THE CITY ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 3218, 13 June 1873, Page 2

THE CITY ELECTION.

The official declaration of the polling for Dunedin was made at noon to-day by the Returning Officer, in the presence of about 200 persons. Mr Street, in declaring Messrs Davie, Turnbull, Reynolds, Fish, Turfcon, Haggitt, and Bathgate elected, stated the numbers to be as follows: — Davie .... 897 Turnbull- ... 897 Reynolds - - - 828 Fish - - • - 690 Turton - - - -619 Haggitt .... 559 Bathgate - - - 549 Cargill - 523 Prosser .... 510 Reeves .... 502 Walter - - - - 333 Cutten .... 315 Barton .... 283 Isaac .... 244 Millar .... 121 Rossbotham * - , • 82 Graham 78

Mr Turnbull was the first to address the electors. He said that Mr Davie being rather modest, had requested him as the senior member to come forward to say his say first. He could only repeat the thanks tendered by bim on the evening of the poll for being placed in such a high position, and he thought they had put the .right men in the right place.-(LaHg'iter.) He was not saying anything disretpo ctful of the unsuccessful candidates, lut he thought the electors had made a good selection, and the men they had sent inio the Council would, he felt sure, fully represent their interests. Personally, he would use all means in his power to promote any matter for the general weal; and he hoped next time he came before them to receive their thanks, as ho was then tendering them his. He would remind them that the 18th was the day of the Superintendents! election ; and he hoped they would send in their late Superintendent with flying colors. [Some one asked “ What about Gillies ?” to which Mr Turnbull, rmid considerable laughter, replied “Oh, he will be nowhere.”] Mr Davie thanked the electors for the honorable position they had placed him in. To tie such a tried man as Mr Turnbull enhanced the honor in his estimation ; and he hoped next time be came before the electors, to give an account of his stewardship, to be received with the same acceptance he then was.

Mr Sibbald returned thanks on behalf o the Hon, Mr Reynolds, who, had he been here, would doubtless have been returned at the head of the poll. He had heard it stated, though he did not know whether it was true, that Mr Reynolds was not very well satisfied at not being at the head of the poll, which was not to be wondered at, seeing the number of times he had occuppied that position. But when he came back and saw that the election was fought for principles, he would be perfectly satisfied, even though he had occupied a lower position among the returned members. A good deal had been said about a liberal and progressive Government, but the electors had not known it all. Up to the present time they had no opportunity of vindicating their principles ; but now that they knew they had a liberal and progressive Government, he hoped the electors would support them in carrying out' their policy, in order that the most good might be done to the bulk of the people,— (Hear.) Mr Fish considered he might be extremely proud of the position he occupied. Considering what he bad to put up with in the shape of abuse, it was surprising that he received so many votes. But the lesson taught by his election to the Province at large, and to certain people in Bunedin in particular, would be that the intelligence oz the community was not to be led by scurrilous and unwarranted abuse.—(Hear.) They ought to take the lesson to heart, as it would prevent them in the future making the mistakes of the past. In again thanking the electors, he assurred them that, as far as his humble abilities would permit him, he would endeavor to use them in their service, and he hoped, when he sought a renewal of their confidence, they would say he had not abused it, and would elect him to some other position.

Mr Turton repeated his sincere thanks for his election, and he repeated that he would strive to forward tbeir interests according to his ability. He would be glad at any time to see any of the electors, with reference to any matter they wished laid before the Council; he would always be open to be seen, and he hoped he would be taken at his word. His advice would be given willingly—(cheers)—free of charge, and without any fear of six-and-eightpence*.— (Laughter.) Mr Haggitt thanked the electors for the fourth time for having returned him, and ho was happy to say that he had never had to acknowledge himself beforejthem as a defeated candidate. On every occasion the electors had placed him in some position on the poll: and, hitherto, those positions had been satisfactory to himself. He could not have gone higher ou the present occasion. He had not worked, nor had he put himself to any trouble. He therefore thanked the electors the more; and thanked most cordially those gentlemen who worked so heartily Jfor him. He did so more sincerely because they had worked without being instigated by him; it had all been done of their own free will He could say, honestly and truly, that he bad never asked for a single vote j leaving it to the electors to return him if they thought he could serve them. He thought they had made a very good selection : at any rate, he felt certain that the seven members would work together; so there would not be, as was the case in the last Council, practically, one member for Dunedin, as four voted one way, and three the other. The seven men were personal friends, and would work together to promote the best interests of the Province. In conclusion he reminded the electors that they had returned seven men pledged to support the present Superintendent, and the progressive policy he had initiated and advocated. He asked them to be active in securing Mr Macand rew’s return, because they would stultify themselves, if, after having returned seven men pledged to support Mr Macaudrew, they allowed a Superintendent to be elected, with whom their representatives could not work in harmony. He hoped they would take that view of the matter, and return Mr Macaadrew.—(Cheers.)

Mr Fish returned thanks for Mr Bath* gate, upon whose return he congratulated the citizens, as by the hon. gentleman’s rejection his influence as a member of the Assembly and the Colonial Government would have been impaired.—(Hear.) Mr Reeves had anticipated that the scrutiny would have resulted in his occupying a better position. When it was considered that he bad no one working for him; but on the contrary,'had a powerful organisation (he alluded to Mr Macaudrew’s committee) which should have given him support, but which, with the exception of a few gentlemen connected with it, oppose! him, his position on the poll was a high and honorable one. He thanked, most (sincerely, the 602 gentlemen who voted for him; and he also thanked several friends (whose kindness he would never forget) who rallied round him, and worked so hard for him. He hoped the day was not far distant when the electors wduld elect him to some position amongst them, as he was gradually growing into favor —such being evidenced by the fact that he had polled 100 votes more this time than the lost. Personally he had avoided anything in the shape of personalities: he had not made a single enemy daring the election; but, on the contrary, many friends, and he thought the electors would, in the course of a little time, prove their appreciation of him by electing him one of their representatives. Mr W alter expressed his satisfaction with the men returned—men who were not likely to change with the voice of popular opinion. This time he had 333 votes, and if he went on increasing in public estimation, next time he would have 999 votes.—(Laughter.) A vote of thanks, on Mr Turnbull’s motion, was awarded to the ReturningOfficer, and the proceedings closed.