THE CIVIC ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 3254, 25 July 1873, Page 2

THE CIVIC ELECTIONS.

The nomination of Councillors and Auditors for the ensuing year took place to-day. The following nominations were read by the Town Clerk : South Ward. —H, S. Fish, jun. : Proposed by Mr Moss Moss, seconded by Mr J. M. Jamieson,—R. Rossbothara : Proposed by Mr D. M, Spedding, seconded by Mr J, Edmond,—Evan Prosser : Proposed by Mr G. P. Reid, seconded by Mr John Gray. High Ward.— Keith Ramsay : Proposed by Mr Alex, Burt, seconded by Mr James Mollison, Bell Ward. —Robert Paterson ; Proposed by Mr A. Sligo, seconded by Mr Jas, Helmsley. —Albert Beck : Propose ! by Mr D. Bannatyne, seconded by Mr Jas. Jack. Leith Ward. —Cbas. S. Reeves ; Proposed by Mr J. H. Harris, seconded by Mr P. Gibson. Auditors, —W. S. Douglas: Proposed by Mr J, Edmond, seconded by Mr W. Hepburn. —Sydney James : Proposed by Mr W. J. M. Larnaoh, seconded by Mr J. M. Thomson.—J. B. M'Culloch : Proposed by Mr A. M’Farlane, seconded by Mr J. Reany.—F. H. Evans: Proposed by Mr C. Burke, seconded by Mr James Black. The Mayor declared Messrs Reeves and Ramsay elected, and all further proceedings in connection with the election of Councillors for South and Bell Wards, and for Auditors, adjourned till Friday next. Mr Ramsay sincerely thanked the ratepayers in High Ward for electing him unopposed, as it showed they had entire confidence in him notwithstanding his shortcomings during the past two years, and that he had taken somewhat unpopular views on some very important questions that had recently come before the Council. During his next tenure of office, he would endeavor to discharge his duties faithfully. It was still his intention to go before his constitu eius, and he intended to take an early opportunity of giving them an account of his stewardship, when ho would be happy to I receive suggestions as to his future conduct, *

Mr Beeves appeared before the electors in a very pleasant position.—(A. Voice ; “ For the first time ’’—and laughter.) He sincerely thanked the ratepayers in Leith Ward for unanimously choosing as their representative in the City Council, and he promised them that, in conjunction with Mr Barnes, he would use his best endeavors to have the interests of the Ward properly attended to, at the same time that he exerted himself for the interest of the City. He hoped, when his term of office expired, that his conduct would so meet with their approval that, in the event of his asking them to renew their confidence in him, they would do so as unanimously as they did on the present occasion.

Mr Fish referred to his six years’ service in the < louncil, and said he had yet to learn that he had done anything, either as Councillor or as Mayor, to render him unfit for further municipal life. It might be asked why, after having occupied the position of Mayor, he came forward for the lessor one of Councillor. He thought, with Ins experience in municipal matters, he could be of very great assistance to the City generally and the Ward in particular ; and besides, he thought it the duty of any person who held the office of Mayor to come forward and place his services at the disposal of the City for the lesser capacity. It was a matter for regret that South Ward should be the only one in which there was to be a keen contest. It had been his misfortune to arouse in the breasts of some people an amount of enmity—he supposed because when he advocated questions he took them up zealously and fearlessly, and so trod upon the corns of some of his friends, from whom he naturally expected opposition in any public position he aspired to. But, notwithstanding that, he had sufficient confidence that the Ward would return him at the head of the poll. One of his opponents bad not made up his mind to stand till eleven o’clock this morning ; and with reference to the other (Mr Rossbotham) it was rumored that he intended to resign in Mr Prosser’s favor ; so that the opposition against him (Mr Fish) would be much stronger. However, he liked a fight: fighting was his forte, and this -would not bo the Hrat time that lie had fought a keenly contested election. When he was put to the battle front, it aroused his energies, and he was almost sure to be successful. He hoped they would not throw overboard an old and tried servant for a new man, no matter how good ; in fact, to do so would be poor reward for six years’ faithful services. He had no intention of spending a large amount of money on this election, because he did not think it ensured votes, neither could he afford it. If elected he would discharge his duties faithfully, as he had done in the past; if rejected, he would be perfectly content. Mr Prosser remarked that it was rather unfortunate for him that, on every occasion on which he appeared before the electors, Mr Fish knew his business better than he did himself. This was the second time Mr Fish made charges against him that were not founded on fact. He had received a requisition signed by sixty electors, and when a deputation waited upon him, he told them he would contest the election conditionally, that he had received from the electors a sufficient amount of support after the nomination to justify him in contesting the election. If the electors wished his services they could have them, but he had no desire to force his services upon them. He wished the ratepayers to understand that distinctly. He did not come forward from any personal animus to Mr Fish ; .and if he received suffiient support to justify him doing so he would contest the election irrespective of Mr Fish. Although lie had before been defeated he was not at all dispirited. He came before as he had done on other occasion because he was requested to do so by a large number of persons. If the ratepayers desired a change— not to have one man who could have all his own way, as he (Mr Prosser) believed it was reported had been the case in many instances—he would use his best endeavors to show them that he could act quite as independently as if Mr Fish were elected. In justice to Mr Rossbotham, he had to say that that gentleman had not announced to him Ms intention to resign in his favor, fie should be glad if he would, because the contest would then be a keen one, and he was always prepared to fight Mr Fish, For four years he had been Councillor on the West Coast, and was twice elected Mayor there, and had always done his duty towards his constituents. If returned for Southland he would do the best he could to improve the Ward, and he thought he could do a little better than had been done in some parts of the Ward, and at the same time he would not forget the interests of the City generally. Mr Rossbotham alluded to his fourteen months’ service in the Council, and said he was not aware that he had done anything to forfeit the confidence reposed in him. When Mr Fish remarked that he (Mr Rossbotham) intended to retire, he had no intention of doing so; but since he had made the remark, and thinking that by so doing Mr Prosser would more successfully contest the election, he should be very happy to leave the field to him, and would give Mm his support. Mr Paterson and Mr Beck intimated their intention of addressing the ratepayers at length on other occasions.