THE THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6261, 10 December 1881, Page 5

THE THAMES.

The contest for the borough seat has been a very severe one. The polling booth opened at 9 a.m., and immediately both parties began to hurry torward their supporters. During the morning a very large number of the electors recorded their votes. Towards noon there was a slight lull, followed by a momentary excitement, when the up-river steamer arrived with about forty electors, all of whom marched up to the polling booth together. The majority of them were friends of Mr. Sheehan. Towards 4 o'clock the excitement became intense, and as cab 3 and private vehicles rolled up loaded with miners coining from work, the committees of both aides pressed forward, and did their best to secure wavering electors. At the close of the poll a large crowd had collected round the booth. The utmost good feeling has been ehown throughout the day, and notwithstanding that at times the excitement was very high, there was not the slightest disturbance over the polling. The result of the polling was : — Sheehan 540 Speight 529 Majority for Sheehan... ... 17 A crowd of over a thousand had assembled to hear the announcement of the result, and as the numbers were read out, the eheere were almost deafening.