YESTERDAY'S POLLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 274, 29 April 1915, Page 8

YESTERDAY'S POLLS.

MR. WILKIN MAYOR, w THURSDAY THE HALF-HOLIDAY. 'I MR. SYKESJOINB HOSPITAL BOARD, v Mr. ,r. 10. Wilson, tin' vcth-iiijr Mayor, " was yesterday re-elected Mayor of Now ' Plymouth for the next two years, di- a fcating Mr. (!. W. Browne. Yesterday " wiiti a day of much voting in New Ply- l mouth, for there were three issues be- ° fine the people. In addition to selecting c a Mayor, the people had to elect three '' members to the Hospital Board from live, candidates to represent Xew Plymouth, and their choice fell on Mr. F. C. .). Bollringcr and Mrs. Dockrill (retiring members) and Mr. A. E. Kykes. wlio replaces Mr. (}. W. Browne, while on tlie s question of whether the weekly half- i holiday should be on Thursday or Satin 1 - f| day, the poll allowed a majority of 207 N votes in favor of Thursday. _ ( The day was not a favorable one f'jr the polls, for the persistent downpour of : rain ke])t many people indoors, with the , result that the voting was not large. It . was anticipated that the keen interest which had been aroused on the half-holi-day question would bring out large mini- ": hers of voters and cause an impetus in : the voting on the other issues, but there : were only 2070 votes recorded in the ■ mayoral contest—about the same as ] last year. There were nine polling .' booths, open from '.) a.m. to 7 p.m., and ' Mr. F. T. Ecllringer (Returning Ollieen with a large and active stall', carried I out the work with despatch. The principal polling booth was the old Drill Hall in Kawau Street, and a crowd began to collect there shortly after seven o'clock. There wen' some lillll to 'IOO people present when the first results were announced a few minutes before eight o'clock. The first news to arouse interest was the result of the voting i" the mayoral contest at the principal boolh, ami this placed Mr. Wilson in n strong position, with 000 votes against 33S recorded for Mr. Browne. The other mayoral results came through quickly, until soon Mr. Wilson had a lead or over 200 votes with two results to come. The issue was now beyond doubt. About half-past eight the election was over, and Mr. Wilson was Mayor, with a balance of 350 votes. Then the figures on the half-holiday question were announced, and it soon became apparent that Thursday would be selected. It was after nine o'clock, but interest was maintained, for this year the Hospital Board election was full c.f interest. And here, as with the other issues, the early polls showed the direction of public favor, and in another quarter of an hour the crowd (Vspersed with the news that Messrs Bcllriiigor and j Sykcs, with Mrs. Dockrill, had been selected members of the Hospital Board. The details of the voting are as follows : THE MAYORALTY. Wilson. Browne. Drill Hall 000 338 Fit/.rny 00 127 Coronation Hall 212 100 West Knd 110 ■ 40 Vogeltown 20 74 Wcstown 10 23 Frankley Road 0 28 St. Aubyn 131 40 Moturoa 24 11 Totals 1203 853 Informal 20 HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION. Thursday Saturday Drill Hall 523 410 Fitzroy 117 00 Coronation Hall 218 140 West Knd 7fl 77 Vogeltown 30 52 Wcstown 35 5 Frankley Road 18 10 St. Aubyn 84 RS Moturoa 21 13 Totals H 34 807 Informal 00 Bight voters voted for Tuesday, six for Wednesday, one for Monday, and one for Friday. HOSPITAL BOARD. Three members for New Plymouth wanted; five candidates. H J2 S> o 2 3 •S g h "i 2 So to JS £ « u ' £ >-> £■ pq « w, a> ? Drill Hall 093 400 581 040 100 Fitzroy 12S 109 120 118 10 Cor'n'tion Hall 209 130 205 194 53 West End 113 57 83 125 28 Vogeltown 01 70 48 40 4 > Wcstown 27 20 20 23 8 Frankley Road 27 27 23 10 4 St. Aubyn 109 47 120 137 -;9 Moturoa 21 11 19 25 5 Totals 1448 880 1207 1321 300 Informal 08

MR. WILSON RETURNS THANKS. When the final result of the mayoral contest was announced Mr. Wilson appeared and said he wished to thank the people for having done him the honor of returning him as Mayor. He felt that it was an honor to he returned to assist in carrying out the very important works on which the town was now engaged. Mr Wilson expressed regret that only some 2000 had voted out of about 5000 names on the roll, for he had hoped that, with ihe interest being taken in local matters, there would have been such a poll as had never before been held in New Plymouth. But he was very grateful to those who had recorded their votes in his favor. Mr. Wilson went on to say that there were very many important works to be carried out, and from the poll there were indications that he had the confidence of the burgesses of the town who took sufficient interest in public matters to come forward and record their votes. Mr. Wilson said they had heard a good deal about the condition of the town during the last two or three months, but in his opinion there was no occasion for any alarm. The condition of the borough was not so good as it might be, but there was nothing which should trouble the people. "You have got the town," added Mr. Wilson, "which I think is going to grow into one of the biggest towns in New Zealand. We will have for the town a splendid seaport and back country which is second to none in New Zealand, and you may feel assured that we are going to prosper." Mr. Wilson said he was particularly pleased to know that he was going to preside over such a good council as had been elected, and though the council had been formed without any great competition, the people bad got together a very practical do>:en men. Mr. Wilson added that as far as be was concerned the election had been carried out without any personal feeling. Mr. Browne and he were good friends, and although Mr. Browne had, had to take second place this time iie was a man who had done some very great services for the town. Mr. Wilson as*ed the gathering to give three cheers for Mr. Browne, and these were given heartiV-

would continue. Mr. Browne said lie kh too much of a sport to have any feeling in llii! matter. He was sorry that out of sonic 5(100" voters on the roll only about 'Jltltt were recorded, and lie h-ped the people would understand this clearly. Thi! weather, or it may be some other circumstances, had kept the people from voting. On the last two occasions when a mayoral election was held only some '2OOO votes had been recorded. Mr. Urowne again thanked his supporters, and added that although not elected they would always find him taking the greatest interest in anything for the welfare of New Plymouth. He called for three cheers for .Mr. Wilson, and they were given generously.

STRATFORD. (Fi'o:'.i Our Own Corespondent.) Yesterday was a. very wet day, and scarcely any interest was evii."cd in the .Mayoral election. It was prutie.tMy a foregone conclusion that Mr. V.ov.n would lie e!e:'te;l, lint, even bis most irdent supporters did not expect such a large majority, Hotb candidates had inctor-iars bringing in the voters, but the had weather prevented many of the fair sex from voting. Mr. Plii] Skoglund, the returning ollicer, announced the result of the poll at 7.30 p.m. as follows: Mr. J. W. Boon 370, Mr. R. McK. Morison 122. The informal votes were three. Mr. Boon thanked the electors for returning him with such a handsome majority. He referred to his position at 'the head of a council composed, with few exceptions, of untried members, and asked the electors to reserve their judgment on them. Tie felt sure that in a short time the council would prove it was determined to do its best in the interest of the town. Mr. fioon also made reference to the clean character of the contest. Mr. R. McK. Morison (hani-cl those electors who had voted for him. He expressed his satisfaction with tlio ratepayrs' choice, and wished his opponent a successful year of office.

Hawera, Last Night. The mayoral election resulted: E. Dixon 438, E. Morisscy 431. WELLTNOTON.-J. P. Luke (retiring mayor ) 0880, R. Fletcher 7483, C. 11. Chapman (Labor) 1132. Of 33,500 voters on the roll n little over 18,500 went to the poll. All the suburban mayors were elected unopposed as follows: —Petone, J. W. McEwan (re-elected); Hutt, H. Baldwin (re-elected); Onslow, C. C. Crump (re-elected); Eastbourne, J. P. Kelly: Miramar, F. Townsond (re-elect-ed); Karori, B. G. H. Burn. AUCKLAND.—J. n. Gunson 8805, P. Tudchope 5752; Gunson'a majority, 30,5:!. NEWMARKET—James McCo'll 450, W. ,!. Jeffrey 437. DUNEDINV-Clark 8802, Myers Ciil, Marlon- 3040. MORNINGTON.-Smcock 557, Harmway 301. . INVERCARCILL.-Dimcan McFarlaiie was re-elected mayor bv a 700 majority. PALMEKSTON NORTH.-J. A. Nash (present mayor) 1085, F. J. Nathan 1405. WANGANUL—C. K Mackay 1352, T. B. Williams 008, 'l3. N. Lilliton COO. The proposal to borrow £24,000 for tramway power and electric lighting was carried. A general purpose loan of- £67.000 was defeated. FOX TON.—A. Fraser (ex-town cler';) 207, Senior Councillor Chrystall 238. MASTERTON.-J. M. Coradine (retiring mayor) S(!3, John Hunter 380. NELSON.—O. J. Barley 1200, W. Lock (retiring mayor) 1082. BLENHEIM.-,!. J. Corry (sitting mayor) Mas elected with a majority of 02 over Council':).- Carr. ASTlßUß'i'OW.—Robert Galbraith 58.1, Henry Davis 373. Mr. Davis had held office for twelve consecutive years and had been elected unopposed on each occasion. TBIAIIU.—K. R. Guiness (the present mayor) defeated ex-Mayor W. Angland and Councillor Hunt bv a large majority WAIMATE.—N. Francis (ex-mayor) defeated J. Black (the present mayor). TEMUKA.—A. Frew defeated W. F. Evans. GERALDINE.—J. Kennedy (the prosent mayor) and Dr. Hislop tied, and drew lots, Dr. Hislop winning. OAMARU.-W. H. Frith (retiring mayor) defeated Jas. Mitchell by 115 votes. PORT CHALMERS.—T. Scollay (the retiring mayor) 509, W. Morgan 470. The jioll on the question of weekly half-holiday resulted: Saturday 10,343, Wednesday 0128. WELLINGTON HARBOR BOARD ELECTION. Wellington, Last Night. The Harhv Board election resulted: Payers of d- s other than on ships, R. D Sinclair defeated A. D. Kennedy by IBS votes to 27; C. W. Jones and H. L. Nathan were returned unopposed for payers of dues on ships. WELLINGTON HALF HOLIDAY. Wellington, Last Night. The latest progress reports give Saturday half-holiday a considerable lead over the other days. The returns were still too indefinite at midnight to give an idea of the results. At the poll taken by the Eastbourne Borough on the proposal to borrow cCI-2,000 for a water supply scheme, the proposal was carried by 21 votes to' 67.