YESTERDAY’S ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1091, 1 May 1913, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S ELECTION.

RECORD PODDING. The interest taken in yesterday’s election was greater locally than on any previous occasion and consequently a record polling was recorded. The district electors’ list contained 1038 names and of this number 735 recorded their votes, a percentage of 70.80, which, when absentees are taken into consideration. is very satisfactory, and proves that local electors are awake to their duties as citizens.

Throughout the day a number of motor cars were running bringing voters to the poll, and the majority of the candidates were conspicuous in the vicinity of the polling booth. The poll closed at seven o’clock and from then on a crowd gathered in front of the doors to await the declaration of the poll, but heavy rain came on shortly afterwards and those in attendance had to seek shelter under the nearest verandahs. The Returning Officer declared the result of the Mayoral election at about a quarter to eight, at which time the rain was coming down in torrents and when Mr Fraser opened the door to give out the result there were only two persons present and these called out, “Here they are,’’ and some twenty or thirty electors who were near by made their way to the scene, and the Returning Officer then declared the result, which was received with cheers and was as follows : Stiles ... 529 Harvey ... 199 The successful candidate was present, and mounted the doorstep and said that it would be impossible for him to express adequately his thanks to the electors for the magnificent' win that had been accorded him. He had expected that they would return him to office, but not by such a substantial majority. He could assure them that he appreciated their continued confidence in him, and as far as he was able would justify it in his future services. He expressed his satisfaction at the gentlemanly conduct of his opponent, Mr Harvey, throughout the contest, and as friends before the election they would still remain so. He had endeavoured to run the contest fairly and without feeling, and be felt that the win would be received by the electors with a general feeling of satisfaction. He would not keep them longer in the rain, but again thanked them for the honour.

The result was immediately sent to the Coronation Hall, and the following words were thrown on the screen; “Herald Extra. Result: Stiles 529, Harvey 199.” There was a great outburst of applause from the audience.

It was announced after the result of the Mayoral election had been given that it would be practically midnight before any other results would te forthcoming, and the anxious electors put in the evening by attending the municipal picture entertainment, where they received good value for their money.

When the picture entertainment concluded raiu was falling heavily, and a very large number who, had the weather been propitious, would have remained to hear the other results, changed their minds, and wended their w T ay homeward. A fairly large number, however, took up positions in the vicinity of the polling booth awaiting the appearance of the Returning Officer. The weary wait, under anything but favourable weather conditions, was rendered a little less unpleasant by the goodnatured banter indulged in, but as time went on the number present gradually dwindled. At a quarter past twelve there was a cry of “Here he comes !” and a look of expectation lit up the faces of the waiters as the foolsteps of the Returning Officer were heard coming near the door. The bolt was drawn, and the door opened a few inches, but the expectant crowd was doomed to disappointment, as Mr Fraser announced : “There is another hour’s work yet!” Those present then settled down for a further wait, although a few apparently had had enough and went heme. The result was declared at ten minutes to one, when there were about 50 present. It was received with cheers, and was as under Chrystall ... 557 Henderson ... 3150 Coley ... 537 ' Whibley ... 507 Freeman ... 457 Barber ... 420 Speirs ... 414 Green ... 378 Read ... 339 Hannah ... 330 , Huntley ... 319 Richmond ... 271 Dunn ... 262 The first nine were declared duly elected. A call was made for speeches from the successful and unsuccessful candidates and

Ck. Chrystaia was the first to mount the doorstep. He expressed his great pleasure at the very proud position in which the electors had placed him. When be spoke at the meeting on Tuesday night he made a remark in reference to the intelligence of the voters, which at the time raised a smile. He smilingly remarked that the result of the poll justified his statement in that direction. During the coming term he said he would strive to be worthy of the splendid support ha had received and at the end of the term he hoped that they would be satisfied that the confidence reposed in him had not been misplaced, He concluded by assmiu^

them that he would, to the best of his ability, further the interests of the town in every way possible.

Cr. Henderson sincerely thanked the electors , for the support accorded him, sa ymg that no one was more surprised than he was at the position he had been placed in at that poll. He hoped that during his term of office he would not do anything that would in any way betray the trust reposed in him and assured them that he would do his best to retain their confidence.

Cr. Coley thanked the electors for again returning him as one of their representatives, which showed that the ratepayers were satisfied with the work he had done on the Council and be would try to do as well in the future.

Cr. Whibley said he was thankful for the very honourable position in which they had placed him. He had not expected to poll as many votes as he did, and it was a great pleasure for him to know that he had so many supporters which P r °ved that his work on the Council had met with the approval of electors. During the coming term, as in the past, he would do his best in the interests ot the borough as a whole, and he wanted no other reward than to know that he possessed the confidence of his fellow citizens.

Crs. Freeman, Barber and Spexrs

were not present and the next on the list,

Cr. Green,

then mounted the steps and thanked the electors for the kind support accorded him, saying that during his term of office he would do his utmost to further the interests of the town and district.

Cr. Read thanked the citizens very much for their confidence and said that with his fellow Councillors he would strive to do the best he could for the town and the people.

Mr Hannah, in returning thanks, said that he had done his best in the past and he couldn’t do more. He had played the game and been beaten, but on some future occasion he would again come forward when he would perhaps get more support.

Mr Huntley thanked the electors for the suppor t accorded him, and said that considering the short period he had resided in Foxton —being what one might call a new chum —in polling 319 votes he had not done bad. Mr Richmond returned thanks to the electors, more especially those that recorded thei r votes in bis favour. He was pleased to know that Foxton had at last woke up, and he believed that he had been the cause of the awakening, and that was a great satisfaction to him. He concluded by expressing the hope that Foxton having awakened would remain awake. Mr Dunn, the other candidate, was not present when called for. In announcing the result of the Council election the Returning officer said that it would not be long before the result of the Harbour Board election would be

i announced, but the majority of < those present had apparent ly had enough excitement for one night, and only about ten waited for the result, which was announced at twenty minutes to two, as follows : Hennessy ... 60S Jenks ... 4 r 5 Harvey ... 231 None of these candidat|S were present, and consequently there were no speeches. The counting of votes in connection with the Wellington Harbour Board election was completed at 20 minutes to three. The local figures were : Cobbe ... 443 .Cohen ... 375 Eliott ... 321 The returns for this election are not yet complete, but the re-elec-tion of Messrs Cobbe and Cohen is assured. The figures recorded in Palmerston, Feilding and Levin were as under:

Cobbe Cohen Eliott Palmerston 1360 1963 907 Feilding 1146 488 308 Levin 328 304 161