THE ELECTION AT OAMARU.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 1705, 26 July 1884, Page 11

THE ELECTION AT OAMARU.

(VBOH OUR OWN OOBBSSPONDENT.) ' ' OAMABU, Jnly 22. There was considerable excitement to-day in COttneotion with the elections., The day was observed as a half-holiday, and the main street was lined with people. The roughs indulged in a great deal of. flour-throwing and horseplay, and some of them did not stop even there, for "several moat dastardly and unprovoked jumpito were''committed upon peaceable oiti3dni «ho h»d taken a prominent part in conaettSoWWith the election. At night a large bodP of men paraded the streets with an effigy of toe Mayor (Mr Procter), and were attacked by a crtwd belonging to the other ride. A free flgfct then took place, and Oamaru can now

boast of a greater number of black eyeß and bruised bodies than any other town in the Colony. Some of the combatants wore arrested and lodged in the lock-up. The streets are now (10.30 p.m.) being deserted, and things are becoming quiet. Later. I have just learned that a man named Beatty, who took a prominent part in the rowdyism of to-day, has been taken to the Hospital with a broken leg, the result of a general row. (Peb United Pbess Association.) Oamabu, July 22. A good deal of feeling was displayed over the election for the town to-day. A half-holi-day was observed, and crowds of people perambulated the streets during the afternoon. Mr Jones, editor of the Mail, waa assaulted by an elector, and a friend who went to his assistance was severely maltreated. A collision of the two factions took place in the evening, and a severe fight was the result. Two men were arrested, and a number of the combatants were severely bruised. i