LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7180, 19 February 1885, Page 3

LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

DUNEDIN. The election of a Licensing Committee for city caused considerable excitement, and for about two hours and a-balf before the declaration of the poll there was a crowd of about 800 or 1000 people gathered in front of the Town Hall, Throughout the day it was evident that an active canvass was being carried on by the supporters of the temperance candidates on the one side, and the moderates on the other. The latter, nowever, seemed to be alone in the possession of caba and buggies for the conveyance of ratepayers to the poll. The result was entirely in favour of the moderate ticket, the five candidates on it being returned in a body, Shortly before 9 o'clock the Town Clerk announced the poll as follows:— O. Ftnwlck .. .. ..721 A Sllgo .. „ .. 678 B Hallotutein .. .. ..661 G. E. Bliott .. .. ..648 J. Barnes .. .. .. 62S J. B. Bt*dshaw .. .. ..561 R. Chieholm .. .. ..648 A. Rennie .. .. ..612 J. Htslop .. .. ..624 A. Cairns .. .. .. 607

There were 21 informal voteß, the informality consisting for the most part in ratepayers voting for more than five candidates. The Town Clerk having read the numbers, announced that the first meeting of the Committee would be held in the City Police Oourt on the 4th March.

Mr 6. Fbnwiok, in returning thanks, said be could not help feeling highly gratified at the result oi the poll. It was the first time he had asked the citizens to elect him to any public position during nearly 30 years' residence here, and he was glad to know that he possessed the confidence and esteem of the ratepayers to such an extent as to induce them to place him at the top of the poll. He thanked them cordially indeed for the honour conferred on him.—(Applause.) Mr Sliqo said it was also the first time he bad appealed to the whole city of Dunedin for any public position. He had been a member of the Bell Licensing Committee for three years, and ho took this as a proof that hisoonduct in that capacity had given satisfaction to the citizens generally. He thanked the ladies and gentlemen of Dunedin very heartily for the very high honour that had been conferred on him. They might rely upon it that having been elected upon what was called the moderate—in other words, the temperate—ticket, his dealings with licensing matters would be of a moderate and temperate character. One special reason for bis contesting the election was that a minority of mankind were drunkards, another minority were teetotallers, but the large majority were, aa he claimed to ba, moderate and temperate men, and he hoped to represent the latter section of the community.

Mr Babnes said he could hardly express his feelings that night. He had served different parts of the city for nearly 22 years in different capacities, and this was tbe third time be had stood for public honours for the whole city. He assured them the victory he had gained that day gave him great gratification. It did so because a slight mistake was made tbe other night at the public meeting. He was sorry for tbe remarks be then made, although they were not such as had been represented. Oa the Committee he would, as before, try to deserve the confidence they had plaoed in him, and carry out the Act honestly, straightforwardly, and openly. Mr Sliqo apologised for the absence of Mr Hallcnstein, who was not in town, and returned thanks on his behalf. Mr Chisholm, whj was received with a good deal of hooting, said that as one of the defeated candidates he thanked them very sincerely for placing him in the honourable position on the poll they had. The matter had been referred to the ratepayers for their decision, and he was perfectly contented with that. The issue had been fairly put; the ratepayers had decided that the licensed houses should not be closed at 10 o'clock, and to that decision ha bowed. A vote of thanks to the returning-officer closed the proceedings.