City West Election.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 642, 5 March 1879, Page 2

City West Election.

From an early hour to the close cvf the poll to-day the electors m City West were active, but an almost continuous rain prevented that out-turn which would otherwise have been. As it was there was the keenest interest manifested, and the Denominational and Undenominational support by the State was fought out m the ballot-box with an earnest ness which showed each side "was determined to win. Heavy rain prevented

not a few from coming to the poll, and Goldie's party consider it has deprived them of nearly 203 votes which they would otherwise have got, having obtained promises previously. Before one o'clock it was known that nearly 900 people had recorded their votes on one side or the other. Towards four o'clock it was generally understood that the Roman Catholic party were outvoted, but no one supposed defeat was so crushing as it was when the state of the poll was made known. About five o'clock it was found that 1,037 electors h:id recorded their votes, out of an actual total of about 1,500. The state of the poll was : — D. Goldie 776 G. Dignan 261 Leaving Goldie the winner by a majority of 515. This was a signal for great rejoicing, and for a couple of hours afterwards there was great congratulatingand shaking of hands throughout the city as the news spread. Dignan's crushing defeat was generally attributed to Father Hennebeary's advice to block-vote. When the City of Sydney mail steamer left Auckland on her last trip to Sydney she called at the Bay of Islands and took m a large quantity of coal, for the purpose of proving suitability for mail steamers. The result was exceedingly satisfactory, as the engineer to-day, on arrival from Sydney, reported he found it excellent coal, quite equal to Newcastle, or any coal he ever used. He found steam could be maintained at a certain pressure with no greater consumption of coal than if the best Newcastle had been used, while the Bay coal is much cheaper, His report haa had the effect of subsequent boats being ordered to take a supply of Bay coal, and the Company, are making preparations to meet the increased demand thus caused. The Maori meeting at Orakei continued to-day, though the rain somewhat interfered with the cheerfulness of the scene. The Treaty of Waitangi was again discussed, and resolutions passed approving of the same, and declaring their intentions to remain loyal to the Queen for ever and obey all laws, and to retain possession of fisheries and forests. They also passed resolutions that the Maories should be allowed to shoot on their own lands without taking out licenses. Complaints were made about blocks «f land which the Maories had been unlawfully deprived of. Fears were also expressed, if land-selling continned, the Maories would be left m a landless condition. The meeting is likely to close to-morrow or next day with a great and fashionable ball, to which a large number of Europeans are invited.