DUNEDIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2402, 27 November 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[l'lt'iM u(JI! oWX COKKKSIVXOHXT.]

Tlic contest for the city mayoralty has largely occupied the attention of the public during the past few weeks. Only two persons were nominated for the civic chair, but the light for victory has been the most bitter that has ever taken place in Jhmcdin. The candidates wore Mr 11. K. Fish, jun., who has thrice previously been Mayor of Dunedin, won ;17 municipal elections, and held oflice in the council from time immemorial. llis opponent was Mr A. 11. Ross, the optician, who, in reply to a requisition, stood and secured a seat in the council about Jo months ago, and has been the means of obtaining amongst other necessary works —the improvement of the old Cemetery, ihc contest was characterised by a large quantity of mud-slinging and low perqualities. On the morning before the election many of the voters received by post a printed circular containing some scurrilous and highly improbable charges against Mr Fish, who at once worked hnnself into a fury, and by drawing the attention of the public to the matter attempted to excite sympathy. 1 he other side were not asleep, tor call} in

the day every post and wall in tbo t nvn was placarded with a broad sheet announcing that Mr Ross, on behalf of himself and committee, disclaimed any knowledge of the offensive letters, and insinuated that they must have been the work of the other side. Any identification of the sender of these missives by the handwriting was, however, impossible, tor the names and addresses bad been cut from the burgess’ roll and gummed upon the envelopes. As the question with the majority of the voters was Pish or not Fish yon will pardon me if I stop to givi; yon a brief resunu: of the events which* have been largely instrumental in bringing about the present results. Last year tbo contest lay between Mr 11. J. Walter then bolding the mayoral chair, and Mr Fish, and the result was Fish ( dO.->, Walter b 8(!. It is now a matter of history how that Mr Fish, who held a snh-contraet for the painting of the Town Hall on the date of Ids nomination was declared incapable of occupying the position of Mayor, the other candidate was therefore declared elected. Mr W alter was for some time subjected to most bitter persecution at tho hands of certain councillors, who instead of voting him tbo usual salary of R4OO have tendered him the ridiculous sum of 20s. Within the past few months the breach has to a groat extent healed up, and Mr Fish has by various spasmodical efforts on behalf of the working classes endeavored to further ingratiate himself into the public favor. The best promise bo made was that if elected lie \\onld retire from the mayoral chair into the obscurity of private life and trouble the citizens no more. The result of the voting shows he has lost ground during the past year, that the public have grown tired of their idol, and the victor owes his position not so much to the fact of his being Mr Ross as that he is not Mr Fish. On Wednesday— the polling day—the Harrison Hall was thronged all day lung by voters, and no effort was spared to bring up voles. Mr Fish’s committee were the most numerous, and worked hard, whilst nearly every cab in tho town was dedicated to tho use of his supporters. The working classes gave him a large support, whilst tiic “ Ret of Roslyn ” received the support of the quieter and mure wealthy of the citizens. At 7.4 b p.m. a crowd of about dOOO had assembled to hear the result, and on the Town Clerk giving the numbers—Ross, 872 ; Fish, (ißß—immense cheering and excitement followed. Fish. I tiiink, would now do well to retire into obscurity for some years, till the past is forgotten and public opinion has cooled down. He is a lucky man in that his election expenses, when defeated, have been always met by subscription, and in this case efforts are to be made (o clear off his costs —which must have reached quite .42—00 —by a subscription list.