The Taranaki Herald. NEW PLYMOUTH, JULY 20, 1853.

Taranaki Herald, Volume I, Issue 51, 20 July 1853, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. NEW PLYMOUTH, JULY 20, 1853.

The nomination of the Candidates for the office of Superintendent of the Province or New Plymouth took place in front of the Court House, where hustings had been erected for the occasion ; and although the state of the weather was very unpropitious, a large assemblage greeted the Candidates on their appearance.

Tlie Resident Magistrate having read aloud the writ for the election,

Mr. Crompton came forward and proposed J. T. Wicfcsleed, Esq. as a fit and proper person to be elected as Supeiintendeit, and the nomination wa^ seconded by Mr. Hnrathouse.

The second Candidate, Charles Rrown, Esq., was then proposeJ by Mr. Gledhill, and seconded by Mr. T. King ; and the third Candidate, W. Halse, Esq., was pro. posed by Captain King, and seconded by Mr. Weston.

Tho addressei of the Candidates will be found in another part of our present

Tlie show of hands on the nomination was declared by the Returning Officer to b: in favour of William Halse, Esq. ; but this decision was violently opposed by man)', and for a moment disturbed the propriety which otherwise mark d the whole of the pro eed'ngs ; and it is but fair to add that many impartial lookers on dissented from

the decision of the n turning officer

The necessity for a poll h.iving been previously fotcsicn, the circumstance was unimportant, except that scrupulous truthfulness in finch matters, as near as it is possib'c lo arrive at it, is every way neces«ary to proper confidence in the officer who is trusted with the important duly of presiding on i\ich occasions. The poll commenced at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning, and before eleven it was understood that Mr. VVickstced had virtually resigned. That gent'eman polled n few votes ea'ly in the mo r ning, and abstained from fin tlier excilion until the arrival of his supporters from Omala, when there apj earing no probability of gaining his own election, Mr. Wickslrcd released his friends from their engagement to Vote for him, without attempting in the slightest degree to influence their conduct in regard to cither of his rival cnndidntcs.

At 12 o'clot k (he state of the poll was as follows : — Brown 142 Halse 121 Wiclcstced 12 The pollirg for the two highest candidates went on briskly, the majority for Mr. l'rown gradually increasing, and finally closed at 4- o'c'ock, when the numbers were — Urown •••••« 173 Halse 139 "U'icksleed 12

The (otal number of the vot rs is staled at 353, so that only 30 of the whole constituency nrglected'to poll.

The resu't of this election will be variously viewed by the partisans of the respective candidates ; but only one opinion can he hrld of the very creditable m nnrr in winch the whole affair was conducted — creditable alike to the Piovince, the Candidates, and the Klectors.

To say thai success wns used with temprrancc and forbearance is no ny an praise . and defeat encountered with good temper and dignity, is no less admirable : the urbane and dignified bearing exhibi eil by the unsuccessful candidates excited, rven among their opponents, the liveliest fec'ings of admiration and sympathy. Holh gentlemen, submitting gracefully to the decision of th c electors, liberally gave to their successful opponent an assurance that tiny should ever be icady to aid in the public service of the Province, and assist him in the arduous duties before him.