CITY EAST.

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

CITY EAST.

It was manifest at an early hour that the chief interest o! tlie city elections centred in City East from the crowds who assembled in Hi = 'h-street. and the busy, earnest aspect of the supporters of the two candidates, .>ir (jeorge Urev and Mr. J. M. Clark. Cabs and carriages were pressed into the service, including a, large number of private carriages, and as tiie day advanced the interest increased as well as the crowd, and when the evening advanced tlie whole street and the vicinity of the Court-house and Free Library were crowded by eager and excited multitudes. During the day the committees endeavoured to keep a record of the votes polled, but with indifferent success, although they gave numbers with no small amount of coulidence. During the afternoon the opinion gained ground that Sir George Grey was safe, afterwards that lie would be elected by a large majority, and next that he had polled two for every one polled by his opponent. Of course this was denied by the other side, but bets were freely offered and taken that Sir G. Grey would have 100 majority. The result when announced was therefore in soms degree a surprise. Mr. Cotter, the principal Returning Officer, presided during the day at the polling booth, the Police Court. Exactly at 6 o'clock the doors were closed, and Mr. Cotter at once proceeded to count up the votes. At a quarter to 7 o'clock he announced the result from the upstairs window of the building, holding out a placard with the numbers, as follows : — Sir George Grey 349 Mr. Clark 315 Majority for Grey 34 The result was received with tremendous ] cheering, and in the excitement groans were called for Mr. Clark, but did not receive a j very large response. Neither of the candidates was on the ground when the announcement was made, but in a few minutes afterwards, while the excitement was at its height, Mr. Clark arrived , with some of and then ensued a scene which we cannot characterise as other than disgraceful. Mr. Clark, in push- . ing his way through the crowd to obtain a position from which to address them, was rudely hustled, although large numbers cried out for fair play on his behalf. At length he reached the front of the building, and taking his stand on the window-sill, he was greeted with hootings and groans by * disorderly crowd. He was unable for some time to obtain a hearing, but at length the rowdy element was shamed into comparative ' order by the claims urged that Mr. Clark : should obtain a fair hearing. J .Mr. Clark said : Will you not allow the ' defeated candidate a word ? (Cheers and ' bi«se3, ajid cries of "Yes.") Gentlemen, I ira defeated, and I acknowledge it, but I must say I am neither sore nor sorry at the result. Ido not consider it an insult to me. I know that those who voted for my opponent voted for him and not against me. I do not say I am not sorry for being defeated, for I would have liked to have won, but I am not sorry that I have undertaken' tiiia contest, for it is a moral victory. Three years ago I could not have the face to stand against Sir George Grey, »nd had I done so I could have no hope of success. I have done with this now—(cheers)—and forget all that is past —(cheers) —and will now settle down to ■ay other work and duties as if this had not happened. (Prolonged cheering.) Ctop.GE Grey addressed the assembled < crowd from tlie top of the steps leading to ihe Court-house, and wa3 received with prolonged and repeated cheeriHg. He said : Gentlemen,—This is a great triumph, Against us was arrayed power, v/ealth, a? , } office of every kind, but you had T irtually manhood suffrage. I threw myself Bpon the people whom I long to serve, and 'hey have carried me to the top of the poll. (Cheers.) I shall ever be grateful for what you have done. You have conferred upon ■ne three years of usefulness, and you will never find me wanting to your interests. $ (Cheers.) I would ask you to do one thing 'or me. Friends of mine, at least as I I fought, have issued a little book entitled 'What Sir George Grey had done for the working men." Ido hope that you will fill 'horn up as indexes at your leisure, only lill them up well with what Sir George Grey ' a n<l his friends have dene. (Cheers.) Without your help, I could have done nothing, i farewell to you all, you will send one grate- 1 * ul ''"artto his bed to-night, who will ever ; ' -■'. :ii long as his life lasts. (Cheers.) : "-■. ■ George Grey descended the steps loud were re-echoed by the "