MASTERTON TOWN LANDS TRUST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2884, 27 April 1888, Page 2

MASTERTON TOWN LANDS TRUST.

The Election, The election yesterday of two tees to seats on the Masterton Town Lands Trust, vice Messrs Feist and ... Parsons, although it passed ofl quietly had been the subject of a good deal of speculation as to the merits and chances of the four candidates and the interest taken by the respective par- • tisans of the two parties, one of wboin supported Messrs Renall and Hogg, and the other Messrs McEwen and. < .. Hessey, at times rose to fever-heat. Perhaps the most exciting episode of the poll was at one minute to / closing time, when an enthusiastic supporter of the McEwen-Hessey combination drove |up with a cart-load of dilatory voters, landing them onlyjust in time to rush in and exercise their privilege • ere the doors were closed. Of these,-jJ( supplementary and just-in-the-nick-of- -pp time voters, two were painters and : had evidently been captured while following their lawful calling for they brought their paint-pots and gear v with them, and two others muttered somethingabout their tea getting cold, for they, we understand, were in the • midst of their evening meal unsympathetic but energetic" wsp'. called upon them. His persuasions and assertion that they, would be better men by voting and that tliey , could then more honestly enjoy a meal prevailed, and sacrificing , comfort for the good of their town, away they came. The total number of persons who voted during the day was three hundred and forty-three, and considering there were only about seven hundred and forty names on the roll it may bq said that electors on the whole did not neglect their duty and that there was less than the usual apathy shown. > During the afternoon it was thought t that the McEwen-Hessey party were ' in the majority, knowing ones asserting that Messrs Renall and Hogg's supporters would rally round them later on, the latter being credited with . running their election on that popular if somewhat abused platform, " the working man's friend" principal, - However, the declaration of th'®oll by Mr Richard Brown, the Returning . Officer, at half-past six o'clock, rudely dispelled the pretensions of either party to invincibility, and it was found by the election of Messrs McEwen and Benall that one of each side had got in, and that " honors were divided." The following shows the number of . votes polled by each candidate, the ordinary method of voting being the' . one used, and not the cumulative system E. McEwen 186 A. W. Renall 181 A, W.Hogg... ... 161 v John Hessey 158

Total ... ... 686 The poll was declared in the presence of about one hundred persons, and some good-natured banter was indulged in as the principals in ,the contest addressed those expressed their sentiments. The first to speak was Mr A. W. Renall, who saidGentlemen : I am grieved at the result of this election, I feel .only half a man, » for taking Mr Hogg away is like depriving me of my right side. What have I been doing all this time ? [A voice: "You'vebeen nursing him," (Laughter,) Mr Renall:" Yes! and I have turned him out a full-grown kid,' 1 (Renewedlaughter.)] This, gentlemen, ■ is a most important time, and serious ' and vital intsersts are involved [A voice: " Out it short." MrEenall—- " Yes I .will, like a donkey's tail and you can ride on it." (Laughter).] Since the last public meeting took place it has been decided to again sulk mit the Bill to you and some altera? J tions have been made which the Trustees think will make it acceptable. It will therefore be for you to decide at the public meeting to be held next Monday night whether these amendments shall stand and the Bill go through through the voice in accents" beery" herffiSaterrupted the speaker to some extent, and .' the following side-dialogue took place, to the great edification of those prosent. Mr Eenall to his audience—- " Shove a turnip down old R V throat," (great laughter), to which ' old R.' responded; " Its no good old man, I've got a longer tongue than you." (Renewed mirth.)] MrEenall then concluded his remarks with thanks to those who had elected him, but with expressions of regret that he had been left to fight the battle single handed. Mr McEwen briefly but sincerly - thanked those who had elected him. He hoped his actions would always bo : in the right direction and in accordance with the wishes of the 'majority* (Applause)

Mr A. W. Hogg:—" Gentlemen) .I - am not in the position I expected, butfr''/ : " is a result of the undue influence that -r> has this day been used agaiwime.' ' / The numbers are, however, clijlp and ■" * I have only lost by twenty votes. lam not disappointed, nor am I disgusted, for I think we have planted a thorn in ill the side of the Trust by introducing Mv Ilenall among them. (Applause and interruptions). Although not ■ ' eleoted, I may say that I shall still have scope for the useful supervision • - and fostering of your interests,. and can do much as a private individual. As a Trustee, for instance, I should ' not have had the opportunity of so faithfully reporting the proceedings that I shall now have and this important duty will always have my careful attention. It is at least satisfactory ■ ■ to know that there will not be the same - family party as before, and as you are aware, Mr ilenall can be relied upon to fight your battles (a voice—"stuff!" another voic6-"Won't he rather") The speaker then concluded, with thanks to those who voted Aiti}, and remarking that he was ndf/juite in a position some had assigned liinj—/ ' viz., at the bottom of the poll—retired' vith expressions of applause on Jho , the part of Ins hearers, ■ : Mr Hessey; Indies and GentloST , I thank those who. have voted for inaj, ■ and also those who have not, J™ j

unnecessary for me to mako many remarks, but I may say with regard to your choice of Mr Renall for lie has had a lot of your support (A voice: 'Kiel !" Mr Hessey—" You mean yftrc hit") that if he ever carries out the views he has expressed, it will he the first work ho has ever completed yet. At this stage tlio crowd began to get rather impatient, and the voice of the individual who had dined " not wisoly but too well" was heard in incoherent and wordy warfare with those around him, so Mr Ilessey briefly thanking the electors concluded his speech. A vote of thanks to the Returning Oilicer, was then passed, and the proceedings terminated.

Greytown Town Lands Trust, The Election, The Town Lands Trust Election at \ Greytown resulted as under:— votes, R. Bright 52 E. H. Trotman 41 C. B. Fabian 40 J. Maguire 32 C. W. Homblow 23 ,G. A, Stevens .. ... 4 Total 196 Messrs Bright and Trotman, the two first named,were declared duly elected.