MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 119, 17 May 1912, Page 5

MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTION.

MR B. J. COOKE RETURNED

Keen iuterest was manifested in the by-election held yesterday to fill the vacancy ok the Blenheim Borough' Coiincil cansod by the return of Mr j. J. Corry to the Mayoral chair. The polling was unexpectedly heavy,, a eonsidorabk majoiity oi" 'tho possible votes being ircorded. The* nominal roll number is about 2000; but the practical Dumber of voters is j rob ably soi ae. 200 less. Yesterday 11-J4 votes were recorded, as follows;. JSernani James Cooke ... 038. Andrew Curry- ... ... ... oOJfc Informal ......... 13; Majority for Cooke ... 135-

...The Returning Officer, Mr D. F. Sinclair, declared the results a few minutes before eight o'clock from the Market Place .rotunda, in the presence of a/large and'interested crowd of peopk). .. ■ ; ' .Mt Cooke,. iii returning his acknowledgments, said that the contest., had been fought, out in a keen but; friendly spirit,. and he had to thank: -.His opponent, whom he had IcnoAvn alll Ms life and much respected, for thegood feeling he had maintained. The-. only thing he Avas sorry fpi- was that, there were not two vacancies and that ,- Mr Curry was not going into office with him. He, assured the burgesses:, that ho would,use his best efforts in their interests. ■ > •■■ ■ Mr Curry tliauked those who had' voted "for him, and said he felt that, though; h*s was beaten, h© was notdisgraced. He congratulated . Mr••; Cooke on his return, and wished himi a successful term.of office. For him--pe'lf, he hoped that on some future 6c-y casion he \muld be at the head of. r the^voil. ■ : V ~ :■