EXCITING MAYORAL ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2178, 30 April 1908, Page 2

EXCITING MAYORAL ELECTION.

PALMERSTON NORTH FRENZIES -NEWSPAPER. EDITOR ROUGHLY TREATED. Press Association. PALMERSTON N., April 29. There was an immense crowd at the declaration of tho poll, and cheers were given and great enthusiasm shown in regard to Mr. Nash, the •successful candidate. There must have been fully 4000 people mustered in Church Street immediately under the portico of the Opera House, from the balcony of which the poll was declared. The candidates immediately adjourned to the Club Hotel, a short distance away, from the balcony of which they tho crowd which followed. Mr. Nash made brief and appropriate speech, thanking the elec!ore for the honor done him, at tlio conclusion of which lie shook hands .with tho defeated Mayor. Hearty cheers were then given for Mr. Nash amidst a scene of great enthusiasm. Mr. Essex then made a very bitter speech, in which lie declared that he had devoted himself to the working man, and would now pass out of existence as far as the local politics of Palmerston North were concerned. Mrs. Essex, tho Mayoress, also addressed the throng, her address being in marked contrast to her husband’s. There was much interruption and laughter during the Mayor’s speech, hisses and cheers intermingling. There were loud calls for a speech from the editor of the “Manawatu Times,” Mr. E. D. Hoben, whose paper had takeii a prominent and decided stand in favor of Mr. Nash, and against which Mr. Essex a short time ago issued a writ for alleged libel. He was repeatedly cheered, as well as hissed, and on going down into the crowd he was attacked by one man in tho crowd, while another seized him round the ankles and pulled him to tho ground 1 in response to someone’s call to get him down. Mr. Hoben, however, collared the man who had pulled him down, and, hauling him to the pavement, gave him hreharge of tho police, a number of gentlemen in tho crowd preventing interference. Subsequently, the crowd followed the pressman about the streets for somo time with cheers and counter cheers. Several members of Mr. Nash’s committee insisted on accompanying' I 'Mr. Iloben, who declined to leave tho street while the hostile demonstration was continued. Tho demonstration, however, came mainly from a number of boys and young men, who were repudiated by Palmerstonians in the crowd.