KAIAPOI ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2929, 30 May 1870, Page 3

KAIAPOI ELECTION.

The polling for the Borough seat in the Provincial Council took place on Saturday, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court. As the election of Mr Birch, by a very large majority, was certain, very little excitement was manifested. About 330 p.m, Burton’s fourhorse coach, containing about a dozen gentlemen from Christchurch—supporters of Mr Birch—appeared upon the scene ; so that, if the election had been closely contested, they would have been able to come in at the “ death,” and alter the result. At 4 p.m., Dr Donald, principal Returning Officer, declared the state of the poll, as follows: Birch ... ... 64 Hall 12 He had therefore to declare Mr Josiah Birch duly elected. The result was received with loud and prolonged cheering. Mr Birch thanked the electors for returning him by such a very large majority. He was greatly disappointed at the very small show his opponent, Mr Hall, had made. He considered that Mr Hall should have found out the amount of support he was likely to get before he demanded a pod, and put his constituents to so much trouble coming to record their votes. (Cheers.) As a member of the Borough Council, Mr Hall had been very useful and energetic in furthering the interests of the town, and he (Mr Birch) would be very sorry that this election should have any injurious effect on Mr Hall’s lochl standing. He hoped that during the next four years they would see better times. (Cheers). He would support any me .sure having for its object the progress and prosperity of the country. (Three Cheers). Mr Hall said he did not consider it necessary for him to thank the electors or for members of the Council to subscribe themselves “ Your obedient servant,” as he considered the members of the Council were more like the masters than the servants. He thought (pointing to the written result of the poll) that he cut a sorry figure there, though le highly commended the spirit of those who had voted for him. He was still con vinced that there was not that impartiality in the Provincial Council that he would like to see, and the result of the election had not altered his opinion that all classes should be fairly and equally represented. He was more than ever in favour of the ballot system of No candidate could have servants about him but must in some way be influenced in their votes. He believed Mr Birch would be the last man to take advantage of any such means to secure his election. He said the result of the election would very likely not have been affected by the manner in which he was misreported in the Press, but it made him look very foolish. He was reported as having said, ‘‘that he would give capitalists free blocks of land at the railway stations. He had written to the editor of the Press, correcting it, but they had declined to insert it. (No, no.) At all events, it had not appeared in that day’s paper, as it should have done. He was glad to see that there were a dozen men in Kaiapoi who were not afraid to assert their independence. Three cheers were then given for the unsuccessful candidate and the Returning Officer, Dr Donald.