LICENSING ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 12

LICENSING ELECTIONS.

(FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, April 17. The licensing election for Dunedin City caused unusual interest to-day, much more than the ordinary run of mayoral elections. The Prohibitionist party worked most determinedly and had the hall opposite the polling booth as a committee room. The moderate party were equally energetic. Cabs and carriages were flying about, and generally every effort was male by both eides. The Moderate candidates were not strong, and many who did not agree with the Prohibitionists are known to have tried to secure the election of two from that side. The contest was much closer than waa expected. The Moderate candidates all got in, but there was only a difference of 17 between the highest Prohibitionist and the lowest Moderate. The result was : —Moderates—R. S. Sparrow, 739 ; Gourley, 732 ; Myers, 730 ; McGregor, 703 ; Stanford, 702. Prohibitionists —Barr, 685; Ready, 675; Begg, 672; Broad, 670; Wright, 665. A large crowd assembled on the declaration, but would listen to no speeches. April 18. At the lo:al option poll the majority against the increase of publicans’ licenses was 483; against the wine licenses, 451 ; against accommodation licenses, 467; and against bottle licenses, 533. No less than 273 votes were rejected as informal. Wanganui, April 17. The liiensing election resulted in the return of the three candidates put forward by the Prohibitionist party, who pledge themselves to close five of the nineteen hotels in the borough.