The Election Day.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 247, 29 November 1878, Page 2

The Election Day.

The interest shown in the election of Mayor - was very great; in fact, the excitement appeared, to be more intense than we remember to have been the case since Akaroa was created a municipality. The friends of the different candidates worked with a will, and each party were very sanguine as to the result. The outside display was not very great, But it was evident that a few were hard at work on either side in hunting up electors and bringing them to the poll. Mr P. O'Reilly and one or two other gentlemen worked hard for their man, being at it from early morning till the poll closed at 6 p.m. The first-named gentleman brought his dogcart into requisition, which seemed to be in great demand throughout the day. the poor horse looking jaded and worn-out when the poll closed, one person advising the owner to stable the horse for a while and feed him well after his tremendous exertions. It was stated that the nondescript sledge had been hired as a means of conveyance, but the idea seems to have been abandoned on account of the danger of its ploughing up the streets of tho borough. We noticed, too, somo placards stuck up

here and there-r-one outside Economy j House advising the electors to " Vote for Meech and honesty, temperance, sobriety, and common sense." The day was insufferably hot, which fact may partly account for the number of persons we noticed sjightly inebriated. We are happy to state.hpwever, that none Of the "sun struck" individuals were "run hi," with the exception of one female, who, We presume, must have been overcome by the excitement that prevailed. She was brought dp-.at the. Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, 7 and dismissed with a caution, the R.M. evidently having an eye to the cause of her collapse. Notwithstanding the heat, however, a good proportion of the burgesses recorded their votes, fully two-thirds of the vote_ having been polled. When six o'clock drew near, small groups of persons were to be seen here and there, discussing the merits of the two candidates, and a good deal of betting as to the result was done, one party giving 10 to 1 that Mr Meech would top the poll. We presume that too confident ratepayer was as much disappointed and surprised as was Mr Meech himself when the result was made known. When it was considered that sufficient time had been given the scrutineers to accomplish their task inside, the crowd mustered together in the yard of the municipal office, where they awaited with breathless anxiety the Declaration of the Poll, Which was read out in a clear and distinct voice by the returning officer, Mr J. F. liobers, who declared the following to be the result of the election :— W. Meech 31 C. J. Waeckerle 55 Mr Waeckerle, the successful candidate, was then called for, and returned thanks to those burgesses who had voted for him. He said that he now stood befoie his friends in the proud position of Mayor elect- of Akaroa. It was not the first time that the electors here had made him their representative, and he looked upon the result of the poll to-day as the greatest compliment that they could pay him. He felt that it was necessary for the welfare of Akaroa that the Borough Council should -work .together with harmony, and he was determined as the future head of that body to use every effort to make the business of the Council go smoothly. He hoped the end for end question was now at an end. Mr Meech said that if successful he should have had the pleasure of addressing the burgesses at some length. •. He felt very much surprised at the result of the poll, and he hoped that the Mayor elect would conduct the business of the Council better than the last one did. Mr Waeckerle then proposed a vote of thanks to tho returning officer, which was seconded by Mr Meech, and duly responded to by Mr Roberts. The proceedings then terminated.