NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, August 10, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 837, 10 August 1853, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, August 10, 1853.

The first election for the City of Wellington, under the New Constitution, of Members for the Provincial Council terminated yesterday. From the bustle and excitement attending the introduction of a new order of things, "we are prevented from doing more on the present occasion than giving a brief outline of the proceedings, reserving* such remarks as we may feel called upon to make to another occasion. The nomination of the candidates took place on Monday, and occupied nbout four hours, the returning officer having opened the business of the day exactly at 12 o'clock. After the several candidates, in number sixteen, had been respectively put in nomination by their proposers and seconders, and had addressed the assembled electors, the Sheriff called for a show of hands for each candidate in I succession, which was declared to be in favour of Messrs. Clifford, Moore, Dorset, Hart, King, May, and Masters. A poll was then demanded by Mr. Fitzherbert, which was appointed to take place the following day, and after a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer for his impartial conduct, which was proposed by Mr. Fitzherbert, and seconded by Mr. Moore, the meeting broke upThe polling commenced yesterday at nine o'clock, and was continued without intermission until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when the poll was closed, and the election was ? delared to have fallen on Messrs. Cliford^Dbrset, Fitzherbert, Moore, Wallace, Lyon, and Bethune. TMSlcandidates then severally addressed the meeting, thanking their supporters for their . exertions on

their behalf. A vote of thanks was proposed to the Returning Officer by Mn Clifford, seconded by Mr. Moore, for the admirable manner in which the proceedings had been conducted; and three cheers were given to him. Three cheers were also given for the electors, three for the Queen, and three for the New Constitution. The proceedings were conducted with great good humour, and in so far as the Returning Officer was concerned, with the utmost fairness and impartiality. We cannot close this brief account of the proceedings without congratulating the friends and supporters of Mr. Moore on the triumph they have' achieved. In spite of the powerful combination against him, and all the electioneering manoeuvres that could be brought to bear, he has been returned by 253 votes, being the fourth "bn the poll, having polled a majority of the whole number of those who voted, the(total number being reported to be about 430,) and being within 28 votes of the first candidate. We sincerely regret that Mr. Hart and Mr. King have not been elected to seats, in the Provincial Council; but when it is considered how many influences have been at work against the return of thosegentlemen, and that the votes recorded intheir favour were the: spontaneous suffrages of the electors, as neither of themeither directly or indirectly, solicited 1 a single vote, their position: on ther poll shows how high they stand ih the confidence of the electors, and we cannot but feel the public interest would 1 have been greatly benefited by the return: of such able and efficient men to the Council. We are glad, however, to learnt, that Mr. Hart intends to come forward as* a candidate for the General Assembly. The attendance of electors, both on the day of nomination and at the close of thepoll, was most numerous, being three or four times the number that were presentat the election of the Superintendent. This account, however brief, would be most imperfect if we did not add, that not the slightest interference or influence, either direct or indirect, was exercised by the Government, and that not a single soldier was to be seen at the hustings, either on the day of nomination or on theday of elsc.tion.

«» The following is tlie state of the Poll at 4 o'clock, as announced by the Returning Officer: — Clifford 281 Dorset 272 Fitzherbert 255 Moore 253 - Wallace 236 Lyon , 203 Bethune 185, Kelhatn ICB May 180 Jiart „ 179 Masters 154 King 145 Fawcett 49 Rhodes 48 Carpenter 33 Bradey 5