MICHEL LEADS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1805, 18 July 1913, Page 7

MICHEL LEADS.

GREY ELECTION. RESULT OF FIRST BALLOT. CLOSE POLLING. THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE DEFEATED. Tlio contest for the Grey seat rendered vacant by the death of Sir Arthur Guinness advanced a stage yesterday, when the polling at the first ballot took place, Intense interest had been excited in th« struggle, not only on tho West Coast, but throughout Now Zealand, and tho results of tho polling were eagerly looked for. A closo fight between tho threo candidates.had Ijcen anticipated, and this proved to bo the caso, as tho figures given below show. Aa a result of the first ballot tho Opposition: candidate, whoso victory was coiilidonUy anticipated by tho party, waa defeated, and tho contest now lic3 between Mr. Michol, tho Reform candidate, and Mr, Webb, who stands in tho intorcsta of the Labour Socialists. Tho polling figures, which arc supplied, by tho Press Association, are given below MICHEL (Government) 2,160 i WEBB (Labour-Socialist ... 2,074 HANNAN (Opposition) 1,982 It will bo 60011 that Mr. Michel lias a lead over Mr. Webb of CO votes,. while, Mr. Hnnnon is 178 votes behind. Th* total votes polled, G2IG, is exactly tne same as that recorded at tho general election, when Sir Arthur Guinness and Mr. Webb contested tho seat. The total at tho present election, however, will no doubt be, slightly increased by tho votes of absentees. Details of tlio polling axe given ao under by tho Press Association. It will bo noted that the detailed figures (telegrapliod early in the evening) do not tally with' tho'filial figures printed above;— Hannan. Michel, Webb. Hanau 17 5 7 County Council, Grey 42 29 39 Remanui 1 1 16 Roa 9 15 39 Big River 28 5 29 Mawheraiti 7 7 1 Rapahoo 12 '3 .10 Courthouse 232 ISO ' 62 v Globe Hill 13 15 41 Barrytown 33 5 21 Hospital (Grey)... 00 122 11 Bin Site State Mino 5 2' 8 Taylorville 37 SG 53 Reefton School ... 09 75 '12 Ikamatua 52 35 14 Dunollio 27 27 124 Lower Broadway (Reefton) ....... 73 ■' 95 51 Reefton Railway... 14 30 5 Reefton County.... 14G 190 109 Cobden 119 167 135 Blackball 70 55 347 Blakstown 32 72 41 Runanga 24 46 400 Blackwater 27 12 33 State Extension No. 2 7 0 23 Canoe Creek 13 2 5 St, Kolumba (Groy) 242 23 ' 20 Grey School 145 325 40 Waitahu .. 19 11 J Hubawai 7 2 11 Town Hall 371 481 322 Merijigs 4 12 8 Totals 1958 2147 2074 There are only some small country returns yet to ooine in, comprising about seventy votes, and voters' permits, which total about 93, making 163 votes, which can hardly affect tho result of the candidates loft in the second ballot.