THE PICTON CONTEST.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 101, 30 April 1908, Page 5

THE PICTON CONTEST.

. The chief topic "of conversation for the week (writes our correspondent) has been the contest for1 the Mayoral seat.' Messrs Maitland, Riddell and Simmonds went to* the poll, and the result was as' follows: — Maitland ..' 151 Riddell ... .:. ' 137 Simmonds 19 Informal - .. 1 Majority for ,• Maitland 14 The contests was in the best of spirits anji jgood feeling, and there was. altogether -an absence of bitterness or personal feeling. This is as it should.be., ,When the res alt of the poll was announced' by the /Returning Officer, ,Mr J. Blizzard, Mr G. Maitland mounted the steps, and in a neat speech thanked the electors for the honour they had done him in placing him at the head of the poll. He recognised that ho had a difficult position %o fill in following such a a able chairman as their late Mayor, Dr. Redman. He would do his utmost foi* -tlie » welfare of the town, which he complimented in having such a representative body of Councillors, who were most attvitiyo to theii duties, and who worked in the best interests of the port. His remarks were received with applause. Mr Riddell then addressed the assemblage. He first'congratulated Mr Maitland upon his victory. He thanked the electors who had voted for him, and said that though beaten he was not discouraged. He was ambitious, and he hoped at some'future date he would again contest the Mayoral election. His--remarks were re- ■ Qeived with acclamation, and perhaps at no previous time' was he heard to better advantage than in the manly way he took his defeat. His hearers recognised this,1 and received his remarks accordingly. Then followed ,

Mr Simmbrids, who, in a humorous speech thanked theselectors for, the1 position they had placed him in at the election, and said they had saved him two days' work a week, for he recognised that, had he been successful, it would have meant that ,he \vo\ild have to devote that time to the office of Mayor. He was well satisfied, and took his defeat in the same manly way. as the previous speaker, and received a good hearing.