ELECTION REFRESHMENTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 916, 8 October 1879, Page 2

ELECTION REFRESHMENTS.

The case against Machatti, Dr. Wallis's electioneering agent, on a charge of illegally supplying refreshments, to the electors on City West polling-day, occupied Mr. Macdonald, the magistrate at Auckland, all Thursday. The suit, which was brought by Mr. Newman, the defeated candidate, was nominally to recover 40s. In opening the case, Mr. Tyler said hie would show that the com-mittee-room, and he believed everything in connection with it, had been hired and obtained in the course of the day, and was managed by the defendant, who was acting as agent for Dr. Wallis throughout the election during the day. Machattie supplied refreshments to a person who would be produced. This person would be prepared to say that in previous elections at City West, when Dr. Wallis was a candidate, he also supplied refreshments. This committeeroom was stored with refreshments, and at one stage of the proceedings beef was supplied at Machattie's order. A' room on the outside bore the placard stating | that it was Dr. Wallis' room, and inside another placard containing the words "Vote for Wallis." There were also inside of the room one or more electoral rolls for City West, and there also it was the custom for voters to come and get their tickets. While they were there refreshment in the shape of a glass of beer or sandwich was supplied to all who required it. Machatti kept up tie supply during the whole day, ordering fresh stocks of refreshments from time to time, as the others became exhausted by the great number who partook ofthem. Dr. Wallis was stationed in the passage leading to the room, welcoming voters, and inviting them to stop in for a glass of beer or sandwich as the case might be. He did not impute to Dr. Wallis or his able agent any corrupt motive whatever in the way t>f influencing the electors to vote in one direction, but it seemed patent that Machattie, on behali of the candidate, and the candidate himself were seeking to ingratiate themselves into the good wishes and feelings of the electors on that day by supplying them with what they required in the refreshment line. Mr Salter, deposed that refreshments were ordered by Dr. Wallis, but Machattie paid for them. The room was engaged,for Dr. Wallis' committeeroom. The refreshments consisted of beef, ham, bread, cheese, coffee, and lemonade.. . After laying the cloth, Machattie said ;they must have beer, and he sent a lad named Brinsdon for beer. He could not attend continuously to one room, as he had three candidates to attend to. He engaged a boy for each room, and often had to replenish the tables. The beer disappeared with wonderful rapidity, and the feeding went on until the close of the poll. No beer went into Mr Hurst's room, only sandwiches and coffee. Machattie paid him on behalf of Dr. Wallis and Brooking for Mr Hurst. The beer amounted to £2 11s. Both Mr Goldie's and Mr Newman's refreshment rooms were on the teetotal principle— sandwiches and coffee, but no beer. He did not see any person hand refreshments to the electors. Machattie said he ordered jthe beer without Dr. Wallis' knowledge, but Dr. Wallis paid for it. He ordered refreshments for twenty-four men with the carriages, and eight scrutineers ; he did not give anyone beer or draw a cork himself. James Campbell Foster Davis, draper's assistant, to whom Machattie was charged with supplyingrefreshments swore that they were into the committeeroom uninvited, saw the beer and sandwiches there, and took it themselves. Neither Machattie nor anyone else asked them to do so, or raised any objections. Keel, another witness, who had partaken of beer, made a similar statement. The case was adjourned.