THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5666, 28 May 1879, Page 2

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

THE RESULT.

The polling to decide the choice of a new Mayor in the place •of Mr. Dransfield took plaoa yesterday. The interest in the present election was not so great as that of the contest a few mouths ago between Mr. Dransfield and Mr. Hutchison, most people having something else to look after, owing to the commercial depression ; still, from an early hour considerable excitement was noticeable throughout the city. Vehicles of all descriptions, plentifully placarded with invitations to the ratepayers to vote for the respective candidates, were being driven about in all quarters of the town, and bringing voters to the polling-place. This had been fixed by the Returning Officer at the Corporation Buildings. Careful arrangements were made to prevent confusion and to facilitate the recording of votes, and from the opening of the poll at 9 a.m. till its close at G in the evening there was not the slightest hitch or inconvenience of any kind. ~ A considerable crowd of people were gathered round the building throughout the day, gradually increasing ia numbers towards tho time fixed for the poll to close. At the closing of the poll at 6 p.m. the street was filled with several hundreds of persona, and the. number rapidly increased, until at 7, when the result became known, there could not ’have been fewer than 11)00 persons present. The hour of Waiting was beguiled in a variety of ways, a large amount of small wit and laughter, that must have been accumulating since the dull times set in, being given vent to. Generally, however, the crowd was very orderly, the proportion of the rough element, which is seldom wholly absent on soch occasions, being small. Though in numbers the roughs were few, they were exceedingly demonstrative, and having provided themselves with small bags of flour and sticks, indulged in the pleasant pastime of spoiling the coats and bats of the more respectable of the bystanders. Some of the latter did not seem to appreciate the attention bestowed on them, and several scuffles were the consequence. Dr. Diver was-among those struck by the flourbags, and he immediately gave the man ha supposed to be his assailant into custody. At a few minutes after seven the main -door of the building was opened, and the Returning Officer proclaimed the result, as follows Hutchison ... ... ... 669 Hunter ... ... ... ... 634 Majority for Hutchison ... 35 The usual cheering and counter-cheering ensued, and then the crowd dispersed in a very orderly manner. ' - ,