THE RESULT OF THE INANGAHUA ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 6887, 18 May 1883, Page 2

THE RESULT OF THE INANGAHUA ELECTION.

Our telegrams show that Mr Shaw has been returned as member for Inangahua, after a very close contest, by 46 votes over his opponent, Mr Wakefield. The number of votes polled has been unusually large, and the excitement has been considerable. We are well satisfied with the result of the election, though we should not have been grievously distressed if the outcome of the polling had been reversed. For both candidates were very suitable for Parliamentary honors —both scholars, gentlemen, and public men of far more than average capacity. We are not at present aware, though doubtless we shall be duly informed, what particular article it was in the political creed of either that turned the scale for him or against him. Is was at first reported that Mr S [law had the Catholic vote, whilst Mr Wakefield nas strongly supported by those who objected to any alteration whatever in the present system of State education. This, however, has since been contradicted, and it has been -asserted that several prominent Roman Catholics have been serving on Mr Wakefield’s Election Committee. Then, again, it has also been alleged that Mr Shaw received the votes of those who were staunch supporters of the present Ministry, whilst Mr Wakefield was in favor with those whose sympathies were with the Opposition, or with the independent members, and the Ministerialists outnumbered the two other classes of voters. If the respective candidates really took up the positions assigned to them by their supporters, we shall certainly neither be dissatisfied nor disappointed with the result, for it can scarcely be doubted that there is a great preponderance of the intelligence and property of the colony in favor of the maintenance in office of the existing Ministry, until a better Cabinet can be formed to displace them, and of that there is at present no likelihood. Whether this be the occasion of Mr Wakefield’s defeat or not, we should like to see him returned for some constituency, for it is very rarely that the colony possesses the services in Parliament of so intelligent, energetic, and well-informed a member as he undoubtedly is.