from Whangarei and the Bay of Islands. Referring to tho result of the by-eleo-tion, he said he accepted the verdict of the electors philosophically. His party had fought a hard fair fight, and Mr Menzies had done the best he could in a huge electorate in the limited time at his disposal. Sir J. G. Ward declined to make any statement on the political situation until after tho Taumarunui election was decided. Tho result of the polling in December last was: —V, H. Reed (Ministerial), 2328* Dr To Rangihiroa (Opposition), 2220; G. Wilkinson (Ministerial), 1576.