Municipal Election.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 658, 12 September 1891, Page 2

Municipal Election.

Ths election on Thursday, to fill the three ordinary vacancies on the Borough Council, was perhaps the quietest that has been known in Gisborne. The town had quite a dull appearance, even regarded as a usual business day. The candidates themselves were not much in evidence during the day, and there was very little in the way of canvassing. The general impression was that Mr Harding would be re-elected at the top of the poll, and the substantial majority he obtained is a fitting recognition of his services- in the past. The only electioneer ing incident of the day was the opportunity which Mr Ledger took to advertise his business. He had his dog ambling round, with a little bell attached to its tail, and a calico covering, upon which there was a Tennysonian lucubration to the effect that Ledger's oysters would be at the top of the poll. The interest in the election increased as the day wore on. Before seven there were a few people waiting about in anticipation of the poll being declared. There was an expectant rush when Mr Hamblett opened the Library door, the belief being that the Returning Officer was about to make known the results, and when the mistake became apparent there was a faint exhibition of dissent, sufficient to indicate that it was the stately form of Mr Lucas thgt was being looked for. After a few false reports had been jocularly sent round, there was a call for attention as the door opened, and the Returning Officer came forward to read out the returns. There was no demonstration of any kind, though there was soon a bum of conversation concerning the totals, which were—

Harding ~ ~ 2»Q Somervell ~ ~ ~ Ifcg Akroyd 189 Jhnston ~ ~ ~ Igg Moore ■< | 108 Palmer ~ ~ ~ 2s The fact that Mr Johnston was only four below the second candidate, and one below the third, and yet was defeated, wae considered to be rather ha;d in its way, though to ba defeated in such a manner was nearly as complimentary go being elected. While Mr Moore did not show up so well in the total number of votes as was expected, he had undoubtedly had the support of a great many voters in comparison to the votes recorded. Mr Palmer’s friends seemed t 6 have been very dilatory in coming forward. It is certainly no encouragement to Mr Palmer to again seek the honor of serving the pubiid when he is only favored with the support of 23 votes out of a total of 993, and he has no reason to feel pleased at the response that was made. None of the candidates, successful or otherwise, made any address during the evening, but one ratepayer took the opportunity to compliment the Returnng Officer and Clerk on their expedition. An extra giving the result was get out in smart time from the STasrnano office, and result wae widely known within a few minutes of the declaration. 4 great interetj seemed at once to have been awakened in the election, and the merits of the new Councillors were freely discussed, Soma good stories wore told of how ratepayers had made little mistakes by which the results might have been changed so far as the second, third, and fourth candidates were concerned. One lady went with the intention of voting for Mr Johnston, but not having any special reason to favor him over Mr C. B. Moore, she Was induced to vote for that ex-Councillor, as she thought, mistaking him for the candidate Mr R Moore, whom she did not know. That vote, oast in favor of Mr Johnston would have required the deciding vote of the Returning Officer. The seven informal votes recorded ware curious. One voter scored out all the names on the ballot paper, running the pen down twice from corner to corner. Another voter who could not make up bis (perhaps her) mind how to vote left four names unoau* celled, and thus rendered the three votes ipSortiittL