COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 455, 12 December 1868, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

GREYMOUTH. Thursday was the day appointed for taking the poll in the various Electoral districts for the election of members in the County Council. With the exception of Totara, there has been a spirited contest in each district, and the electors have shown their sense of the responsibilities of their new position by voting more numerously than on any previous oocasion in Westland. The enlarged powers to be enjoyed by the new Council have led the electors to be more than ordinarily careful in the selection of their representatives, and there appears to be no reason to doubt that the new Council will be composed of men whose opinions reflect those of their constituents. At Greymouth, although there was little or no visible excitement, the contest was very closely fought, and a larger amount of interest was felt in the result than in any former election. Although the number of votes polled fell short of the number on the roll, it is tolerably certain that scarcely hali-a-dozen voters who could attend did not record their votes. Before the day of the poll opinion was divided as to the position in which the poll would place the respective candidates. It was generally expected, however, that Mr Harrison would by reason of his past services in the County Council secure the front place, but it waa thought that Messrs Lahman and Wickes would have a close run for the. other seat. On the morning of the poll the canvassers for the various candidates were severally confident that their man would get in, and speculated accordingly. Shortly after noon it was rumored that Mr Wickes had got to the head of the list, and was to all appearances likely to hold the place, but as the voting proceeded it became evident that it was only a spurt, the voters for Messrs Harrison and Lahman flocking up in considerable numbers to' the close of the poll. When the door oE the polling booth was closed a considerable crowd of the supporters of each candidate collected and anxiously awaited the declaration of the numbers. A few minutes past four o'clock the result was posted outside as follows : — Harrison 112 Lahman 11l Wickes 64 This was received with immense enthiisiasm. Mr Harrison thanked the electors for the high position in which they had placed him on the poll. He would only say, as he said on his posters, that he had served them well before, aud would* do so again. (Applause.) Mr Lahman said he could y not find words to express to the electors and his fellow-citizens his feeling 3 upon this occasion, and he hoped they would excuse him, as he Avas rather excited, but if anything had been wanting to make him do his duty manfully and faithfully in the Council, it had been supplied by the position in which they had placed his name that day ; and he would promise to do everything in his power to further the interests of Greymouth and its population. (Loud applause.) Mr Wickes thanked the sixty-four electors who had voted for him. But as it wa3 not the wish of the majority of the citizens that he should be returned, he hoped they would all join with him in assisting those who had been elected to work for the good of the town. (Loud cheering.) He called for three cheers for the Returning Officer, which were given, and The crowd dispersed. Yesterday, at noon, W. H. Revell, Esq., the Returning Officer, made the official declaration of the poll. The numbers were the same as recorded above. He declared Messrs Harrison and Lahman duly elected.