The Elections.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1026, 23 March 1894, Page 5

The Elections.

The chief topic of conversation in Balclutha and district, and, we daresay,-through-out the whole Colony, for some time past has been the local option poll and election of licensing committee. Various circumstances have tended to rendei the occasion one of more than ordinary interest. It is the first time in the history of the Colony the people have been afforded the privilege "of declaring by direct vote at the ballot box what their mind i« with reference to the future of the liquor traffic. This privilege has been loudly demanded for many years, but was only granted at last session of Assembly. Another thing is that the Act had apparently been very loosely drafted, and was but little improved during its passage through Parliament. Its provisions seem unusually complicated ; some are directly contradictory, while others admit of various preiutetations. All this has led to numerous enquiries after information : personal enquiries, enquiries by post, telegraph, telephone, etc., and also to much discussion on the several doubtful points, the interests involved, etc. The question has, indeed, almost monopolised' attention for some time, and no doubt many will Jnow feel it a relief that it has at length been ■{settled for the next three years at least, The 'poll has created but very little of the excitement which has hitherto characterised keenly contested elections in the Colony. There has however been manifested a fixed object, a calm determination, and zealous effort to gain that object, The great majority of the people of the Clutha regarded the present retail traffic in intoxicating drinks as an evil that should not be allowed to exist ; the law afforded them an opportunity of abolishing it and they have done it. The effort cost them some money and an immense amount of trouble ; all this was cheerfully given, and no license can now be granted for any granted to sell drink within the Clutha licensing district, whicli is coterminous with the electoral dis"trict. As we have said there was but little, excitement over the poll, but there was zealous, systematic, and united action. Almost every elector throughout the district was "seen and reasoned with if found necessary, traps of various kinds were employed to bring them to the polling booths, everything being done quietly and orderly and with the best of good feeling. From returns received previous to the poll it seemed perfectly certain that the temperance candidates for election to the pommittee would be returned by a very large majority, and also that in the local option vote "no license " would be carried by something substantial to spare over and above the legal three-fifths majority. The forecast proved surprisingly accurate, as the official returns show. Shortly after the close of the polt a considerable number of electors congregated at the principal polling booth — the court house — to learn |he results,, A little after 10 o'clock the returning officer announced the result of the polling for members of committee here, and also explained that the result of the local option poll had not been ascertained, but would be declared next day, Throughout yesterday many anzious enquiries were made, but in vain, and no information could .be got till 7 p.m. last evening. It was believed, however, that the result would shew a majority for no license in Balclutha, and as a good deal had leaked out as to the large majorities in the other districts, the public gradually became satisfied that no license had been carried all over by sufficient majorities to" render the vote effective. This to some extent allayed the anxiety at first displayed I for exact returns.

T- c folloNvin^ are the returns ;—