Local Option.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 16, Issue 93, 2 December 1902, Page 5

Local Option.

The result of the local option in some parts of the colony is not yet quite clear As the returns stand at present, the districts which have carried no license are:—Newtown, Mataura, Ashburton, Clutha, and possibly Chalmers. It was thought that prohibition had been carried in Awarua, Bruce and Kaiapoi, but this appears to have been premature. Invercargill was nine short of prohibition, and Awarua about thirty. At Kaiapoi, reduction, not prohibition, was carried. It is understood that the following districts have also polled a majority for reduction : —Egmont, Grey Lynn, Caversham, Napier, Riccarton, Dunedin, and possibly Franklyn. Dunedin, November 29.

The actual result of the local option votes for Bruce will not probably bekn~wn h°fo-e Saturday, as some of the booths had n t returned the number of voters. A careful examination based on the voting in he Parliamentary e'ections appears to show that there are 60 short of carrying prohibition. The voting was Coirinuance 1558, reduction 2099, no license 2284. It is said that an attempt will be made to upset the city local option poll, on the ground that ballot papers in two. booths were not delivered simultaneously. The actual result of the vote at Ch-.jmers may not be "known for a couple of days. Locally it is acknowledged that the present margin is too close to justify sanguine hopes of being able, to retain the no-license majority. The corrected local option figures for Caversham are as follow :~Gontinuancp .2395, reduction 2856, no-license 2936; total votes 8187 ,; reduction carried. Invercargill, November 29, The latest figures indicate that prohibition will be defeated in Awarua by about thirty votes. Up to the time of wiring nothing has transpired regarding a scrutiny of the Invercargill licensing poll, in which it is announced that prohibition was within nine of being carried. Should the figures be sustained or altered either way it is almost certain further proceedings by the parties interested will be taken, each declaring that it knows of irregularities tlip.t should upset the poll, Ashburton, November 29. It is likely that an attempt will be made to upset the no-license vote, on the ground that the law has been violated in the preparation of the rolls.