COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1365, 13 December 1872, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Yesterday was one of the hottest election days ever experienced in Greymouth. The excitement of the previous week culminated in a day of immense excite- 1 ment, which was quite refreshing compared with the insipid dulness which has prevailed for the past few months. The whole of the members of the community appeared to throw themselves into the contest, and we believe it is almost the 6rst occasion upon which it can be said that nearly every eleotor on the roll recorded his vote. There was no business done in town, as the day wa3 entirely devoted to electioneering and to discussing at all available corners the chances of the various candidates. A larger amount of horse-flesh and conveyances of various sizes and designations was imported into this election than those to any previous one — from Cobb's four-horse coach, hired by the County Chairman to bring his very numerous supporters to the poll— to the one-horse dray, bearing characters suffi,tient to indicate that it was in the service of Mr Fox. The coaches, cabs, and waggons were all placarded with the names of the candidates for whom electors who indulged in a cheap ride were supposed to vote, although many rode in the one car and voted for the other. A large crowd surrounded the Court House throughout the day, enjoying the "chaff" incidental to such occasions, but although there was an immense assemblage the utmost good humor was displayed on all sides. About five o'clock a number of the members of the Town Band got into Cobb's coach and drove through town, distributing their sweet strains freely, when their efforts to please were suddenly put a stop to by a constable intimating that the playing of musical instruments during an election was breaking the law. Music was then stopped until the poll closed, after which, in order to dispel the monotony of waiting for the rcault, iho band performed several airs. Altogether the proceedings were of the most orderly character, considering the large number of men who were congregated together after the poll closed, and we are glad to say that the police were never called upon to interfere, although the excitement was stronger than was ever before known in to?rn. About five o'clock .the Returning Officer announced the result of the poll to be as follows : — Mr M.Kennedy 120 „ W. S. Smith 113 „ E. B. Fox 98 „ H. H. Lahman 96 „ W. M. Cooper 45 There was great cheering, and Mr Kennedy was carried shoulder-high a short distance by a few of his wildest supporters, bub he soon extricated himself from his uncomfortable position and returned to the step of the Court House, when he said that he heartily thanked the electors for the honor they had done him, by returning him at the head of the poll. He considered that it would be at any time an honor to represeut the Greymouth constituency, but on the present occasion, the honor was greatly enhanced. The credit of his return was entirely due to his immediate supporters, and also to the general body of the electors for the manner in which they had supported him/ He assured the electors that anything he could do for their interests in the County Council would be done, and he again thanked them for the honor conferred on him. Mr W. S. Smith next came forward amidst applause, and said he returned his sincere and hearty thanks to the electors for the honor they had done him. At the commencement of the contest he took little interest in it, and up to that moment he had never asked a single elector for his vote, so that he thought it the greater honor to be returned that day as their representative. He thanked those gentlemen wh.o had carried on the contest on hia behalf, and he also thanked those who had voted against him, because he believed they had acted conscientiously. He would go down to the County Council without fear of any man, and would act without personal considerations for the good of the constituency. (Applause. ) 1 Messrs Kennedy and Smith here shook Mr Fox then came forward amidst much cheering and congratulated the electors upon having elected two gentlemen who he was aure would do their duty to the constituency. He had been defeated, but that was principally owing to the fact that the other candidates had more energetic committees at work. He hoped that all the asperities of the election would now be buried in the paat. Althoughjdefeated hejhad not|been beaten, and he was sure that on some future occasion he would not be last on the list (Applause.) He was glad that the electors had chosen two gentlemen who would make good representatives and look after the welfare of the district. (Three cheers were then given for Mr Fox.) Mr H. H. Lahman said that although defeated he thanked those who had supported him, and also those who had voted against him. Perhaps it was bettor that

he should retire from politics for a season, and he was quite satisfied with the choice which the electors had made, as he believed they were gentlemen who would do their best for the district they represented. (Three cheers were given for Mr Lahman.) Mr Cooper, in a few sentences, also thanked those who had voted for him, and congratulated the electors upon the choice they had made. Three cheers for the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings. The official declaration of the poll takes place at noon to-day. ... -

Last evening the Town' Band turned out, and after parading the front street, proceeded to seranade Mr Kennedy «and Mr Smith at their residences. The band was accompanied by a large number of residents, who frequently: cheered the newly-elected members.