HEATHCOTE ELECTION.

Press, Volume XXV, Issue 3228, 5 January 1876, Page 2

HEATHCOTE ELECTION.

The polling for the Heathcote election took place yesterday. Throughout the forenoon considerable excitement was manifested. Nearing the hour of closing the poll all the excitement seemed concentrated in the direction of the Ferry road, and at half-past four o'clock—when it was believed the votes of the outlying district would have been received—a strong muster of those ratepayers interested assembled in front of the Road Board office.

It was intimated by the Returning Officer to those collected that shortly after four o'clock, as near aa possible, the votes recorded for the Lower Heathcote would be published. With commendable celerity, a notice was posted outside the door at that hour, showing a majority in favor of Mr Fisher of sixtyseven. The crowd still continued to increase, and at seven o'clock, when the poll was declared, a large .number of persons had assembled. At that hour Mr G. L. Lee, Returning Officer, appeared in front of the office and stated the declaration of the poll to be as follows, so far as he knew it :— Fisher. Wilson. Ferry road ... 191 124 Upper Heathcote. 33 27 Prebbleton ~. Not scut ia Lincoln ... .;. 25 7 249 158 He (the Returning Officer) would tell them that at Prebbleton 51 votes had been polled, but bow they were polled Jhe did not know at all. He could only give the state of the poll as he had told them. After the poll had been declared Mr Lee said that under the circumstances he would make the official declaration on Thursday next. He would mention in the meantime that there was a majority of 101 in favor of • Mr Fisher ; 51 votes, as he had previously "told them had been polled at Prebbleton, bat under the circumstances he thought there must be a majority of over fifty votes in favour of Mr Fisher. [Loud cheers. J Mr Fisher, who was loudly called for, taounted a cart, and said that it was twelve years since he stood on the Heathcote ground ifcking the suffrages of the Heathcote diefcict, and having from that time enjoyed the of the electors, be felt convinced ftat his actions siDce then had placed him Wbis present position, and he had to thank Se electors for the position in which he was &ced. [Cheers. 1 Hβ had been told that he <S not possess sufficient ability to represent {bem. Possibly not, but be had been reared $a school where the word " can't n was not Cognized. He meant by that tbe school of $c English navy. [Loud cheere.] By the F*e»ent action of the electors they had cerfelt that be was qualified to represent iv the Assembly as well as he had done i°tne Provincial Council, and he would take ce *c that the confidence reposed in him w *nld be an increased influence to ciiry his eD figie» to the larger Assembly, where he W s*ld i faithfully carry out his dmiw, Siftoe b» had been in the colony thi-re had beeft a mutual bond of confidence between tne eleciors and himself, which he had Hidebound to maintain and felt proud of them for the manner they had treated lim, and he hoped that when he had to appear before them to give an acconnt of his ltew«rdship, he wonld not flinch from it rCbeers.! He, in conclusion, wished to thaok t k tm ver y much for hie present posi tio iV 1 Cheers.] bl * Cracroft Wilson, who wae received withoUeew, said be thanked those who had

voted for him most cordially and heartilr and also those who had votwi «„.; *,*.*» Hefor a long time had nSected ? lm, affairs, but he*would take to^h tteln °the IeSBOG he -had learnt that day and in S« future.would look after Xra [Hear, hear, and cheers. J ' au * ira - Hifrri^ ° f Mr Fißher ' Becond "i b, Sir Craoroft Wilson, a vote of thanks was loudly accorded to the returning officer, wS TSw be - aB3^ b L age for their UndneT This terminated the proceedings