The Feilding Star. Oroua and Kiwitea Counties' Gazette. THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1911. The Elections.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1477, 27 April 1911, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua and Kiwitea Counties' Gazette. THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1911. The Elections.

They are over once more, and yet again there is more talk about the result of the voting than there was about the prospects of candidates prior to the taking of the poll yesterday. Fine weather favoured election day, and consequently the polling, weak as it was locally, was very much better than it would have been under the conditions prevailing today. Locally, as in other centres, "there were some surprising results, but generally they must be taken as a vote of confidence in the outgoing Council, despite the grumblings of some burgesses. Only five of the old Council —Messrs Richmond, Hartord, Ongley, Saywell, and Barry—offered themselves for re-election, and their offer was accepted. The following gentlemen compose the new Feilding Borough Council, with the figures showing how they polled: — A. Richmond 396 G. J. Harford 375 R. Heald 349 A. M. Ongley 344 Peter Thomson 335 G. Wells 329 G. H. Saywell 311 J. T. Barry 309 B. E. Murphy 300

There was wonderfully even voting over the whole fourteen candidates, there heing a difference of only 130 votes between the candidates at the top and at the bottom of the poll; Cr. Murphy had only four votes above the tenth candidate; and there was a difference of only 34 between the' ninth and the fourteenth man. bo that -there was no runaway win by anyone, and not tme candidate was badly beaten. The new blood in the body politic is a good infusion, and we congratulate the young men who have won their spurs upon their success. The eyes ol Feilding are upon them, but they must not be too conscious" of that great fact. The Makino district will now feel some measure of well-deserved content in having Cr. Wells to look after their interests. Our heartiest congratulations are also extended to Mr John Cobbe upon the great victory he has achieved in the Wellington Harbour Board election. It was a foregone conclusion that Mr Cohen would be re-elected, for he well deserved that compliment a 6 a reward for his past services, as we have enrphasised all along. But it was considered that Mr It. S. Abraham carried very heavy artillery, with strong detachments of supporters to back him up in all parts in which the campaign was conducted. This morning, however,

h- Cobbe woke up to find himself famous. That he might win by a narrow majority was the most sanguine hope—that he would beat Mr Abraham all along the lin© and even push Mr Cohen for the head of the poll was undreamt of. The polling figures are not only a revelation of tlie Feilding candidate's popularity all over the wide range of country iv which the election was held, but a tribute to the power of ah'appilyphrascd election cry, "the two O's." Wo also think no little credit is due to settlers and even to residents ■ in Palmerstom who recognised the appeal on behalf of this end of the district. Tho Staii urged that Palmerston should not be greedy—it had Mr Cohen, who would not be disturbed, and it should allow the Feilding dis-

trict to nominate the mam for the second seat. But three candidates from Palmerston nominated, and then our local bodies took united action, urging electors to vote for Mr Cobbe. The glad news of success is published in our columns to-day. Details of the polling are most interesting, for by them it will he seen that Mr Abraham was beaten even in his own stronghold, • whilst everywhere, even to the furthermost outpost of settlement, the Feilding candidate won the support of the settiers. In the municipal elections elsewhere there are some features that are of general interest. Mr T. E. Taylor, the stormy petrel of some, a prince of peace with others, is again very much in the limelight, having scored a- sensational win in the strong triangular contest for the Mayor's chair of Christchurch. He defeated the outgoing Mayor and also Dr. Thacker, the man who brought out Dick Arnst and took the champion sculler to the big match on. the Zambesi. This is Mr Taylor's first experience as a mayor. In Palmerston, Mr Armstrong, an old identity who is 73 years young, headed the poll, and Mr Fred. Nathan, who is new to municipal life, came second. As in Feilding, the Palmerston Council is a mixture of old and new blood. In Wellington City, where there were 32 candidates for the 15 seats, Mr Robert Fletcher, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board and who is well known to Masons in this district, topped the poll, and tern of the old councillors got back. The new councillors include Dr. Cameron, Mr Len. McKenzie (a young chemist), and Mr John Fuller, jun., the young theatrical manager whom we tipped as a probable winner. The Labour Party's ticket was torn to pieces. Taken by and large the elections have proved more stirring and exciting mi their results than seemed possible, and have disproved the old adage that "anticipation is better than realisation."