.NEWTOWN.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 137, 7 December 1905, Page 5

.NEWTOWN.

MX. 'BARBER RE-ELECTED. • A LARGE MAJORITY. W. H. P. Barbe7(G) .. 3207 T. W. Hislop (0) .. .. 1995 W. A. Chappie (I) .. 1777 A.H.Hindmarsh (1.P.L.L.) 382 Even Mr. Barber's most enthusiastic and optimistic supporters did not expect the result of the polling in the Newtown electorate would give their candidate such a heavy majority. A second matter of general surprise, also, was the comparatively small vote recorded for Dr. Chappie, who had worked the district more thoroughly than it had ever been worked before, even by Mr. Barber during the previous election. Polling' began early yesterday morning in the Newtown electorate, and continued steadily and with the utmost good order and feeling up till the closing hour (7 p.m.). Heavy polling was done at the principal place, the Riddiford-street Schoolroom, where five booths were provided, one of which, in the infants' schoolhouse, was specially set apart for ladies, and was .thronged throughout the afternoon. In this .ladies' booth 192 votes wore recorded for Mr, Barber, 161 for Dr. Chappie, 78 for Mr. Hislop, and 21 for Mr. Hindinarsh. In the five booths in the Riddiford-street School 2131 votes were registered. St. Thomas's Schoolroom was an even more popular booth than the principal polling-place, for there were only two booths in the building and 1449 votes were recorded there. Newtown is the largest voting electorate in the colony, the energy of all the agencies ab work in tho district having resulted in the enrolment of 9500 voters. Of this number the large proportion of 7361 voted validly for the four candidates. Although quietness prevailed in Newtown during the early part of the day, great animation and excitement Mere noticeable from late in the afternoon until the result was declared, at 9 p.m. The Premier, accompanied by Mrs. Seddon and other members of his family, drove out to the suburb, and chatted for some time with residents in the vicinity of Mr. ' Barber's committee-room, giving optimistic forecasts of the result. Subsequently, in conversation with a Post representative, the Premier forecasted the defeat of Mr. puthie. Why? asked tho reporter. " Because I have seen largo numbers of young people going to the poll at Thorndon to-day, and the young people will vote for Izard." " What is your forecast for the whole colony, Mr. Seddon?" asked the reporter. " Well," was the reply, " I think my party will number 64 when the new House meets." , It was evident, from this forecast, that the Premier was getting more sanguine as the day went on, for during the morning he had expressed the opinion that his majority might bo iir the region of twenty. When the •polling-booths closed, things were quiet in Newtown. In Riddifordstreet, Mr. J. Castle kept the crowd informed by posting results upon his shop window. The first result which came to 'Mr. Salmon, the Returning Officer for Newtown, was from the Miramar booth at 7.20 o'clock, and ten minutes later Palm Grove telephoned its results. The final result reached the principal booth at 9 o'clock, but long before that hour — indeed, from the very beginning of the receint of booth returns — Mr. Barber's election was assured. The candidate made a brief speech from Mr. Wylie's verandah, and expressed, amid wild enthusiasm, his thanks for the tremendous display of confidence in him shown by electors. Newtown's main thoroughfare was resounding with cheers even at midnight. The following table shows the details of the polling at each of the sixteen booths : —

Biddiford Streak ... St. Thomas's Soutli Eoad ... Borhauiporo .., Island Bay ... Scatoun ... Karaka Bay Miramar ... Kilblrnio South Kilbirnie North ... Eosdiieath ... Yfallnce Street Brooklyn ... Hitchelltown ... Kclburno ... JiontU Karoi'i / ... Total Polling Places. X 1019 840 155 80 02 63 49 38 160 217 107 106 208 110 82 11 40!) 86 41 91 85 29 11 110 83 38 170 256 87 90 25 o "ft 568 U2B 102 76 S3 20 13 6 49 68 63 177 163 40 48 5 I i_ SO 80 22 18 10 2 0 8 10 8 12 46 59 9 8 0 382 3207 1995 1777 I