EAST COAST ELECTION

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 391, 14 December 1889, Page 2

EAST COAST ELECTION

CONTEST BETWEEN MESSRS ARTHUR AND REES.

RETURNS STILL TO COME.

MR REES HAS FIVE VOTES AHEAD. The contest for the seat rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr A. Graham, took place yesterday. For weeks past great interest had been taken in the approaching election, there being for the first time during a long period an even struggle between the two parties, Mr Rees having been selected as the representative of the Liberal party, and Mr A. C. Arthur being the representative of those who, like himself, are the holders of large estates, and who thus have a great advantage in any contest, on account of the large influence they can bring to bear. Though the struggle was a keen one, it was characterised all through with the best of temper. There was, of course, much warm feeling among the partisans ofeither side, but except in solitary instances, there was no bitterness ot any kind,nor was there any symptom of disorderliness calling for notice. The morning was very warm, but it did not appear to have any enervating effect on the workers, both sides being well represented in that respect. Everything proceeded very quietly, the force of argument and the art of persuasion not being lost wherever there appeared an opportunity to employ it, but most of the electors seemed to have had their minds fully made up. The Standard published a special edition containing a report of the enthusiastic meeting addressed on the previous evening by Mr Rees, and the enterprise of the journal was highly spoken of. Indeed, the influence of the Standard all through the election was a marked commentary on the negative effect exercised by its contemporary, even the strongest opponents of Mr Rees admitting that we had done our part fairly, and resorting to none of the tactics-boycotting and that sort of thlng="by which Mr Arthur’s organ did so much damage to his chances, Sensible people can dismiss with contempt such angry, childish tactics as calling leading citizens and settlers goats and wild-cat screechers, but the stigma must remain upon the organ that circulated them, though it is only fair to add that every opponent of Mr Arthur agrees that he and his genuine friends are in no way responsible for such silly tactics. It was not that the other side had such a very weak case, because there will always be diversity of opinion on cardinal principles, and a journal has plenty of points to work upon without allowing its efforts to be blurred by the introduction of personal feeling which should not find a place in a journal pretended to be pub? fished in the interests of the public. Things warmed up in the afternoon, the polling up to 3 o’clock being only 340, each side laying claim to a majority. Mr Schmidt, a gentleman who claims to have put in an existence of 20 years in the colony and to have been in six other countries made an oratorical effort at the Masonic corner, and succeeded in attracting a larger audience than his arguments were successful in convincing. Mr Arthur’s righthand man at the City B. was übiquitous in his exertions, and succeeded admirably (in imagination) in proving that his star was an angel which somehow had got stranded upon this earth, while his opponent was the very antithesis. Mr A. himself was wreathed in smiles worn for the special occasion, though it is said he did frown awfully when passing the Standard office, but the anticipation that the spectacle would be observed of his walking down arm in arm with the ex-R.E. was not realised. The “gentle C.” was also among those actively engaged working for his side. Neither was there any effort spared on the side of Mr Rees, though the party abstained from the handshaking tactics which had met with some measure of success on the Conservative side. There was of course any amount of friendly banter on either side, a very pleasing change from the way in which elections have been conducted in days gone by. The statement published by this journal announcing the failure of the attempt to get a lot of dual voters to go from Napier tq Wairoa, was received with much satisfaction, though it was well known there was no reason to thank the Tories for not having made good use of the advantage, As the hour for closing approached the interest grew. keener, and there was a considerable rush on at the polling booths A g 00.4 many of those who went to the booths, tinder the impression that they had votes, found to their chagrin thaf their names were not on the roll. . Of course in ths majority of cases everyone but the right person was blamed for the omission, each elector who slt aggrieved. never thinking for a moment that he perhaps had only himself to thank for not having attended to the matte)’ in proper time. Jt was very amusing tyhen the polling booth had closed, to hear the Various expressions of opinion as to which candidate had the majority in town. Most of Mr Arthur's supporters gave in that he would not get a majority in town, but thfen tfiere wqs a vqst difference of opinion as to what that majority ‘Would be, < Word was received from various places ip the cqpptry. but in moist cases the BfS?3!9n’ Pf Pp'niop Il r oyed Very uprtliable. '

From six o’clock the town was lively with the number of people about, and the mass continued to increase and get more excited as the,.|ime came nigh for making the results known. As the first numbers came in from the out districts there was much cheering, but the information conveyed such an indefinite idea that the why and wherefore of the cheering was hardly apparent. But it was believed by many that if Mr Rees got a good majority in town he must win, and when the Gfsborne return was made known at eight o’clock there was great cheering for Mr Rees, and except the few who knew that it was still like a game of see-saw, it was generally concluded that Rees must he victorious, but as the numbers came in from Te Arai and thq Karaka the tune of things was changed, and the Arthur party felt confident of a victory. With only a majority of about a score things certainly did not look bright, and then when the Whatatutu and Waimata returns catr,e in there was a division of only five, Rees having that number ahead. When the numbers got to that' position it was generally agtead that Mr Arthur had the advantage. Mr Rees addressed a few words to the electors, He said the result was not yet definitely known, but whatever it might bo they might rely on it that he would still do the best he could in the interesti ot the district— (cheers)—and it Mr Arthur were eleated be hoped that gentleman would serve the electors well. (UheersJ Mr Arthur attempted to address the electors, from the Masonic balcony. He said he had contested the election against one ot the best men in New Zealand—(cheers) —a splendid orator (cheers.) At this point there seemed to be a belief that Mr Arthur was abusing Mr Rees, and electors strongly resented what was bein;; said, end all that Mr Arthur was allowed to add was that ha hoped on the morrow to beab’etw thank them tor having returned him to piflUuient, ' 1

The results are as below, so far as it was possible to complete them up to an early hour this morning : —

Word received from the Mshis gives reason to believe that there is some informality in connection with the polling at that place, but we are not yet tn a position to state how it will affect the election. The excitement in town cooled down about ten o’clock, the people quietly dispersing to their homes, There was hardly a case 0! drunkenness during the day, and taking the election all through it has been the most orderly one on the East Coast. The only incident worth noting was a living caricature of the which caused much amusement at the expense of those connected with that journal,

The returns yet to coms in are Waipiro, Awanul, and Tiniroto. It is |fiy many oon■idered that tho election is now virtually decided in favor of Mr Arthur, his friends reckoning that ha will have almost a block vote on the Coast and also at Tiniroto, but if our information be correct it is just possible that Mr Bees may yet |be returned.

Four electors arrived at Gisborne just a few minutes too late to record their votes for Mr Rees.

GI8B0BNE. Arthur Beet 296 374 Arthur Reea OBMOJfD. 66 77 Arthur Reea TE ABAI. 62 10 Arthur Boca PATUTAHI, 48 29 Arthur Bom KABAKA, 92 19 Arthur Reea WHATATUTO. 18 10 Arthur Bees WAIMhTA. 17 4 Arthur Beea TOLOGA BAY. 28 20 Arthur Reea WAIPIRO. - Arthur Reea AWAKUI. - Arthur Reea CLYDE. 81 39 Arthur Beea FBA8EBTOWK. 82 13 Arthur Beea TXNf ROTO. M •• •• — Arthur Beea MARIA. 12 7 Rees , , Arthur ,, Informal TOTALS, • • M • • 619 •« G17 91