THE MAYORALTY.

Evening Star, Issue 4188, 29 July 1876, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

The nomination for Mayor took plaoe at the terrace of the Provincial Government Buildings at noon to-day, there being about 260 persons present. Mr Walter said: Gentlemen, no one having been elected on the 21st instant for the office of Mayor we are now met to nominate candidates for the Mayoralty. If more than one candidate should be nominated the polling will take plaoe on the 3rd August. Mr Massey will read the nomination papers.

The Tows Cmbk then read the following nominations :

William Woodland, proposed by Louis Thonbmah, seconded by Akdksw Akdesson. Chas. Stephen Reeves, proposed by Akdrew Meecer, seconded by Bshjakih Bagiey. Some minutes delay then occurred, both candidates declining to address the ratepayers first. Eventually Mr Beeves stepped forward, and said that according to the ordinary arrangement of theße elections Mr Woodland should have come before the ratepayers first. When he (Mr Beeves) appeared before tbem that day fortnight, as a candidate for the Mayoralty, ho little thought that so soou he would have to again come forward to ask them to elect him Mayor of the City for the ensuing year. It was not hia intention to make a long speech, nor, so far as he knew at present, was it his intention to trouble the ratepayers with addresses within the different ports of the City, both Mr Woodland and himself having pretty well exhausted every subject they possibly could. He trusted that the present contest would be fought on the most friendly grounds; for nothing could be worse than that because a man sought election to a public position it should engender ill-feeling. He assured the working men of Duuedin that he felt most deeply that he owed a debt of gratitude to them, for they were mainly instrumental in first placing him in a public position.

la, answer to a question as to whether he was a Roman Catholic, Mr Reeves said that this question had been frequently asked him, and it appeared to affect certain narrow-minded and prejudiced people. If he were a Roman Catholic would he be a worse man? Ho hopeA that religious discord and strife would never rise up amongßt them. He Imcl to Hi ale that he was a member of the Episcopalian Church. Mr Woodiand was not going to make a flowery speech before the declaration of the poll. He merely came forward to express his contempt for the mauner in which he had been handled by the other tbe scandalous things which had been said concerning him during the past fortnight. He had been here fourteen years, and had not done anything reflecting upon his character. He was not a journeyman as had been stated, working like any ordinary laborer, but had been, and at the present time was an employer of labor. If elected, as he believed he should be, he would carry out the business of Mayor in a straightforward and honest manner, and, if necessary, would devote his whole time thereto. A most scurrilous article which had appeared in the Evening Stau hod done him good iDstead of harm. Mr Reeves's supporters had circ lated most infamous lit s concerning him, and he had that morning been to his solicitor and " got" on jor two for .ibel. The poll will be taken on Thursday next.