THE CITY ELECTION.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5018, 29 September 1887, Page 3

THE CITY ELECTION.

DECLARATION OF THE POLL. The attendance at the Provincial Hall yesterday, when the state of the poll was officially declared, was fair from large, but the fact may be chiefly attributed to the difficulty experienced by many in getting away from their ordinary avocations punctually at noon. At the hour named there were not a hundred people in the room, though the number increased after. Mr A. A. Scaife, the Eeturning Officer, said the numbers polled by the respective candidates were— Levestam 567 Piper 338 Gibbs 176 and he declared Henry Augustus Leveßtam duly elected member of the House of .Representatives for the Nelson electoral district. (Cheers). Mr Levestam said that was the fourth time it had devolved on him to stand before the electors and thank them for placing their confidence in him. To say that he was prowd did not convey his feelings, became he could not conceive a greater honor than to he elected by his fellow men to represent them, and for the fourth time. The election bad been hanging; over them for a long time, and he was glad to say that neither he nor his committee had done anything they need be ashamed of. All they had done was straightforward and above board, and he was glad he could Bay the same about Mr Piper and his committee. He need say nothing more, except as to the harbor, which had been recently referred to. The question of a Harbor Board was purely a local one, and it was for tha people to take the first step, but if they wanted a Harbor Board he would do whatever he could to secure what they deßired. He thanked them heartily for the confidence they had reposed in him by returning him t& the head of the poll. (Cheers). Mr Piper said, he desired to thank the 338 electors who recorded their votes in his favor. He had been beaten, but he could not Bay he had been fairly beaten. The introduction of Mr Gibbs into the contest had brought an element of unfairness. He would have wished that Mr Levestam and he had been left to contest the election on their merits, and then Mr Leveßtam, had the result been the same, could have had ho doubt about having a substantial majority. There wis, however, a doubt at present, and that was brought about by the introduction of Mr Gibbs. He did not know who began to raise that legal quibble, but he knew that is was raised, and he knew, too, that he had a capital show before that, but the question raised spread dismay in many who had worked hard for him. These faltered when this doubt was expressed, and he had felt the blow up to the time of going to the poll. It might be hist duty to contest that seat again, but he did assure them that he should not stand there unless he had a very solid requisition. (Hear, hear.) He could not afford the money, neither did be'care to meet with such unscrupulous opposition, at least from one side, as he had had. He had been largely supported by the Temperance party, and he thanked them; by the working men, and he thanked them; and to some extent by the Bible in school party. He did not, however, advise anyone to take up that question unless it was a principle. It was a principle with him, and for that reason he took it up as*ne of the planks of bis plat, form.. He could not say he had been supported much by those in favor of the Bible in schools, and he had lost several supporters —he could not find seven who had supported him on that alone. He would say to the working men, " You hive been faithful to me and you will always find me faithful to you." He would give them (the working men) a bit of advice ; it was, " unite yourselves for your owji interests." There was a wealthy class being created, and the result was that the working classes were getting poorer; wages were getting less, and unless they, like their brothers elsewhere, united to secure their share of that wealth they would find it difficult to live. He Bpoke to them, because the true prosperity of the country was tbe true prosperity of its bone and Binew. He would, rather, like that good French king, see poultry on the table of the working man constantly than rich men rolling in wealth. It Was fox them to combine that they might get their fair share of wealth, whioh they were cot ijkelJr to fet unless they did.; He returnod thanks for the honor conferred on him. (Cheers.) . V Mr Gibbs said the b»ttUhr»Sß«wfonght and '.. wan, »nd be woald have thtigW it |oo&

policy for Mr Levestara and Mr Piper not to have tlirown mud. [Mr Levestam: " What have Jt^said? "J "Said! Why, you are Jas fierce as a little buck rat." (Laughter). As he had said the battle was over, and it would have been a proper thing tO'have shaken hands and become friends again—don't, be said, let these little political differences destroy friendship. He thanked the 175 or 176 who voted for him, but not the 250 who were pledgad to him, and who threw him over at the last moment. He was in the same position as Napoleon in the Franco* German war—his own men had betrayed him at the last moment. He admired any elector who fought fairly, whether he was with him or against him, and he challenged any man to deny that he was as friendly now as before. (Hear, hear.) It was the same in the country from Motuekato Nelson. If Mr Piper had made little mistakes he would be more cautious next time. (Laughter.) Mr Piper ought to give him a testimonial and a purse of sovereigns for having taught him the trick. (Loud laughter.) Well, he had lost, but he said "Come, shake ■ hands now." [An Eleclor: You were the means of putting Jack Kerr in.J If he was the means of returning Mr John Kerr then he had done a great thing for the f>elson district--(cheera) —and tbo district ought to be thankful to him. |"An EUctor: So we are.] *He was glad that/a Government man and a party man had got/in. He believed iv party men and in party newspapers, but he did not believe in a man that had to be interviewed by the whips. He had nothing more to- say than to thank his supporters. He felt more sorry for them than for himself, for they had been placad in i a false position; for himself he could lose as well as win. (Applause.) Ho wished to thank the ' Colonist,' for it had shown him fair play. Though it was a party paper, and dead against him and in favor of Mr Leveitam and Mr Kerr, it had given him fair play from beginning to end. He believed in a paper tbat came oat from the first, and showed who it was fighting for, but he did not believe in one that was wishy washy, and then slated a man at the las'. (Applause.) He thanked them once more. (Cheers). . A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, proposed by Mr Levestam, M.H.R., and seconded by Mr Piper, brought the proceedings to an end. j