THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2201, 14 May 1891, Page 2

THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

GERALDINE,

VICTORY FOR TUB MODBRA-TtCS.

The polling for the election of five persons to act as members of this committee took place at the Court* bonse, Geraldine yesterday, and was one of the keenest contests ever witnessed in the township Exactly at nine o’clock the poll opened, and the bitterness of the straggle wa* at once apparent. Both sides worked their very hardest during the day. Numbers of traps were running and not a voter who was at all to be reached was allowed to remain unsolicited. Both sides were determined, if possible, to win, and both sides seemed to realize that it would require their very strongest efforts to secure the victory. From the moment the poll opened till six o’clock both sides worked their very hardest, a crowd being about the front of the Court the whole day, while the street was lined with traps from the’ Postoffice to the bank. Both parties had the roll ticked, and into the hands of every voter as he passed through the gate was put a dummy voting paper or card showing him how to vote for the respective sides. As the doubtful ones came up they were literally besieged by the canvassers on either side. The closeness of the election may be judged from the fact that out of 150 available votes 126 were polled, Punctually at six o’clock the doors were closed, and then the people had to wait with what patience they could command till 7.80 (a double scrutiny of the votes having been made), when the returning officer, Mr C. B, Sherratt, declared the result to be as follows: A. White ... ... 65 J. Biordan 65 H, B. Webster... 64 F, Worner 64 A. B. Cox ... ... 63 W. E. Barker ... ... 59 R. Hammond ... ... 58 A. Mackenzie ... ... 58 J. M, Sutherland ... 58 Wm. Stewart 65

The prohibitionists had three in formal votes, and the moderates oneThe result was received with tremendous cheering and bell-ringing by the moderates, and the crowd soon after melted away.

The following are the names of the persons nominated at Timaru as candidates at the licensing election:— Moderates : Messrs Bush, Kerr, Sims, Sterickerand Warren; Prohibitionists: Beys. Gillies and Williams, Messrs Boag, Bonlden, and Dans. Oamaku, May 12.

Two petitions were lodged to-day against the election of the Oamarii Licensing Committee. The grounds of the first petition are nominations of candidates were not given within the time required; (2) the nominations of candidates were not given in the manner required; (8) the candidates were not capable of being elected, or bolding the offices to which they were declared duly elected. The grounds of the second petition are—(l) The notices ol time and place of the said election and of situation of polling booths were not given in the manner required by the Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876; (2) the election was not held by a duly qualified and appointed returning officer, or substitute as required by the Act; (3) the person who gave notice of the time and place of the said election and acted as returning officer was not the returning officer ef the Oamaru licensing district or his substitute, The petitions are set down for hearing on Friday, the 22nd inst. A meeting held last night to establish a Prohibition Association was largely attended, and an association was formed. Its chief planks are total suppression of the liquor traffic, and endeavor to secure the co-opera-tion of all prohibitionists. Its members are not necessarily teetotallers.