The Sydenham Election.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5616, 12 May 1886, Page 3

The Sydenham Election.

THE POLLING. THIS DAY. The democratic character of the population of the Model Borough is shown by the keen interest taken in all contests for the honour of representing the people, whether as Borough Councillor, member of School or Licensing Committee, or in the more important capacity of M.H.E. Over an election for the last-named position, excitement in Sydenham is apt to run pretty high. That it did so to-day there could be no doubt, though the excitement did not culminate in anything like excess. The supporters of each of the three candidates — for Mr Jolly was looked upon as being entirely out of the race — had evidently made up their minds that there was to be a stiff tussle, and accordingly put their shoulders to the wheel with a will to try and push their man to the top of the poll. To gain this object no pains were spared. Vehicles of many sorts were flying during the day to all places where a Sydenham elector was likely to be found, in order to bring him to one of the two polling places — the central one at the Oddfellows' Hall, Colombo street, or the branch booth at the Selwyn street school, Addington. The former was the centre of excitement, though no little interest was manifested in the proceedings at Addington, where Mr C. Allison acted as Deputy-Eeturning-Offi cer. Each of the candidates had a Committee room in an unoccupied shop opposite the Oddfellows' Hall, and busy touts, electoral roll in hand, watched the door of the hall, and carefully checked off the voterß as they entered. The street was almost blocked with vehicles, and knots of electors discussing the chances of the candidates thronged the footpaths. The supporters of all three gentlemen seemed sanguine of success, those of Mr Taylor especially so. Within the hall a substantial barricade had been constructed out of a number of seats, behind which the Re-turning-Officer, Mr G. L. Lee, with the poll clerk and scrutineers, was, as it were, entrenched, and further protected from being crowded by eager voters, by a constable stationed at the narrow entrance in , the barricade. The duties of this officer, if not heavy, were continuous ; for a steady stream of voters poured into the booth all day. The declaration of the poll will be made at noon to-morrow.