ELECTION NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143672, 16 December 1911, Page 2

ELECTION NOTES.

WELLINGTON NEWS. (Special to Herald.) WELLINGTON, Deo. 16. One very regrettable feature of last night’s proceedings was the treatment meted out to Sir Joseph Ward and members of his family by a section of hoodlums and youths, who followed them with much jostling to the gates of Awarua House. They were an entirely irresponsible crowd, and from all accounts a number of them had taken more liquor than was good for them. The polling for members in the three Maori electorates will take place on Tuesday next. In the opinion of some it is thought that the Government reverse may slightly affect these elections. I anticipate that Dr. Buck will be reelected for the Northern Maori electorate, seeing that there are ten other candidates in the field and there is no second ballot. For the Western District Mr. Kaihan will probably be returned, though he has lost some ground with the electors of late years, and Dr. Bomare may give him a close run. Little is known here as to how the Southern .Maori contest is going. Mr. Ngata (Eastern Mapri) has, of course, been returned without a contest. Parliament stands prorogued till the 23rd inst. Sir Joseph Ward will not. decide nnou any course of action until the final returns of the elections (including the Maori elections) are in. Messrs. TTerries and Herdman both endeavoured to get a hearing for Sir Joseph Ward from the crowd at the New Zealand Times office last night, but their efforts were unavailing. The newspapers who have already ' started Cabinet-making are somewhat premature, and probably also somewhat out in their prognostications. There is no doubt, however, that there is excellent material in the Opposition ranks for the formation of a strong and capable Ministry. The Government, on the other hand, is in a had way for Cabinet reconstruction. Sir Joseph Ward has two portfolios to place, and may have some difficulty in selecting his' men. Mr. Ell, as senior Government whip, would no doubt have a first , claim.** Two young ladies who were passengers on a steamer coming to \\ ellmgton last night received a wireless messfigo giving the result of the elections. Tiler got out of bed and gave a cheer, greatly to the astonishment of the adjoining sleepers, who thought they had suddenly gone out of their minds. Then the news quickly spread through the ship. . . . ... . Mr. Hemes, who is in Wellington, will leave for Auckland by to-morrow’s "W. H. 0. Ell, M.P., Government wbio. and Mr. George Lnurenson are in Wellington to-day. ■»