ELECTION FOR THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 524, 14 September 1871, Page 2

ELECTION FOR THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

This has boon a great day for the.citizens of Auckland, the first election of councillors under the new Corporation Act having taken place. Under its provisions, three gentlemen retired from office, and an immense rush and hard struggle occurred for the vacant seats. The fact that no less than nine candidates came into the field to contest for tho three places, shows that tlie apathy, which has hitherto been little better than a disgrace to Auckland in electioneering matters, has given place to a feeling that better representation of the ratepayers is urgently required ; and the " hurry-scurry" all day among the burgesses proves satisfactorily that they are determined that no one shall be placed in office who does not possess the thorough confidence of the ratepayers who feel that in tob many instances their own lukewarmness has led to the sacrifice of their true interests to clique and party feeling. Tlie present election is for councillors to represent the whole city ; and the stir has accordingly been general, and not as heretofore in one ward only.. " Rush to the poll " has been the order of the day; and the streets hare been, throughout the long hours of election, pervaded by frantic candidates and their agents, and by so many cabs rushing about to pick up straggling voters that tlie stands have been absolutely left bare. A fine chance was given to repair those portions of theroadway; but unfortunately, advantage was not taken of the opportunity —all hands being too much engaged in the great events of the day. Tho hall of tho Mechanics' Institute was used as a pollingbooth, and, to the dismay of the sleepy citizens of Auckland, was opened at the early hour of eight o'clock. Whether some of them sat up all night to be in readiness to work in the morning watch, we cannot say for certain ; we can only say that, judging from former experience, we imagine such must have been the case, or otherwise it would have been utterly impossible for there to have been, such a rush at the door as there was when it was opened. No less than three or four appeared, urged behind by their would-be representatives, and shortly afterwards—that is, when the town awoke at about halfpast ten o'clock, the hall became the scene of violent agitation, and all the avenues leading to it were thronged byvoters " eager for the fray." When we say " fray" we mean it, for the excess of feeling in ratepayers more than once daring the day developed itself in small "turnups," which were,however, speedily adjusted by the pacific interference oi bystanders, and thebelicose propensities of combatants soothed by appeals to the influence of the mi.'d alesot the Auckland Hotel. As we mentioned, the contending candidates were nine in number. If they had nothing to do with the nine Muses, they wero certainly nine musing at various periods of the day as to how they could best rallj' their forces, and the result has been that an unprecedently large number of citizens have exercised their right. Not the least remarkable feature in this memorable day's proceedings, has been tho iact that womau's rights have been in the ascendant, and a good many lady ratepayers recorded their votes for the first time in Auckland. The first courageous lady was one who has established her fame in this city as a vocalist of the highest qualifications, and her admirable example was followed by a gocd many others, 'ihe candidates for the right of acting as mouthpieces and agents for their Icliowcitizons, were Messrs. li. Hobbs, G. Staines, J. Cater, W. Kirby, J. Smart, H. Isaacs, J. Sccats, VV. Kissling, nucl Dr. Lee—somo of them men totally unproved and others who have been tried in tho farna c of public opinion with varied suceiss. The general feeling of the citizens, however, from what we could gather during our perambulations this morning, seems to- be . that new blood is much required in the councils of. the nation, although a certain proportion of thinking men appear "to consider that seme of the old stock have conducted their business with so much straightforwardness of principle, that they deserve to be enrolled in the ranks of those who have the honor to be the first elected members of the new Council. Of course, as the systom of ballot has been employed, it is, at the present minute, impossible to say how tho affair will end, but if we may anticipate, from the groat interest which has been taken in tho affair, we may certainly predicate with confidence that the gentlemen returned will be those who without doubt possess the entire confidence of tho majority of the ratepayers.