PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 16711, 6 February 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

The election of three members to represent the town of Wanganui in the Provincial Council of Wellington was decided to-day. The electors had four candidates to choose from, thus necessitating the rejection of one. Messrs Watt, Iveson and Finnirnore associated themselves on one ticket, and requested the supporters of either to vote for the three, while the other candidate, Mr Hutchison, urged upon his friends the advisability of " plumping " as aaainst '' splitting." At an early hour the billsticker was about, placarding around the town flaming posters, calling upon the electors to " Vote for Hutchison, the Independent Candidate," his more immediate opponent trusting to support from the fact of his being " The People's Candidate." Mr Watt assumed the right of stating by printer's ink that he would always act for the interests of the town, and that Mr Hutchison would not, consequently the electors were called upon to vote for the " ticket, " Watt—lveson— Finnimore. Sundry vehicles were kept peregrinating about the highways? and byeways, picking up stray voters, and affording a cheap outing for zealous committeemen, who took their ease upon border's particularly soft cushions, and indulged in the fascinating pastime of getting up sweepstakes on the result. The buttonholing near the polling booth, and the amount of disinterested advice given to undecided voters was very noticeable, and we trust the electors failed not in carrying out their promises. About eleven o'clock a placard was issued, informing the electors that if they Avaiited to return the independent candidate, they would have to follow the example given on the poster—said example being to draw the pen through every name but Mr Hutchison's. We have no doubt that several electors seeing the words " this is strictly legal" at the foot of the placard followed such well meant acMce. The arrangements for the polling inside the Court House were admirable. Major Edwards, R.M., Returning Officer, presided, ably assisted by his Deputy, Mr Guy. As the hour for closing drew nigh, so did the electors to the Court House, and indulged in the usual badinage that al- ' ways rises to the top at election times. The Returning Officer declared the result as follows :— William Hogg Watt ... 121 Charles Clifford Iveson ... ■ 107 William Hutchison ... 10G i William Finniniore ... ' 93 < The first three were elected. '