POLLING DAY IN THE CITY.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15044, 11 April 1919, Page 4

POLLING DAY IN THE CITY.

POSTING THE RESULTS.

Tie polling on the liquor referendum took place yesterday. In the morning, the weather was fine and warm, but about 2 o'clock there was a heavy downpour of rain, with hail, fortunately it was of short duration and the remainder of the day was fine but. cold. At nine o'clock, when the polling; booths opened, there was a large assemblage of motor cars and other vehicles outside the Trade rooms and.- a. lesser number at the Prohibition rooms, both of which were located in Hardy street, which was a centre of activity throughout the day. Both parties appeared to be well organised, and/the motor cars were keot busily engaged, all day, The polling in the morning was not particularly brisk, but: from about three o'clock onwards there was a steady stream of voters to tm various polling places. Shops, offices and hotels closed at rtoon, and in the afternoon there were numerous citizens about the streets dl^«ssing the prospects of tfce poll, _T6e first Nelson return, that of the YShangarae booth, was received five iirairates after the closing of the polls and thereafter ' the returns came to hand' with a rapidity which reflected much credit on the organisation of the returning officer, Mr J. Fitz-Gerald, and the capacity of his deputies. With the exception, of iourrTsturns whicH; had tp^bei-sent via Havelbek, the Nelson, electorate:^:figures -were complete :bv 9 o clock^rand^the - final- freault was' in-hand-shortly;after 10, the;figures then ™ i mg : : ntmuance- 3037;- Prohibition;

I The /returns were posted on a screenerected -in front of the Public Works Department's offices m Trafalgarstreet, the two newspapers having ar- | ranged for a joint display of the figures, A very, large crowd assembled and waited -until a late hour, watching the posting bf the returns from- other parts of the; Dominion. The results of the poll were also thrown on the screen at the Empire Theatre, and at' the Permanent Pictures a* Motueka. i An unusual strain was placed upon the telephone attendants at the exchange, who rendered invaluable service m assisting in the prompt notification of the results. In the earlier nart of the evening there was hardly any demonstration, but when the Dominion returns began to arrive the- attitude changed, each continuance gain being received with cheers, and a good deal of good natured chaff was bandied about. The crowd gradually thinned . out as theevening v/ore on. and only a score oiso of enthusiasts remained to witness, the finish.

Of great assistance in the display of the. results was the D^lco lighting- plant which v/as installed outsidethe Public Works Office by Mr W.. Richards, and the thanks of the twonewspapers are due to the officers o£

the Public -Works Department^ and the Resident* Agfent '/of the 'Government .Life Insuranc6\for much valuable assistance in the fixing up of the boards, I etc., for posting'the results. ,