Two by - elections have been held in the last
week. The vacancy in the Ecclesall division of Sheffield caused by the death of Sir Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett has been filled by the return of the Unionist, Alderman Samuel Roberts. In 1900 the Conservative majority was 1$29; on Monday
this was reduced to 1,112; on , the other band, the Unionist vote was larger than on any previous occasion The result of the election in East Down was announced on Thursday morning. No contested election had been fought since 1886, when the retiring Unionist Member, Dr. Rentoul, was returned by a majority of 2,532. The candidates on the present occasion were Colonel Wallace (Unionist), now serving in South Africa, and Mr. Wood, a supporter of Mr. Russell's land purchase policy. The figures were :—Mr. James Wood (Independent), 3,'5'76; Colonel Wallace (Unionist), 3,429; majority, 147. The Nationalists, who abstained from putting forward a candidate, cast their full vote, estimated at 2,500, for Mr. Wood. The electors of East Down have, of course, a perfect right to choose whomever they like. We cannot profess any great excitement, much less anxiety, in regard to the result. The success of Mr. Russell's candidate is in no sense a victory for Home-rule.
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