VOTING CONTEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7077, 15 March 1910, Page 3

VOTING CONTEST

In just five days the old buzz-saw will give one great buzz, and it will sing a coil" of victory for -.the fortunate candidate who top:, the poll on the evening of March lath. Cheering thousands will oiijriv the closing scenes, the likes of which ,viii- never witnessed before in New Zealand, and the grand finale will disclose the winner en the "limes balcony, acknowledging the honour and distinction he or she hurt won in the greatest battle of the ballots the Dominion has ever seen, iiuz-z-z! 11 you would like to too how largo a proportion of the newspaper ot tho Dominion are patrons of the 'New Zealand Times," kindly call on this department ami inspect the rccoidb. ihe proofs are right here, Buz-z-z! ft U the old. old story- of the "Bullock and the Bullfrog," remarked an observant advertiser yci.-te.rday. "The Bullock,' continued the advertiser, "was taking a drink from the cooling waters of the brook, when the Bullfrog climbed upon a rock and wondered at the. size of the. monster. Thinking to frighten the animal aw-jv hi* iiogs-hip commenced to Kwell, and swell, and swell, until his limited hide could no longer contain tho nurprus air, when there was an c-tplos-ion, and the Bullfrog was no more. In this ease we know who represents tho fr-?T. wline without prw;i ni« nothing but air, while your contest records stand for the iiutlock.' And so tho verdict goes day by day. Buz-z-z! When the town clock s-trikeg nine Saturday evenin-g, March 19th, voters within the "Timer," eountiiigroom who nave not been served with ballots will be waited on. Those outs id a at that hour will not be allowed to enter until the seals of the ballot-box are broken and tho balloting ceases. Bead the "Rules and Conditions Governing tho Clothe of tho 'N.Z. limes Great Voting Contest" carefully, as published this morning, for they will mot appear a"-aiu. No deviation or exception to these Rules will be considered, as the contest is now in the hands ot Mr T. if. Wilford, M.P., hon. chairman of the Committee of Election. Judges, and hit; associates, Messrs W. 'Veitch junr., J. iiutcheson. Alec Laurcnson, and D. Milligau. Cut the Rules out and keep them for reference. Look out I'or'that buzz-saw, sonny. You stuck your nnger dangerously close yesterday. Buz-z-z! Each' candidate teems to be wary of the other candidate's buzz-saw, hence no more plunging. Buz-z-z! Look'out' for' the". GRAND TOTALS cast at the finish of the "New Zealand Times" Great Voting Contest. And it they be not convincing, our records will still bo' open for the fullest public Kcrutinv to anv person in the Dominion, from the Dominion, or of tho Dominion, if this is not plain language as she is spoken, we do not know how to -spoke it. Buz-z-z! Our self-constituted critics are buzzy—naturally. But the buzzieet of all is the "Times" small army of subscription clerks and tho Advertising Manager with his large and formidable force of assistants. Come and see them—it will do yon good. Buz-z-z! "Prom a. little boy, who Uies Mr Webb," is the way Master P. Hartshorn, junT., sends along his cruota of votes for Wanganui's favourite. Mr William Bow*, of ETcetahuna sends his total up another ten thousand this morning, and writes that he will be in Wellington to look after his interests and see the concluding phases of the great voting contest. Ten or twelve of the popular out-of-town candidates, accompanied by some of their supporters, havo signified their intention of coining, to Wellington on Saturday to cast their final ballots and

enjoy the fun. Our hospitable folk will accord them a hearty welcome, and our numerous and enterprising storekeepers will have their emporiums of tiado in attractive displavs in case the visitors have any wants to supply. Buz-z-z! Neat and' attractive invitations have been sent by the "Times" to the prsss of New Zealand to come and witness the closa "I the Great Voting Contest. Tho journalistic fraternity are cordially requested to make this department their social headquarters, and havo a :,ood look at our circulation buzz-saw and the huge list of new subscnuers on record l.iere. in Wellington or out of Wellington, every pressman is included in. this invitation, and we trust none will tail to see our great object lesson in getting, circulation. Come along, boys, tho original orders are all here. Buzz-z-z ! All along the line, the candidates are homing their reserve votes for tho final onslaught, and it will be terrific! "Crippled! VVho? That man? Not much!" ejaculated one friend to another yesterday, of one of our candidates, with suspiei'OMs looking protuberants about the wrists and elbow 3. "That he continued, "is carrying the _ worlo. s int up hi* s.'.c-:ve, and on Saturday i evening he'll be ready for your congratulations, instead of sy.npathy." That knowing, mischievous smile constantly worn by Artist Eayner will have full sway Saturday evening. Evidently much brewing of fun is going on in. the tacred precincts of his studio, of which 'no one is awaie, as ho denies .himself to all callers, and works night and day, undar lock and key. The Contest Manager hereby denies any complicity in any trouble that may be in store for the candidates as they are slioivn on the screen that night. Mr Rayner's Grand Aggregation of Stupendous Caricatures will commence to make their appearance iu front of the "Times" building en Lambton quay about 7 o'clock p.r.i. No reserved 3eats nor restraint upon one s risibilities. The ceremony of closing and se-iUng tho ballot box by the Committee of Election Judges will take place in the "Times" Counting Room a little before 9 o'clock Saturday morniug. Tne work will be done publicly, and all me invited, to come and see. The ceremony of opening Ihe ballot Ixix will occur Saturday evening shortly after 9 o'clock, when the latest pest arrives. The judges will open the latest mail, and the counting will proceed, the candidates being taken alphabetically, each name and vote being placed on the bulletin board in front of the office as rapidly as counted. On account of the inclement weather last evening, the proposed concert at Bellevue Gardens in aid of Mr Cone nelly's candidature was postponed to 8 o'clock Friday night, at the same place. The Petone Brass Band will render music. The Manager, "Times" Voting Contest, Wellington. Dear Sir,— Wellington can boast of a younger voter than Petone, as Basil Berry, aged two years, plumps every time for Mr Webb. Tours truly, INEZ E. BEKR-Y. Mr B. S. Robertson, the "Times'Featherston agent, had a look at tie buzz-saw last night. Mr Robertson has travelled in many lands and climes, but says he has never seen a machine that could make a greater number of revolutions in a given time. Buzz! Another big swag of country"" orders last night. Things are getting -very, very interesting.