THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED DAILY-(MORNINGS). NELSON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1887.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5016, 27 September 1887, Page 3

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED DAILY-(MORNINGS). NELSON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1887.

Owing to the want of complete returns it is too early yet to form a definite opinion aa to the strength of parties in the new Parliament, but it must -be at once admitted thatfthe Government have sustained a serious blow in the defeat of Sir Bobert Stout ana of the Hon J. A. Tole. It is true that the electoral roll for Dunedin City East has been challenged, and it may yet prove that the Premier's want of success is solely owing to the faci that names have been admitted upon the roll which should not have been accepted. It is indeed asserted that a large number of those who were admitted to the privilege of voting were not duly qualified, inasmuch as they had not resided within tha electorate sufficiently long to entitle them to vote. However, some time mast elapse before this point is settled, and in the meantime the Ministerial party is placed at a serious disadvantage. In the Nelson Distriot the supporters of the Govern- : ment have met with the success expected. Mr Levestam, for Nelson.City, has secured a majority over both his opponents; Mr Kerr, by a comparatively large majority, has defeated MrHursthonse; and Mr Beeves secured his seat, being unopposed.. The result of the foiling for the waimea-Picton seat is still unknown, Mr Harkness and Mr Seymour having bo far tied, but another return has yet to oome in, and upon it hangs the issue. It iuaid by some that Endeavor Inlet will give Mi Harknesß a majority, but others take a less favorable view. Whatever is the case, however, the Government have really scored & very large majority, for even should Mr fisymour be returned, he will only carry with him the votes of about a:third of the electors, flhile some slight consolation will be .found in the fact that the day been a fine one the result would in all probability have tan different. It is very unfortunate that Hmrs. Harkness and Mills should have divided the votes of their party 10 evenly; wt it ia still probable that Mr Harkness has ton, and, if so, he may claim to represent a We majority of the electors. For the Bailer Beat the return of Mr O1 Conor seems toured; and for Greymouth Mr 'Guinness w defeated Mr Petrie. Nelson has at all wants done its duty, and if the rest of the tolony has by reason of powerful interests, or .to account of votes being split up, failed to f}\ a compact majority to support the Niniitry, it is to be hoped that out of a ternpotaiy chaos will be evolved an able adminisjwien capable of guiding the destinies of the wlony, and that ere long an unprecedented <j»Iof advancement and prosperity will have wned upon us.