THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 699, 15 September 1876, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. The polling for the three vacant seats in the City Council, caused by the retirement of the Mayor and Councillors Jones and Schmidt, took place on Thursday. His Worship being a candidate, Mr Henry Thomson acted as returning officer during the day. In the morning and towards afternoon, the voting was very slow, but as the time approached for the close of the poll, the burgesses came forward and recorded their votes freely. It was announced that the poll would be declared at 7 p.m, but it was half an hour after that time when Mr Thomson came forward and "announced the result of the election to be as follows : Hobbs 643 Nathan ... 638 Jones 413 Cowlishaw 898 Hart 353 Toomer 99 He had therefore to declare Messrs Hobbs, Nathan, and Jones duly elected to serve as City Councillors for the next three years. [Applause.] The Mayor, who was warmly received on coming forward, said he had to thank them very heartily for the proud position in which they had that day placed him. It was a proof to him that his efforts in their service had been appreciated. [Cheers, j There were one or two points upon which he desired to say a few words. He had declined to make a speech at the meeting on the previous evening, because he felt that it was injurious to the interests of Christchurch that meetings of this character should be held. [Cheers.] If there was any subject of importance upon which the citizens wished to obtain the views of their representatives or candidates, all well and good. But these meetings were in nearly every instance simply got up for fun, and he did not think it was right that the ratepayers should have to pay for it. To bring persons before a meeting of 600 or 700 people, and catechise, cross-question and chaff them was, he felt sure, the way to prevent the best men coming forward to represent them. [Cheers,] Therefore he hoped that on any future occasion when a requisition was got up to call one of this kind of meetings a counter petition would be largely signed against it. The main object they had in view was to obtain the best business men to represent them in the City Council, and though loving a bit of fun as well as anyone, he thought it very unwise when it kept such men away, (Cheers.) The subject of an endowment for Christchurch had been referred to on the previous evening by Mr Cowlishaw. He could tell them that it was not lost sight of. Mr Stevens and their other members at his instigation had been moving the Government in the matter. The reason why nothing had yet come of it was that owing to the present unsettled state of affairs at Wellington, it was deemed inopportune to press their request. He might say, however, that from a private letter he had learnt that the Government had promised that the municipality should riot have to bear the cost of maintaining the Hospital. With the £1 for £1 allowance, and the various fees, they would thus, he thought, have sufficient money to do some of the more important public works in the city. There were several large questions which would come under the notice of the Council, and he might mention the subject of gas. It would be necessary to consider whether the time had arrived for the city either to buy out the present company, or establish gas works of their own. This should have his very best consideration. There were also the subjects of a new market, the widening of Colombo street, and the erection of public baths. As under the new Municipal Corporations Act they would have power to borrow money on real property instead of being restricted to rates, they, would be able some, if not all these works- He congratulated the ratepayers on the election of that day, and the fact that they were now securing the services of business men. [Cheers.] Mr Nathan thanked the ratepayers for the position in which they had that day placed him. He would do his best to serve them, and all questions of public interest coming under bis consideration should receive liis bast attention. [Cheers.]

Mr Jones also addressed the electors, thanking the ratepayers for the evident mark of their appreciation of his conduct in the past. Mr Toomer alsojspoke. A vote of thanks to the returning officer concluded the business. LYTTELTON, The election took place on Thursday. Considerable interest was felt, and at 4 p.m. a considerable crowd assembled opposite the Council Chambers, It was 5 p.m. when the poll was declared. The following is the result:— H. Hawkins 173 H. Allwright 169 J. S. Willcox 142 R. Forbes 129 T. M'Clatchie 123 J. Illingworth 38 Messrs H. Hawkins, H. Allwright, and J. S. Willcos were therefore declared duly elected. The successful candidates briefly addressed the burgesses, but nothing of importance was said, and after a few cheers the crowd dispersed. KAIAPOI. ~~ On Thursday, during the day, there was a considerable amount of excitement, and some of the candidates were very active in getting their supporters to the poll. A larger number of votes were polled than usual. Soon after 4 p.m a crowd of ratepayers began to collect round the Council Chamber, when chaff and flour sprinkling was generally indulged in. The Mayor, who acted as returning officer, announced the state of the polling to be— R. Moore 121 R. H. Mathews 94 G. H. Blackwell 93 J. Manning gg G. W. Wearing 88 J. W. Winterbourne 46 The successful candidates briefly returned thanks, and Mr Wearing said that, though beaten, he would come forward again.