THE WARD ELECTIONS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXI, Issue 207, 11 September 1885, Page 3

THE WARD ELECTIONS.

The Municipal elections passed off v yesterday with far lesa than the excitement usually attending such contests m Blenheim. The results m the North and West Wards ware precisely as anticipated m ihese'columns, though Mr James J. Sinclair's very great majority of CO, he having polled nearly double the votes of bis opponent, was not generally expected. Mr Rankin was beaten by a majority of 54, but for a first attempt m the North Ward he need not be discouraged, There was a far closer fight m the East Ward, where Mr Houldsworth beat Mr Praaer by only 22 votes. Had the defeated candidate been longer m the field, the result might have been very different. A few cabs were employed during the day, with the names of candidates upon them, but the signs of a party election were otherwise absent, and the battle was almost entirely fought by private influences and quiet and persistent canvassing. It La gratifying to add that there was very little drinking and no disorder ; and the absence of bitterness and unpleasant feeling wore the subject of general remark. The results of the poll were declared at intervals from half past C o'olock to a little after 7, the West Ward being the first, and the East Ward, m which the greatest' 'number of votes were recorded, being the last. For the West Ward the numbers were :— James John Binolair .. ..126 James Tuoker Robinson . . 66 Majority for Mr Sinolair . . 60 Mr Sinclair returned thanks to the ratepayers for the honor they had conferred upon him. It was his first entry into public life, but he would, endeavour to serve them to the best of hU ability, and show them they had no cause to regret the step they had taken. Mr James T. Robinson thanked thosa whose had voted for him, and added that th 9 result was a victory of capital over principal. Forj the North Ward the numbers were :— Eobert McArtney 100 Jamea Bankin 46 Majority for MoArtney „ ..54 MrM'Artney thanked those who had voted for him and those who had not done so. . He assured them all that he would so devote himself to the interests of his Ward and the Borough

generally thai at the end of his term they would say " well done, good and faithful servant." Mr ftankin confessed himself beaten, and thanked those who had supported him. For the East Ward the numbers were : — George Houldswotth .. .. 130 John Duncan Fraser . . . . 108 Majority for Honldsworth . . 22 Mr Houldsworth addressed the crowd at some length, assuring them that his word wa3 sufficient guarantee that he would prove an efficient and attentive representative not only of the East Ward, but of the whole Borough. From their past experience of him on the Council and Road Board they might be sure he would go straight without bias or prejudice.

Mr Fraser said that, like the two other beaten candidates, thoro was very little for him to aay. He thanked those (vho had voted for him, and he hoped that the future would prove the ratepayers had selected the better man. But he could assure them they had not heard tho last of hip at municipal elections, and he believed that when he presented himself again he would go m flying (cheers and laughter.) Very little enthusiasm attended the declaration of the polls, and of all the candidates Mr Fraser was only one whose remarks were generally well received. Cheers were called for several of the candidates, but were not responded to, and the crowd slowly dispersed soon after 7 o'clock.