EXCITING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 460, 3 June 1909, Page 3

EXCITING.

A SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION, ATTENDANCE, xooo, THE SECTARIANS BEATEN. Hawera, June 1. Extraordinary excitement prevailed last night over the election of a School Committee for the Hawera District High School. Originally party strife was provoked by the friends of Mr P. O’Dea circularising the district with a vietv to securing a return of school committees favouring Mr O’Dea’s election as a member of the Wanganui Education Board, These circulars were denounced by Mr E. Dixon, at present a member of the Board, as being a Roman Catholic movement on behalf of Mr O’Dea. Immediately, a semi-sectarian fight began, and at the school committee election three weeks ago Mr O’Dea was elected. That election was upset on account of Mr O’Dea not having the necessary residential qualifications. Last night, a fresh election was held, and was preceded by uuusually vigorous canvassing, the whole affair approximating to an electoral campaign, and far exceeding in interest any civic contest ever held in Hawera. Cabs were engaged by what may be called Mr O’Dea’s party, and these were rattling voters to the poll until mid-night. The old committee was largely identified with the church and no-license party, and seven out of nine of the old committeemen were returned by a fairly substantail majority, and two other nonCatholics were returned with them. The excitement lasted until nearly 2 o’clock in the morning.