ASHBURTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1673, 27 September 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON.

Last night a large crowd of persons ongregated m the vicinity of the Courtlouae shortly after aix, and about seven ho Returning Offioer annonnood the lumbers that had beou polled at Ashbnron. The announcement of the decisive I Dajorlty far Mr Wnlker was received ffitb oheera. As aoon aa It beaame dark enough the arrikln element made its appearance, md flour-throwing was carried on (rigorously m East Street. Toe Silvatlon Army, whioh oame oat on its usaal nightly round fared rather badly, and the '< soldiers " very much resembled a number of dusty millers m procession. Of courao with such an opportunity there was some cowardly blackguardism, and more than one lady was plentifully besprinkled with flour. Too police did -not seem to make any special exortiona at interference, though this might be due to there not being suffioieat constables available to watch the whole town. At anyrate from about eight o'clock to midnight East Street and some of the more frequented thoroughfares were completely given up ti bands of hoodlums, who seemed to do muon as they pleasad. As boo I .} as the results oame to hand they ware pcmted outside this office, where a large crowd scon congregated and eagerly awaited each despatch: Shortly after tan o'clock, all thereturnß with the exception of Mouut Booiera had <y>me to hand, and it was seen that Mr Walker had a moat decisive victory, whioh the remaining return could m no way afiec. Mr Walker had intended returning thanks from some public place, bat &n tht town was so completely given over to the larrikins it was deemed iuadviaabla thai he should do so, lest advantage should b< taken of the opportunity to break win dowß and effact damage to property. A large number of his supporters accordingly repaired to the Committee rooms m thi Arcade. Dt Trevor was voted to the oba : r, and- briefly congratulated the meeting on the decision of the electors m plaoing Mr Walker m the position they had dove. Me Walker then addressed the electors present, and thanked them for the honor they had done him by placing him at the j head of the poll by bo large a majority. He (Mr Walker) said that he had always endeavored to do his doty to his constituents as a concrete body, and m doing bo poaaibly he hid not pleased individuals, but he had Btated at hia various meetings what hiß views of the present situation were, and he was extremely gratified to find that he met with tne support of so large and decisive a majority as he had obtained, showing conclusively thai the elec.ora gave him credit for acting consciei tioualy, and that they realised that the present Government was a good one for the people at large, and he trusted that the elections elsewhere would Bhow as substantial majorities m favor of the Government. At. this stage the larrikins stormed the Oomuittee rooms, and as soon as order was restore! Mr Walker concluded amidst great cheering. Mr JR. Friedlander said it was with great satisfaction that he waa enabled to congratulate Mr Walker on the result of the poll. He said that m all probability no oandldate throughout New Zealand would have Buch a large majority at his back as Mr Walker, unless it were Sir Julius Yogel. (The larrikins, now emboldened, attacked the premises, kicking at windows and doors, capsizing a huge pile of cases m the Aroade, and making a din equal to all conceived 'notions of a pandemonium.) Mr Friedlander concluded with a re q lest for three oheerß for Mr Walker, wbich were given m good Btyle. Thanks to the chair concluded the meeting. Mr Walker waa chaired and oarriei from ha Committee room to hla hotel. We bear thai, Mr Purnell was subjected to extremely roogh usage at the hands of the roughs. It is vety much to be regcetted that the larrikins cannot confine th\a fl >ur throwing to themselves, bat as we have before stated the usage of several persona was little short of blackguardly, some being literally blindei and having their clothes spoiled. The missiles were not confined to tags of flour, rotten egga and even atonea being thrown. Windows were m aome oases broken. If the looal polioe are not sufficiently strong to cope with the larrikin element, why ia not provision made for securing extra aß3istanoe. Because the occasion is election night, we fail to see that that is any reason why respectable people Bhoald be aubjeoted to inault, their clotbea ruined by. flour damped m (ha gutter and by egga. It will be fortunate if a few of the r.ngleadera are known. Subjoined are the figures polled at the reapeotive places : — Walker Purnell Aahburton , 462 162 Tlnwald 44 26 Greenatreet 24 14 Laurlaton ... ... 33 16 South Kakala 120 66 Methven 87 26 Alford Forest 47 15 Mount Somera 61 8 878 323 323 Majority for Walker 655 The official declaration will take place on Friday, at noon.