LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTION.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1365, 22 February 1884, Page 2

LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTION.

» The polling for the election of a Committee for the Licensing District of Reefton took place at the Council Chambers on Wednesday last. G. J. Heslop, dog-tax collector, acted as Returning Officer. John Torrens

officiating in the capacity of poll clerk. There was only one scrutineer present, Mr E. J. Scantlebury. The following candidates had been nominated : — James Connolly ' William Campbell W. G. Collings 0. Joice Charles Mirfin D. Anderson A. Norraanby J. Barrowman J. Miller Henry G. Hankin The poll opened at 9 o'clock and closed at 6 p.m, A good deal of interest was taken in the election by the publicans on the one side, and the members of the Blue Ribbon Army on the othex', outside this circle ihe public took no part in the proceedings. The publicans i " ticket " included the names of Messrs Mirfin, Collings and Joice, the Blue Ribbon «• ticket " being Messrs Anderson, Barrowman, and Miller, the remaining candidates running independently. Notwithstanding the exertions of some of the candidates, and the rival organisations, only some 77 votes were recorded. The poll having closed, the votes were gone over, when it was found that one ballot paper was informal, the Christian names only of some of the candidates thereon having been been erased. The scrutineer called attention to the informality and protested against its reception but, the Returning Officer allowed the paper, which was counted, and the result was then shown to be as follows : James Connolly ... 55 William Campbell ... 38 W. G. Collings ... 87 George Joice ... 87 Daniel Anderson ... 86 Charles Mirfin ... 36 J. Barrowman ... 84 J. Miller ... 32 A. Normanby ... 16 Had the informal ballot paper beiqg rejected the rotes would have stood— Anderson 36, Mirfin 85, and the former would consequently have been returned. At the saggestion of the Returning Officer|early in the day, it was agreed with the scrutineer that in the event of a tie, lots should be drawn. Mr Scantlebury consequently called the Returning Officer's attention to this arrangement. The Returning Officer said he would give his casting vote for Charles Mirfin, and the poll was then an nounced, and the proceedings closed.