The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3.1881.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1498, 10 December 1881, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3.1881.

There has seldom heen a more hotly contested election than that which was fought out to the end yesterday in our midst. The running at one time was so close that it _ wag quite on the cards that the Returning Officer yrquld have to declare a tie, when tte return of . one of tho two candi* dates would haug upon his casting vote. Mr; McDonald's return will be in tfe^CHHe- a representation of the muwYity \ for we have only to add .together the .votes polled by the three OrOveruuifittfc condidates, and subtract those recorded fov the Government opponent, to show by what a simple process the majority may be deprived of a great political privilege, Jfc certainly speaks volumes for Mr. LocifE that coming here a comparative strange?, he should have recorded a large millibar of -votes ; but then Mr. fjOCKE's genuine honesfcyand thorough knowledge of the requirements of the district soon made themselves manifest. It was not difficult to discover that he was inexperienced as a public speaker, but people were quick at discovering that if it was difficult to get the matter out of him it was still in him. Probably the knowledge of the other three candidates combined as relates to Colonial politics ; the state of parties ; and the ways used to bring I

about results is considerably below what Mr. Locke has learned from long study and observation. Monday at latest will bring us the result of the various polls. The voting was altogether between Mr. Locke and Mr. McDonald. Had the former been returned we should have rejoiced, because we think his influence would be very considerable in the Assembly. As ithappenshoweverthatMr McDonald is the successful candidate, he shall always have our heartiest support and co-operation. That he has always endeavored to assist us to the best of his power wo have no doubt whatever. He is indefatigable, painstaking, and assiduous. His great weakness has always been in falling foul of the party who had not only the power but the desire to assist us. We give Mr. McDonald credit of sticking to the Greyite faction, always allowing that he has been guided by really conscientious motives ; nevertheless, it speaks but poorly of his understanding. Let us hope that, if returned, Mr. McDonald will have become sufficiently enlightened to see that he will go in direct opposition to a very large majority of the electors unless he can bring himself to work in something like harmony to the Mipistry in power. Of Mr. Gannon's pandidature it has turned out even as his friends expected. He went late into the field, and was left to work out his own election unaided by any outside assistance.