MUNICIPAL ELECTION".

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1855, 11 September 1874, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTION".

The election of members to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of three members by rotation from the ( Borough Council, took place yesterday. The retiring members were Dr. Kilgour 'and Messrs Anthony and Kennan, who offered themselves for re-election; and Messrs Bowe, Macnab, and Carpenter also appeared as candidates for the office. The Council Chambers had been fitted up with four polling booths, and the Mayor officiated as Keturning Officor. The voting was by ballot. Daring the day a considerable amount of interest was evinced by the friends • of the various candidates, and committee rooms were started in the orthodox fashion, and the interest manifested was perhaps not much less than on the occasion when the first municipal election took place, sis months j ago. The geueral opmion during the day was that the election of Messrs Kowe and Anthony was sure, but doubt prevailed as to who would be third. It was generally understood that the contest would be between Messrs Macnab and Kennan. Mr Carpenter was scarcely considered as being in the contest. The polling-booths were opened at 8 o'clock, and soon after that voters commenced to drop in. It was not, however, until the afternoon that anything approaching excitement was perceptible. The candidates and their friends used all efforts to bring voters to the poll throughout the day. The "LUX." (Anthony, Rowe, Kennan) ticket had a committeeroom, profusely stuck over with bilia advising the electors to vote for the "Ark of Safety," and "Down with Provincialism" (which is the most popular cry at present on the Thames), while opposite was another committee-room, where Howe, Anthony, and Macnab, sailed together. One gentleman remarked that Macnab could not go into the Ark, as his ancestor, " The Macnab," who was a great man at the time of the Flood, would not take passage with Noah, but had a boat of his own. Perhaps ths greatest curiosity of the day was the Maori vote, and the way in which it was manipulated. There are about sixty free and enlightened Maori electors on the roll, and by judicious dealing with the interpreters and with one or two of the old identities at Shortland, these may be secured almost in a block vote. Mr Macnab seemed yesterday to have made a haul of the Maoris, with the aid of Captain Butt, who acted as his henchman for the day. The Native Lands Court has been sitting at Shortland for some days past, but in order that the Maoris might discharge their duties as citizens, the Judge adjourned the Court during yesterday. Natives are collected from all parts of the country, and although only about 50 Maori votes were recorded, every native at present in the locality took an immense interest in the election. A 'bus was hired, apparently in the Anthonv, liowe, Macnab interest, and drovo briskly between Butts Corner and the polling place during the day. Upon it was a large bill proclaiming that it was for Maoris, and that no charge was made. This was an irresistible attraction for the natives, and the 'bus was crowded at every trip. Another irresistible attraction was the beer at the various committee rooms, and so eagerly did the Maoris refresh themselves that towards the close of the day not a drop to drink was left at any of the com-mittee-rooms, We are informed by a person who took some trouble to satisfy his curiosity on the point, that not one of the natives had the faintest notion of what the election was for. They were like Jaspar in Southey's poem of Hohenlinden, they knesv not what it was all about—they only knew that there was excitement, and that they could get a gratis ride in a 'bus, and gratia beer. A Maori returning from the voting-booth was asked by a European friend who he had voted for. " I voted," said he," for Mr howe, for Captain Butt, and for another pakeha—bow should I. know his name ?" At the conclusion of the polling it took a considerable-longth of time to

tot up the votes, and at 5 o'clock the Mayor declared the result as follows :— VOTES. Anthony - ■ - 437 Bowe • ■ - 402 Maonab • ■ - 327 Eennan • • -205 Carpenter ■„.--:..._ ■ 125 Kilgour ■ - ~"".""''H6 The announcement of the result was received with cheers, although it must bo confessed it took a large number by surprise. The sweeping majority which Mr Macnab had oyer Mr iCennan was unexpected in a great measure, but not the less welcome to tlio supporters of thb former gentleman. The po'ition which Mr Anthony took at the head of the poll also created some astonishment, as throughout the day that position was pretty generally allotted to Air Bowe, but it was a just tribute to Mr Anthony's useful career as a Councillor, and as a member of the Waiotahi District Board before the municipality wai incorpoia'.ed. Some of the more enthusiastic of Mr Anthony's admirers chaired him out of the crowd. He thanked the electors for the position in which they had placed him at the head of the poll, and said that ho would continue to do the best he could in the interests of the ratepayers. Mr Maonab was also chaired. He also expressed his thanks. Ho said ho had no expectation of being either first or second on the list, and was perfeclly satisfied with the position in which he was placed. Mr Bowe, who was trealed to a similar display of enthusiasm and inconvenience, also thanked the electors for the confidence placed in him, Mr Eennan, who was also preseut, was called upon for an address. He said that although defeated this time he would try again, and as it was he would watch the proceedings of the Council closely, and endeavour to look after the interests of the mining community. This concluded the proceedings of the election, and the crowd assembled then dispersed.