ELECTIONS FOR THE COUNTY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4944, 13 November 1884, Page 2

ELECTIONS FOR THE COUNTY.

The triennial elections to fill the vacan cies in the membership of the County Council, caused by the regular retirements in each riding, were held yesterday, and caused no inconsiderable excitement in the various ridings where the contests were. It will be remembered that in the Waiotahi Riding the number of candidates nominated did not exceed the number of members required, so that those who entered the lists—Messrs Brodie and Coutts—were returned unopposed. In all the other divisions of the County, spirited struggles were made. Several new members have beeo returned, and many sweeping reforms have been promised, and will no doubt be attempted to be carried out. In the

KAUAERANGA RIDING most interest appeared to be taken, and a determined contest was carried out to the end. Each candidate's friends, and the candidates themselves, appeared to be doing their best to carry off the honors of the occasion. Shortly after seven o'clock the Returning Officer (Mr W. Smith) announced the result of the polling as follows :— William S. Greenville 166 David W. Pitkethley ... ... 149 William Deeble 140 George W. Bull 134 Andrew Hart 22 Informal votes, 7. This statement was received with loud cheering, which lasted for about ten minutes. Mr Greenville thanked the electors for the honorable position they had placed him in, and he would endeavor to merit a continuance of the confidence reposed in him ; he would also endeavor to cause considerable alteration in County affairs from the present condition of them. Mr Deeble was met with signs of disapprobation. He claimed that he was elected by the genuine ratepayers of the Riding ; the candidates declared elected had been placed in their positions on the poll by roll-stuffing. The birch which they had made would, he hoped, be used to whip them. The elected candidates had been returned in the interest of County contractors. He thanked the lawful ratepayers who had voted for him.

Mr Pitkethley was not at the polling place, but having been carried away by his friends, he, from the shoulders of his bearers, thanked the ratepayers for their action that day, and promised to use every exertion in the interest of the County generally, aud his Riding in particular. Some interest was manifested in connection with the election for PAEAWAI. . During the day the friends of two of the candidates were busy in the interests of their men. The candidates were Messrs W. Murdoch, A. Mayo, E. Js. Smith, J. L. Stevens. Shortly after six o'clock the Returning Officer (Mr F. E. G-. Woodward) announced the following result :— William Murdoch ... - ... 55 Alfred Mayo 30 Eobert N. Smith 6 John Lea Stevens ... ... 1 Mr Murdoch briefly returned thanks for the honor the ratepayers had conferred on him, and promised that now tan Hiding was a recognised part of the County, suffering from no Highway Board influence, there was a chance of it haviDg more justice done towards it, than it had in the past.

TOTARA BIDING. The candidates for this seat were Messrs L. J. Bagnall and <T. Townsend, and Mr Gibson, Returning Officer, announced the result to be as follows :— Townsend 62 Bagnall 37 There were three polling places, and the numbers recorded at each were:— Puriri: Townsend, 28; Bagnall, 4. Turua: Bagnall, 12; Townsend, 0 Kauaeranga Bridge : Townsend, 34; Bagnall, 21. OHINEMUEI HIDING. There was very little excitement in this division, as it was known that the nominations of most of the candidates were for one reason and another invalid. The result of the polling was :— J. H. Moore ... ... 93 J. M. McCombie 87 C.P.Mitchell 62 J. H. Walsh ... ... 58 The number of votes polled by Mr C. A. Comes has not come to hand.

HASTINGS EIDItfG. There were three polling places in this riding, and the following are the results:— Hawkes, Sceedman. Tapu 23 8 Tararu Creek ... 16 16 Tairua 8 50 Totals 47 , 74 This gives Mr Steedman a majority of 27 votes. The news of the Tairua polling was first brought over by Mr Honiss's son, who rode from the mills to the Thames this morning, reaching here at 10 o'clock.