THE STANMORE ELECTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9420, 22 June 1882, Page 3

THE STANMORE ELECTION.

Mr Cowlishaw is evidently not the man for Stanmore. He attempted to address the electors at Knightstown last Tuesday evening, and the following is the result : ■■■> \ v '.},

About two hundred people densely filled the room. One man, sitting three forms from the front, held a stick six feet long, to, which : was attached a red rag, ready to be unfurled at a moment's notice. Mr Cowlishaw's arrival was heralded with three stupendous groans and a display of the red rag. At it the candidate gazed with undaunted mien, anon steadily eyeing the bumptious standard bearer and leisurely placing coat, hat and stick on a table. Amid frequent tapping of shillelaghs, Mr B. R. Muffett was voted to the chair, and, though a non-elector, claimed for the candidate a fair hearing*

Mr Cowlishaw's first word—" Gentlemen " —was the signal for an outburst of "Yaha," hisses, "Hip, hip, hurrahs," and a stanza of " He's a. jolly good fellow," one profane elector proposing a verse of the " The Old Hundredth," the candidate peering the while goodhumoredly, but critically through hig spectacles. He went on—" When last I had the pleasure of addressing you," —Here loud cries of derision arose, and momentarily angered by the flaunting of the rag, the candidate stepped briskly towards the delinquent, and in vulgar parlance " went for " the mast, amid yells of " Stick to it," " Don't give it to him." Pluckily he grasped the stick, which swayed backwards and forwards, between the contending forces, even as the" Homeric heroes erstwhile fought for fairer prizes. The affray was brief, and the candidate rsturned empty handed to the table, while the onlookers raised cheers fainter than before, Mr Cowlishaw's valorous bearing having already enlisted considerable symrathy. But'the tide will flow as well as ebb, and when a loud-toned man standing on a bench, bellowed " He's too much for you, old man," the candidate's prowess once more asserted itself, and he said " Come on then ; I'll take you." Forthwith the challenge was accepted, and without more ado the fresh aggressor trotted up the room, divesting himself of his coat by the .way, A doughty champion he looked,

shirt sleeves expose', and arms brandished as lie skipped in defiance round the candidate. But the latter had pity, and so bloodshed was averted. The light weight returned whence he came, and the Chairman and Mr Glephane implored a hearing for Mr Cowlishaw. Thus matters continued till the candidate at last gave up, and the meeting terminated with three groans for Cowlishaw and three cheers for Piliiet.