THE TAUMARUNUI CONTEST.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 421, 9 December 1911, Page 5

THE TAUMARUNUI CONTEST.

The contest in the various King Country centres was extremely keen and gave rise to the greatest interest throughout. At the opening of the campaign it was broadly held that Mr Wilson had set himself too great a task in his attempt to unseat such popular and well-tried a member as Mr Jennings. However, with characteristic energy and optimism the Opposition candidate faced the struggle and never for a moment losing a grip of the situation worked and travelled day and night to accomplish his object. In the early stages of the campaign the supporters of the sitting

member had every confidence of securing the return of their man, tut during the fortnight before ths election it became evident that the result would be extremely close. At Otorohanga, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui, the chief King Country polling centres, it was seen that public pentiment was very evenly balanced, and all eyes were turned to the trend of events at the Taranaki end of the electorate. Events proved this summing up to be correct, as when the returns were coming to hand on Thursday night from the King Country end there was little to choose between the candidates. However, Waitara, town and district, declared greatly in favour of Mr Wilson, and his election became thoroughly assured. At Te Kuiti, the returns as they came to hand were issued to the public from the Chronicle office and the cheers which greeted each advantage gained by Mr Wilson plainly indicated the popularity of the win. Chronicle extras were also shown at the Alexandria Rink by the proprie-

tors of the Princess Pictures, to a crowd which filled the hall to overflowing and intense interest was manifested with respect to local and Dominion returns till the close of the Post Office at 2 a.m on Friday. The crowd was Opposition in its sympathies, and the unprecedented success of the Reform candidates was greeted with widespread cheering. At Otorohanga the results of the various polls were shown by the Chronicle representative to a deeply interested crowd. The results were thrown on a screen by Mr F. W. Whyte, the Chronicle agent, and from early in the evening excitement was intense. Owing to the closeness of the polling at that place—there was only a difference of three —the results as they were screened were received with cheers and counter cheers. When the final returns came to hand showing Mr Wilson to have been elected, there was great applause. Besides the returns of the Taumarunui electorate the Otorohanga people were supplied with ail the results available from various parts of the Dominion, until 2 a.m. yesterday morning.