AN AMUSING ELECTION INCIDENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2714, 30 November 1881, Page 2

AN AMUSING ELECTION INCIDENT.

Some amusement, says the Wellington “ Post,” was caused at the Lower Hutt railway station a couple of evenings ago. In the evening train, wpich left Wellington for the Upper Hutt, were a candidate for Parliamentary honors and his agent, the former proceeding to woo the electors and the latter probably attending to start the applause. When the train reached the Lower Hutt, the agent looked out and espied two likely-looking Huttite electors who had not been canvassed, and towards these be made a dart, calling upon the candidate to follow him. The electors were soon buttonholed and corned out of sight, while the process of voteextraction was vigorously carried on. They heard not the warning bell nor the shrill screech of the engine-whistle ; and alas ! the engine went off without the most important portion of its living freight. Just as the guard van was leaving the platform, the touting agent’s eye caught its retreating form, and away he went with a shout to the engine-driver to pull up. He caught hold of the end of the van and frantically followed alongside, while his principal ran behind puffing more vigorously than the engine. The spectators looked on and enjoyed the fun. The engine-driver at length increased the speed, and the agent, finding his arms nearly torn from their sockets, was obliged to let go and return with his principal to the station, where they were mercilessly chaffed. They hired a buggy later on and reached their destination in safety.