New Mexico Territorial Laws and Treaties NM TERR LAWS KEARNY CODE ELEC § 19

The secretary of the territory may delay longer than one week after such failure, if the circumstances will justify it, taking care that the returns, in all cases, be obtained by the time that the returns from the most distant counties ought to be made, provided, that the secretary shall, in no case, delay to dispatch such messenger for said returns more than forty days after such election.