Our Electoral Competition.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 11, 13 January 1894, Page 9

Our Electoral Competition.

THE NUMBER OF VOTES POLLED

From the official returns to hand wo learn that 804,176 votes were polled throughout the colony of New Zealand. Thcro were 802,997 electors on the roll, and out of that number 220,082, cast votes. In addition to this number, there were the triplicate votes which amounted to 84,094, making the grand total of

304,176 votes actually polled. The competitor whose coupon boro the nearest approach to this number was Mr. T. S. WILSON, Dunbdin, who is entitled to the Fair Play Electoral Competition prizo of £5 ss. Mr. Wilson gave as his calculation of the total number of votes polled, 804,160, and was consequently only 16 out in his computation. The next nearest were Mrs. Fawcett, ofLongbum, with 806,000, and Mr. Percy Clark, of Wellington, with 805,006. Some of the figures given were ridiculous in the extreme, one gentleman giving 4,000 as his computation, and another 1,099,026.

•• • • According to a Berlin contemporary, some Sofcialists of rigid principles, who are nevertheless zealous cardplaycrs,; have for some time been grieved in conscience at the pictures of kings and queens upon their cards. An enterprising Berliner has, therefore, produced a novel pack of cards, from which all offensive figures are excluded. The cards hitherto bearing the pictures of the four kings are occupied by four symbolical personages, and are labelled Liberty,' Equality, Fraternity, and Solidarity. The four queens have also disappeared, and their places are taken by four allegorical females, who named “ Free Labour,” “ Righteousness,” “ Peace,” and “ Unity." The four aces are replaced by “ Manufacture,” “ Mining/' “ Navigation,” and “ Agriculture." This is all very pretty, but what about the four knaves We would suggest, consider* ing that it is a socialistic innovation, that four symbolical figures should be introduced and called “ Dynamite,” “ Insurrection," “ Assassination,” and “ Treachery," this would make the pack complete, and give an air of verisimilitude.

The champagne dispensed on the French warship to the sailors on Saturday must have been particularly plentiful and exceptionally good, judging by the gush which appeared on Monday in the dailies. . The pressmen evidently hod a good time.