THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCV, Issue 14731, 25 April 1912, Page 5

THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

A KEEN CONTEST. MR HAWKEiT RETURNED. Considerable interest centred in the Mayoral election in Timaru yesterday. This year 2489 votes were polled, as against 3387 last year. But last year the election of councillors also took place, and that- would, of course, take more- people to tho poll. The candidates were- Deputy-Mayor Hawkey and Mr W. H. Hunt). Each was assisted by a band of willing workers, and each had vehicles running all day taking voters to. tho poll. The poll opened at. 9 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m. The result was declared at tlis Council Chambers a few miliums alter 8 o'clock in the presence of a largo crowd of people. DeputyMayor hlnwkoy was returned by a majority of 727, the figures being—Hawkey 1000 Hunt 803

THE SPEECHES. Both oaud.dates :;<idrcs-.<d the psopis gathered to hear tue result. Mr liawiit-y, who was given a good reception, lieartily thanktd the <=. tutors lor having placed him in piuoh a proud position—the highest in their power to bestow. Ho took it as a very great honour to bo appointed chief Magistrate of Timaru, and as a complete answer to tho charges of incompetence and extravagance which had been levelled against his fellow councillors and himself. (Hear, hear.) lie coiild truly say that during the 18 years he. had been a member of tho Council he had done his very beit for them, and had watched the expenditure as carefully as if it had been his own money. And ho could only say further, that the. majority of tho councillors wero working with a single eye to tho ratepayers' interests. He would continue to do in the future what ho had dono in the past, it would bo his duty and his pleasure to work for the advancement of the town of which they wero a'l so proud, and to keep their expenditure within their revenue. (Applause). The time had come for very careful expenditure and administration. Last year they had increased their overdraft to rather largo dimensions. Tin's was owing partly to tho fact that thev had to spend a lot in tidying up the "now area taken into the Borough, and partly through providing, es they had, a sinking fund for the several borough loans. There was also a sum of £BSO for widening Commercial street. £SOO for fire alarms, £7BO for tho North End Park, £6OO for tho asphalt works. £4OO for the Caroline Bity Association, and others. £llOO was also spent on the Botanical Gardens last vea'r, and about £I2OO on the Bay (including tho £WO above mentioned.!. This incoming vear w;th careful administration ho believed they couid keep their expenditure within their income, and it would not bo for want of trying on his part, if thev did not do so. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion Mr Hawkey again heartilv thanked the electors for the coniulinieut they had paid liim, and he also thanked his opponent for tho lar"u number of his (the speaker's) supporters which -te (Mr Hunt) had taken to the poll. (Laughter and applause.') Ihreo cheers were given for the Mayor-elect as he stepped down from the stand. Mr Hunt, who was also received with applause, said ho saw he was at the bottom of the poll, but under the circumstances he thought he had dono very well. _ He thanked those who had voted against him, as well as those who had. voted for him, and acknowledged the, great assistance ho had received from those who had cn-operated with him. Mr Hunt said there was not much to bo said a'fter the campaign. AVhen he unsheathed his sword he let it be known that he was out against all comers, and lie had tried to conduct the campaign in a trre British spirit. He had tackled the -idmmistration of the Council, hut had said no word ngainst the councillors personally. Tito policy of a uub'ic hody vrns a fair mqrk tor criticism With that he thought thev w'o'ild all agree. In conclusion Mr' Hunt pro- | pesed n. vote of thanks to the Returning Officer for the able and impartial war ho had carried out his duties. The vote was carried W'th i>pi>ii>u<s° and the dosed with heartv cheers for Mr Hunt. VACANCY O.N COUNCIL. The eicction of Mr Hawkey as Alavor causes a vacancy among the Borough councillors. It is understood that Mr 5, Bowie will agree to the wish of his many friends, who desire him to become a candidate ror the vacant position. ■ WAIMATEMR J. BLACK ELECTED. Li spite of inclement weather tfcire was a good poll. About :i)0 out of 1100 on the roll turned up at the booths. The following wis 1 e Jesuit:— J. Black 378 AV. M. Hamilton ... 330 , Informal ' g The result of the poll was declared by the returning officer, Mr C. Dash, at 7.30 (half an hour after closing the poll;, and so early a declaration ' not bemg expected neither of the candidates was present. Both, however came up later, and mado short addresses. Mr Black thanked the electors for tho honour done him in placing him at the head of tho poll, a result which lie felt to be a very high compliment, and Mr Hamilton thanlsed those who had voted for him. OTHER ELECTIONS. (* indicates retiring Mavcr.) Auckland—J. C. Parr* 10,1)93 H Skeiton (Labour candidate) 110-iS ' AVclhngton— D. Mi-Lsrcn (es-L-ibour M..P.) 4235, A. S. Biss (ox-Co., i-iK 2634, J. Smith (senior Councillor ard acting-Mayor) 1907, R. A Wrhmt (-xM.P.) 1557. ° > Tho retiring Mayers ci' WeliLr'tcni suburban boroughs wero all re-elected except Miramar, where the rotiriiv' Mayor did not stand, ..vnd H. ?.' »f t C Leod was elected.

H. Holland (Labo ir) 4-27, Dr Thacker 2931, J J. Dourail" Zbo'. At Dunedin the retiring Mayor was ro-cectsd unopposed. Wanganui—C. E. Maokay 1P55, Meuli 700. "Wanganui East—A. Barton teat J. Jones' - by 100 votes. Master—J. Coradine* won ly good majority. Palmerston North J. H. Nosh 2250, P. J. Nathan 941. Now Plymouth—G."W. Browne' 704, J. S. Smedley G39. Stratford— V. P. Kirkwood 473. J. McAllister 223. IJawern—O. IV. Gillies 364, '2. K. Whittington* 207 Blenheim-Or. Cowry 612, C. J. Griffiths 435- .T. White" 295. ■yVpstpoit—F. Greenwood* 919, A. Louver 883. Inv-errargill—W. B. !3«mdrett 1959, A. Bain 1203. . . .

Details of the votii Polling Booth. Georgo Street, No. 1 „ No. 2 Clrardi Street West S ai'e a. i-Iawkoy Z'84 (55 > iollo-n .Hunt 181 105 80 s:— luf 8 8 Wallace and Cooper's. North Street Weslevan Hall 100 1:26 56 156 20 33 30 45 01 41 16 26 33 1 3 5 1 Catholic Hall Drill Shed Parneil's House, Wai-iti Road ... Thomson's Store, WaimataUai Donald's, Otipua Rd car Street ... 33 13 2 O'Moegharrs, Stafford Street Pulliser's, North St. South School] Queen, Street 177 G3 151 1590 104 24 18 803 6 1 1 30