ELECTION OF MAYOR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 10010, 16 July 1879, Page 2

ELECTION OF MAYOR.

At noon, to-day, about 150 ratepayers congregated at the Council Chambers, for the purpose of hearing the nominations for the office of Mayor for the next term. But a very small amount of interest was manifested in the event, for it was pretty generally believed that Mr. Samuel Gibbs would have a walk-over, though it had been whispered about that Dr. Wait, also' a former Mayor, would become a candidate. That there was some foundation for this report was shown by the fact that about two minutes after 12 o'clock, the appointed time for opening nominations, Mr. James Scott entered the chamber for the purpose of lodging the nomination of Dr. Wait; but he was of course too late, and the nomination unfortunately could not be accepted, the result being that Mr. Gibbs was elected unopposed. The Mayor acted as returning officer, and the Clerk having read the advertisement, and the clause of the Ordinance under which the meeting was held. The solitary nomination paper was then read, showing that Mr. Samuel Gibbs had been proposed by Mr. James Markham, and seconded by Mr. James Familton. The Returning Officer declared Mr. Gibbs duly elected Mayor for the year ending 31st July, 1880. Mr. Gibbs then said : Mr. Returning Officer and gentlemen, I cannot but say that I feel very much the honor that has just been conferred upon me. It is not every man that can say he has been elected Mayor four times in one place, twice without opposition. This shows that I have tho confidence of the ratepayers. I will endeavor to carry out the duties of my office to the best of my ability, and for the benefit of the town, and I hope that when the time for the next election comes round my conduct will meet with your approbation. It would not perhaps be well to say too much on this occasion, and I shall content myself with expressing my thanks for the great honor done me. A vote of thanks having been accorded to the Returning Officer, on the motion of Mr- Gibbs, the proceedings terminated.