THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 6

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

The Mayoral election on Nov. 27th resulted in the closest contest Which has yet been witnessed in the city, though as was anticipated the polling was not heavy, less than 1500 votes only, out of upwards of 3000 on the roll, being recorded. Many ratepayers did not conceal their opinions that neither candidate pleased them, and therefore refused to vote altogether ; and to this fact, coupled with the apathy always displayed by a large proportion of the electors on auy roll, may be attributed the light polling ; for light it was, considering that each bide strained every nerve to whip up all their forces. When the poll was opened there were an unusually large number of persons present anxious to record their vot<=s. These consisted chiefly of working-men, whom the heavy rain had prevented going to work, and fora time the Returning Officer and his assistant were kept busily at work. There were feais indeed that the predictions as to the unsuitableness of the polling place would prevent votes being recorded, for a number of business men who could not spare time to wait their turn left; but all worked right in the end. Those who retired voted at a later hour, and the effect of the early polling was to prevent any approach to a crush at the last. Mr. Ames, so far as au impartial observer could -see, got through his work thoroughly well, and there were no particular complaints. Both parties undoubtedly worked very hard, and a peculiar feature was the localised nature of the canvassing, if such a term may be used. Thorndon and Lambton Wards were certainly the strongholds of Mr, Drausfield, while in Te Avo and Cook Wards, particularly in the latter, feeling was greatly in favor of Mr. Hutchison ; and the parties seemed as if by tacit consent to confine themselves to the locality in which most support was anticipated. Occasionally an emissary would Bconr through the enemy’s camp, guerilla fashion, but these exceptions only proved the rule. There was a good deal of excitement round the booth daring the whole of the day, and between six and seven, as the time for the declaration of the poll arrived, a large crowd gathered iu Grey-street. Soon after seven Mr. Ames, the returning officer, made his appearance, and announced that ho calculated the numbers to be— Dransfield ... ... ...710 Hutchison 737

Majority for Dransfield ... 3 But, ho added, Mr. Hutchison's scrutineer had desired a further scrutiny. That would take place immediately, and the official declaration of the poll would not bo made until noon on Thursday. This was received with great uproar. Mr. Dransfield was overwhelmed with congratulations, and a few more ardent supporters attempted to carry him shoulder high, but this little kindliness resulted in his being deposited in the gutter. After some trouble, lie got away from the crowd, and was driven homo. The crowd remained in the streets an hour or two, the absurdities in which the free and independent find enjoyment on such occasions being duly practised, varied by occasional harmless free tights. After refreshment the Returning Officer, his clerks, and the scrutineer held a fresh scrutiny. When tho papers were originally gone through a dispute arose in respect to one vote. Tho voter had erased the name of Mr. Dransfield, and around Mr. Hutchison’s name had pencilled a number of ornamental flourishes, Mr; Drausfield’s scrutineer objected that the marks on the paper had invalidated the vote, and insisted that it should not ha counted. Mr. Hutchison’s scrutineer was equally vehement in claiming the vote, and the Returning Officer said although he was of the opinion that as Mr. Hutchison’s name had not been touched by the pencil the vote was valid, he would lay it aside for further consideration. Both parties agreed to this. On the papers being gone through ou the subsequent occasion they were found to be exactly the same as had been announced at 7 o’clock ; but with respect to this disputed vote, the Returning Officer, after hearing what each scrutineer had to say, decided that Mr. Hutchison must be credited with it. There were twelve invalid papers, and the result of the polling as finally found was as follows: Dransfield ... ... ... 740 Hutchison ... ... ... 738 Majority for Dransfield ... 2 Invalid papers ... 12 During the day there were rumors of personation on an extensive scale, but the only caso reported in tho polling-booth was that in respect of a Mr. Ryau. Ryan demanded a ballot-paper in the afternoon, and on the poll clerk turning up the roll it was found that Ryan was ticked off as having voted. The Returning Officer therefore refused a ballotpaper. The scrutineers were—For Dransfield, Mr. J. A. Salmon ; for Hutchison, Mr. Joseph Hutchinson. Poll clerks—Messrs. C. A. Baker, Garwood, Chappell, Marshall, and R. ICent.

Tho official declaration of the poll was in accordance with the figures published above.