The Borough Election.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 196, 15 September 1888, Page 2

The Borough Election.

The election contest proceeded very quietly on Thursday, but the friends of the different candidates worked hard in favor of their men, and to the knowing ones it was evident that the struggle, though quiet, was a severe one; but the whole affair was conducted in an excellent spirit all through. To show the interest taken in it, before 6.30 there was a knot of people impatiently waiting for the declaration of the poll, and before 7.30 the knot had swelled into a great throng, or rather into many small groups, for several heavy showers dispersed the crowd more than once. When the rain had cleared sufficiently to allow the crowd to congregate some impatient individuals began to anathematise freely on the period they had to wait, but the work was got through in good time, the polling, we believe, being the heaviest here yet known. Last year 1039 votes were recorded, this year it was 1219, the number of candidates being the same in both instances. The ratepayers had barely had time to take in the situation upon the poll being declared when Standard extras, with the result, were distributed through the crowd. In the hurry there was a slight inaccuracy in the first extras issued, but it was quite immaterial. The result was as follows:—

J. Harding J. Townlay .. • • • • 333 .. .. 832 J. Coleman • • • • 282 J. Ponaford .. .. 184 A. Taylor .. • • • • 87 Informal .. • • • • 1