MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 88, 11 September 1874, Page 4

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

CHRISTCHURCH. The polling for the three vacant seats in the City Council took place yesterdaj afternoon at the City Council ;Chamber, and created some little excitement, a very large number of ratepayers recording their votes. The precincts of the polling booth as the hour of the declaration of the poll drew on was crowded, although it was some time after six o’clock before Mr Bishop, the Returning Officer, made the announcement. The work of counting up the votes having been completed, Mr Bishop came forward and declared the numbers to be as follows. J. GaP es Jit C. T. Ick 405 A. J. Raphael 666 B. H. Banks 612 W. Schmidt J Lee ••• ... ... 21 He had therefore to declare that Messrs Gapes, Ick, and Raphael had been duly elected to fill the three vacant seats in the City Council. [Loud cheers]. Mr Gapes said he felt very proud indeed at the position in which the ratepayers had that day placed him by returning him at the head of the poll. [Cheers]. At the same time he must say that he thought he deserved it [laughter] after the very severe drilling in the matter of questions—far more than any of the other candidates—which he had received the other evening. He considered that the ratepayers, by their verdict that day, had approved of his actions in the past, and’he could assure them that his endeavor would be to do the very best he could in the interest of the ratepayers—as he had done in the past, so he intended to do in ihe future, [Cheers]. He would not longer detain them, but would again thank them for their confidence. [Cheers]. Mr Ick said that unlike Mr Gapes, he should not attempt to climb up the poll to address them, but should content himself with a lower stand, as indeed was only proper, considering their relative positions as to the number of votes. He thanked them very much for their confidence in re-electing him, and was also pleased to find that his colleague on the works committee, Mr Gapes, had also been elected. [Hear ] He (Mr Ick) would go into the Council ready and willing to work with Mr Gapes or any other man in the interests of the ratepayers. As an instance of the work done, he might say that during the three years of his term there had been over 300 meetings of the • City Council and works committee, and all of these he had attended except two, so that they would see he had not been neglectful of his duty. He again thanked them for their confidence, and for having re-elected him, Mr Raphael desired to return his thanks for the position in which he had been placed on the poll. He was an untried man so far as the Council was concerned, but he would go in there to do his duty, and should always be found ready to watch over the interests of the ratepayers. He regretted very much that the Mayor had endeavored to render the election null and void by refusing to act, and considered that by saying he would get drunk on purpose to avoid acting, he had offered a studied insult to the ratepayers. r Cheers.] " Mr Banks thanked those ratepayers who had voted for him on this occasion, and all he hoped was that they would not regret their choice. He had come forward because it was anticipated that there would not be a contest, but if at any future occasion the ratepayers desired bis services, he should be very willing to place them at their disposal. Mr Schmidt expressed his satisfaction at the return of the old members, although he himself had been rejected. He was only a new man—an untried colt as it were, and the old members who had been returned would, he believed, serve them far better than be should have done had they returned him. [Cheers.] However, on another occasion if they required him, he would again come forward. [Cheers,] Mr Lee then addressed those present, expressing his intention of not again seeking public suffrages. He had tried this as a test, and the result was, that he should not again come forward. A vote of thanks to Mr Bishop concluded the proceedings. LYTTELTON. This event caused quite a stir in the town, and all day the supporters of the various candidates were actively employed in canvassing on their behalf. Messrs Murray and Holmes had each a cart running, and towards 4 o’clock the excitement became strong, and flour was given away free of cost in considerable quantities. Punctually at 5 the returning officer posted up the return. The result was received with loud cheers, groans, and every possible expression of approbation or disapprobation by the large crowd assembled. It was as follows : Murray ... ... . ••• ••• 154 Chalmers 94 Buist 82 Holmes 74 The returning officer then declared Messrs Murray, Chalmers, and Buist, duly elected. Loud cries were then heard for Mr Murray, and that gentleman, in a brief speech, thanked the electors for placing him at the head of the poll. Mr Chalmers was then called for. That gentleman stated that he was glad to find he still reta'i.eil the confidence of his fellowcitizens, and that he had worked hard to secure Mr Murray’s return, and was pleased at the position in which they had placed him. Mr Buist also briefly returned thanks. Loud cries of “ Holmes” were then heard, and that gentleman said this was the third time he had come forward—[a Voice—“ The fourth] —and it seemed they did not intend to elect him, and he was so disheartened he did not think he should ever try again. He thanked tlrose gentlemen who had voted for him, and could assure them that if he had been elected he would have tried to do his duty. The meeting then dispersed. RAIAPOI. The general election here on Thursday was attended with a fair amount of excitement. The retiring candidates were Messrs G. H. Blackwell, A. McDonald, and G. P. Milsom, who .were nominated for re-election, and Mr. J. Beswick as a fourth candidate. An effort was made to return Mr Beswick, while as much interest seemed to be taken to secure the return of the three old members, judging by the activity of a young man skilled in

electioneering tactics, and wita success, resulting from a long experience in such matters. During the day one or two squibs and cartoons were issued on a board near Middleton’s Hotel, but at the close of the poll only about thirty persons were present to hear the result, which was declared by Mr B. G, Kerr, the mayor, to be as follows :—• McDonald 77 Milsom 64 Blackwell ... ••• 62 Bos wick 16 He therefore declared Messrs McDonald, Milsom, and Blackwell duly elected. The Mayor returned thanks, in the absence of Mr McDonald, for the honor ol having placed him at the head of the list. Mr Wilson said, in the absence of Mr Milsom, he had to thank the burgesses for having returned him, and that nothing should be wanting on his part in attending to their interests. Mr Blackwell returned thanks, stating he should, as he had hitherto done, do his best in the interests of the affairs of the borough. Mr Beswick was not represented.