MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1390, 27 November 1884, Page 2

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Ashburton. The election of Mayor for the Borough of Ashburton for the ensuing year took place yesterday. The candidates were Messrs Rudolph Friedlander and Alfred Harrison, both Borough Councillors, and the contest resulted in the return of the former gentleman by a large majority. The proceedings did not attract much public attention, but the friends of the successful candidate prosecuted a very ac'.ive canvass, and a number of vehicles were engaged throughout the day conveying voters to the poll. At a quarter to seven o’clock a small crowd had gathere t around the polling booth, the Borough Council Chambers, and Mr Charles Braddell, the velurning officer, announced the result of the polling to have been as follows: Mr R. Friedlander 136 Mr A. Harrison ... ... 71

Majority for Mr Friedlander 65 r Informal vole 1 Mr Friedlander said that the burgesses i had placed him in a very proud position for which he heartily thanked them. He I- expressed his ■ obligation to his working j Committee, whose efforts had been largely instrumental in placing him at the head of the poll. No effort should be spared I on his part to prove himself worthy of the confidence they had reposed in him. He wished to disclaim any connection with an article bearing upon the election which had appeared in the Guardian. He had not in the remotest manner instigated its publication, and knew nothing of it until he had seen it in print. He had nothing whatever to do with the Guardian, nor had his firm, as a firm. With regard to an anonymous letter which had appeared in the Mail, it was an attack which should have borne the signature of the writer. As it had not done so he had treated it with contempt. He' would not say that he had not solicited votes. He had solicited every vote he thought ha was likely to secure. He had offered himself for election in response to a very large requisition, and he felt it was due to his friends that he should do his utmost to ensure the success of their choice. Referring to the works likely to engage the immediate attention of the Council, Mr Friedlander sttongly advocated the erection of swimming baths in the Doiqain. Ho thought every town of any importance should provide th e sanitary luxury for its inhabitants. It would not only assist in maintaining the public health, but it would afford their young people an opportunity to learn to swim, the ignorance of which art had recently produced a melancholy accident at their very doors. The Ashburton traffic bridge was another work demanding immediate attention, as the present combined bridge was a source of inconvenience and clanger. L 7,000 had been voted by the Government for this work, and he thought that by a combined effort the Borough Council, County Council, and Road Boards might provide the balance required. He referred to the routine works ' within the Borough, and promised his close attention to the interests of the burgesses. He said the contest had been, on his part, carried out in a most friendly manner, and be could cordially shake hands with his opponent, and trusted that nothing approaching animosity had existed between them. i Mr Harrison said that he was perfectly satisfied with the position in which ho i found himself. Ha had occupied a seat I iq the Council for some years, during j which time he fyad worked to the best of i his ability, and he would continue to do c go, If he bad not deserved the Mayoralty f i failed to discover in what direction he i 1

J* , , ' "The local papers hac had been deuo.w. • • ~ * T d , not taken th<- course they - ‘ ,av .® done in respect to the election, D com nis

nwn knowledge he fully credited Mr i Friedlander’s statement, that he had i nothing whatever to do with the article which had appeared in the Guardian. i He was sure that if the proprietors of the paper had been acquainted with the tenor of the article previous to its publication it would never have appeared. Mr Harrison , then essayed to point to the writer of the article, and to announce certain changes contemplated in the Gu iRDiAN staff. He said the Mail had told them, when referring to the contest, that what was worth obtaining was worth striving for. This remark was evidently directed against a principle which be entertained, and which prevented him flying hither and thither soliciting votes. When elected he would do his best to deserve their confidence, but while a candidate he would not busy himself to obtain support If h<s friends succeeded in obtaining the honor for him he would accept It with pride, but beyond that he could take no active part in the contest. It had been represented that he was at loggerheads with his fellow Councillors, but as a matter of fact he was on the best of terms with all his colleagues, but if anything arose requring prompt action he was prepared to take it. He had not been placed in the Council merely to be friendly with the other members, but to do his best for the ratepayers. He would continue to do this, and if they still withheld the honor he would work with* out it. A. vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, proposed by Mr Friedlander and seconded by Mr Harrison, concluded the proceedings. Mr Thomas Wrigley was returned far Tauranga. Mr Spurdle was elected Mayor of Wanganui by a majority of 200 over his opponent. Mr George Henderson was returned for Blenheim, defeating Mr Henry Dodson by 23. Mr Dodson was Mayor twice in succession already. Mr George Fisher, the present Mayor of Wellington, was returned by a majority of 171 over Mr Petherick. Mr Malfroy was elected Mayor of Ross. The result of the Oamaru Mayoral election was—John Falconer, 183; Thomas 1 Proctor, 118. The latter has been three years fin office. The Dunedin Mayoral election resulted as follows ;—Scoullar, 575 ; Barnes, 515 ; ! 483. 1 The Invercargill Mayoral election resulted as follows Geo. Froggatt, 384 ; David Roache, 215. Considerable interim eat was taken in the contest, about thraefonrths of the ratepayers voting. 1 Mr J. G. Ward was elected Mayor of the Bluff for the fourth time. 3 [by telegraph.] f New Plymouth, To-day. i J Mr James Paul was elected Mayor of ? j New Plymouth by a majority of 156 over - I Captain Davidson.