THE CITY ELECTION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1735, 11 September 1879, Page 2

THE CITY ELECTION.

DECLARATION OP THE POLL. The official declaration of the polling for the three eeats for Christchurch City took place to-day in front of the Oddfellows' Hall. There was a very large attendance, the street in front of the hall being crowded. Mr G. L. Lee, the returning officer, said the returns were as follows:

Sir George O-rey 1315 Mr E. 0. J. Stevens ... 1250 Mr S. P. Andrews 1250 Hon. E Richardson ... 1227 Mr Tread well 548 [Cheers,] He had therefore to declare Sir George Q-rey, Mr E. 0 J. Stevens, and Mr S. P. Andrews elected as members for the City of Christchurch in the General Assembly. [Loud cheers.] Sir George Grey, who was loudly cheered, said that it was his duty, as senior member, to thank them for the honor they had done him. He recognised that a solemn trust had been placed in his hands. They had fought a good fight together, and a great victory had been won. They Bhould now endeavour to do their best for themselves and the coming generation. He would now say that he would do his utmost to show Mb gratitude for the high and distinguished honor they had conferred upon him that day. He had left a constituency who had always treated him mcs 1 ; generously to throw himself into the arms of a new constituency whom he had ardently desired to represent, and for whom he would do all in his power. [Loud cheers.] Once more ho begged to assure them that he would never forget the honor they had that day conferred upon him. [Cheers] Mr Stevenß, who was loudly cheered on coming forward, said that he desired to thank them for the honor they had that day conferred upon him by returning him as one of their representatives. Though returned as one of the junior members, he should be preparf d to do his duty by them none the worse. Though a battle had been fought here, and perhaps a victory won; there were other battles to be fought yet. There were other principles to be carried, another side to be advocated, and he should always be prepared to support the principles he had placed before the eountry. [Cheers.] He might say for his honorable friend and himself that they would be able to work together harmoniously on all matters of local interest. He begged once rrore to thank them for the support accorded to him during the present contest. [Cheers.] Mr Andrews, who was loudly cheered, said that he should, now they had done him the honor to place him in the proud position of their representative, set himsilf to do away with the abominable farce of nominations as at present, to supply a simpler system of registration of votes, extension of the hours of polling, and redistribution of seats. When an Electoral Bill containing what they wanted was carried he should be quite ready to vote for a dissolution, and at the end of six or seven months he would put it to them thus " Gentlemen, you can re-elect me or some one else in my place." He begged to thank them for(the proud position they had placed him in.

Hon. E. Richardson said he had fought a game fight, and had been defeated. He could take a defeat good humoredly, and he wished to thank those who had voted for him. He had fought three fights, and had received a larger number of votes this time than he had before. He had served the electors of Christchurch for nine years in ten Parliaments, and had never given a vote which in his inner conscience he had cause to regret. He trusted that some time he might be elected. He again thanked them for having voted for him. Mr Tread well next addressed the eleotors, advocating the distribution of the land amongst the people, the redistribution of seats, and the establishment of a public bank. He advocated that the polling places for the city should be placed in the four corners, so that no conveyances Bhould be used in elections. He advocated the support of the Ministry, as headed by the grand old man Sir George Grey—as being the only method of obtaining the freedom of the people. [Cheers] A vote of thanks to the returning officer concluded the proceedings. Three cheers were given for Sir George Grey and Mr Stevens, and the assemblage dispersed.