ELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT

West Coast Times, Issue 218, 31 May 1866, Page 2

ELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT

11ETURN OF MR. MOORHOUSE. A good deal of political excitement prevailed yesterday iv town, aud the Telegraph Office became quito a centre of gossip ami enquiry. By some means or other, the state of the Poll throughout the day on the Eastern side transpired, and was telegraphed over to interested friends of the different candidates, who, being the possessors of important news, wore glad to communicate it to their gossips. It became known in due course, that at noon Mr Moorhouso had polled votes more than double in number to those recorded for both his two competitors. At half-past three, the numbers telegraphed over, were — Moorhouse, 1037; Lance, 399 ; Travers, 117. Ap a later hour, the numbers declared by the Returning Officer at Christchurch, as received from the principal polling places throughout the province, were transmitted, aud published in " The Despatch," evening newspaper, as follows : — [by eleotrio telegraph.] \ From our own Correspondent. Cjiristciiuuch, Wednesday, 7.36 p.m. Moorhouse 1190 Lanco „,,,, 634 Travers M 0 A few more districts have yet to send in returns, which will not materially alter tho numbers. Wo subsequently received a later telegram, to the following effect : — Christoiiurcii, Wednesday, 7.55 p.m. CTiOSE OP THE TOIiIi. Christchurch (official) — Moorhouse, 577 ; Lanco, 295 ; Travers, 79. Other districts — Poll clerks' returns — Moorhouse, 689 ; I ; ance, 312 ; I'ravcrs, 90.

"TOTAL VOTES A 8 AX PRESENT ASCERTAINED. Moorhouse 1266 Lanco 607 Travers 169 Majority for Moorhouse over Lance, 659 ; over Trovers, 1097.* A final majority for Moorhouse over Lance of from seven to eight hundred is confidently expected.

Tho following are the returns of the Westland votes, so far as they have been received : — Moorhouso. Lanco. Travers. Hokitika li 2 0

*Thcso figuroa can not bo absolutely rolled on, tho latest telegram croditing Mr Lanco with 27 votes less than the message preceding it.