MAYORAL ELECTION'S.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2108, 25 November 1880, Page 2

MAYORAL ELECTION'S.

OHEISTOHUBOH. The official declaration of the polling for the Mayor took place at noon to-day. Mr G. L. Lee, the Betnrning Officer, then came forward and said that the number* polled for the respective candidates were as follows : Gapes 558 Ayers 439 He had therefore to declare Mr James Gapes duly elected as Mayor of Christchurch for the ensuing year. [Loud cheers.] Mr Gapes, who on coming forward was loudly cheered, said he desired to thank his fellow-citizens very heartily for the proud position they had placed him in by electing him aa Mayor of Christchurch for the ensuing year by so large a majority. He certainly did feel it a great honour indeed being returned at the top of the poll by his fellowcitizens. He had intended to have pursued the same course that ho had dona on a former occasion, viz., tho principle of the ballot pure and simple, not asking anyone for a vote. But he found that he had a very powerful

enemy indeed to contend with, and ¥* frienia had therefore advieed him to tase action, laying that, unless he worked himsel, ho could not expect his friends to tat trouble about it. [Cheers.] His friends had worked with great zeal and effect for he now begged to thank most heartily bo those who had voted for him and those wno had worked on his behalf during the election. Ho would like to say that he was of opinion that all candidates for public honors B “° -stand on their own merits, and that canvassi g and all the other means now resorted, to every election to place a candidate in a favorable position should be dene away wun. [Cheers.] If this were done every man would in his private life endeavor to _ merit tne esteem and respect of his follow citizsns, and would, when he went into public hie carry, into practice the same principle. 1 Cheers.J In spsaking as he had _ done ho referred not alone to municipal omce, but all public offices, and he trusted if he referred to what had taken place in connection with general politics ho should not be considered as travelling outside the line. If they would refer to the debate in the General Assembly on the subject of the payment of the honorarium to members, they would there see that those members who opposed the discontinuance of the payment of the honorarium made use of the argument that it was necessary for this to be paid because of the enormous expenses they had to incur when seeking re-election or election by the constituencies. They would thus see that they, by the continuance of the present system, had annually to pay a large eum to defray the election expenses of members. [Hear, hear.J He thought this should be dope away with, and that, as he had said, each candidate should bo elected on his own merits, and he bopod the day was not far distant when it should be the law of the land that no canvassing should take place. [Cheers.] He would not longer detain them, but simply return them once more his very thanks for the honor they had conferred on him that day. [Cheers.] Mr Ayers, who was received with cheorson -coming forward, said they had listened with great attention to the winning horee, ond he hoped they would extend the same courtesy to the losing one. [Cheers.] He thought that ha had the sympathy of those who had beaten him [cheers], but still, though he was beaten, he was not discouraged. He desired most heartily and sincerely to thank those who had voted for him and helped him in the contest [cheer-*], while he desired to say that between the Mayor elect and himself there had existed and still existed naught but the most friendly feelings. [Mr Gapes—Hear, hear.J There were one or two things in the conduct of the election to which he desired to refer, and one in particular, as it was of such a serious character as to require explanation and contradiction. They had doubtless seen the squibs which had been circulated, and it was to one of these he desired to refer. The one was that in which he was represented as presenting a bouquet of flowers to a certain reverend gentleman. [Laughter aud interruption.] He desired to say most emphatically that there was not one particle of truth in this, and he was the more anxious to 'contradict this because he believed it had lost him his election. [lnterruption and laughter.] He trusted they would hear what he had got to say first, and laugh afterwards. The statement had been industriously circulated, and had gained great •currency, but he desired to eay that it was the grossest —well, falsehood, ever uttered. [Oh! oh! and laughter.] He asked them to hear what bo had to say. It was only right that he should have an opportunity of refuting what had been falsely stated. [Cheers] He was a poor man [Oh! oh!] but he would give £SO to any -charity that might be named if anyone would come forward and prove the truth of the assertion made that he had presented a bouquet of flowers as alleged. [Mr W. F. Warner: “ And I’ll go another fifty, mister.”] He thanked Mr Warner, and so sure was he (Mr Ayers) that he would give yet another £SO for himself. (Cheers and laughter.) It was quite right and fair, and the privilege of the public to scrutinise and examine the character of every public man presenting himself as a candidate for their votes, bnt it was not a fair thing, nor wao it acting like Britons to circulate falsehoods. (Cheers.) Again, it was stated in the ' ,l Globe,” no later than Tuesday last, either in a leading article or anonymous letter—it did not matter which, as neither were reliable —that ho was chairman of the finance committee, and, as such, had caused all the summonses for rates to bo issued in the hard times. How, one of the finance committee [Mr Cuff) had had the manliness to sign his name to a letter in the Fbbbs stating that there was no truth in this, as he (Mr Ayers) had not been a member of the finance committee for twelve months. He said this was unfair. [Mr Oliver—“ Why didn’t Mr Cuff issue a summons against Mr Haskins ? He hasn’t paid his rates.” Boars of laughter.] That was not his (Mr Ayers’) business. Mr Cuff was perfectly able to explain hie own actions, and to defend them too, if necessary. He would now only eay that he desired to thank those gentlemen who had worked and voted for him. Lost year he had told them he ehould contact the election. They had declined twice to elect him as Mayor; probably they would do so on the third occasion. [Cheers.] He begged to propose a vote of thanks to the Beturning Officer, and express a hope that he might next year have bettor accommodation for carrying out the work. [Cheers.] Mr Gapes desired to second the vote, and also to take the opportunity of spying that he had had nothing whatever to do with the squibs referred to by Mr Ayers, nor had his committee. Of course he could not help the zaolousness of other persons, but ho might eay that one of the squibs referred to was brought into his committee room, and he declined to allow it to be stuck up there.

~ —vw [Cheers.] Mr Lae briefly acknowledged the vote of thanks, and took occasion to observe that he was unaware of the arrangements having been unsatisfactory. There was it was trne more votes polled than had been anticipated, but throughout the day a steady stream of voters passed through the room, only interrupted by some voters who thought they would do as they liked in the polling booth. This was a mistake, and the ratepayers should see that it was to the interests of the public that these elections should be carried out in a proper manner. Ho hoped that on future occasions this would be borne in mind. Three cheers having been given for Dir Gapes, the proceedings terminated. SYDENHAM. The election for Mayor of Sydenham took place yesterday at the Borough Council Chambers. But little interest was manifested, and the polling went on languidly during the day till about five o’clock, when the working men mustered in considerable numbers, keeping the returning-offioer busy till the close of the poll. At seven o’clock Mr C. Allison, jun., the returning-oflioer, made the official declaration of the poll as follows : John Thompson Brown ... 161 John Joyce 104

Majority for Brown ... 57 He therefore declared the former gentleman duly elected Mayor of Sydenham for the ensuing year. The Mayor elect in thanking the burgesses for the honor conferred upon him, said he hardly knew how to reply, as he felt placed in a peculiar position, owing to the circumstances attending his candidature, which he briefly described. He thanked them for their confidence, and expressed his determination to do his best for the borough. Mr Joyce said that he expected a defeat, and therefore was not disappointed. He owed his position entirely to Mr Brown’s action. He complained that that gentleman ghould not have retired as at first arranged between them. He heartily thanked the 104 ratepayers who had voted for him. If the Mayor had done as he ought, he would have called a public meeting, and explained matters . to the burgesses. Ho did not envy Mr Brown his position. He begged to move a vote of thanks to the returningoffioer. The Mayor was sorry that Mr Joyce had spoken in the way ha had. Ho could fully explain matters to the ratepayers. Mr Joyce—lf the Mayor is withholding anything out of regard to me I hope will give it publicity. The Mayor—■'Well, 'then, he came forward solely to prevent W. W. Charters being elected. [Cheers.] He had much pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks to the return-ing-offleer. The meeting then dispersed. LYXTELTOISr. There wore two candidates, the last Mayor, Mr H. Allwright, and Mr Samuel B, Webb.

Mr Webb, though an old resident, has but recently manifested a partiality for 11 the sweets of office.” He was successful a short time since in his endeavors to become a town councillor, and rather than let the high office of Mayor fall unoontested into the possession of Mr Allwright, ho determined to try conclusions at the poll. His friends worked mdefatigably, and notwithstanding the indiscretions of their protege succeeded in securing a fair support at the ballot box. The poll was closed at 6 p.m, and at a quarter before seven the Returning Officer announced the result as follows: Allwright 19? Webb 108 The burgess roll shows 478 were qualified to vote.

RANGIORA. Mr John Johnston was declared duly elected Mayor of Rangiora yesterday. KAIAPOI. At Kaispoi, yesterday, Mr G. H. Blackwell was d' .red re-elected. fPBB PEEBS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WISE | QRAHAMSIOWISr. The election to-day resulted in the return of Mr Wilkinson (proprietor “ Thames Ad vertiser”). A voter named McGregor returning to work in Moanatairi was killed through falling off a ladder. WELLINGTON. The election for the Moyoralty was the most exciting ever held in Wellington. The results showed Mr Hutchison at the head of the poll, Mr Young second, Dr. Diver third, and Mr Dwan fourth. WANGANUI. In the Mayoralty election, Watt polled 141, and Nathan 122. Everything passed off quietly. NELSON. The declaration of the poll for the Moyoralty election showed that Mr Dodson was returned by a large majority. HOKITIKA. Mr 3?. A. Learmonth has been elected Mayor for Hokitika, and Mr J. Grimm and Mayor for Ross. DUNEDIN. The Mayoral election to-day resulted as follows A. H. Ross, 872 ;H. S. Fish, 688 ; There was an immense crowd at the declaration of the poll. INVERCARGILL, The following is the result of the Mayoral election:—N. Johnston, 246 ; J. Hatch, 115 ; J. Kingslacd, 110.