MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1012, 29 November 1883, Page 2

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Ashburton. Considerable interest was manifested in the election of Mayor for the ensuing year, which took place yesterday, as will be seen by the number of votes polled. There are about 370 ratepayers on the roll, and out of these there may be reckoned 130 absentees, and as 200 registered their votes there only remains 40 to be accounted for, a small percentage considering that yesterday was a half holiday and consequently several voters would be out of town. At the declaration of the poll last evening there was a large attendance at the Council offices, and at 7 o’clock the Returning Officer announced the numbers as follows : Williamson 112 Harrison 86 Majority for Williamson ... 26 Informal votes ... ... 2 Mr Williamson said that he need not tell them that he was proud to occupy his present position, and he was not surprised at the result of the polling, as he did not think that those burgesses who had petitioned him to come forward would see him beaten. He did not blame those who voted for his opponent, for he felt sure they had acted on principle, and when people were governed by good intentions they deserved credit. (Hear, hear.) The services he had rendered to the town were dated too long back for him to speak of them now, but ha could assure them that he wc uld do his duty in the future as he had done in the past. At the next election ho hoped to see Mr JHarrison, or whoever the people might bring forward, in the proper place at the proper time. Ho would not detain them longer, but could assure them that he would do his best as Mayor to protect the best interests of the Borough. (Applause.) Mr Harrison said that he was proud to occupy the position he did, although he would certainly have preferred to be at the top of the poll. Still he had shown that he was fit to fight the battle, and he had fought it to the best of his ability. This was not the time to find fault, but he might mention that Mr Williamson had a most energetic committee working for him, while he (Mr Harrison) had not had a committee at all. Many gentlemen had, however, exerted themselves vigorously to secure his return, and he would thank them heartily for their services, ihe result of the election would make no difference to him, and he would continue to do his duty in the Council, and work for the interests of the whole Borough. For his part he would like to see the people attend at the Borough Council’s meetings more than they did. (A voice ; Have you got any chairs to sit on '?) If they had not any chairs, they had a good overdraft, and anybody who came might ait on that. (Laughter.) He would not detain them longer, but would conclude by thanking those gentlemen who had recorded their votes in his favor. ( Applause. ) A vote of thanks having been accorded the returning officer, the crowd dispersed.

Wellington. George Fisher ... ... 924 William Hutchison... ... 365 Kaiapoi. Moore ... 112 Gallagher ... 71 Majority 41 Christchurch0. P. Hulbert 671 A. Ayers ... ... ... 496 Majority for Mr Hulbert... 175 Lyttelton. Samuel R. Webb 158 Hugh Macdonald ... ... 157 Majority for Mr Webb ... 1 Dunedin. W. P. Street 815 H. Guthrie 477 D. M. Spedding 334 Westport. [by telegraph.] Mr John Hughes was elected Mayor by a majority of 89 over Mr Strothers. Timaru. [by telegraph. ] Mr John Jackson was declared duly elected Mayor for the second term of office.