The Palmerston North Contest.

Mr Nash Elected.

PALMERSTON N., April 29. The Mayoral election resulted as follows:—Nash 1,518, Essex 1.232, Haydon 102. The result was received amidst a scene of intense excitement.

There was an immense crowd at the declaration of the poll, and cheers wer* given and great enthusiasm shown in regard to Mr Nash, the successful candidate. There must have been fully 4000 people mustered in Church Street immediately under . the portico of the Opera House, from the balcony of which the pol was declared. The candidates immediately adjourned to the Club Hotel, a short distance away, from the balcony of which they addressed the crowd which followed.

Mr. Nash made a brief and appropriate speech, thanking the electors for the honour done him, at the conclusion of which he shook hands with the defeated Mayor. Cheers were given for Mr. Nash amidst a scene of great enthusiasm. Mr Essex' then made a very bitter speech, in which he declared that he had devoted himself to the working man and would now pass out of exisfenoe as far as the local politics of Palmerston were cencerned.

Mrs Essex, the Mayoress, also addressed the throng, r-er address being in marked cont»ast to her husband's

Tiiere was much interruption and laughter duriig the Mayor's speech, hisses and cheers intermingling. There were loud calls for a speech from the editor of the Manawatu Times (Mr. E: D. Hoben) which paper has taken a prominent and decided stand in favour of Mr Nash, and against which Mr Essex a short time , ago issued a writ for iibel. Ho was repeatedly cheered as well as hissed, and on going down ■•nto the crowd h« was attacked by one man in the crowd, whi'o another seized him round the ankles' and j'ulled him to the ground in response 1o somebody's call to got him down. Mr JJotien, however, collared the man who pulled him down and, hauling him to the pavement gave him in charge to tho police, a number of gentlemen in the crowd preventing interference. Subsequently the crowd followed the pressman about the streets for some time with cheers and counter cheers. Several members of Mr Nash's committee insisted on accompanying Mr Hoben, who declined to leave the street -while the hostile demonstration was continued. The demonsi nil ion, however, came mainly from a number o5 boys and youths, who were repudiated by Palmerstonians in the crowd.

HAWERA, April 29. The Mayoral election resulted: — H. W. , Sutton 329, J. Foy 146. STRATFORD, April 28. The Mayoral election resulted: — George Sangster 381, W. P. Kirkwoood 352. NEW PLYMOUH, April 29. The Mayoral election, in which much interest was taken, resulted: — G. Fisch 609, F. Bellringer 533, W. A. Collis 141. EKETAHUNA, April 29. Herbert Former (the present Mayor) polled 141, against Haswell 133. TAURANGA, April 29. The Mayoral election resulted: — John Bull 184, Rev. Canon Jordan 142. MASTERTON, April 29. The election for Mayor of Greytown caused more excitement than for years past, and resulted: — D. P. Loasby 223, J. D. Hegarty 122. The Masterton Mayoral election resulted: — P. Hollings 717, J. M. Coradine (present Mayor) 706. A bye-election to fill a vacancy in the Council resulted: — J. Hunter 935, E. McEwen 471. A municipal poll as to whether factories attached to shops have the same half-holi-day as shops was carried by 837 votes to 500. The voting paper was evidently not understood by electors, as there were 88 informal votes. DUNEDIN, April 29. The Mayoral election <City) to-day resulted in the return of Councillor McDonald by a majority of 1166, the voting being:— Cr McDonald 3544, Cr Walker 2378. The result came as a 1 surprise to the majority of the residents, who expected Cr Walker to win easily. At North-East Valley Mr Green (the retiring Mayor) was elected by a majority of 208, and at Mornington Mr Le Cren (the retiring Mayor) was returned by a majority of 158. Mr Brown (the retiring Mayor of Maori Hill) was defeated by Mr Butterfield by 147. The St. Kilda contest resulted in the election of Mr McFarlane by a majority of 160. WESTPORT, April 29. The Mayoral election resulted in J. H. Greenwood being re-elected, with 694 votes,' A. C. Hansen 560 ; informal 20. Keen interest was taken in theelectioffT-' HOKITTKA> .ApriJ 29.' The Mayoral election at' Kumara re'sulted:—J. H. Murdoch 174, R. Rouse 103. At Ross, T. W. Bruce polled 134, and J. Grimmond 80. BLENHEIM, April 29. The Mayoral election resulted in A. McCallum being re-elected by 560, E. H. Penny polling 336. NAPIER, April 29. The Hastings Mayoral election resulted : — T. J. Thompson (retiring Mayor) 505, L. W. Fowler 392, A.- A. George 154, W. Lane 9i. TIMARU, April 29. The Mayoral election took place to-day, the contest being between Craigie (retiring Mayor) and Hawkey (Councillor). The interest shown was much keener than for some years. The interest shown was much keener than for some years. The result was the return of Craigie, who polled 715 votes to Hawkey's 295 votes. It was a record poll. CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. The Mayoral election resulted: — C. Allison 1389, George Payling (present Mayor) 1247. • /

INVBROASGHLL, April 29. There was rather more than usual interest in to-day's Mayoral election. Mr Scandrett polled 1049, and Mr McFarlane 857. - NELSON, April 29. The Mayoral election resulted:— J. Pifaer (sitting Mayor) 1024, W. S. Hampson 537. For a vacancy in the City Council K. Turner_was elected, with 730 votes, defeating G. Stewart (583) and J. K. Johnston (278). GORE, April' 29. Mr A. A. Mac Gibbon was re-elected Mayor by a majority of 61, the voting being: — A. A. McGibbon 396, James Spedden 335. The contest was unusually keen. Mr B. Gait was re-elected Mayor of Mataura, defeating Mr Thos. Mac Gibbon by 205 to 107. GISBORNE, April 29.. The Mayoral contest resulted: — W. D. . Lysnar 1136, Dr Williams 808. There was greater interest shown than has been the caße in any former mnnicipal contest. The new Mayor favours a progressive policy, includipg municipalisation of the gasworks, rating on unimproved value, septic tank system of drainage, and big loans fox road and street making. ELTHAM, April 30. The Mayoral election resulted in the defeat of Mr Tayler, who had .been ' Mayor since the borough was formed, 6^ -years ago. The figures' were:— T. C. Stanners 300, G. W. Tayler 211. ' : ( A poll was taken on a proposal to alter the factory half-holiday from Saturday to Thursday, which was carried by 324 to' 137.

At Motueka Mr F. W. Thorpe was reelected Mayor, defeating Mr L. D. Easton by 170 to 154.