BOROUGH ELECTION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2144, 10 September 1875, Page 3

BOROUGH ELECTION.

The annual election of threo membors of the Thames Borough,-Council took place yesterday at the Council Chambers, Queen-street. His ■ Worship tho Mayor presided as Beturniug Officer, and thero were deputies appointed to each pollingbooth, of which there were four. Thero was very little excitement at any time during tho day, although it was ovident that the candidates and their friends were straining every nervo to secure a majority. Cabs and 'busses wero engaged by tho candidates tc bring voters to the poll and these woro decorated with many coloured posters bearing tho names of tho candidates In whoso interest they were employed. N The principal feature .of yesterday's polling, was tho faot; that femalo suffrago was j freely allowed. Tho first lady vote recorded was that of Mrs Davy. This was followed by tho votos of Iflrs Bull and Mrs Sawyer aud subsequently Mesdames .Ferguson, Ziegler, and Coolahan recorded their votes, not only without opposition, for their right was freely acknowledged—but they' wero with a certain empressement aud cordiality which showed that so far as the Thames is concerned, femalo suffrage may bo introduced successfully, not only in municipal elections, but in every other election in which property gives a titlo to vote'. This, howover, is not the first occasion in whioh a lady has voted at a Thames election. There was ono other occasion many years ago in whioh a lady's vote was received.and recorded. That was when a mining board was elected. ' Tho qualification was a miner's right. Mrs Hagin, wife of Mr G. H. Hagin, who then kept tho New Caledonia hotel, claimed to vote upon her miner's right, and her claim was allowed. This, however, is .the first occasion in Now Zealand, wo bclievo, in whioh ladies • have , been _ regularly enrolled as voters, and their right to voto has been acknowledged cordially. The buildings adjacent to, and opposite tho Council Chambers wero occupied ns committee-rooms by the candidates and their friends. In fact, all the machinery of an election was at work, and tho ■ keenest interest was shown in watching tho arrival of voters, who woro soon* button-holed by tho. friends of the candidates, but tho utmost good order prevailed. Tho general impression throughout tho day was, that tho election of Messrs Wilson and Gibbons was certain, and that tho runuing for third place would bo between Butt and Heron. . The other two candidates, Messrs Pulloine and McGowau, wcro not considered at all formidable, but of courso the usual expectancy and dqubt prevailed. An attempt was made now and then to publish approximate returns, but they were of course merely sources of amusement, It was expected thatlalor ■on in tho afternoon thero would have bcon somewhat of a rush, but such did not occur, and in fact for somo time before tho closing of tho doorp tho pollclerks and scrutineers had little to do. There was, howover, a little excitement outside, but it seemed to be by this time recognised that Messrs Gibbons, Butt, and Wilson were to bo tho successful candidates, and the only interest appeared to attach to the relative positions which they would occupy. Precisely at 4 o'clock the doors were closed, and the clerks commenced to reckon up the votes. There was not much of a crowd outside, but the patience of "those who. did remain to the finish was severely tried, for heavy rain commenced to fall,which rather -dampedthe enthusiasm ofpartizans, and mado them heartily wish that tho whole thing was finished. They took refuge in committee-rooms, cabs, and such other 'places as promised shelter whilo tho totals were being mado up, and in tho meantime expectancy was on the tiptoe. Tho compilation of the returns occupied an hour, and at 5 o'clock tho doors wero reopened, and tho result of the poll was declared as follows

Gibbons • ■ -392 Wilson • ■ • ■ 379 Butt ■ • • 358 ■ Heroa ■ • • 18G Palleme 183 McGowan. 128 The Beturning Officer declared Messrs Gibbons, Wilson; and Butt duly elected Councillors for the ensuing term of tbreo years, and called for tlireo cheers for (lie successful candidates. This was heartily responded to by tho crowd who had assembled from the various- refuges in which they .had escaped tho inclemency of tho weather, and some enthusiastic admirers of Mr Gibbons, who had been • placed tho head of the poll, lifted, that gentleman on their shoulders. Of course it is impossible to judge accurately.of tho manner in which votes have been recorded. Wo may, however, state that thero were only sis informal papers in in the whole bundles, one in'each of three booths and three in tho other. This is, we think, clear ovidenco that the ballot systepi is. well understood. How.tho votes wero delivered is of course in a great measure only an approximation. Mr Gibbons, who was placed at tho head of tho poll, scarcely got a single plumper, at all events, ho got'verj few. On tho contrary, there were numerous plumpers for Mr Butt, and fewer' for Mr Wilson. Mr Heron, wo believe, had a considerable number of plumper votes, and thero was a still larger number of splits with somo of tho other candidates; voters recording only two votes instead of three. The Tararu votes wero largely split up. Mr Wilson got one in nearly every instance, but Mr l'ulleine's industrious canvass told, and 'tho Tararu people contributed largely towards hi 3 support, Tho only matter 11 of surpriso at tho close appeared to bo that .Mr Heron's .supporters had not placed him closer tho successful candidates, and wo believe the reason is that Mr Heron was understood to be sailing under the wing of the Good Templars. If so, tho society displayed, little enthusiasm, while those who were placed in juxtaposition throw their wholo weight into the opposite scale. The run was by no means so close as was anticipated, but there cannot bo the least question that in the selection of their Councillors (particularly with ballot voting), theburgessos of thoTuamea will neither bo led nor driven by societies. We feel quito suro that tho old members who wero re-electcd will continue a useful career in tho Council, and that tho new member, Mr Gibbons, will provo a'valuable and practical acquisition, to that body. It would have b'cea more satisfactory had there been a larger amount of. general interest evinced in the election, considering the, prominent posilion which tho Borough' Council will occupy in the government of the country, should the Abolition and Local Government Bills bo passed through the Assembly.