MAYORAL ELECTION.

Christchurch,

Under the Municipal Corporations , Act, yesterday was appointed for the election of the Mayors of the city and boroughs. In Christchurch, considerable interest was excited in the proceedings, and shortly before twelve o'clock, a goodly ; number of the British taxpaying public put in an appearance at the City Council Chambers. Amongst others present were Hon J. T. Peacock, Messrs E. B. Holt, VV. Harris, Hobbs, sen, J. P. Jameson, H. D. Thomas, P. H Digby. VV. R. Mitchell, C. Cuff, J. Ollivier. H. Sawtell, A. Carrick, J. Anderson jun, Joseph Gould, and Dγ Foster.

The Council met at shortly after twelve o'clock.—Present:—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Hobbs, Gapes, Jlck, Jones, Raphael, and Farr.

His Worship the Mayor for the first time since his election, wore the robes of office and cap.

The minutes of the preceding general meeting, having been read by the town clerk, they were confirmed and signed by the Mayor.

The abstract of accounts for the year was brought up by the town clerk.

Cγ Hobbs moved—" That the Mayor sign the abstract of accounts, as brought up, and that the town clerk publish the same in accordance with the Municipal Corporations Act."

Or Raphael seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Cr Hobbs said that before proceeding to the formal business of the day he wished to propose a resolution. * That resolution was as follows—" That the thanks of thie Council be fciven to his Worship the Mayor, M. B. Hart, Esq., for the able and conrteous manner in which .he has discharged the duties of the office of Mayor during the past year, and that the town clerk be requested to ie< o d the same on the mi an tea of the Council. [Hear.]

Cγ Raphael had the greatest possible pleasure in seconding the resolution. He felt sure that all the members of the Council would agree with him that the present occupant of the chair had, during the past year, discharged the duties of the office with courtesy and thorough ability. There might have been differences of opinion, and no man holding an office such as Mayor of Christchurch could pass through his year of office without incurring these ; but there could bft no question that the present' Mayor had done his doty thoroughly well. The Mayor had: worked hard and well, in the matter of the. drainage of the city 7 and he thought that the citizens would recognise that he had done them good service. Not only this but daring his year of office, n.o man who had occupied the position of Mayor had more assiduously studied the interests of the citizens. He had visited he believed personally every street in the city—[HeaT, hear]—and had always made a point of seeing himself that any evils complained of were remedied. He had very great pleasure in seconding tbe resolution, upd he would only say that "he hoped the citizens would agree with him that the present Mayor had done his duty well during his year of office. [Cheers.] The resolution was then put, and agreed to unanimously.

The Mayor then said that the next business before the Council was the election of a Mayor for the ensuing year.. He would now ask the councillors present to nominate some one for the vacancy.

Cγ Jones had hoped that Cγ Bishop or some other-senior member—of the Council would have been present to discharge the duty which had most unexpectedly devolved upon him. However as he had the honor of being elected at the same date as Cr Hobbs, the gentleman he had the honor to propose as Mayor, the duty seemed to: fall upon him with fitness. He hoped the councillors would elect him unanimously to the chair. He was sure that Cγ Hobbs would discharge the duties of Mayor to the satisfaction of the Council and the ratepayers generally, and he hoped that the Council would continue to elect the Mayor from among their own body, for he thought the members of the Council should have the incentive set. before them, of one day occupying the position of Mayor. He therefore hoped that no gentleman would be elected as Mayor without the support of the Council, and without their exercising *he right of selection from among their o wmWdy, for it might turn out that a.man might be elected who would upset the whole work of the Council. He trusted that Cγ Hobbs would, during his year of office, receive that amount of -support which his Worship had received during his term.- He begged to propose, "That Cγ Frederick HobW be elected as Mayor of Christchurch for the ensuing year." [Hear, hear.J - Cr Raphael said he found that as he was the youngest member of the Council, it devolved upon him to second the nomination of Cγ Hobbs as Mayor of- Cbristohnrch. It gave himjgreat pleasure to do so,: because he believed Cr JHobbs wpald, fill the chair with honor to himself and credit to "the citizens. Aβ chairman ot the finance committee, Cγ Hobbs had discharged its duties most and he felt sure that mr the more exalted and honorable/-position of Mayor, -he would > also discharge i ~hia duties thoroughly-well. He wouldL remind, the Council that--Cγ Hobbs' some time ago put.beforethecitizens a- scheme pf drainage which was worthy of remembrance by the ratepayers," and he thought that the ability shown on that occasion proved that he was capable of filling the chair of Mayor of Ghristchurch'.- He "bad mucKpleagure in seconding the nomination. a of Cr Hobbs as mayor. * " 4 ''' ' '■' ' '■'-'■ ;-. ; -'

XJr Gapes said "that., with reference to the remark of Cr Jonesihatsome feelingexiated both inside, and outside the' Council with reference' to the election of major, he might say that he did not belieye there was the slightest difference of opinion among tb.e members of the Council. * * i

The resolution for the appointment ojf Cr Frederick ; Hobba; as, Jtfayor*)f the city of Cbristchurch for the ensuing year, was ■ then put and carried unanimously, " .' * The retiring Mayor, tben eaid he wpiild hand over to tbe retiring Mayor eleci the deeds and documents belonging to the Council. Aβ the deeds and debentures were of great value, be would ask the Mayor elect to give him a receipt for tfie documents inthe chedt now, and go; over and compare them

Cγ Fair; pointed out that this would take some time, and therefore he would suggest that the retiring Mayor might- -meet the ripwly elected Mayor 'and hand oVer the documents on ; some other ; day;. ; Be would move—"that the Mayor (Or and Cγ Hart arrange atneeting for another date, at which the various deeds could be handed over.*' -■-'-.-■ ■■: .

Cr Baphael seconded the motion, which ..waa agreed to.. \ The retiring Mayor said—On ! tae occasion of his.dying^peechhe desiredto thanfcthem -'most' sincerely for the; vote' pjE thaakl they had so unanimously -passed. ! his year of office that day terminated bad , of necessity rendered him somewhat casehardened, he was not so much so that kindsees from any source would not .move him. Hewasjßojt goings to cry at leaving the chair, the cloadV were doing tßaC' for him—they were drqDpyjg-tears of sadness on the meliia-. choly occasion et his leaving the chair that day. [faoghber,j He to thank all the tfor the courtesy, the consideration, and the support they fcadafforded to him on all occasions during :his year, of office., Also, he begged on behaJf of Mrs to return Jto them • her sincere thanks "for the courtly whien had always been so readily and so kindly extended to her by them duting: his term of office. To the newspapers of the city of Christchurcb to return hie sincbre; thanks for the marked attention and courtesies they had , paid him during the year.- He had"been pretty frequently and persistently before the pnblic, r . and,he could" only : '-Hope<-that :the presa / :wouid''pay to hi* eucceseor that kind. atteniJon which he had received during term of office. If they did that, he lelfc sore that, like him; it would- only have jthe of, bribing out his good /<&gfl.itiee. He had'now^-to hand oVer! to nis kwI cessor the chain,, 4k.present there wfere, ho was sorry to say, bat few links. He lad W dfiit,»ttih» feop«d th»t:

during hja successor's term of office it wonld be largely increased and added to. The late Mayor, then vacated the chair Cre Jones and Raphael theu conducted'th*> newly elected Mayor to the chair. Cr Jones : Your Worship, I have the greatest possible pleasure in inducting you sir, into the honorable position of the MavoJ of the city of Qhrietchurch for the ensuing year. I feel sure, sir, that you will fill that position with honor to yourself, and credit, tn the city of Christchurch. [Cheers.] The Mayor elect was then introduced to the chair by his proposer and seconder His Worship the Mayor said he wished in return them his sincere thanks for the erea* honor they had that day conferred upon Thin, by electing him as their Msyor. The posi tion of Mayor, or Chief Magistrate et tfcn city of Christchprch, one of che 'leading cities in New Zealand, was a position £ honorable that it might be coveted-by any member of the community, no matter what his position ia the social scale might \J. It would be his earnest endeavo- to fulfil an the duties appertaining to the office to ih* best of hie ability, as bia predecessors had done. [Hear, hear.] Whether or not he should be successful depended on the col operation of his fellow councillors. To baa good Mayor it was necessary to have & good council—[Hear, hear] —for it pended on the solid moral support the chair man received whether the business of the Council would be properly conducted or i otherwise. He would therefore ask big brother ;councillors to give him all the support they could, ar.d he - would promise on his part to preside impartially and to do his best to treat the members of the Council, and the ratepayers generally with all the respect and courtesy due to'them' In fact he thought the Mayor could not do better than use as his motto the quotation recently u»ed by Mr Moorhonse, in Welling ton— c '• Steal courtesy from Heaven, and dress him. self in all humility." He was afrnid his year of office would ndt be marked by any large amount of progress generally, because the surplus from next year's income was to a great extent already allocated for drainage purposes. However he should have great satisfaction in seeing a large amount of progress made with the drainage workp, which in itself would be perhaps the greatest benefit to the city that it was possible to obtain. He hoped the Provincial Council would pass a liberal vote for municipalities at their next sitting in which case he could promise 'that the money would be judiciously spent He regretted that all the members cf the Council could not be present that day.. He missed Cr Calvert, whom he looked on as Father of the Council. He only trusted that his trip to Melbourne would be beneficial to hie health. His kindly manner bad created an amount of affection for him almost filial on his part, and he was proud to know that he had his support in his election this day. He again begged to thank the members of the Council for the great honor they had conferred upon him by their unanimous election of him to the liigh office, of Mayor of the City of Chrietchurch... TLoud cheere.J v , His Worship the Mayor said *b^fc,trader the advice of tbe solicitor, he had to make the appointments of chief fire inspector and also of a fire inspector, as they had been appointed by the late Mayor, and of course the appointments terminated that day. He, therefore, had much pleasure in appointing Mr Wm. Harris as chief fire inspector, and Mr Frederick A. Bishop as aa inspector, and the town cleric would enter the same on the minutes. ".•■.". , This concluded the business before the Council. - ..--••■'.-■ •;,,•! Cr Hart then moved, "That the Council do now adjourn until Monday next",,Cγ Farr seconded the \ motion, whicn Seat agreed to.

At the invitation of his Wowhip the Mayor (Mr F. Hobbs) r -thoie present adjourned, to luncheon.

Hi 3 Worship the .Mayor occupied the chair, and a very ample spread was done jnstice.to. i;i ;*j ;.. .-;i .-]*;■ j : , : r

Mr Ollirier then rose, and gave "The health, of hift iWorship tfce Mayor,!* which was briefly responded to. J ?;'.? A Mr Farr then proposed «i!Ehe:es.Chairmenand Mayors," which was responded; to by Mr Hart, Messrs Jameson, OUivier, and Sawtell. ■ Mr Ollivier then gave " -Hove, law, and liberty," .personified by Mr Gordon,JDr Foster, and ? Mr B. ; ,B. Sb't; which was responded to by those gentlemen. The other toasts proposed were " The board of conseTvatpre," responded to by Hon J» T. Peacock ; "City surveyor,"responded to by Mr Walkden; "The wOrka cdmnnttee," responded.to by Cra Ickand Qapee;""The fire brigade committee*, ,, responded tobjplCr Jones ;.' •• The sanitary committee," responded X 6 ,by Cγ Farr ; «Thd City' Coancai" responded to by his Worship the Mayors who in the coarse of his remarks expressed a fibpt that the Provincial Council would ;dd4he municipalities iostice ; " The finance committee," responded to by Cr Baphael; '"The banker of the Council," responded to by Mr E. B. Holt ;"■« iiolicitpr, ,, reapbhded to by Pγ, Foster, ; "Mr Superintendent Herri* and th'e members of the fire brigade; ,, 're> sponded to by Mr Harris; "Messrs Gould and.'Anderson,, jabi" responded to by thoee gentlemen; "Mre Hart, the wife of exMayor," responded! to iby 'Mr M. B. Hart. The party then separated, after Bpendiog * very pleasant