IN THE STREET

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1919, Page 10

IN THE STREET

QUIETEST TLME ON RECORD.

The General Election of 3919, so far as Wellington is' concerned, will probably go down on record as the quietest ever known. The ci'owds in the: streets .were- very large, if riofquite as great as on some previous occasions/ but there was no-great evidence- of the customary excitement and hilarity. It was not that interest was lacking; people followed tho progress of the elections as recorded on the big hoardings before The Post and on Lambton-quay with Ihe closest attention. Those who were too far away to distinguish' the names and numbers clearly, were often aided .by glasses, ■which were frequently ha-nded to _ others in the same plight. The weather was rather warm and oppressive, and the-crow-da melted away somewhat earlier than usual in consequence. As on. previous occasions, tram traffic was diverted from Lambton-quay and Willis-street round-by the Post Office.

The* largest" crowd'was opposite The Post board, extending up and down Willis-street and well down Mercer"lsl^;tT"'Th'e"'cEieTTensaiEibn "of the evening was the defeat of, Sir Joseph Ward, -the early announcement o£ which caused •some excitement arid- comment. Tho .progress,,.oL.Labour.. aroused .also great interest, especially in. regard to the Auckland and Christ-church results. There were . the usual 'speeches . from. tKe " balconies, but;the public"in..•the'. street was not in -much of a "mood to listen. The Jifumb'6r of women present was unusually large in. the ..earlier part... of, the evening. By midnight the streets practically clear again., :-- : -■<■ .- .-■'•;••■.

More^.real feeling, was"..displayed last night by the crowd towards the Liquor issue than in ths return ■of candidates. At' first the numbers gave little clue to ai estimate of the final result, but about 11 o'clock, when it was seen that the figures promised a very close contest, there was something like a demonstration in front of'the New Zealand Alliance Offices, and eggs and other missiles were flying about for a while. The outburst did not .last ..