COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 322, 6 February 1868, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

THE PQLL AT QREyMQUTH. Yesterday was the day appointed for the bqII fpr. the election of two members to represent f;he eleptoral distript of thg town of Greymouth. N. ot much interest was displayed in the town in the early part of the day., but as it was known that the result of the election would depen(|gieatly on the votes of the miners, apd as Messrs. Bain and Whall, with some of then? supporters had started early dpwn the beach to the diggings, it was predicted that thg contest would-be a close one. Before noon more interest was shown, and the nucleus, of a crowd began to congregate near the Court-housg. " The friends, of the various? candidates were busy in their efforts tq woo the " sweet voices pf the electors" iij favor of their respective champipns, and the perplexity of hesitating voters was sometimes amusing. After dinner, thp town yoteig began to drop down to th§ polling booth, and from the well-known proclivities of many, it was confidently felt that upon the votes of the expepted. diggers the election -would turn. Rumors. w a§ feing abovt that Mr. Bain's friends, by giving their promised voters a free pasr sage on the tramway, had positively en : sured his return, and everybody was on the look out for the tramway carriage. When it arrived the voters were imme^ diately seized upon by the "touters" of the various candidates, and there is np dpubt that many hasty pledges, previously given, were broken under the pressure brought to bear upon some pf the_ voters. Within an hour pf the time for closing the poll it' became almost certain that Mr Whali's return was, assured, a§ very many of his supporters, plumped for him. But opinion was pretty equally divided as to who would have the, first place. Mr Bain's friends expressed themselves certain,-, whilst those of both Whall and Harrison were equally go. As the time for closing the poll approached^ ft.ljeeftttie evident that Mr Whall would have first place, and it was eyen betting, on Harrison and Bain for next on the list. But as Mr Harrison had made ncj canvas on thediggings, and as Mr. Bain had b.een industriously at worjtfor. several days, the expectation that the latter would get a place was not au unreasonable one. Whe^ ! the doors, of the polling room were dosed, a crowd of persons waited anxiously for the petnrn, and Y^& ware exchanged pretty freely. At length the Clerk of the Court came out and declared the result tci be as, follows :— Whall - - - 81 Harrison - - (55 Bain - - . jjQ Davies - - _ The content was undoubtedly a keen, ong, and it may be, safely said that with few exceptions e,very available voter availed himself of hjis privilege. The p,ffipial declaration/ of the poll wil} be made at the CjQurtrhonse at 10 o'clock on Friday (to-morrow) mcvpiing.