THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1800, 27 November 1879, Page 2

THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

CHRISTCHURCH. The official declaration of the poll for the Mayor of the City of Christohurch took place at 7.15 p.m. to-day, at the City Council chambers. There was a large attendance of tbe public. Mr G. Lee, the Returning Officer, said he had to declare the numbers polled for the respective candidates as fellows : Ick 380 Ayers 317 Gapes 207 There were also twenty-seven papers informal, the majority of which, he believed, belonged to Mr Ick. He had therefore to declare Mr C. T. Ick duly elected as Mayor of Christchurch. [Cheers.] Mr Ick, who, on mounting the stool, was received with cheers, said he had heard that it was a very easy matter for a successful candidate to return thanks, but he felt that a great respoeibility had been cast on him by this second election. He did not believe in a man holding the office two years, and had said so, but his supporters overruled his objections, and asked him to come forward to help the new Councillors in carrying on the work. He thanked them most sincerely for the honor done to him. They must remember that the position of Mayor was different this year, because the Mayor was returned from the whole city and net from any section of it. He felt, therefore, that he represented the people, that he had them at his back, and while this was so he did not care. Several important works would be brought before the citizens without delay, and he trusted that the present year would be one of progress. [Cheers.] He might say that he thought it was a great pity that the election for Christchurch and Svdenham should take place on the same day because it prevented many from voting who were in both municipalities. He thanked them very heartily for the position they had that day placed him in. (Cheers.) Mr Ayers said he could not forget, though unsuccessful in the present contest, that he was still their representative for the southeast ward, where he was elected by a large majority. Had there been only two candidates he felt he would have been the victor aud the Mayor the defeated one. (No, no, and cheers ) He felt that it would have been so. He deßired to thank those who had voted for him, and he might say that he intended by merit to get them to elect him yet to the position of Mayor of the city. It had been said that he had done nothing, but he challenged them or any one to say that he had not done more during the year than any man in their service. He thankod those who had voted for him, and pardoned thoee who had not. [Cheers.] Mr Gapes said though defeated he was not dismayed. He felt sure that coming out under the principles he had—the ballot pure and simple—he stood but little chance. However, he felt that he must go on that ticket, and he could safely say that he had never a?ked one man for his vote. He said that the sooner the canvassing was done away with the better. (.Cheers.] The ballot was the law of the land, and those gentlemen who were applying for a position to make these laws were tbe first to break it. Again, he was decidedly opposed to bringing voters by means of cabs to vote. He presumed that every elector had been canvassed. [No, no.] Well, there had been large committees at work for his opponent?, and every man who could be got at no doubt was waited on. Now, he found that out of the whole number on

the roll 1434, hod not voted, and had be ha<2' a strong committee, and canvassed the city, he should have got 700 of those,, and placed him 500 in a majority. [Laughter and cheers.] He did not think that they should allow this canvassing and hoped that next year this would be done away with. He had been the only one to stand up for the ballot pure and Bimple. (Cheers.) The Mayor-elect proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. He trusted next year they would have better offices. (Cheers.) Now a word or two with regard to Mr Grapes' remarks. When Mr Grapes contested the election with him (the Mayor) he had committees and cabs, and bad fought the election under it.

Cr. Ayers said that ho seconded the motion with great pleasure. He hoped next year that if they had not improved accommodation of their own they would take the Oddfellows*' Hall for the polling. As regarded the question of the ballot, he was a firm supporter of it, but whilst Mr Ick, Mr Gapes, or Mr Anyoneelse had cabs, and (applied to the burgesses for votes so should he. He was quite prepared to sign a petition to the Legislature asking them to make it penal for any candidate to ask for a vote except through the advertising columns of the papers or bycircular. [Cheers.] The Returning Officer responded, and drew attention to the carelessness displayed in crossing out the names on the ballot papers, by which a number of votes were rendered; uselesss. Three cheers for the Returning Officerclosed the proceedings. SYDENHAM. The contest for the Mayoralty of Sydenham, was a very keen one, a great amount of interest being manifested by the ratepayers. From the hour when polling commenced up to noon the neighborhood of the Council Chamber presented a very lively appearance, the committees working strenuously to secure votes for the respective candidates, Crs. Brown and Charters. At 12 15, out of 1100 ratepayers on the roll, 250 had recorded their votes, of which Cr. Brown claimed nearly two-thirds, each side being very sanguine of victory. Free luncheons were supplied, which were as liberally patronised as provided. As the day advanced the interest increased, and although when the poll closed at six o'clock the general impression was in favor of Or. Brown's chances, it was thought that Cr. Charters would not be far behind. At halfpast seven o'clock the Returning Officer, MrAllison, declared the final result as follows : Brown 448 Charters 25i

There were fourteen rotes which were pronounced informal, Or. Brown being credited with six, and Or. Charters with eight. Or. Brown was therefore formalljr declared Mayor of Sydenham for the ensuing year. The announcement was greeted with loud cheering. In returning thanks, Or. Brown said he certainly had not expected so large a majority in bis favor. He thought, considering the way each side had worked, it would have been a closer tie. As the ratepayers had done him the honor to elect him, he would try to keep awake —[laughter]—and show them that he intended to do so. He was sorry for Sydenham as a borough, that any of the ratepayers should hare been concerned in writing such letters as had lately appeared in the newspipers. He referred especially to the " Star." He believed that the publication of those letters had cost the opposite side a great many votes. [Hear, hear.] He was sorry for the defeat of Or. Charters, for whom he had always had a feeling of friendship, and with whom he had always worked harmoniously in the Councjl Chamber. He again thanked them for the honor they had done him, which he would endeavor to deserve. [Cheers.] In response to a coll, Or. Charters came forward and said that, as he could not be first, he was glad he came second on the poll. [Laughter.] When he came forward as a candidate he had been asked by the friends of Cr. Brown to retire, but had declined to do so, as it was contrary to the pluck of an Englishman to retire. [Hear, hear.] Although they had not elected him it would not make any difference in his working for theirintorests as a councillor. He believed in the motto of tne Council, "Deeds, not Words," and he hoped that next year, when he again solicited their votes they would do him the honor of electing them. He begged to thank those who had recorded their votes in his favor. [Cheers.] The proceedings, though lively, were veryorderly, and the result of the election appeared to give a great deal of satisfaction. LYTTELTON. The contest at Lyttelton between Messrs Allwright and Chalmers passed off very quietly, though there was a good deal of party feeling shown in a quiet way by the supporters of the respective candidates. At half-past six o'clock the result of the poll was declared by the Returning Officer as follows : Allwright 127 Chalmers 92 Mr Stinson having thanked the electors for the successful candidates, and Mr Chalmers those who had voted for him, the proceedings' were brought to a close. ASHBURTON. The election for the Mayoralty caused a good deal of excitement in Ashburton. From an early hour the supporters of the two candidates were busy at work, and every available vehicle was engaged. It was thought the contest would be a close one, and the result proved the surmise was correct. About 7.15 p.m. the poll was declared by the Returning Officer, Mr Braddell, to have resulted as follows : Hugo Friedlander 91 Joseph Ivess ... ... ... 84 He therefore declared Mr Friedlander duly elected. The announcement was received by a very considerable crowd with groans and cheers. Both Mr Friedlander and Mr Ivess delivered addresses. KAIAPOI. Mr Q-. H. Blackwell being the only candidate nominated, was yesterday declared by the Returning Officer duly elected Mayor of Kaiapoi.