THE AUCKLAND ELECTION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1526, 18 November 1873, Page 20

THE AUCKLAND ELECTION.

The New Zealand Herald, 7th November, writes: — We suppose there never was an election where so much interest was felt in the result, that passed off in a more orderly manner than that of yester day. Party feeling ran very high ; and each candidate had his own staunch partizans, who fought. hard from the opening to the close of the poll with much spirit, but with hearty good temper. The same excellent order was maintained at Graharastown —our telegraphic correspondent informing us that of the hundreds of electors who went to the poll, not a single case of rowdyism occurred. In Auckland city, about eighteen hundred of the electors recorded their votes, and throughout the province, up to twelve o'clock last night, the returns had come in, showing that nearly six thousand electors had voted.

As we anticipated, the returns show a large majority for Mr Williamson, and we do not believe this majority will be found to be less when the whole of them reach us. It is scarcely on the cards that Mr Dargaville, next on the poll, can win, while Mr Lusk may be said to be altogether out of the field. Still the two candidates lowest on the poll look to those settlements from which returns have not been received as their special strongholds, and by which they hope to increase their numbers. The result; of the election cannot be looked upon other than most satisfactory. Certainly more votes were recorded for Mr Dargaville than was looked for after his exhibitions of rowdyism ou the several platforms from which he addressed the constituencies. But a lavish expenditure of money has its effect upon a certain section of the electors, and certainly money was not spared. In the case of Mr Williamson—and we believe we may say the same of Mr Lusk —beyond the ordinary and necessary current expenditure incidental to an election, no other outlays were incurred. It is, we think, quite certain that had Mr Lusk retired the votes iu favor of Mr Williamson would have been as three to one. It was not Mr Dargaville who would have been benefited, as some have thought and others asserted. It would not, perhaps, be in good taste until the official declaration of the poll has been made, to congratulate the constituencies upon the return of Mr Williamson, Had we not believed that he would serve the province well and faithfully, he would not have received our advocacy, and we have no reasons to believe we shall have cause to regret it. On referring to our back files to the (late of the last Superintendental election, we find that in the city of Auckland Mr Williamson polled 512 votes; yesterday the number was 741, a fait; proof that the candidate has grown in popular favor.