MAYORAL ELECTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 384, 17 July 1877, Page 2

MAYORAL ELECTION.

Precisely at noon to-day the nominations of candidates for the office of Mayor for the year ending Ist August, 1878, were declared at the Municipal Council Chambers. A very small amount of interest was manifested in the affair, it having become pretty generally known that there was not likely to be a contest, the public being thoroughly satisfied with the admirable manner in which Mr. Steward has performed the duties of his office during the past year. About half-a-dozen persons were present, but some half-dozen others arrived just as the proceedings had concluded. The Returning Officer (Councillor Gibbs) read the advertisement giving notice of the election. The Town Clerk then read the clause of the Act prescribing the manner in which the election should be conducted. The only candidate nominated was Mr. William Jukes Steward, his proposer and seconder being Mr. John Mainland and Mr. William H. Ronayne. The Returning Officer then declared Mr. Steward duly elected Mayor of Oamaru. Mr. Steward said : Mr. Returning Officer and Gentlemen, —Although, except the reporters and those who have to attend to-day in official capacities, there is only one elector present, I think it right to say just one or two words expressive of my sense of the honour conferred upon me, by the common consent of the town, by my election to-day for the second time to the highest municipal office. It was, at one time, not my intention to have offered myself for reelection ; but, as you, sir, are aware, there are several matters of great importance tu the Municipality now pending, in the initial stages of which I have been associated with the Council, and it was because I believed that I could be of some assistance to the Council towards carrying them to completion that I allowed myself to be again nominated. lam pleased to think that the very limited attendance to-day proves that my fellow-citizens are willing to see me again occupy the position which I have had the honor to hold during the past year, and I trust that at the expiration of my term of office there will be no cause to regret the proceedings of to-day. The usual vote of thanks having been accorded to the Returning Officer, on the motion of Mr. Steward, seconded by Councillor Gat.braiih, the proceedings terminated.