MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9133, 30 April 1908, Page 5

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Press Association. . Wellington, April 29. Not for many years has the contest for the Mayoralty of Wellington excited so much interest as that which was decided to-day. The sitting Mayor (Hon T. W. Hislop) and an ex-May or (Mr J. G. W. Aitken, M.P. for Wellington), were early in the field, and conducted a vigorous campaign for five weeks. The polling to-day was very heavy and the streets were crowded to-night with people anxious to know the result. Tiie total shows that 14,813 votes were cast, as compared with 8600 last year. The result is as follows:—Hislop 9193, Aitken 5549, majority for Hislop 3643. Mr Hislop addressed some thousands of electors from the Times balcony, and then went to the Town Hall to address a large crowd awaitingdrim there.l

The contest for the Miramar Mayoralty resulted :—G. J. Crawford (the retiring Mayor) 436, F. Townsend 303. AN EXCITING SCENE. A PRESSMAN’S EXPERIENCES. Palmerston N., April 29. Tho Mayoral election resulted as follows: Nash 1518, Essex 1233, Haydon 103. The result wasyeceived amidst a scene of intense excitement. There was an immense crowd at the declaration of the poll, and cheers were given and great enthusiasm shown in regard to Mr Nash, the “successful candidate. There must have been fully 4000 people mustered in Church street immediately under the portico oj the Opera House, from the balcony of which the poll was declared. The candidates immediately adjourned to the Club Hotel, a short distance away, from the balcony of which they addressed the crowd which followed.

Mr Nash made a brief and appropriate speech, thanking the electors for the honour done him, at the conclusion of which he shook hands with the defeated Mayor. Cheers wore given for Mr Nash amidst a scene of great enthusiasm. Mr Essex then made a very bitter speech, in which lie declared that he had devoted himself to the working man and would now pass out of existence as far as the local politics of Palmerston was concerned.

Mrs Esses, the Mayoress, also addressed the throng, her address being in marked contrast to her husband's. There was much interruption and laughtor.dnriug the Mayor’s speech, hisses and cheers intermingling. There were loud calls for a speech from the editor of tho Manawatn Times (Mr E. D. Ho ben) which paper has taken a prominent and decided stand in favour of Mr Nash, and against which Mr Essex a short time ago issued a writ for allegel libel. He was repeatedly cheered as well as hissed, and on going down into the crowd lie was attacked by «ne man, while another seized him round the ankles and pulled him to the ground-in response to somehody’s'eall to get him down. Mr Hobeu, however, collared the man who pulled him down ;fand, hauling him to the pavement "'gave iiim in charge to the police/a number of gentlemen in the crowd preventing interference. Subsequently the crowd followed the pressman about tho streets for some time with cheers aud counter cheers. Several members of Mr Nash’s committee insisted on accompanying Mr Hobeu, who declined to leave the street while the hostile demonstration was continued. The demonstration, however, came mainly form a number of boys aud youths, who were repudiated by Palmerstouiaus in the crowd.

Hawera, r April 29. H. W. Sutton 329, J. P0y146. Stratford, April 29. George Sangster 381, W. P. Kirkwood 352.

New Plymouth. April 29. G. Tisch 609, F. Bellringer 533, \Y. A. Oollis 141.

Ekotahnna, April 29. Herbert Former, the present Mayor, 141; Haswell3l3. Tauranga, April 29. John Bull 184, Rev. Canon Jordan 142.

Master ton, April 29. P. Holliugs 717, J. M. Coradine, present Mayor, 706. A by-election to fill a vacancy in the Council resulted : J. Huuter"93s, E. McEwen 471. For Greytowu D. P. Loasby 223, J. D. Hegarty 122. Dunedin, April 29. Councillor McDonald 3544, Councillor Walker 2378. At North East Valley, Green, the retiring Mayor, was elected by a majoriy of ?208, and at Mornington Lecren (the retiring Mayor) was returned by a majority of 158. Brown (the retiring Mayor of Maori Hill) was defeated by Butterfield by 147. The St. Kilda contest resulted in the election of McFarlane by a majority of 16. Westport, April 29. J. H.'Greenwood was re-elected by 694, A. C. Hausen 560, informal 20. Hokitika, April 29. J. H. Murdoch 174, R. Rouse 103. At Ross, T. W. Bruce polled 134, a ud J. Grimmoud 80. Blenheim, April 29. A. McCallum re-elected by 560, E. H. Penny polling 336. Napier, April 29. The Hastings Mayoral election resulted : T. J. Thomson (retiring Mayor) 505, L. W. Fowler 392, A. A. George 154, W. Lane 91. Timaru, April 29. Oragie 715, Hawkey 295. Christchurch, April 29. O. Allison 1389, George Payling, present Mayor, 1247. Invercargill, April 29. Scandretc polled 1019, MacFalrane 857. Nelson, April 29. J. Piper, sitting Mayor, 1024; W. S. Haiupson 597. Gore, April 29. A. A. Mac Gibbon 396, James Speddeu 335. Mr J. Galt was re-elected Mayor of Matanra, defeating Mr Tims. Mac Gibbon by 205 to 107. Gisborne, April 29. W. D. Lysuar 1130, Dr. Williams 808. Eastbrook.' —Neilsou 165, Jones 104. Bltham, April 29. The Mayoral election resulted in the defeat of Mr Taylor who had been Mayor since the borough was formed, years ago. The figures were; T. ‘ C. S tanners 300, G.' W. Taylor 211. A poll taken on the proposal to alter the factory halfholiday from Saturday to Thursday was carried by 324 to 137. Nelson, April 29. Jesse Piper re-elected, defeated Oouncilloi Hampson by 1024 to 597.

At Motueka F. W. Thorpe was reelected, L. D. Easton 170 to 154. -TAIHAPE. The election for Mayor took place yesterday and a good deal of interest was shown in the contest, as the building of the Town Hall and Municipal Buildings depended largely on the result. Prom early morn Mr Nathan’s committee were at work as the other side were confi dent of the result, and left no stone unturned to secure a victory. Tiie voting was: Anthony Nathan 197, Joseph Ivess 120. Town Hall loan proposals; For 120, against 48. The voting for the weekly halfholiday decided that Thursday afternoon be the statutory half-holiday. At the announcement of the poll Mr Nathan briefly returned thanks and said that all the works that had been carried out in the past were of a substantial character and promised that the work in the future should always be of the best. He thanked them heartily for the confidence bestowed on him for the third time. Mr Ivess also thanked those who had voted for him and also offered his congratulations on their selection.