10 MAY 1879, Page 3

The Liberal defeat at Canterbury on Thursday is a consoling

one. The city is Tory and ecclesiastical, and just one of those places where Lord Beaconsfield's policy is appreciated, and the Tory candidate, Colonel Laurie, was returned by 1,159 votes against 1,103 given to Mr. Edwards, a majority of 56. At the General Election, however, Mr. L. M. Majendie, the Conserva- tive candidate, polled 1,406 votes, or 247 votes more than Colonel Laurie ; and Captain T. H. Brinckman had only 935 votes, or 168 less than Mr. Edwards. So hopeless was the borough con- sidered by Liberal agents, that in 1878 Mr. A. E. Gathorne- Hardy was returned without opposition. There has, in fact been a Liberal gain of about 400 votes, or a fifth of the voting constituency, a most gratifying omen for the future.