NAPIER HARBOR POLL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1435, 21 January 1885, Page 2

NAPIER HARBOR POLL.

Napier, Yesterday. I There was tremendous excitement in I both town and country io-day over the I Harbor poll, and £he day was obsorved as 1 a general holid&y. It was known that a 1 large majority of resident ratepayers were 1 in favor of the scheme, but owing to the 1 peculiar clausa inserted in the Harbor 1 Boards ct by the Legislative Council, all 1 dead men and absentees on the rolls, and j all on the rolls who did not vote, were I counted as voting against the harbor I works. There were 1,903 names on the J rolls, but 400 were those of dead men 1 and absentees, leaving only 1,500 to vote, J out of which number 955 must be recorded I in favor. - There was only a property qualification, but no fear was felt of the majority under that head, but to secure a full poll a fund of L 2.000 was voluntarily subscribed, and spec : al trains, coaches, | and cabs rati in every direction. Strong Committees were formed in all centres to see that every available man polled. The result was such as to surpass the most sanguine anticipations. Out of the possible 1,500, 1.387 voted for the proposal and only 59 against. Oh the property qualification there was a surplus of nearly 2,500 votes. This poll is unprecedented in New Zealand, The greatest enthusiasm prevails, bauds parading the streets, fireworks going up, and general rejoicing. Mr Oimond was loudly cheered when he 1 announced the result of the poll.