WAITARA TOWN BOARD ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 21 September 1900, Page 2

WAITARA TOWN BOARD ELECTION.

(from ouk own coi:«esposde»t.)

A lively interest was taken in the Waitantj IWn Board election, which resulted in tlie return of Messrs. Kiddel], 0«lo, Fraser, Chappell, Poaice, B. A. Hignett, and E. Knight. The interest commenced as early as four o'clock on Wednesday morning, when two haggard-looking and decrepit figures emerged from the local newspaper office, one of whom was bending beneath the weight of a bundle of bills, They immediately commenced pasting these bills on the various shop frontager in the town, but, alas! they failed to observe that they were closely followed by a couple of "scouts" who had anticipated the proceedings, and as eich bill was affixed it was quietly removed by the enemy, who appropriated the lot without any compunction whatsoever.

: What was the natur.i of these bills ? ; A dreadful warning tot! o electors "not i to be doceiv* d by tho el qu nee of Mr. s B. A. Higr.o'-t, but to vote straight for ' the party of vcs'ed intorestsi." Ar.d to > think that after all the trouble and ex--1 ponse, to say nothing of titling up all • night, these bil's bhould liivo boen : " commandeered'' so ruthlessly by the > enemy! But worse was to follow. ' When daylight appeared bil's of a I different colour woro discovered m . prominent places, inviting the cleclore i to ,( give the harbour a show, and not 1 to .vote for cliques or the Fam'ly lioat!" > But the ciualest cut if ail was an < artistic painting of the " F.uuily Boat," : which appeared in a tradesman's wini dow bearing tho poetic' inscription , " Wot oh ! she bumn.!" > The next inteu'teting Latino vai tho ■ issue of tho Mail at 12 won on . Wednesday, »nst< ud of at the usual i time cf 5 o'ekek, e-uit.-.n.ir.g a long inspired leading arti.l i hostile to Mr. llignett, and endeavouring to prevent his ro-election, People were brought in frein all round thu exuntrj t.ivo'o, one sonrin-law trawling all tiio \v»y from Turakjna, New Plymouth was fairly represented by Mr. J. B. ltoy, Mr, Joe Watd and otrm'.". Mr. Joo Waul usually i.jipears in Waiti.iii onto in two yeaitf, to givo tho residi-nts gta'nitons advice as to hew they thould rfcoid thi ir votes. If i-s family connections no doubt fully appneiato 'his biennial self suim'fl o on b(* psrt, hut/ tiro residents are not fowiilyj struck by Mr. Joe W mi'selupu nco. And this was thu button of tlie cry I "Put him cut and givo us pace!' Oh, fjiv.i us p;ace ard 1 t us carry on ofir littloKchvine.s as wo did in the days of yore! Oh for llu-si Inppy diys! Peace, perfect pi ace.' But when the result of tho poll was ii< clared they found that notwithstanding r.Jio combined efforts of thu M,!."," which mustered from tho four skiers of the earth, and tho frantic assi.-tanco of the] local Mail, instead of putting him ou!V he was in with an inci ut 20 per cent, in the number of votes he received ut tho last Town Bwrd c-Ugtiya]

in 1808. The result of tliu election is, regarded as a distinct impovomout oul the old Board, as Mr Itiddrll will be a I tower of strength in the direction of progress. A largo crowd waiud outside the Town Board ollice to hoar tho declaration of tho pall, and tho active interest created throughout cannot bo otherwise than boneficial to tho district.