ELECTION OF A CITY COUNCILLOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 285, 1 December 1877, Page 2

ELECTION OF A CITY COUNCILLOR.

Shortly after 8 o'clock last night the doors of the City Council Chamber were thrown open for the purpose of admitting those who were desirous^ of being present at the declaration of the poll, and from the thronp at the entrance it was clear that more than ordinary interest was taken in the result. The crowd having obtained admittance, Mr Greenfield, the Returning Officer, said that 414 ratepayers had polled, representing 706 votes. Five of the papers were informal, leaving the result as follows: — Henry Hounsell ... ... 375 Thomas Elarley ... , t# 320 Majority for Kounsell ... 49 Mr Hounsell beiug called upon, said that he desired to return his sincere and hearty thanks for the honor conferred upon him by his election by 30 large a majority. It was the more gratifying as (his was the first time he hud solicited the suffrages of his brother electors, and he had been opposed to against one who, together wjth. his friends had used considerable energy in canvassing. It had been a most friendly contest, giving rise to no ill party or personal feeling, and his opponent, he believed, was quite prepared to accept his defeat as good hunipredjy as he himself would have done. His endeavor would always be to do the greatest good £0 % greatest number, ir respective of psrsonal interests, j),nd he h.oped to retain the confidence of those who had placed dim at the head of the poll. Mr T. Harley was very pleased to see so many present, and to find that so large a number had taken part in the election. He trusted that all future elections might be as keenly and good naturedly contested, and that there would l?e no. walkovers for a seat in the Council. No doubt he had made many enemies by his straightforward speaking when in the Council before, but' in this respect he would be always careless of result, and would endeavor to do his duty to the be^jfc of fci° ability. He thought that it must hg.ve Ijeen owing to so.me confusion of spirit tha,t he was not returned aj; the last election. Pie did not mjrid his defeat on t'fye present occasion, which he took in 9' friendly way, bujfc as he had always acted up to his principles when in the pouncil before, he was surprised that tfie r3.tep3.yeps should have confuted them by putting others in his place. He should like those present to ask him any questions upon what he had done when in the Council before. Mr W. Harley said he stepped forward to ask a question. He had been present at a

meeting of the Council previous to the last election, when the action ofthe City Surveyor, or Superintendent of Works -he was not quite sure what he ought to be called— had been called in question, and he had arrived at the conclusion that so long as they put such sleepy-headed men in the Council who could not say "Bo to a goose " the electors must expect to be badly served. They ought to return young and energetic men, with plenty of confidence in themselves, and not men who would rather put up with anything than offend their neighbors. He did not like to mention names, but he would like to see the ratepayers exercise greater wisdom in their choice than they had hitherto done, seeing that they had rejected energy aud enterprise when these had offered themselves He did not appreciate their judgement, though he was compelled to bow to it, still he thought Mr Founsell would not be such a bad member, after all, and that he would not always accept "old Webb's " assertions, and requests without question. Mr Thomas Harley said that as none of those present appeared desirous of asking him any questions, he would merely return them his thanks for electing him, and especially would he record his gratitude to the ladies, of whom a larger number had gon3 to the poll than on any previous occasion. Mr Harley then proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, which was seconded by Mr Hounaell, and the meeting dispersed.