AUCKLAND CITY WEST ELECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1200, 27 November 1873, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY WEST ELECTION.

E'vflfctiTN&, TJoSl%}^>.' •;.'

The ppll for City JWest took place to-day at : *^ c yftPstianAssociation Rooms, Wellesley-» street., i This being.the largestiand in -iriany respect th^imoßt important donstitueney in the province, returns the greatest number of members of any of the thircy Provincial Electoral .District.:, The , population, is estimated "at1 '8858, "and ' there are, on the' foil '•' 1921- 'electors. There is always therefore considerable interest attached to this election. Such was the case to day. The five old members stood again —Measrs Swanson, Boylan, Digntfn, Macready, and Prime.* In addition Messrs CoupJarad, Goldie, Burns, and Kirby came forward. The show of hands, it will.be remembered, was in favour of all the' old members (except Mr Prime)-and one new candidate Mr koupland, and this morning the friendi of the several,. gentlemen <■ enumerated Ji^ "ed pretty .strpngly', to,*-confirm {', as,."therf/caset might;rr.be, the .•\^^jaDi »the previous day;j- ' The Young S Association rooms are hot -so eligible for a pollingPlaoe, M : the Mechanios' .Institute 'The Dmlding is not centrally situated,, and a conwerable flight of atairs has to be aaoended aa deioeuded by the fwe and indepondent

vo*ps. This under certain conditions, which may bo guessod, might prove awkward. To-day, however, there were no accidents that we are aware of. All went up and came down in safety. The by-standers as usual indulged in a little chaff, and a few bets were made was not without backers, and some of the sporting fraternity offered to give odds that one new horse would come in amongst the old stagers. Where was George Staines and the " Doctor," was asked by not a few. The "people's friend," and the 'dark horse" have certainly disappointed many people's expectations during the elections. Of "George," it might be said, ?\ °£ a former occasion, that ," the word Ichabod is inscribed on his old wheel--barrews," but such can hardly be said to be written on the other's gallipots. The proceedings were conducted throughout in a very quiet and orderly manner; no drunkenness, quarrelling, or fighting, but the utmost good humour prevailed during the whole day. Mrs Wadham's hostelry was patronised occasionally, and it was remarked that teetotal drinks were called for frequently, a delicate compliment to the Good Templar element in the candidature of City West to-day. There was the usual abundance of placards and cabs, and as the hour of closing the poll drew near there was an increased rush of vehicles freighted with free and independent voters arriving on the scene. One or two sweepstakes for small'amounts were extemporised, and those who drew "Swanson" or "Boylan" considered themselves safe. The rest expressed themselves more [doubtful, and ■ indeed .under the ballot there is a much greater element of uncertaintyjas* to the result than under the old system, when the initiated can form.a pretty accurate guess of what is going on. The professional canvassers were for the M most part the old familiar faces seen at City East and elsewhere at election times, and they certainly were working with an amount of zeal,''-vigilance, and alacrity worthy of the occasion, and such as to entitle them to be employed again in a like capacity four years hence should the ups and downs of colonial life still find them open to engagement. The fineness of the weather drew many to the spot who were neither electors nor employes, but simply lookers-on enjoying the scene, or passing away time, vfith the chance, perhaps, of an {invitation to have a drink of gingerbeer or Cawkwell, as choice might prompt or hospitality offer. The Returning Officer and his deputies stuck to their posts with unremitting attention, and there can be no doubt that the actual business was conducted in a prompt and accurate manner, so that no candidate, whether victorious or defeated, can reasonably complain that all was not fairly done. It is a matter for congratulation that throughout these elections so-little fault can be found in the mode in which they have been conducted. ; With the exception of some names in country districts, ommitted\by accident, and of some rather serious mistakes on the part of the Returning Officer-for Ramarama (which will probably be the subject of further enquiry) we have heard of no complaints whatever. The same remark made in reference to City East might be repeated as to City West, that it really seemed hard that some of the candidates must of necessity be rejected, whereas in some suburban and country districts there was not a super-abundance of candidates. [Second Edition will be published on the result of the poll being made known.]