THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue XV, 25 November 1880, Page 2

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

DECLARATION OF THE, POLL At half-past six o'clock last night a large crowd aasemb'od at the Council Chamber, and shortly after that tim» the Returning Offlc -r, Mr Greeufield, declared the result of the poll to be as follows: — J. R. Dodson ... ... 410 T. H. Harley ... ... 159 J. Graham ... . . 62 He then declared Mr Dodson to be duly elected. The announcement; wa3 received with cheers k Mv Dodson then came forward amid considerable applause. He said he was much surprised at the result of the election, for he had not thought he had so many friends to rally round him and support him as had been shown that day. With regard to.the statements made by Mr Barley he would not go into particulars then, for they had been fully answered by the result of the election. He would endeavor to his duty without fear or favor, and when bi3 term of office expired he hoped the ratepayers would find some one to take his place in whom they could put the fullest confidence. He had done his best dm ing the three years he had filled the office, and he would again pledge himself to do his utmost for the interests of the city. He had to thank his friends for bis success, and to his Committee he was very grateful; really he thought he Bhotlld begin to have some conceit Of himself. He thanked the ratepayers for the support they bad given him, and in conclusion said that he hoped he Bhould not get excited and pull dewn the barricades of the bridge. (Laughter.) Mr T. H ablet, who was received with cheers, said that he did not expect to win the race which had been run for that day, but he felt that it was bis duty, as well as that of any other citizen, to oontest the election against Mr Dodson, who had said it would be, au injustice to himself if he took tbe Mayoral chair once more. Mr Dodson was not the man he was represented to be by bis friends. (Cries of " Ob, oh," and applause.) He regretted to say that tha ratepayers were not truthful, far he could assure them that tha, 159 nho had voted for him that day were only about one-third of the number who bad promised him thair support. Had be been elect* d he would have endeavored to get the works done mentioned by him before, and as. long as ho remained in tbe Council he would do his best to work the reforms which he had promised to do. Mr Dodson was a very nice gentleman, and one for whom he had the highest respect, but be wag not competent to fill tbe office of Mayor. That gentleman had spoken about hini (Mr Harley) knocking down the barricade of Colling-wood-streefc bridge, but what did he do ? After tha Council had passed a resolution that no closet drains were to be connected with the sewer, Mr Dodsoa was the first to make a drain to the sewer. It was owing to the action of Mr Dodson and his friend Mr Fell that the Waimea street sewer was constructed in the way which it was, and the consequence was that the Councillors when inspecting it had to go down on their knees one after another and feel for the hollows. (Mr Rowel!: Go it, Tom, your are doing first rate ) He was afiaid. all the time Mr Dodson was going to beat him, and they would then have been certain of reform being brought about, but he would budger the Councillors until some alterations were made. It bad been said that he was too young for the position, but be would ask them to look at tbe present Ministry who were all young men. Mr Dodson had told them that he was going to buil 1 a uew bridge and who had forced him to de that but himself (Mr Harley ?) Addressing Mr Dodson be said he hoped that when he sat in the Mayor's chair he would porform his duty in a gentlemanly manner, and when he (Mr Harley) was speaking not rule him out of order, because the views he expressed did not coincide with his (Mr Dodion's). In eonclndiug, he tbanked tbose irbo had supported him, and with regard to those who bad opposed bin he hoped their actions would be for tbe welfare of the public generally. (Applause.)

Mr Graham, whe on coming forward was leudly cheered, said he bad to thank those who had voted for him. Not one single vote had been solicited, and those whs bad supported him kad done so in a conscientious manner, feeling that they were doing that which was right. He had not expected to be victorious, and bad only come forward because Mr Dodion had expressed bis intention not to do so, and it was probable that some one might ke elected to the office who was objectionable to tke majority of the ratepayers. One of Mr Dodsen's prominent supporters, Mr Levien, had told him that had he known he (Mr Graham) was coming forward his action might have been very different. 1 He again thanked those ratepayers wko supported him, and also Mr Dodson's supporters, who had treated him with courtesy. (Cheers).

Mr Graham then proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, which terminated the proceedings.