MAORI ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 43, 3 July 1868, Page 3

MAO RI ELECTION.

— fr- — ! From iho appended rotttrn, It will bo scon' that very little political excitement haa beeu displayed on tho occasion of tho first Maori oleotion in tho Mbldlo Island. This may bd Attributed in n monsuro to tho Native Land Court sitting at tlio timo, and to tlio natives of tbo Houth being absent on their usuaj mutton bird expedition, It is estimated tliat thcro aro about 1000 natives In tbo island qualilied to vote, of whom only 80 voted. It was rumoured that ono of tho oandldatos (WI Naihira), lind withdrawn from the contost, but no ollicial nol ideation had boon received to that effect, Owing lo tho boisterous weather, and other unforeseen circumstances) no opportunity had occurred to communleato with tho island of iiuapuko in time to hold tbo poll thcro on tbo day first appointed, Jl, becamo necessary to extend tho ■"xlrno for tho oleotion, to enable any poll to bo held there, and tbo 20th Juno wns appointed for tho purpose Tho results of tho poll thcro) however, did not alter tho position of tlni candidates, It In moro than probable that If a native named Tfotl Pita had allowed himself to bo nominated no' contest would ihavo taken plauo ; but, an his intontinnH woro doubtful, tbo natives selected others for tho position, Had lie consented to stand oven at tho last moment, tho others would most likely havo withdrawn ( bis declining to do so, was tlio cause of the contest, as tlio natives had , begun by that time to form tbomHolvcs into soparato parties, each oagor to put in thoir own man, Tho result of tho oleotion was mado known at Kaiapoi yesterday, at noon, and Patterson declared duly elected, Tho following is a return of votes polled at tho sovoral polling places In tho Houthorn Maori Electoral District, for tlio oleotion of a Member of the House of Representatives, under tho Maori Representation Act, 1807. : Green, Naihira. Paltorfion,

Nolfion ... 0 o o Hlonlioim ,„ 10 4 24 ' Krifnpol ,„ 13 0 4 Groymouth ,„ 0 0 o Almnm ... o o o Arowhonua „. l o r Monrakl „, 0 0 0 Dimcdin „ 0 0 0 Jlhifi 1 „. 1 1 o Blv«rton „. 0 0 0 i Xluapuke (Jtino 20) 2 o a Totnl ... ;J3 fi 42 i Majority for Pftttoraon, 0, !