THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 409, 27 August 1868, Page 2

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

POLLING PAY, Yesterday, was the polling day in the election of nine Councillors for the representation of the Borough of Greymmith in its first Municipal Council. Fur electioneering pxirposes the day was everything that could' be desired, being beautifully fine ; and the whole mind of tbe people seemed to be given up to the election. Business was almost suspended, saving in the public-houses, where the canvassing was going on. There was very little outward appearance of an election contest, saving a few posters, the stentorian voice of the bellman, strongly advising the electors to vote for his employers, aud the hurrying to and fro of a number of Sub-Committees eagerly engaged in advancing the interests of the different candidates. Eighteen candidates went to the poll, and, as there were only nine required, and the number of electors being comparatively limited, owing to the recently made up rolls not being used on this qccasion, the votes were v§ry much split xip, especially in the Upper Township, from which the grgat proportion of the candidates came. The Government Town--ship had, pr-operly s.pgaking, only proposed four members, which was the number it was entitled to return, giving support to one more as a sort of middle-man between the two townships, in order to balance the interests of all parties iv the Council. By combination, the residents in that township returned their four men, and also rendered such material assistance to the fifth, that with the help of the votes from the other township he was placed at the head of the poll. The result is, that both ends of the town are, so far as numbers are concerned, fairly represented — four for ea.ch, with one for the centre. As the hour for the declaration of the polj approached, a large crowd assembled at the Court House, and considerable excitement was manifested as to the result. It was nearly five o'clock before the lists were made up, when the Returning Officer announced the result of the, election to be as follows : — Messrs E. Wickes , , 75 J. W. Parkinson . 72 W. J. Coates , , 69 E. Ashton . . 67 J. C. Moore . . 65 W. F. Strike . , 61 P. Magoffin . . 52 W. Kae , . ftl J. Heron . . 49 J. Kilgour . . 49 D. Girdwood , , 45 D, Maclean . .44 E, Masters . 41 P. M. Griffin . ,31 J. Harris ; . 20 J, Taylor , . 9 G. W. Nichol . . 7 G. Taylor , , 6 Mr Revell, the Returning Officer, after reading the list, declared Messrs Wickes, Parkinson, Coates, Ashton, Moore, Strike, Magoffin, and Rae duly elected. For the ninth man, there was a tie between Messrs Heron and Kilgour, and it remained with him, in his official capacity of Returning Officer, to give the casting vote. As the Government Township ha.d returned the majority of members, he would give his vote in favor of Mr Kilgour, and declare b,im duly elected. (Ohesrs. )