MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 485, 4 August 1871, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Tuesday last was an exciting day in our £ usually quiet township. The aspirants for Municipal honors were early astir, and their respective backers sought by all legitimate and customary means to “ woo the sweet voices ” of the free and independent electors. I n each Ward considerable activity was disp’ayed, and an interest evinced more manifest than on the occasion of even a Provincial Council election. Clearly of the two events the election of members to the Town Council is now considered the most important. As public faith in Provincial Government is rapidly waning, increased hopes are expressed that Town Councils, curbed and fettered under pre ent restrictions from much useful action, may under favoring influences soon expand into greater dignity. Such views in some measure doubtless incited many of our townsmen. With others the fun of the affair was perhaps the paramount motive that s’irred them to activity. Of this there was a fair share. Some funny dogs displayed their facetiousness in posting the la'est state of the odds and the respective merits of the rival horses. ‘ Bolus ’vas at one time said to 1 e working ‘ Bricks’ vigorously, and the little ‘ Pox ’ making it hot for ‘ Big Ben ’, while ‘ Chips ’ strove gamely with the ‘ Dark Horse.” Then tho opinion was hacked that the light weights would not make all the running, and that heavy metal and new blood would win. Our literary bellma’i diversified the entertainment by giving new Shakespsrian readings, with local illustrations, and an imaginary ‘ Milling Match ’ between the rival candidates. The skit was well received, the ‘ hits ’ telling immensely. By four o’clock nearly every available vote had been recorded at the booths, and a crowd gathered round the Council Chamber awaiting the declaration of the Poll. After _some delav, it was given as follows South Ward. Brough, _ 22. Hueston, 8. West Ward. Patterson, 15, Marshal!, 9. East Ward. Naylor, 12. Cox, 12. Messrs. Brough and Patterson were declare! duly elected for their respetire Wards, and ti- Mayor intimated that anew election would be heldJaUan early date to decide the respective merits of Messrs. Naylor and,'Cox'. Councillor Patterson returned thanks for the honor^conferred on him by this his third election. Mr. Cox also briefly expressed his appreciation of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen, and his determination if elected, to work heart and hand foi the good of the Town and district. Mr. Brough in a short pithy speech, thanked the Electors for placing him at the head of tbcToll by so large a majority, and said, although there had been a split in the affairs of Clyde, for which, be in s me mea lire held himself responsible, his best 1 nergies would he now devoted to the adxancementof the town in which his own interests were so largely concerned, and be hoped the new Council would work harmoniously together, and by a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, uphold Clyde in its position as the centre of the gold-fields. The remarks of the newly elected tonncillors were received with much cu tonurv applause, and as the defeated candidates did not put in an appearance, the crowd shortly dispersed.