Patea Municipal Elections.

Patea Mail, 18 November 1881, Page 3

Patea Municipal Elections.

Part of the following appeared as an “ extra ” last night :-rMail Office, Thursday Night. The election of nine members to the new Borough Council took place to-day, at the Town Board office; Mr Harris being returning officer, and Mr E. C. Horner acting as scrutineer. There being 15 candidates for 9 offices, the contest excited more interest than is usual in local elections. The Agricultural Show has attracted so many persons this afternoon that the town wore a deserted aspect until towards five o’clock. Then a spurt was given to the slow voting, and by six o’clock a crowd began gathering near the polling-place, to gossip about the positions of winners and wait for the poll being declared. The number voting up to 4-80 was 94 ; and when the poll closed at 6 o’clock the total number who had voted was 113, out of about 120 who might be expected to show up. Cabs were employed by Mr Taplin to bring the “ free and independent” to place him at the head of the poll, and they did. At 7-80 the poll was declared thus, the first 9 being elected :

1 Samuel Taplin 100 2 John Milroy 94: 3 Robert Albert Adams 93 4 Wm. Aitchison 87 5 William Dixon 85 6 Patrick Mahony 74 7 John Gibson 69 8 William Hewitt 66 9 Alexander Black 64 Not Elected : Frederick Scarfing 57 John Herbert 51 Daniel James Williams 51 James Lett 86 Charles Fred. Barker 34 Daniel Smith 33

Two votes were informal. The long time required to count up the votes caused much impatience among the crowd outside, who had to get up little diversions to while away the hour and a half.

The result having been declared, there were cheers for Mr Taplin, who responded in a short speech, thanking' the electors for placing him at the head of the poll, and expressing a belief that at the end of the first year they would have no cause to regret the honor they had done him, (Cheers.) Among the funny things of the day was the display of a large colored drawing on canvas, done by Mr Holditch. “Vote for Taplin” was the legend, and each big letter was lifted up by a caricature figure of some local politician or “leading citizen”; one balancing a letter on his nose, another supporting it on bis elongated head, a third figure with enormous fat paunch in graceful pose as if standing for his photograph, another with belltopper hat and seedy gear as if the fight Lad gone against him ; still another with Scottish plaid and Glengarry bonnet as if his foot were not on his native heath ; and poor Pat also with battered bat but no shillelagh was in the “illigant” group.