LICENSING ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7864, 15 May 1891, Page 6

LICENSING ELECTIONS.

The polling for the election of five persons to act as members of the Geraldine Licensing Committee took place at the Court House, Geraldine, on Wednesday, and was one of the keenest contests ever witnessed in the township. Exactly at nine o'clock the poll opened, and the bitterness of the struggle was at once apparent. ' Both sides were determined, if possible, to win, and both seemed to realise that it would require their very strongest efforts to secure the victory. From the moment the poll opened both sides worked their very hardest. A number of traps were running the whole day, and not a voter who was at all get-at-able was allowed to remain unsolicited. Both parties had the roll carefully marked, and as the doubtful voters came up they were fairly besieged by the respective canvassers. The closeness of the election may be judged from the fact that out of 150 available votes 126 were polled, some voters coming from Christchurch. At half-past seven the Returning Officer, Mr C. E. Sherratt, declared the result to be as follows:—A. White 65, J. Riordan 65, H. B. Webster 64, F. Worner 64, A. E. Cox 63, W. E. Barker 59, R. Hammond 53, A. Mackenzie 58, J. M. Sutherland 58, W. Stewart 55, which is a victory for the moderates. The result of the local option poll was as follows:—For an increase of publicans' licenses 13, against 57; wine licenses—For 13, against 58; accommodation licenses — For 13, against 58. The following are the nominations for the Raukapuka district, the election for which takes place on May 20th:—ModeratesMessrs G. J. Dennistoun, J. Keliand, Allen Macdonald, W. M. Moore and A. Thew; W. E. Barker, F. A. Flatman, R. Hammond, C. Jessep, A. MacKenzie and O. G. Bradley. Our Temuka correspondent writes*i—The prohibition party here are working most energetically, and are decidedly gaining ground. A large meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the Wesleyan Church, when the Rev. T. A. Hamilton presided, and made an earnest speech on the subject. The Rev. W. C. Wood followed, and Mr W. T. Glover dealt at some length with the arguments against prohibition. Other meetings are to be held.

The interest is growing warm in the Timaru election, which takes place on the 26th.