The Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1887. THE RESULT OF THE POLL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5847, 9 February 1887, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1887. THE RESULT OF THE POLL

There was jubilation last evening at Ashbourne, when the much abused Beturning Officer for the Heathcote district informally announced the reßult of the ballot*.. The numbers were a revtlition, most gratifying to one party, startliogly unpleasant to the other. A. el >so contest had been looked for, opinion inclining rather to the belief that of the two candidates Mr Ajers would be chosen. The reason for this belief was that Mr Ayers was assumed to be the " popular " candidate. •Nobody possessed of any particular position or influence — ib was readily admitted—was on his side ; but he " bad the whole of the working classes with bim." Ah ! His opponents were to see what they would see. Mr Ayers* signal defeat may, however, be easily accounted for. Election promises are genej rally regarded as warrantable bait foi | voters, but their purposu is somotimc-' , t misunderstood. They require particularly skilful preparation and u«-t«, or " the iUh won't bite." Mr Ayers out d-d even hi tn--Btlf ia this direction, and if anything of the Bort was just a little too " tal l" for him, his friend*?, with muoh e.-.^orness and mighty little v •-•!om, capped «il that had gone before. The working <•> asses, upon whom Mr Ayers and Im Committeo | depended. "Tare not fools: lh»y may for . the moment he. drawn by a Hood of words jor by cunningly devised sign licnts ; but j with the morrow comeß reflection, deliberate, decisive. Where was tbe possibility, the electors must have asked themselves, that Mr Ayers oould perform all or any of the promise i mad sby rim or on his behalf P j Th e other mm had beea it finitely more oautious, and besides had, from the looal standpoint, other recommend *-ri<-r-_. Tha* Heathcote electors— the major ; i.y of them, that is— have been unable to aooept as identical the interests of town and country; they have considered that the Mayor of Christchurch, if elected j as their district representative, wonld be endeavouring to sit upon two stools at the same time, and would one day, by reason of his intermediate position, present a humiliating tpectacle. On the other hand they had evidence that Mr Jones was thoroughly interested in district work, that he was conversant with it, and that in the discharge of varied dutieß he hnd displayed much ability. As we took occasion to point out recently, the contest was to a Urge extent of a personal nature, and the electors must of necessity exercise their individual judgment. "Wo certainly see no reason to regret the ohoioe they have made. Mr v Jonou' warmest friends would not desonbj him as an orator, scarcely as a speakers but he has a sound knowledge of the legislation that is every day becomingmore important; he is fully conversant with the various Acts applying to Local Government, and in the many matters connected therewith, his opinions, based upon, experience, will be of t— ue to the Honse, and will carry weight. On the broader questions, Mr Jones has identified himself jointly with the existing Administration and the Canterbury party. The Heathcote electorate therefore hae secured, a useful representative. Ie ba3 been said of people who in their aspiration mount high, that they "havo many blasts to shake them, and if they fall they dash themselves to pieces." Mr Ayers, however, ought to find no email consolation in tbe oivic position to which he was so triumphantly returned. Ac Mayor of the City he has much honour ; he has also muoh responsibility. It ia perhaps as well for his civic reputation, that the decision of yesterday sends him back to the discharge of his Mayoral duties, and to the fulfilment of pledges itt connection therewith, untrammelled by A weight of distracting considerations.