RESULT OF THE POLLING.

BIG MAJORirr FOR JONES. AsTihe time for the posting of the numbers drew near, a considerable number of electors and the skirmishers and whips of the two candidates collected around the Road Board office at Ashbourne, all waiting anxiously for the news. All the returna were received well up to time, enabling Mr W. T. C. Mills, the Return-ing-Officer, to hoist the numbers punctually at half-past seven, showing the result to be as follows : — F. Jones. A. Ayers. Ashbourne 437 3051 Halswell 31 9 Valley 4_ 15 Cashmere ... ... 15 5 527 336 ! Majority for Jones ... 191 Tho following informal votes were taken : — Ashbourne, 14 ; Valley, 2; j C»3hmere, 1 ; Halswell, 1 j total, 18. j Mr Frederic Jones, the successful candidate, arrived on the scene just as the declaration was made, and was immediately seized by his supporters and carried shoulder high inside the railing in front of tho office, and some oue called for threo cheers for Mr Jones, which was heartily responded to, the opposition not forgetting to contribute a slight admixture of groans and catcalls. One of the winner's supporters replied by singing, at the top of his voice, " For he's a jolly good fellow." Mr Jones then made a short speech, thanking those who had so staunchly supported him, and briefly expressing his determination to do his best for the district and the Province generally. He was received with cheers and such noises as rendered him well nigh inaudible. Mr Ayers was not present at the declaration. The : defeat of that gentleman by such a large ; majority was, perhaps, what is known in < sporting language as a " boil over," each side on the morning of the election being confident that the election, though a near thing, would result in favour of their candidate. Such was the general opinion, and no one supposed that Mr Jones would ecore a majority at each polling place. It may be stated that the interest shown in the election was very keen, as evidenced by the fact that 881 votes were polled as against 705 on the occasion ot the last Heathcote election.