MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13890, 29 April 1909, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

TIMARU. The election of Councillors for the Borough of Timaru took place yesterday, and excited considerable interest, much more than. similar elections have done for years past. '. The number of votes recorded, constituted a record, the returning officer stating that there were more than at a parliamentary election. This is in part explained by the fact that there were so many candidates. The poll opened at 9 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m.. For the best part of the day there was a steady stream of voters.,, and long before the result of the election was announced (at 10 o'clock) there was a big crowd in waiting at the Council Chambers. A good many had waited patiently for over two hours expecting to hear the result at any moment. There was, however, a great deal of work involved in tallying up so many votes and the returning officer and his deputies had a busv time. The last returns to come in were those from Cullmann street and the Drill Shed. There were six booths and of these, the George street booth was best patronised, two deputy-returning officers being kept going comfortably there nearly all day. A fact worthy of note is that out of all the votes recorded only six were informal. As a result of the election two of the old Councillors —Messrs Parks and Rothwell lost their seats, and the latter has held his for the past fourteen years. There Bad been an agitation for new blood on the Council, and this is represented by the return of the following new Councillors:—Messrs Gilchrist,Watson, Sinclair. Porter, and Beck. The returning officer announced the result of the poll as follows : W. Raymond 839 T. Hawkey 731 H. H. Leathwick 664 G. J. Sealey 644 W. Gilchrist 629 W. Satterthwaito 610 D. G. Watson 598 J. Sinclair 571 •-• A. Oborn 539 R. Porter 538 T. L. Harney 527 A. Beck 510

J. Rothwell 503 J. SB. Parks 499 J. Davidson 498 W. A. Pearson 496 ;W. Gunn 443 S. Trevurza 359 The first twelve candidates were declared elected. The crowd called for speeches, and the call was responded to. Councillor Baymond heartily thanked the ratepayers for the proud position they had placed him in at the head of "the poll, and said that in the future, as in the past, he would do his best for the town as a whole, and not merely for any particular part of it. Councillor Hawkey returned his thanks, and said he took his re-election as an endorsement of the policy of the Council in the past. For the past fifteen years he had done his level best for the ratepayers, and he would continue to do so. . Councillor Leathwick returned Jus sincere thanks, and said he would continue to the best of his ability to see that no ratepayer had any caUsc for a grievance. He remarked also that it was a pleasure to see such an interest taken in the election as had been displayed that day. • - Councillor Sealey acknowledged the compliment paid to him in his re-elec-tion, which he said he took as an indication that the ratepayers stdl had confidence in him. He had been a Councillor for the past ten years, and would continue to work in what he conceived to be the best interests of the Councillor Gilchrist also returned his best thanks, said that all his interests were in Timaru, and promised to do his level best to make Timaru 1 one of the most up-to-date towns in the Dominion. ' , , . Councillor Satterthwaite thanked the ratepayers very heartily for their continued confidence in him. The election of that day had been one of the mostinteresting fought for many years, and as in the past, so in the future, he ■would do his best in the interests of the town. . Councillor AVatson said it might have been better for him had be been at the bottom of the poll, but he thanked the ratepayers for not putting him there, and said his aim would be to work on' the Council in their best interests. Councillor Sinclair said lie was very pleased with tho position in which he had been placed. He took credit to himself for having aroused some little enthusiasm over the election, and promised to do his best for Timaru as a whole. He thanked those who voted against, as well as those who Jind voted for him, and said they were all one to himl Councillor Porter returned his sincere thanks for the support accorded to him; expressed his pleasure on finding that the ratepayers had taken sn fceen an interest in the election., and

said he hoped to merit the confidence placed in him. ' s Councilor Oborn also returned his best thanks. He had, he said, always been on the side of progress, but when he thought they had gone far enough he would not be afraid to say so. He assured them that he would continue to watch their interests carefully. • Councillor Beck raised a hearty laugh by comparing himself to one of the twelve apostles—and the tail end of them at that. But though they saw in him the "tail," he could promise them that it would wag to some purpose in so far as he was able to make it do so. He thanked the ratepayers for the position they had placed him in, and said he hoped to so act as a member of the Council as to cauise him to come put at the top of the poll when the next election came around, Messrs Rothwell and Davidson were the only two of the defeated candidates who spoke. They both returned their thanks, and while the former remarked that he could retire after his fourteen years' service with a clear conscience, having served the ratepayers faithfully, the lattes said lie hoped that the new Councillors would do their duty. A vote of thanks to the returning officer, proposed by Councillor Beck, terminated the proceedings. There were repeated ■ calls • for Councillor Harney, but he did not come forward. GERALDINE. Not much interest was taken in the election, only about half the electors listed going to the polls. Many at the lower end of the town plumped for the resident candidates and this put them at the top of the poll.

The resultw as as follows:—W. A. Sherratt 145, J. M. Sutherland 141, T. Sherratt 131, J. Kennedy 119, R. Taylor 110, Dr Paterson 98, E. H. Logan 81. The six first named were declared elected.

About fifty persons were present at the declaration and the several candidates thanked their supporters. Mr F. B. Flatman also took the opportunity to thank the electors for his return as Mayor unopposed. TEMUKA. The result of the polling, declared about 9.30, was as follows:—D. McInnes 182, A. C. Watson 179, W. F. Evans 177, A. Frew 172, A. Gibson 168, J. McLean 164, C. J. Malum 158, J. Holwell 148, A. Calder 145, T. Edwards 134, F. W. Salmon 83. The nine first mentioned were declared elected. There was a small gathering at the declaration, and the new (Councillors present thanked the electors for the support accorded them. WAIMATE. Great interest was taken in the Borough election for Waimate. The results were as follows: —Jones 334, Inkster 322, Manchester 318, Collett 280, Saunders 279, Hunt 276, Miller 268, Cox 266, Hutt 264 (elected); iNicoll 254, Buckingham 251, Evans 216; total voters 494. For Timaru High School Board representative Mr Moore gained 360 votes, and Mr Buckingham 12/. FROM OTHER PAETS. Per Press Association. MAETON, April 28. The Mayoral election was the keenest on record. Mr R. E. Beckett defeated Mr John McEldowney, the present Mayor, by 17 votes. GISBOENE, April. 28.

The Mayoral election resulted:—W. D. Lysnar (re-elected), 1230 votes; W. Miller, 934. The defeated candidate was absent in Sydney on business during the campaign, this militating against his chances.

p FEILDING, April 28. At the borough elections to-day, Mr W. J. B. Drewin was again returned Mayor for the fourth year, beating Mr W. Fitzherbert. A poll was taken on the half-holiday question, and resulted in Wednesday being chosen by a largo majority over Saturday. DANNEVIRKE, April 28. For the Mayoralty Mr H. M. Eies (sitting Mayor) defeated Mr J. Druniniond. WANGANUI, April 28. The Mayoral election resulted as follows.—Mackay 1486; Muir, 276; Battle, 197. The half holiday poll resulted m the retention of Thursday by 1770 against G44. NAPLEE, April 28. Mr J. A. Miller has been elected Mayor of Hastings. NELSON, April 28. Mr Jesse Piper was re-elected Mayor for the fifth successive term by a majority of 317 over Mr W. S. Hampson. The half holiday resulted in favour of Wednesday by a majority of 388 over Saturday.

PALMERSTON N., April 28. Mr Nash, the Mayor was unopposed. Council —Mowlen, Haydon, Clausen, Armstrong, Stubbs, Palmer, \V. MeKenzie, M. O'Reilly, and Hewitt were elected.

WELLINGTON, April 28. The election of Mayor and Councillors took place to-day. The results of the Mayoralty contest just (9.10 p.m.) announced, show that out of over twenty-nine thousand electors on the roll less than fourteen thousand voted. Results:—-Dr A. K. Newman, 4522; T M. Wlford, M.P., 4236; F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., 3208; Hon. J. Rigg,. M.L.C., Labour candidate, 824; F. G. Bolton, 616. Onslow Mayoral election —J. u. Harkness. 308; Charles Mainwaring, 129. Eastbourne—John Barr, 182; H. W. Shortt, 172. Karori—C. J. Dasent, 199; W. A. Kellow, 184. Mayoral election—Lower Hutt—E. V Bunnv, 664; W. H. Russell, 358; J. T. Hawthorne, 287. BLENHEIM, April 28. In the mayoral contest, Mr Archibald McCallum was re-elected ..with a majority of 140 over Mr John Conolly, the total polling being 808. WESTPORT, April 28. In the Mayoral election to-day Mr J. H. Greenwood was re-elected for the third year in succession, defeating MiHans Larsen by 313 votes. Of the former Council five stood again but ony two were elected, Mr A. C. Hansen heading the poll. GREYMOUTH, April 28. Mr Coates was re-elected Mayor over Mr Alfred Russell by 111 votes. CHRISTCHURCH, April 28.

The half holiday poll n the city resulted :—Thursday 5625, Saturday 3225. . Mayoralty C. Allison (present Mayor) 5424, H. H. Loughnan 3318. Council—Central Ward—W. H. Cooper, C. D. Morris, T. Gapes, H. B. Sorenson (old Councillors), and J. J. Dougall and Dr Thacker (new men); Linwood Ward—H. J. Otley and T. N. Horsier (old Councillors); St. Albans— H. Williams and W. Hide (old Councillors\ A. H. Anderson (new man); Sydenham—J. Forrester, G. W. J. Parsons, C. Taylor and A. H. Webb (old Councillors). This return is incomplete; the latest returns show only ten votes between Taylor and A. D. Hart. For Sydenham Mr Chas. Taylor was elected Mayor. DUNEDIN, April 28. The city Mayoral election resulted in the retiring Mayor . (Mr J. McDonald) being defeated b'V 40 votes, the figures homo, as follows:—Mr Walker 3343. Mr McDonald 3303. Last year Mr McDonald defeated Mr Walker .by abiut 1200 votes. Mr A. H. Bridger was elccte'l Mnvor of Mornington, and Mr D. A; De Maus Mavor of Port Chalmers. The poll of electors in the combined district taken to-day on the half-holi-day question resulted in favour of Wednesday by a large majority, the votes being as follows:—For Monday 22, Tuesday 11, Wednesday 5750, Thursday 24, Friday 9, Saturday 3697.

INVERCARGILL, April 2S. The Mavoral election resulted in the defeat of'Mr Seandrett. who has bo'd office for five consecutive vears, Mr C. S. Loniuet. who was Mayor some years ago, being returned by a majority "of 250 votes.