THE ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 24, 15 November 1878, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

Tho olectiona which took place on Wednesday lust, have croatod an ( unprecedented umount of interest throughout the Uouuty. A strong fight was wa^od at all four Hidings where the election was contested ; but in tho AWAIIOU RIDIXG the excitement regarding the eloction ran very high. liarly in the morning the scouts belonging to tho successful candidates were working up their men; whilst Mesars Loudon, Rockstrow and Thynne (Mr Dawson being absent) were seen " butfcon-h'ding " the free and independent electors who paraded the town. Tho two forraoc gentlemen were confident of

standing high on tho pott, although < we believe Mr Koukstrow hardly ex- t pectedto boat Mr Thyuue. At an s early period of the day it was tuler- I ably evident that Mr Jiawson's j chaucos were bat small ; and it was | confidently prodictol by his sup- 1 porters that iSlr Loudun would head i the poll, so that cunsKk'iultle interest ] attache! to the .question, who will bo j 1 second ? The Moioa voters were al- j most to a man in favour of Messrs j • Loudon and Houkstrow, and these in i conjunction with tho small holders in Foxton, carried the day against the " plurality of votes." Party , feeling was very strong on the side of tho successful candidates, and blue rosettes were " sported " by their supporters, whilst the town was decorated with bunting. As the time for the close of the poll drew near, a large and good-humored gathering of electors took place near tho Court j House, and plenty of " chaff " was ! carried on, to the amusement of all. j ; When Mr T. 0 Cook, the Eeturning j j Officer, appeared, a rush was made, J I and the poll was declared to bo as follows : — Loudon . . . . 92 i Eockstrow . . . . 86 ; Thyune . . . . 58 ; Dawson . . . . 36 ! We believe that with tho exception , of four or five, every elector resident i ' in the district voted, total number of ; ! votes polled being 141. The poll j I having been declared, i ! Mr Loudon came forward, and ! ! returned his thanks for the honor j ; done him. in placing him for the first j ! time at the head of the poll, espo- j cially considering the opposition he j ! had met with from the Press and two j i of the other candidates. j : Mr Eockstrow, also thanked the ; electors for returning him. To-day, i he said, "the clique," had been! I broken once for all, and this time ! i the king had not taken tho trick. j ! Mr Thynne also thanked those who j had supported him during the con- >. ; tost He regretted they had not seen j i (it to return him, but ho would bow j to their decision in the maker, and i hoped they would not regret the | choice they had mado. j ■ Mr Loudon was then " chaired "to j j the Manawatu Hotel, where we un-» j derstand a diunor was given by him ! |to his supporters The greatest good ' j feeling prevailed throughout the day, and no drunkenness nor disturbance I of any kind occurred. OROUA RIDING. I For this Riding Mr Henry Sanson ! was returned unopposed. Mr Sanson ' works hard for his district, and j carries groat weight in the Council. : Wp shall be glad to see him again ta'.io his soat. I KVWA K-VWA RIDIXO. | Hero a strong onteat has been ! wagod betweon Messrs Gower and j M'Konzie. The formor gentleman | has hitherto represented the Riding, ! but a strong and compact opposition I j brought forward Mr llobert M'Keni zio. liackod up by his former supj porters, however, Mr Gower has j boatou his opponent,, and will be ! i found in hi3 old seat. Mr Gower has I held a high position in the Council j hitherto, and it is probablo eithor he or Mr .Sanson will b«» a-^kod tj accept tho position of Ch tiruian. The poll was as follows : — Gower „ . . 70 M'Keazie . . . . 53 TAOXUI RIDI.VG. Messrs Snelsou and M'Neil, tho former representatives, having dotormiued to retire for the present from County politics, the election was contested by Messrs J. Linton and V. Monrad. It was thought k? some that t'uG Scandinavian vote would greatly assist Mr Monrad's chances, but his opponent was too strong for liim, and Mr Liuton is the espoused of Taonui, tho polling being — Linton . . . . 42 Monrad . . . . 35 As Mr Linton has a considerable knowledge of the County, and has in time past been a member of several governing bodies, he will form a good substitute for the goutlemen who formerly sat for Taonui. lIOROWJIENUA MDLYO. For this Mr Jno. Kebboll has boen returned uuopposoJ. Dr llewson sat for several months as tho representative, but has not come forward on this occasion. KIWITEA 11IDIXG. This little Eiding only contains about i 50 souls. Mr .Macarthur represented it during the last Council, but as a monber has boon taken from Taonui, and given to Manchester, two members wore required for the latter. Mr Macarthur therefore determine 1 to stand for Manchester, and the Kiwitoa electors roturnod uaopposol Mr S. 11. Carr. MANCHESTER RIDIXG. Tlih is by far the moat thickly* populated and important Hiding in the County, uumberin^ a population of over 1700 people. Mr Haleombe was the former member ; aud from his long connection with politics was a most useful representative iu the Council. He stood for re-election, whilst Messrs Macarthuv aud La-h also came forward. Although au able politician, Mr Hulcombe's connection with tho Corporation, was urged against his olection, both ho and Mr Macarthur beiug interested in the Corporation j hence Mr Lash's uomination. The result showed, : however, that the Manchester elect-

ova had every confidence in the two candidates who had previously sat in the Council, as was evidenced by the poll — \ Macarthur .. ..172 «| llalcoaibe .. ..158 "^~" Lash 81 We congratulate Mr Macarthur on liis position at tho head of the poll, as his past actions in tho Council justify the opinion that lie is in every way worthy to represent the largo and important Hiding of Manchester ; whilst Mr llaicouibe's return is a wolUearned reward for his persistent efforts to promote the welfare of the Riding. His grett political knows ledge will bo of good service to the Council. NEW COUNCIL. The new Council will therefore be — Messrs Hanson, Gowor, Loudon, Eockstrow, Macarthur, Halcou.be, Kebbell, Linton, and Carr. The Council holds its first meeting ! on Wednesday, the 27th November. I Before closing, we desire to bestow I a word of praise upon Mr T. U. Cook, County Eeturning Officer, for the very excellent manner in which he has performed tho onerous duties attaching to that office. He has travelled over nearly the whole County, to appoint his deputies, and I make the best possible arrangements. i Immediately upon it becoming known ! that extra polling places would be { required, in Manchester and Taonui, ' he arranged for them, and ha* done i everything possible to enable the I whole of the electors to record their votes No hitch whatever has oc« ' curred, owing to the thorough" man* i \ ner in which Mr Cook has performed ! his duties. The County is fortunate ! in having so zealous and painstaking | a gentleman to fill the position ot* | lieturning Officer.