MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1439, 27 April 1905, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

——-q ■ ■“ — GISBORNE BOROUGH. MR. TOWNLEY RE-ELECTED MAYOR. A KEENLY CONTESTED ELECTION. Considerable interest was manifested in tho Borough elections yostorday, and oa- \ pocially in the contest for tho Mayoralty between Messes J. Townley and \V. Douglas Lysnar, tho former using returned by the small majority of thirty six votes. 5, . Pollingijvas slow in the morning, but in fVhrwif*e<son the booth was crowded and had in some cases to wait over an ' hour before they could rooord their votes. ./ This is a matter that tho Council should remedy, and we hope in the futuro to see arrangements made for two polling booths. Mr W. J. Quigley officiated as returning officer and Mr D. DoCosta ns deputy returning officer, tho latter having obarge of the returns for tho Mayoralty. Tho result of the Mayoralty was announced at nine o’olock, at wbioh hoar a large crowd had gathered outside the Counoil Chambers. There was great oxoitemont as the numbers were road out, and the returning officer had twice to ask for order to bo re- I stored before tho result of tho eleotion could bo hoard. The returns wore os follows - * J. Townley... ... ••• 562 v W. D. Lysuar ... —• 526 ( Informal ... • ... 19 r

Tho result'was received with ohoors, and calls were made for Mr Townley, who on coining forward was most enthusiastically received. Mr lownley said that he was pleased to see that he was again returned as Mayor. ■ He wished first of all to express his hearty thanks to all those who cams unsolicited and voted for him. He had not asked for a vote that day. In the first place he desired to tell them that a telegram had been received from the A.M.P. Sooiety, stating that the loan had been granted. (Applause.) This would enable the work to be started straight away. The source of water supply had been secured, and everything was in readiness, and it would be the fault of the Council if operations were not gone on with. Having been in the Council since the commencement, he would do his best to push the work on. He hoped the new .Council would work energetically, and many improvements would bo effected, (Applause.) When ha looked back and saw the improvements that bad taken place, ha thought the Council was entitled to great credit. Ho had nothing to say to them in 'regard to Mr Lysnar. The latter had been in the Council, and was acquainted with the'working of it, and he hoped they would all work harmoniously togothor. They had an object lesson in this respect in the case of Japan as to what could be. dono if they were united. (Applause.) They should all join together and strive to the'utmost to forward the interests of the borough. .(Applause.) In the past | he had always striven to administer affairs 1 with a view to efficiency combined with , economy, and ho would continue to do so. ] (Applause.) The borough.was iu a good . position, and owed only about £3OOO. He ] sincerely thanked all those who had voted j for him, and especially the lady voters. ) He hoped they would have no cause to ] regret having given him their confidence, (applause.) Cheers were called for Mr Townley, and heartily responded to. j Calls being made for Mr Lysnar, that j gentleman came forward, being heartily cheered on appearing. He thanked all ' those who had worked on his behalf, stating that he was not ashamed of the result, j as he deemed it a great victory. They j had in opposition a man who had been 27 years in the Council aod fifteen years as Mayor, and the resale of the election should be received by all with the utmost 1 satisfactioD. (Applause). Ho had on- c deavoured to do bis utmost in the Council and would continue to do so. He felt that - he had had to do a lot of dirty work in the Council through the position he had been placed in. He was regarded by some as an obstructionist because he had been compelled to oppose certain works. He did not mind this, because he considered that he' was in the Conncil not to please, but, to serve j / the electors. (Applause). Had he gone v !"ln for pleasing the electois he had no a • doubt the result that eveoiog would have - u been very different. (Applause). So long n

as he was there he would do bis utmost to serve tb.e electors. (Cheers). He was particularly pleased with the friendly spirit in which the contest had been fought, there being not a spark of ill-feeling. (Apjplause). He sincerely thanked all those •: Who had voted for him, and could assure them that he took the figures that evening as betokening a great victory. (Cheers). Three cheers having been given for Mr liysnar the gathering dispersed.

The result was announced at five minutes past three this morning, when there were still over thirty people in wait ing, The roenlt was received with, oheers. Among those present to reoeive hearty congratulations were Cr.s Lysnar, Bees, Bright, Y/ebb, and Sheridan.

(Per Press Association.) NELSON. Nelson, last night. Considerable interest was taken in the municipal election, aad there was heavy voting. Mr Henry Bnigant was elected Mayor with 728 votes. Mr J Piper, the late Mayor, received 563 votes. Mr W. Hadaon was third. The result of the election of councillors w not expected before midnight. INVERCARGILL. "* ‘ ’■ Invercargill, last night. In the Mayoral election Bt Invercargill Mr Soandrett, the present Mayor, polled 1095, and Mr R. B. McKay 808. > PARNELL. Auckland, last John iTltt was re-elected MayortfHJrar. nell. lko other returns are yet to hand.

NAPIER. 1 Napier, last night. Comparatively little interest was taken in the’ Municipal eloctioDs to-day, and the poll was a small one. The councillors elected were Messrs W. J’. McGrath, J. Spence, A. E. Eagleton, J. C. Westall, J. P. Thomson, G. Widersbrom, T, W. Bear, a'. Paul, and W. A. .Donaldson. The last named throe ate new members. . ‘ ! ; HASTINGS. Hastings, last night. The Hastings Mayoral election resulted in the return of Mr \V. Y. Dennett, who polled 500 votes against 358 polled by Mr T. J. Thompson, and 175 by Mr W. Lane, (he present Mayor. WANGANUI. Wanganui, last night. The Municipal elections resulted in the retain of Messrs T. •B. Williams. G. S. Bridee, B. N. Lippiton, T, H. Battle, H, T Jons, H. A. Purser, P. Bell, G. Caiman, and B. W. Green. MASTERTON. Mosterton, last night. The result of the Mayoralty election was J. Renall (re-eleoted) 688 votes, J. Heasey * 478 votes. / : -

' B0E0U3H COUNCIL. The election resulted as follows, the first nine being returned :— W. D Lysnar ... 629' J. Whinray... ... 598 A. W. Rees... ... 558 J. A. Harding ... 515 V J. W. Bright ... 487 J. SheridaD... ... 486 J. Colley ... 483 W. Millar ... ..; ... 450 W. Webb ... 445 J. East ... 432 • J. Somervell' ... 431 V. Barker ... 406 T. MorrUon... ... 399 A. F. Matthews ... 366 E. P. Joyce... ... 293 Informal ... 38