HOKITIKA ELECTION.

West Coast Times, Issue 607, 4 September 1867, Page 2

HOKITIKA ELECTION.

THE POLLING.

Yesterday was an exciting day in Hokitika, iv consequence of the polling for the election of a member to the vacantscat in the Provincial Council.

Long before the poll opened, the supporters of each candidate were astir, and deputations from the coniinittees were off to the nearer diggings with the view of exercising their powers of persuasion upon the diggers, in order to influence them in favor of either one or other of the candidates. •

At nine o'clock the poll opened at the Warden's Court-hou^e, the Eeturning Officer, Mr G-. S. Sale, presiding. Mr Eaton acted as poll clerk ; Messrs. Cozsens and Swanson were Mr Bonar's scrutineers; and Messrs. Smithers and Orr acted as scrutineers for Mr Prosser. For t.ie first hour the polling proceeded' rather languidly, voters dropping in How and then to the Court, and after recording their votes as quietly retiring. At ten o clock the excitement began to commence, and the town to assume a very animated appearance. The friends of Mr Prosser sported a very handsome carriage and pair,, as well as other vehicles wherewith to convey his voters to the Poll. Mr Bonar's Committee had also their means of conveyance, which although of not so pretentious a nature as those of Mr Prossor. were equally, and as the result proved, even more effective. In the principal streets, and opposite the polling place, bills were thickly posted — setting forth the merits of the candidates and exhorting the voters to rush to the poll. People too began to assemble about the Court House door, and to indulge in that good humored chaff and badinage which always accompanies a well conducted and keenly contested election. Eleven o'clock came, and then appeared, posted on a building near the Post Office Hotel, and which, by tho bye, was covered with bills strongly recommending Mr Prosser to the electors, the following announcement of the state of the Poll : — Prossev 31 | Bonar 19 j Nobody of course believed this— it was j merely looked upon as a shallow olocr tioneering dodge. Meanwhile, as time* j wore on, the crowd in front of tho polling place kept on increasing ; numerous porI sons also wero to be seen wending their way to tho scene of the contest; diggers, too, began to arrive from tho country districts, and the vehicles in the l>ay of tho committees drove fast and furiously through ths streets, picking up voters aud convoying them to the poll. The excitement amongst the crowd increased, and when the diggers began to arrive, Mr Prosser's supporters became olato, and some of them offered, to back their man to any amount. But, alas for human expectations, it was found, on examination that many of the holders of miners' rights had taken them out in other districts than that of Hokitika, and consequently they had no right to vote. Of course there was v little grumbling, and some of those who had been the means of bringing these diggers into town looked rather blue, but there was no help for it, and so all parties comforted themselves with reflecting that what could not be avoided must be endured. But a still more sinister rumor began to be noised abroad, viz., that many of the diggers who had been brought into town by Mr Prosser's Mends were voting for Mr Bonar. And now it was noon, and then out came another startling announcement of tho. state of the poll. It was as follows : — Prosser 47 Bonar 28 Of course nobody believed this return either, but it was the source of much amusing chaff amongst the crowd. To old hands in electioneering matters, this publication of false returns was indicative of weaknessin the party giving thempublicity, and they jjccorclingly prophesied a defeat for Mr Prosser, and the result of the Poll showed that their prognostications were correct. A lull now came on, and the crowd broke up into small knots. The frienils of the candidates all the while out for voters, but nevertheless eagerly discussing the merits of their respective favorites. A general movement now took place ' for refreshment, and mine host of the Post Office Hotel must have reaped a good harvest from the numbers who flocked to his comfortable hostelry. It was now one o'clock, and there came the last of the fictitious announcements of the state of the PoH : — Prosser 64 Bonar ... ... 45 From this matters became serious. Now began " the tug of war," men rushed through the streets in groat baste, looking up voters — vehicle after vehicle, crowded with passengers, arrived at the polling place — thoso who had votes crowded to record them— all was' animation and bustle, aud this scene continued for upwards of two hours. The candididates, too, mingled freely with the crowd, whilst their supporters were actively engaged in friendly strife. Throe o'clock canio, the crowd kept on increasing ; and cries in stentorian tones proclaimed the manifold virtues of the candidates, at the same time earnestly beseeching the voters to " roll up" and rush to the poll. It was at this timeamusing to watchtho countenances of the crowd. In each face there was a certain amount of anxiety displayed, but there was a quiet smile of satisfaction lurking about the mouths of Mr Bonar's principal supporters, whilst the countenances of the knowing ones amongst Mr Prosser's friends begau to assume a rather elongated appearance. Meanwhile time sped on, voters kept dropping in, the crowd in front of tho polling-place increa«ed in numbers, and at one minute to four o'clock the last vote was recorded.

The door was then closed, but after tho lapse of a few minutes the Returning Officer came out and stated that the official declaration of the poll would be made on Friday at 10 a.m. The following notice of the final state of the poll was posted outside tho door : — Bonar , 155 Prosser 98 Majority for Bonar 57 As soon as the result of the poll became known, cheer after cheer, mingled with loud cries of " Bonar! Bonar!" burst from the assembled crowd, and when the newly-elected member presented himself another burst of vociferous cheering arose. Mr Boa ah said that he thanked them most heartily for the proud position in which they had placed him, and he could assure 'thorn that no effort on his part should be wanting to merit tho poatanu"

ance of that confidence which they had reposed in him. (Cheers.) To thoso gentlemen who had supported him he returned his most sincero thanks, and to those who had opposed him he should say that he believed thoy had given their votes honestly and conscientiously. (Cheers.) He should go into tho Provincial Council determined to do all in his power to promote the interests of the whole of Westland (cheers), and he would accomplish as much for the benefit of the district as he possibly could. (Renewed cheers.) He did not intend to make a long speech on the present occasion, but would content himself with again thanking them for their confidence, which he trusted he shouid long merit. (Loud and prolonged cheering.). Mr Prosser was then called for, but did not make his appearance. The crowd now quietly dispersed, and thus ended the most exciting electioneering/Contest ever known in Hokitika.