MAYOR OF ROTORUA.

MR. CLINKARD ELECTED. FOUR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. <By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) 'ROTORUA, this day. The honour of being the first occupant of the Rotorua mayoral chair has been bestowed by popular vote of the burgesses on Mr. Cecil 11. Clinkard, who carried the Liberal-Labour colours so ', close to victory in the recent Parliamentary election. Of 1922 names on the roll, 1306 electors registered their votes, ', 724 for Mr. Clinkard, and (572 for Mr. J.. N. McLean, giving Mr. Clinkard a majority of 52. Over 73 per cent of I those on the roll voted. The separate booth for Maori voters gave Mr. Clinkard 107, and Mr. McLean 90. j Mr. Clinkard, who headed the poll at \ all the booths, thanked the electors in i the King's Theatre. There were nineteen candidates for four seats on the council, the successful candidates being: Galbraith, 010; McDowell, 525; Macpherson, 492; Dr. Bertram, 422. At least two, probably three unsuccessful candidates forfeited their deposits. A crowd of nearly five. hundred awaited the declaration of the results, which were announced at 10.30 p.m. I Mr. Clinkard is very well known and j highly respected throughout Rotorua and district where he ha? been a resi- j dent for several years. He has always taken a leading 'part in all movements j having for their aim the progress of the | town and district and is a member of ■ the executive of the local chamber of commerce. At the last election this gentleman contested the RotoTUa seat in the Liberal interests and. despite the fact that he was handicapped by shortage of time, was defeated only by a com- I paratively narrow margin. Mr. Clinkard is a man of sound judgment and this, coupled with his undoubted business qualities and organising abilities, led a large number of townspeople to urgently request him to accept nomination for the mayoralty.