THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 5, 6 August 1874, Page 3

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

I BALCLUTHA. The poll for the election of a member for North Ward took place on Saturday, j Mr. J. M. Russell, Town Clerk, being I Returning Officer. There were two candidates for the office, viz., Messrs. Kilgour and Jamie. The friends of both candidates seemed confident | of success, but at the same time felt that active exertions was necessary to secure their end. The consequence was that throughout the day considerable excitement prevailed, and the " free and independents " were hurried up to the poll in buggies, expresses, &c, at the expense of the aspirants to municipal honors. The greatest good feeling, however, prevailed, and this was much enhanced by the action of the candidates themselves, who, during the afternoon drove through tbe town in one buggy, thus shewing to their supporters a desire for a continuance of good feeling and friendship whatever might be the result. At four minutes past four o'clock, the Returning Officer appeared at the door of the Council Chambers, where a considerable crowd had collected, and declared the state of the poll as follows : — Kilgour - - 19 Jamie - - 13 Majority for KiJgour 6 Mr. Kilgour then stepped forward and thanked his supporters for the honorable position in which they bad placed him. He also thanked the supporters of his opponent for the courtesy and kindly feeling which had been shewn him throughout the contest. The honor now conferred upon him would stir him up to use his utmost exertion for the best interests of the town, and he trusted that at the close of bis tenure of office, the electors of North Ward j would have no cause to regret haviDg ejected him as their representative. He again thanked them for the honor they had conferred upon him. Mr. Jamie thanked his friends for their exertions on his behalf, and everyone ior tbe general courtesy which had been extended tewards him. He frankly confessed that he had been fairly beaten, but should he live to see another vacancy he would again seek their suffrages ; indeed it was hi 3 determination to persevere until he succeeded in securing a seat at the Council board of the township. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer j concluded the proceedings and the crowd ! quietly dispersed. j MILTON. There being a contest in each Ward, the whole of the electors were more or less interested in the proceedings of Saturday, when the poll took place. There was no general exitement, however, and only a comparatively small number of votes were recorded. After the poll had closed, a large crowd as usual collected in front of the Council Chambers to hear the and which was declared hy Mr. James Goodall, Returning Officer, a little before five o'clock, as follows : — WEST WARD. Jones - - 31 Marry att - - 27 Badcock o EAST WAKD. Henderson - 31 Capstick - 22 SOUTH WARD. Inglis - - 37 Nutsford - - 12 i AUDITORS. Marryatt - - 11 p, Cipstick - - - 107 Duthie 62 The result in each case was received with the usual amount of applause. Several of the successful and unsuccessful candidates briefly addressed the crowd, after which a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer brought the proceedings to a close. i(