It was generally anticipated that the metropolitan area would vote against the bill. At 10 p.m. there was a majority of about 5000 for the bill, and federalists were jubilant. The anti-billites, although professing to be confident of victory, expressed a hope of getting Parliament, and especially the Upper House, to aid them, in the event of the referendum going against them. There are 4246 envelopes, containing the votes of people who were not on the rolls when the votes were recorded. These must be forwarded to the principal returning officer at Brisbane.
Many returns are yet to come in, but it is doubtful whether the final result can be altered.
The feature of the polling was that all 10 of the metropolitan electorates polled heavily against the bill. The Premier's electorate, Bulimba, polled nearly two to one against the bill, and the electorate of Mr. Drake, one of the most active federal leaders, voted against the bill in the proportion of nearly three to one. The districts of Oxley and Toowong, represented by federalists, also polled two to one against the proposed constitution. An analysis of the voting throughout the colony shows that Northern Queensland carried the bill, the majority there being 7000, while the southern division, including the metropolis, gave a majority of 4000 against it. The central division majority for the bill was 1000.