AN INCIDENT OF THE ELECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13474, 20 May 1907, Page 7

AN INCIDENT OF THE ELECTION.

(To,' the Editor.) , ■'). Sir,— After an, absence of 12 month's. I took a stroll into town on Saturday' night in order to note, the changes, if any, and the advan6oment of your borough during that period. ' In moving amongst the multitude of fairminded people I absolutely lost all recollection of my good resolve and became enraptured in the current topic of conversation, "The By-Election." Inquiring ps to the result and who got in, I found at each corner gentlemen willing to enlighten me as to how the election was won. and lost, and of the comic performance enacted by that fellow at Mr Malone's meeting, where "British fair play" was written on the curtain, and "Soldiers never run away," explaining to me in detail over twenty reasons why Mr Malone's meeting should not have been' disturbed, and explaining at length. Mr Malone's true motto, "Always seek the battle and shun it when it comes." Dropping in at a business establishment and pricing an article that I did, not require, I was told'tliaf; b>d th^feiieen no split in the Liberal camp £Ec result would have been justfth't&ssftne, and related the fact of one firm of butchers having refused to call, on a f aniilyVfor orders, their sole reason being that the said family were supporters of Mr Okey. In the vendor of small goods I found -more genial company and what I call common-sense unadulterated. He said : "The ballot box beats""" theni. We thought the Mayor would win," and as lie sliced off the ham at 2s per pound he said Mr Malone had good meetings andlooked like winning. I asked what about that disturbance. That brought him. •He said : "Look here. That fellow Mehaffy was asked to take the' platform, and immediately he did so Malone's committee turned off the light and dropped the curtain on him. Then from behind they stuck hatpins into him." "Fow did h« take them?" I asked. "Oh, he jumped 15 feet, then they pulled the leers from under him, taking him through the'curtain amidst roars, of laughter." "An interesting time for him," I said. After holding himself down for a time he replied: "Yes, but he deserved it. We alt regret the loss of the good old curtain more than his ill-usage. It was new when many of us were boys. We have grown up with it and recognised and valued it as a piece of family heirloom. Of course, v he added, "the man is very excitable, and is not at all times responsible for his actions. And, pointing to his Jiead, he- saifl.,- -.He s. gone." I went. Perhaps some of your many readers will try and go one better. A new hatpin for the writ&r. who does over her or his .own signature.; Thanking you in anticipation, — I am, H.vMEHAFFY. May 20th, 1907^ *