RIVER TRUST ELECTION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20034, 16 September 1930, Page 10

RIVER TRUST ELECTION.

PROFESSOR SPEIGHT RETURNED. A SMALL POLL. By liis defeat of the Independent candidate, Mr C. E. Cross, by a majority of 758 in a total poll of only 2400 votes, Professor B. Speight has retained for the Christchurch Citizens' Association the seat on the Waimakariri River Trust made vacant by the death of Mr J. A. Flesher. There was remarkably little interest in this by-election, held in the Central Subdivision yesterday, and fewer than one-tenth of the available votes were polled. Professor Speight received 1579 votes against his opponent's 821. Actually on the roll there werfe 21,301 names, representing between 26,000 and 27,000 votes. So small was the polling that the returns from the 23 booths were rapidly telephoned to the Returning Officer (Mr C. W. Hervey), and the election was virtually decided 20 minutes after the closing of booths at 6 p.m. The first return, from the Linwood Library, gave Mr Cross a load of one vote (20 votes to 19), but subsequently Professor Speight's totals were headed only in seven booths. The final return was received by 6.30 p.m. The issue was clear, and the number of informal votes was only 6ix. Mr Hervey stated that there had been no difficulties in the working of the booths. Polling throughout the day was very quiet. The principal booth, in the Tramway shelter, Cathedral square, gave Professor Speight a majority of more than two to one. The Christchurch Citizens' Association now holds all four of the Central Subdivision seats on the Trust. The other members are Sir Francis Boys and Messrs George Gould and A. Manhire. "Naturally we are very pleased that our nominee has been elected," said the chairman of the Association (Mr A. S. Taylor) last evening. "We consider, too, that citizens will be indebted to a man of Professor Speight's standing coming forward and placing his services at the electors' disposal. Although a scheme for the Waimakariri lias been decided upon and put into effect, it will require strong and expert judgment to carry what has already been done to the final issue. To this end, Professor Speight will be able to give valuable assistance." Professor Speight's Career. Professor Robert Speight was born at Stockton-on-Tees, England, and educated at Tai Tapu, New Zealand, and the Christehurch Boys' High School. In 1881 he gained a Junior University Scholarship and entered Canterbury College, where he had a distinguished career, taking successively his M.A. degree with first-class honours in Mathematics, B.Sc., and M.Sc. He was a member of the first XV. of -the College. From 1889 until 1910 he was an assistant master at the Christchurch Boys' High School. In 1910 he was appointed assistant curator at the Canterbury Museum, and succeeded to the position of curator in 1914. From 1903, Professor Speight has lectured at Canterbury College, and since 1921 he has been Professor of Geology. He has written numerous papers on geological subjects. He has had no previous experience of local body work. Details of Polling. Details of the polling are:— Polling Booth. Cross. Speight. Worcester street .. 94 264 Tram Shelter .. 327 765 Church of Christ ..8 9 i Foresters' Hall .. '33 49 j Hibernian Hall .. 95 39 Barbadoes street 5 11 Tramway Yard 17 15 St. Martins Library ..7 6 Knox Church .. 35 84 Rugby street .. 13 100 Sydenham Football Roomß •• 14 15 Riccarton Town Hall 34 29 Council Chambers, Wools ton .. 8 20 Linwood Library CO 19 Woodham road 8 0 Stanmore road .. 9 15 Colombo street North 20 17 Westminster street .. 5 16 Papanui road 29 44 Pepper's Corner, Bryndwr 20 18 Holland's Store, j Riccarton .. 9 15 I Beckenliam Hall .. 4 17 j Lincoln road ..7 6 ! Total ... 821 1579 j