KAIAPOI ELECTION.

Press, Volume III, Issue 129, 30 March 1863, Page 2

KAIAPOI ELECTION.

The characteristic quiet of the town of Ka_ • was somewhat disturbed on Friday hut W T excitement wliich usually attends a keenly m . tested election. The two candidates were WR. Moorhouse, and W. C. Beswick, Esqrs., and fothe fact of each of these gentlemen being known as men of mark, the electors and often, to the extent of some 60 or 80 persons, __. assembled in front of the Court House, to eiib the fun which the occasion was suretoafforf.

Dr. Donald, tho returning officer, having gone through the usual preliminaries, Mr A Weir pro. posed W. S. Moorhouse, Esq., dwelling on the advantages wliich Kaiapoi might be fairly expected to derive from having its interests represented by one who had so recently filled with credit to himself, and with advantage to Canterbury, the honorable position of Superintendent of tie

province. The nomination was briefly Becondod. Mr. W. Wilson said his name had long been on the electoral roll of the Town of Kaiapoi, without his having liitherto had the opportunity of exercising the privileges of ono of its electors. Happening however to be accidently present to-day on business, he was proud of the opportunity whicl the occasion afforded him of proposing to them one of tlicir own townsmen, a well known and constant resident among themselves, one who hail done much to further tho best interests of the town of Kaiapoi. The new wharf which stretched to the river's edge had already largely accommodated the shipping interests of tho town, whilst the two large stores recently built, and now in fi working order, wero rapidly gaining for the tows a commercial reputation, thereby tending to raw Kaiapoi from the long period of dullness and depression from which its interests had solong suffered. Whilst the rival candidate, Mr. Moorhouse, was essentially an absentee in all respect!, in no way identified with the interests of the toro, whilst the mere fact of his having onco been* Superintendent, successful because ho was R* rounded by a very able Executive, could mM especial degree fit him to be a good member of the Provincial Council, for it was a wcllknownfet tliat when ho formerly held a seat in theCoraic-, he was neither a first-rate, a second:rate, <*_*«» tliird-rate member; whilst on the other hand Captain Beswick was well known to be**"* large business experience, whose every interest** thoroughly blended with theirs, and them with a genuine devotion to their inter*" as an able member locally interested always woul, Ho had great pleasure therefore ia William C. Beswick, Esq. to the electors of» Town of Kaiapoi as a fit and proper person represent their interests in the Provincial UPW. of Canterbury. . Mr. Everest briefly seconded the n° ml^o^ There being no other candidate proposed, ? Moorhouse then addressed the electorsi * eiderable length, specifying several of • sures likely to come before the next «esa» Provincial Council, in the discussion ot * would take an active part, and totnadji sidcration of which he would now bo aWf • a well-matured judgment based <» »"*/_* provincial experience ; and every focuny sessed would be earnestly devoted interests of the constituency whom the honor to represent, not of course those broader and more general qucsu the entire interests of the prormce. was now completely unconnected w*n tf , ment and about to res-mews P lawyer, wliich would allowhim area* > of time to attend to his duties in althoughhe entertained thelngb^PJ^^a of personal respect for the mens „«, Captain Beswick, yet ho_ „*+ good reason why he (Mr. rf make a useful representative for *■ Kaiapoi.

jfr. Beswick then stepped forward, and said ho would briefly confine himself to reminding tho electors of Kaiapoi of liis early local residence amongst them, of the intimate relationship in which ho stood towards them all, and of tho thorough and complete identification of his interests with their own, by which they might feel assured of his earnest exertion in every causo furthering and expanding in tho slightest degree the best interests of the town of Kainpoi, and if they did" him the honor to elect him he would gervo them faitlifullyand well, as became the duty of every man elected to a position of equal trust and responsibility.

The Returning Officor then called for a shew 0 f hands, when the numbers held up on both gides on two different times were equal. The third time, however, tho numbers appeared to be 31 for Moorhouse, and 29 for Beswick. A poll was then demanded, and a vote of thanks to the Beturning Officer closed tho proceedings, wliich wo ore bound to say wero characterized by lots of jokes on both sides given and instantly retorted with the greatest possible good humoHr. Wo learn that tho voting was proceeded with on Saturday, and ended in the election of Mr. 3foorhouse, tho numbers being— Moorhouso, 38 Beswick, 21.