ELECTION FOR THE GREY AND BELL DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XX, Issue 2045, 13 November 1872, Page 2

ELECTION FOR THE GREY AND BELL DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

Yesterday, at noon, the Returning Officer (H. E. Kenny, Esq.) ofjjoially deolared the result of the polling for the Grey and Bell. Neither, of the candidates were present, two electors and our reporter forming the audience. The Returning Officer stated that the result of the poll at its close was Mr. Carthew, 15 ; Mr. Connett, 143 ; and Mr. WeJls, 28. He therefore deolared Mr. Connett eleoted as representative of the Grey and Bell District in the Provincial Council. He further added the electors were no doubt already aware that no poll had been taken at Patea. The cause of this he might briefly explain. Some days since he wrote to Major Noake at Patea, askiug him to aot as Deputy Returning Officer there, as he had done so daring the Egmout election. He (Mr. Kenny) also forwarded a blank form, te use in case Major Noake would be unable to act, he could fill in the name of some other person. Major Noake was absent at Wangauui when this wasreoeived, and Mrs. Noake thinking the letter referred to matters relating to the Egmont election, did not forward it to her husband. When, however, the parcel oontaining the ballot papers arrived, she discovered her mistake, and telegraphed to Wanganui, but could not ascertain where Major Noake was to be found. The consequence was, no poll was taken at Patea. It was not of any vital consequence ; for, had the whole of the eleotors in the Patea District (including Hawera, Manutahi, and Carlyle) voted, it would not have affected tbe result, as there were only fifty --seven electors there ; and had the whole of them polled for Mr. Wells, who was the highest unsuccessful candidate, Mr. Connett would still have had a majority of fifty-eight. The 67th olause of the " Regulation of Elections Aof. 187<V' pfo^iHod fnr tiny accidental circumstance of a like kind happening. (Mr. Kenny read the olause). It was, therefore, his intention to write to the Government that day, aadaskthatanordorin Council might be published in the Government Gazette, to validate the eleotion. Cases of che kind might at any time happen — in faot, a Returning Officer might die suddenly, and there would perhaps be no means of replacing him in time ; snoh aocidents could not be foreseen or prevented. A IQte of thanks to the Returning Officer terminned the proceedings.

The EeV. E. Ward, and his Son, the Rev. J. Ward, have become very popular in Christohuroh. It has been decided by the Primitive Methodist congregation of that city to oommence oolleoting at once for the new ohuroh to be erected in Cam.bridge terrace. The amount required for that purpose will be considerable, and to raise it the congregation have determined to strain every nerve themßelves, and to appeal to the public of Christohuroh for assistance. The undertaking iB being gone into in a spirited manner, and is likely to prove successful.

Wesleyan District Meeting in Auckland. — At the district meeting in Auckland, it was recommended that the Rev. J. Smith, who has been through ill-health on. the supernumerary list for the past year, be again employed in fall work, his health being thought sufficiently restored to justify snoh a course, snbject to the approval of Conference. Mr. Smith was put down for Taranaki as second preacher, which place asked for an additional preacher. The following list of stations was made, and read for the first time :—: — Auokland — Reid, Oliver, Lewis ; Lawry, Wallis, and Hobbs, supernumeraries. (Mr. Keid having been invited by the Auckland oironit, and having accepted the invitation, the Conference was strongly recommended to make the appointment.) Thames — Crump, Willliams. Taraoakt — One from the South, and J. Smith. Raglan— O. H. Schnackenberg, Wire mo. Patene. Otahuho— < Bunn ; Buttle and Warren, supernumeraries. Kaipara — Gittos, Honi Waiti. Hoktaog*--Bowa». Waikato— One from the South.