OTHER CENTRES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1112, 27 April 1911, Page 6

OTHER CENTRES.

CHRISTCHURCH. MR. TAYLOR ELECTED MAYOR, (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Clirislchurch, April 2G. Tho Mayoral contest aroused tremendous interest, and there was a gathering of several thousands to-night when' the results were announced. The figures were: T. E. Tavlor, M.r 7101 Dr. Thacker 4598 C. Allison (retiring Mayor) 3098 The Citizens' Committee ticket, consisting mostly of old councillors, was returned for the Central Ward (G) and St. Albans Ward (2). In Linwood Ward one ex-councillor got in and one Labour candidate. In Sydenham Ward four Labour candidates were elected displacing the four old councillors. (By Telegraph-Siiceial CorrcSDondent.) Palmerston, April 20. Great interest was taken in the borough election to-day, motor-cars, cabs, and other vehicles plying all day, and a tremendous crowd waited for the result of tho poll. There were twenly-thrce candidates, the successful ones being as follow:— Armstrong. MS: Nathan, 912; Ifavdon, 931; Mow loin, '.BO; Clausen, 852 ; Stu'bbs, 785; M'Carty, 7St; O'Reilly, 771; and Beale, 7(!T. Masterton, April 26. Tho Borough Council election results were a> follow:—11. O'f.pnry, S2B; ,1. Elliott, 741: J- C. Eninston. (iSt; T. Hoar, 671; W. Candy, 056; I'YW. Temple. 615; J. P. Prcntice, 621; W. PraEiiell, 602; A, |

Donald. 551; 13. Flanagan, 519; W. Morris, r»J!); "JJ. Thrcadwcll, 376. Tho first nine, were elected. The proposal lo raiso a loan of <£5500 for tlx; construction of a street to connect Queen ami Chapel Streets was defeated by US!) to 23«. Wansanui, April 2G. A great amount of interest was taken in the various elections to-day, especially iu flint for the Harbour Board, and polls were larger than usual. Seven of the old monikers of the Wanganui. Borough Council were returned, the two new members being .1. T. Muir (an old councillor), and M. Spurdle, a young business man, who replaces Councillor Williams. The Labour party ran three members for this election, but they were overwhelmingly defeated. At: Wanganui East all the old councillors who stood were re-elected, there being two new men. Mr. J. It. Bowater was elected to fill the vacancy on the Gonville Town Board. Both at Wanganui and Wanganui East the proposal to raise a loan of ■1'11,500 i'cr a new trafiic bridge and tramway extension lo the eastern suburb was carried by large majorities, and the Mayor announced to-night (hut the work will be proceeded with at the earliest possible moment. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, April 2G. The elections aroused considerable interest to-day, and the polling on the whole was fairly heavy. The principal results are late in •coming to hand. Several Mayors were elected unopposed, Tho Mayoral contests have resulted as fol-low-.—Birkenhead—J. G. Kay, -162; 11. M. Shepherd, 322. N'orthcote—H. Cadness (present. Mayor), 338; A. E. Greensland, 320. Onohuuga—J. Howe Olayor), 023; A. S. Holmes, 251 At Hamilton J. A. Young (the present Mayor) was re-elected. Wailii, April 26. There were four candidates for the Mayoralty. The contest resulted in the re-election of Mr. J. Xewth by an overwhelming majority. Gisborne, April 26. Tho Mayoral election resulted as follows:—Mr. W. 1). Lysnar, 1591; Mr. J. Sheridan, 1291. The council election returns were not complete at midnight. Great interest is being taken in them. Hastings, April 2G. The result of the election for the Hastings Mayoralty is as follows; —Mr. .1. Garnett, 1250; Mr. T. J. Thompson, 49Gj Mr. W. Lane, 3S(i. Woodville, April 26. • Mr. Crawford was returned as Mayor by a majority of 43 votes, tho numbers being:—Crawford, 311; Redwood, 265.

Stratford, April 2G. The Mayoral contest resulted in thn reelection of Mr. J. Masters, who polled 552 votes to Mr. W. H. H. Young's 331. Nelson, April 26. The city Mayoral election resulted in the return of Mr. A. Field, who polled 1231 votes. Mr. T. Pettit, the retiring Mayor, polled 10-47. Blenheim, April 2G. In the Mayoral election, Mr. E. H. Penny was re-elocted lay a majority of 78, defeating Councillor W. Carr by 713 to 635. Westport, April 26. In the Mayoral election Mr. J., H. Greenwood was elected for the fifth con-, secutive year, defeating Mr. T. Q. O'Brien by 975 votes to 591. In the council elections all the former members who went to tho poll wer o returned, with one exception. Councillor Leaver headed the poll. Greymouth, 'April 2G. A good deal of interest centred in the municipal election held to-day. Mr. A. G. Russell' was re-elected as Mayor unopposed. There were thirteen candidates for nine seats on the council, and the election resulted in Messrs. T. V. Byrne, .T. Grcensladc, J. Jackson, Jas. Kerr, E. Perkins, E. Sliced?, G. Sweetman, John Tonnent, and R. Russell being returned. Four candidates out of five nominated by the. Labour party were successful... , . 1 Duncdin, April 26. 1 The city Mayoralty election to-day re- ■ suited as follows: —Mr. W. Burnett, | G3SI; Mr. J. Wilson, 5458. In Morningtori 1 Mr. Eridger was re-elected, and in St. 1 Kilda Mr. H. M. Swing,was returned. . I 1 nvercarpilt, April 2G. The elections passed off quietly. Tho . Mayor, Mr. Ott, was re-elected unoppos- . Ed, and there is not a great deal of new blood in the new council. The Labour nartv's nominees were somewhere about the bottom. For the Harbour Board, Mr. i Longuct, a former Mayor, was elected in place of Mr. Brodie, who did not seek re-election. Tho other, town members are unchanged. ELECTION INCIDENTS. At the polling for New Brighton today, a big crowd rushed the booth just on closing-time, and as they would not leave, tho Returning Officer announced that tho poll would be continued tomorrow. At one of tho bcoths in the city, an outbreak of fire occurred, a lighted kerosene lamp falling to the floor. The outbreak, however, was suppressed before very serious damage was caused. JOTTINGS. SIDELIGHTS ON YESTERDAY'S ELECTION. "This is like mixing Seidlitz powders," said an elector at the Town Hall yesterday, as he placed (he white paper in the ballot-box first and followed it up with the blue. One of the clerks remarked that he knew lie was a joker by his. "phiz" (fizz). * * » * "I hope they keep to the Wednesday half-holiday," said one voluble lady doctor outside a city booth to a littlo circle of friends. "My day at home is the fourth Wednesday, so that the girls can be at home to make the tea. If it is ■ changed to Saturday, I really don't know what I shall do!" .* •« » * "Don't forget the boys—you know what 4 I mean" (this with a wink as audible as i that of "Tho Bad Girl of the Family"). - "Give Labour a clianco this lime. Fat 1 lias had a good innings—give the bonny , lads a show to sea what they can do. , Thc-y'll shako things up, I give you uiy s word ["—Whispered outside a.' city booth ! yesterday. Tho addressed person winked f back good and hard, and there was a . silent pressure of the hand. Quite Mat sonic! , * « * * ' " . What do I think of him?.. . . I Look here, if he was lying there in the a gutter I wouldn't give him a vole, that's what I think of him!" was part of .a vehement, expression of personal opinion heard outside a polling booth yesterday. As the candidate referred to did not happen to bo lying in the gutter, it is assumed that he got the speaker's humorously conditional vote.

The folly of persons, neglecting to ascertain if their names were on the roll beforo it closod was exemplified dozens of times yesterday. One irate citizen, who found at the last moment yesterday that his name was not on the register, went about with fire in his eye, and at last, by an accident, met the returning officer (Mr. J. Ames). "How is it my name is not on the roll?" he ashed with asperity. "Now, what a question to ask me now," returned the much-worried official. "But, look here, I've voted at every election for years, and you or your staff had no right to remove my name from the roll." "That's right—but the roll was purged, and we advertised for everyone to see personally that they were on the roll. It's unfortunate." "It's wrong—somebody in your office has made a mistake!" "Very likely—but I can't attend to it to-day. It's unfortunate." * » * * The aggrieved person was still annoyed at being disfranchised, and was detailing his case to a friend from tho suburbs, who could only see humour in the situation (being a golfer). "Now that's real funny. I've just looked up the roll, and find that my uncle who has been dead for years has still the privilege of a vote, and here you arc full of life and hope, but without a vote. It's your own fault though—look at tho money Ihf; council spent in two-column _ advertise' inents asking everyone to register!" _ "Oh, I dou't read the newspapers!-

"That's why you've been left—you'll always be left if you don't read tho papers. Head 'em and you'll be right, ha-ha!" * * » a I An elector from Melrose eamo into a ( Newtown booth yesterday morning, ascer- | taiiieS what his roll number was from the ] louts at the door, and marched boldly in to record his votes- 011 the various issues presented. When he approached the poll cleric, and the latter had turned up the roll, the elector was informed that lie was dead, and could not possibly vote. There could bo 110 dispute—(hern was the linmo crossed out as deceased. Not quite 6(ire which world he was in, lie retired lo the outer ether, anil meeting Councillor Trevor concluded lie was still on earth. The councillor turned up his roll, and found the elector's name nil right, and advanced upon the poll clerk witii the trembler between two worlds. After a little explanation, the mail's vote was accepted, provisionally on the returning officer approving of the action of allowing one labelled "deceased" to vote. * • » * Tiug-a-ling-a-ling!!! "Is that you, Mr. Fletcher?" "Yes." "I want to vote for you if you will send up a car." . "rni sori-v, but I have 110 cars. "But I want to vote for you!" said the surprised voice. "I'm glad of that, but I can't send ut) a car, and all my wagons are engaged." A sharp ring-off was the indignant retort. * » * * Tho trivialities that win or lose votes are a strong impeachment on the intelligence of some electors. One - rang up >lr. Hotelier yesterday: "I'll vote for you 011 one condition. "And that is " "That you remove the charge of threepence for going on tho'.wharf when a boat is leaving or arriving." "Sorry—can't do. it!" "Oh. well, I'll vote for you all the same!" • • * • '• ••» * Tho ladies were very active, round the booth-doors during the wkolo of yesterday. TUcy were a smiling,.'joking, funloving lot, who thoroughly enjoyed the freedom and mild ckciteiiient their 'worlc gave them. Many votes were charmed ill a particular direction by two of Wellington's prettiest girls who operated at the door of a Panama Street booth. Many young fellows, taking advantago ■of the extended, franchise, came to the conclusion that it was qnito a privilege to bo induced to vote by a soft voice jewelled with bright blue eyes. The genus photographer was everywhere veslerday, placing on record the sights of the day. When certain candidates subsequently announco that they never solicited a vote, they should be quite sure of tlieir facts. The camera cannot lie. ■ * » * « One prominent Labour candidate did the rounds of the polling-booths yesterday in a smart dog-cart (groom attached). * * * * Will we ever have a Perfect Eoll? One sitting councillor in going over the roll yesterday discovered tho name of his wife, who had died years ago. • * * * « "How the dickens is it that I am not on the roll?" asked an irate citizen of a candidate whom he had rung up on the. telephone. "Blest if I know," said the candidate. "But you should liavo known," asserted .the irate citizen. His further protests died away in inarticulate grumblings as the candidate rang off in his ear.

During the weeks and days preceding yesterday's election the Trades Hall was a scene of constant bustle. At almost any time one might come across a party of- loader's in close conclave, and emisv saries of Labour came and went in a constant stream. Yesterday there was a change. The Labour men were scattered about the various polling booths, and the Trades Hall—normally the centre of their activities—was almost deserted. In one room Jlr. D. M'Laren spent the greater part of the day adding a few final touches to the organisation of months. Labour men encountered in various parts of the city were for the most part in a jubilant frame of mind. In fact their confident attitude was based on rumours that floated into the outer air from the various booths. It was rumoured early that at the Druids' Hall Labour was carrying all before it. Apart from these indications, the .Labour men wero inspirited by a feeling that they wero riding on the last wave of a more vigorously' promoted campaign than Labour had ever before organised in. AYellington municipal politics. For mofiths Labour has been beating up';. Support. Individual workers have penetrated almost every nook and corner of the city praising the virtues of the "I.abjur Eight." 'Twice oil a Saturday afternoon the Labour men ' have posted themselves at street corners intent on enrolling voters and preaching the virtues of the Saturday lialf-holida'y. , Add to this, "soap-box" meetings innumerable in the city streets, a "rally" or 'two, and the distribution of thirty-six thousand leaflets setting forth (ho case for Labour, and you have the' leading features of a campaign into which the Labour party has thrown practically every ounce of its available strength.

News from everywhere throughout tho day seemed to indicate that polling was at all places fairly brisk, but that the booths wcro nowhere overcrowded. This was certainly the case at the Town Hall, whero eight booths had been partitioned off with canvas in the Concert Chamber. Electors came and went in a steady stream all day, but there was no waiting or confusion. The cry of the agonised elector unable ■to understand his or Jier voting duties, if heard'at all, was not heard often. Tho returning officers in the booths wore-a look of contentment a fair indication of tlio peaceful nature of the proceedings.

t** * * The prevailing opinion about the town yesterday afternoon, appeared to.be that Saturday afternoon had not-.even tno ghnft of a chance against its opponent Wednesday. - The men who offered to bet new hats, without exception, favoured tho chances of Wednesday. ■ The candidate's smile is a feature, lacking which a popular election would be a drab and dull affair. It is only fair to a. number of the candidates of yesterday to state that some of them stayed quietly at'home. Other?, however-the great majority-were to be seen in one or another pirt of (lie town, aud all of them had ready smiles at command'. Elected or rejected, these good gentlemen will nuicklv recover their normal tone and outlook on life- Som<= of them will bo stern and severe, others lightly jocular i somo will resort to a look of inner brooding and habitual reserve. Yesterday individual characteristics went by tho board. Each candidate, as he took a stand somewhere in his sphere of in(lnence, or hurried restlessly from one booth to another, wore the look of a man desperately .anxious to please, and very ready to smile.

'fho people who stood around the doors of the booths, intent oil impressing the impressionable elcctor, were.for the most part moderate in their methods. At the Town Halt an assorted cluster of advocates thronged the portico, but running the gauntlet of their wiles was no very trying ordeal. Most of them presented cards to'the eyes of arriving electors. "Wednesday half-holiday," one lady "barraeker" would say, putting forward her bit of paste-board. "This is worth while," insinuated a gentleman at her elbow, holding up a card bearing the name of a candidate printed in bold black letters. The man ready to open a roll for the convenicnco of electors was, of course, very much in evidence. It was all very quiet and very orderly. Plenty of electors, wearing a rapt, intent expression on their faces, walked through the group in the portico without noticing, by word or look, the efforts made to attract their notice. A policeman lingering near at hand had a sinecure as complete as was ever enjoyodi