THE ELECTION OF MAYOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4289, 18 December 1874, Page 2

THE ELECTION OF MAYOR.

For the first time in the municipal history of the city, the Mayor of Wellington wasyesterday elected by the people. The only candidates for the honor were Mr. Dransfield and !Mr, Moorhouse ; but, from the fact that each had left no stone unturned to secure liis return, great interest attached to the final result, In organisation and activity, Mr. Moorhouse’s supporters displayed the greatest tact and energy, —Mr. Dransfield’s partizans trusting too much to the past prestige of their chief, who, in sporting phrase, held his opponent too cheap. It was known that in Te Aro, the ward which has, perhaps, derived most benefit from Mr. Dransfield’s long services in the City Council, he had Jost cast<v ancr a'majority against Hiixr-xnere' wao looted for ; but it was scarcely expected that so many of lus old in Lanibton-quay would desert him upon such an eventful occasion. The overpowering majority in Mr. Moorhouse’s favor in Thorndon Ward, can only he accepted as a very practical commentary upon ]\Xr. Dransfield’s avowed affinity for the ratepayers of Te Aro, and between the two stools he came to the ground. The proceedings up to 3 o’clock were tame in the extreme. The number of cabs in the service of Mr. Moorhouse’s committee preponderated largely over that of his opponent. The result of the election proves the provision to have been a wise one, for the numbers polled by Mr, Moorhouse show that these cabs must have been pretty actively employed during the day. Towards 4 o’clock, little knots of ratepayers assembled in the neighborhood of the Odd Fellows’ Hah, and waited in anxious expectancy for the declaration of the numbers polled in each ward. The greatest expedition was used by the returning officers, but some little delay occurred before the aggregate numbers were stated, in consequence of the returning officer at the Te Aro end having a much larger number of voting papers to examine than the other returning officers. About half-past five Mr. Moss stepped on to a platform outside the Odd Fellows’ Hall and feansSeld, 507. The following for each ward : Dransfield. Moorhouse. TeAro 236 ... 457 Lambton ... 199 ... 216 Thorndon ... 72 ... 303 507 1009 Majority for Mr. Moorhouse, 502,

The result was received with much cheering, and loud calls for Mr. Moorhouse, who was not present. Mr. Dransfield then came forward and said: Gentlemen, —You will excuse me for being the first to address you. I waited a little time i thinking Mr. Moorhouse would address you first, as he ought to do ; being your favorite upon the present occasion. However, that matters little. All I can say to you is that I 1 have endeavored to do my duty towards you, but apparently you wish to have a change. You have a perfect right to a change if you desire it, but if I can be of any service to you in the future I can assure you I shall be most happy to place my services at your disposal. It would be idle to conceal the fact that X should like to have been at the top of the poll, a position which I have occupied on many previous occasions. All I can say now is that I thank those gentlemen who supported me today. At some future day you may think differently than you do now. You may possibly think that one who has served you so long may once more be brought to the front, and when that time does come my services will be willingly placed at your disposal. (Cheers.) Mr. Moorhouse then ascended the platform amidst a storm of cheers and other signs of approbation, upon the subsidence of which he

said : I understand that you have placed me in the proud position of Mayor, an honor X did not aspire to until requested by a large number of citizens to offer myself. First of all, I have to express the very great obligation X owe to those gentlemen who interested themselves in securing my election. I must say they worked in a most exemplary way, and I hope Mr. Dransfield has similar reason to congratulate his friends, because I like to see men work heartily on their own side. I cannot say how very much I feel indebted to you, and how oppressed I am with the sense of gratitude. Of course a great deal will be expected of me, and I hope , you will not be disappointed, I will do the best I can for you ; I can say no more. I did not hear the whole of Mr. Drausfield’s speech, but I think I heard him express his willingness at all times to take his share in furthering the interests of the city. I was glad to hear him say that. I think he is too much a man of the world to retire from the Council simply because the ratepayers have chosen to indulge their taste for a change. . (Hear, hear, and cheers.) X hope that change will be for the benefit of the public. For my own part, I am satisfied that the members of the Council with whom I shall be associated will work cordially with me in advancing the interests of the city. (Hear, hear.) I am quite sure that no party feeling will be allowed to militate against your interests, and that I shall have the hearty cooperation of all the members of the Council I have no quarrel with anybody in the town, and that is an advantage which no long resident could have who has been ardent in his advocacy of public affairs. I have to thank Mr. Dransfield for his forbearance of the use of those arms which he might have used. I have been expecting that he would prick me in my obviously vulnerable points, but he has refrained from doing so ; in fact I have throughout been treated by all parties in the most courteous manner. I have also to thank Mr. Dransfield’s friends, who have not taken advantage of a weak member of society to the extent they might have done ; and to the public of the town I have to express my great gratification at being the successful candidate in a contest which has been conducted in so exemplary a manner. I am not acquainted with a single circumstance which would reflect discreditably upon Mr. Dransfield and his party. Dr upon my own party either. (Hear, hear.) My work begins to-morrow, and I am anxiously conscious that I have a great deal to do to realise the expectations of those who have been

eanguine enough to expect great things from my accession to‘the office of Mayor ; but I rely upon the forbearance of my constituents, as well as -of those who may feel it their duty to oppose measures which I may advocate in my idea of what best consults the_ interests of the town. This is not an occasion upon which you can expect a wise declaration of policy. We are now enjoying the victory. (Applause.) We are -Stained with the dust and powder of war. (Laughter.) To-morrow we shall wake to a sense of our responsibilities, and we shall then be better able than at present to adjust our armoury for an adventure upon the world in favor of ourselves—that is, this community. I have had occasion to tell you during this contest that I have a very high opinion of the future of this town, and of the important relation it occupies to the colony. It is the middle of it, the core of "it, and it is ■entirely dependent upon what lino you take ■whether or not you will lead the whole colony, •morally, politically, socially, and commercially. If I had not thought there was a grand opportunity to any man to lend a hand in the advancement of this town in all these particulars, I should have remained in my retirement, and •should not have been induced upon any possibility to come out from my privacy. (Cheers.) Now my best services are at your disposal. You have elected me by a large majority. That circumstance has its dangers and its trials. There has been no "hurry about this matter. You have deliberately, after ample time for consideration, elected me to manage your affairs, and I am not going to be led. You have made me a leader, and I intend to maintain that position. (Hear, hear.) If I fail in procuring your endorsement to the proposals I bring forward I shallTetire from the position; but if I succeed in obtaining your support I shall stand by my proposals and fight them out. I congraiulate you upon the orderly manner in which you have conducted these proceedings. I have had occasion to walk through the town three or four times, and found no disorder or disturbance of any kind. I take this result, therefore, to be the deliberate conclusion of the intelligence of the city, and I hope I shall not ill-use the trust reposed in my hands. I wish at this moment to thank every gentleman who supported me, but tomorrow I stand in front of the whole population entirely divested of any responsibility to any individual. It will be my great gratification to reflect that I have imposed upon me the interests of the minority as well as the majority; and I shall now conclude by thanking you for the honor you have done me. (Cheers.) This concluded the proceedings, and the assemblage dispersed.