EAST COAST ELECTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4977, 27 September 1887, Page 2

EAST COAST ELECTION.

GREAT MAJORITY FOR GRAHAM

The election was the great and only event of yesterday in this district. There could hardly have been a more suitable day for it, the weather being fine and agreeable. Business was practically suspended for the day, though some people did a little in the earlier part of it. The stronger partisans were early astir, and as soon as the booth was open 40 or 50 of Mr McDonald's supporters gave their votos. At first the voters wero not passed through very rapidly and fears were expressed that at the rate they were disposed of it would be impossible to take all the votes in the day. Two of the candidates then signed a request to the Returning Officer to put on more clerical power, but when it was found at 11 that over 200 votes had been taken all anxiety as to a block at the end was over. The voters went through in a pretty steady and constant Btream all day till 5, and after that there were only a few stragglers. There were a number of vehicles run by the friends of candidates to bring iv distant voters, and altogether there was as much animation as anyone could desire, there being always hundreds of people in groups about the streets. There was not nearly so much taking of refreshments as in former contests, and anyone the worse for liquor was a rarity. It is a most pleasing sign of progress and of tho putting of earnestness into politics that the influence of drink on After the result was known in the evening elections is always getting less and leas, there was some mild jubilation on the part of a few ardent spirits on tho winning side, and a few of the losers drowned their regrets, but the night was far quieter than any election ni<4ht yet, and at midnight there were very few who had not gone home. In the country the friends of all tho candidates are said to have worked thoir very hardest, and, of course, during tho day and evening there was the usual election excitomentand events atOnnond, Karaka and other places where enthusiasm ia put into politics. The Ormond returns were telephoned in at 7 and those of Tologa quickly followed. Then came Patutahi, Te Arai and Wairoa and other places, and during the evening a'l the returns except those from Tokomaru and Wai-o-matiitini. As will be seen the only place in whicha block vote was given was at Waimata. The only part of the general result that caused any surprise was the low position of Mr Gannon tt was thought the three would have been very close together in town, and though it was pretty certain that Mr C4raham would win yet it was thought Mr McDonald and Mr Gannon would have been close together, and many believed Mr Gannon would take second placo. The result shows how easy it is for candidates and their supporters to miscalculate the amount of their support. The complete figures from tho fourteen polling places (those from Waiomatatini and Tokomaru being wired from Tologa today) are as follows : —

Majority for Graham ... 155 Total votes polled—l 672. The counting; of the town votes waß got through much quicker than wan expected. They are said to have been checked by 7.30, but as it had been understood the announcement would not be made till 8 the figures were not declared till that hour. Of course an enormous crowd had collected ou Read's Quay to hear »he result, and ringing cheers, again and again repeated, were given when the figures called out showed that Mr Graham was about 90 ahead, and that his lead could nob be takon away. Mr Graham was quickly carried shoulder high to the balcony of tho Albion Hotel, and from there ho addressed afow words of thanks to the crowd of about a thousand in tho roadway, loud cheers being repeatedly given. Mr Graham aaid as the returns to come would certainly increase his majority, his return was quite assured. Ho thanked the electors for the great honor they had done him, and he especially thanked the working men to whom the victory was due, for it was their votes that had put him in. H had been a very hard fight, but it had been conducted, as far as their side was concerned at any rate, in a fair and square way. His country friends especially had worked very hard indeed, and he felt most grateful to all hia supporters for tho energy and kindness with which they had helped him right through. Now that it was all over he would be the first to drop every trace of hostile feeling and to shake hands with his opponents. He was now the representative not only of those who had voted for him, but of every elector in the district, and it was his duty to use his utmost endeavors for the general good of all. Again he thanked them most earnestly for the proud and honorable position in which they had put him, and he would always strive to show by his couduct that their confidence was not misplaoed.

118 1 _ 111 I I Gisborne 290 306 184 11 800 Oimond ... 69 81 23 0 173 Clyde ... 37 56 61 0 154 Tologi ... 38 23 14 1 76 Mahia ... 20 11 4 0 35 Karaka ... 42 4 2 1 49 TeArai ... 58 10 4 0 72 Patutahi ... 57 37 5 4 103 Whatatutu... 23 7 3 1 31 Watmafca ... 17 0 0 0 17 Marumaru... 12 24 5 2 43 Tokomaru ... 41 10 2 0 53 Fraaertown 23 13 8 0 44 Wai-o matatini 10 9 0 0 19 746 591 315 20 1672 Graham 746 McDonald 591 Ganuon... ... ... ... 315