THE CITY ELECTION.

DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

The official declaration of the result of the polling tor the nine seats in the 1 City Council took place yesterday at noon, when there was a large assemblage of the priblfc.' MrG.L Lee, the returning officer, said he had to declare the result of the polling to be as follows:— W. Radcliffe 1367 W. Pretfc ... - - 1288 J. G. Ruddenklau ..." ... 1234 H. Thomson ... ' -- • •• 986. A. W. BTclerton .... ... 949 C. T. lek ... ... ' ... 875 J. A. Bird ... —•■■ t ... 830 ■. C.E. Brigge ... .-' •*• ... 735 E. H. Banks... ""7.7 ... 594 H. Toomer ... 555 S. C. Farr 531 W. Tremayne 481 A. Ayers 472. B. Case ... 413 H. B. Sorensen ... '■':.. 300 R. Binstead ~~... 185 He had therefore to declare Messrs W. Radcliffe, W. Pratt, J. G. Ruddenklau, H. Thomson, A. W. Bickerton, 0. T. Ick, J. A. Bird, C. E. Briggs, and E. H. Banks duly elected to serve as City Councillors for the city of Christchurcb. [Applause.] The various candidates then iriefly addressed those present. Mr Radcliffe, who spoke from a drag and afterwards from the front of the chamber, said that he desired most heartily to thank the ratepayers for the proud position they had placed him in that day. He was a comparative stranger amongst them, but he would assure them that he would devote his best energies to the service of the ratepayers. [Cheers.] There was one thing he wished to remark upon, and. that was the exceedingly inconvenient place in which the election had been held. [Hear, hear.] It was a disgrace to the city, and he should endeavour as far as as he was able, now that they had returned, him as one of their representatives, to see that an alteration was made in this before another election was held. He again begged to thank them for the honour they had done him; they could see from his career amongst them that he was possessed of some business ability, and this he should use to the best advantage in their service. [Cheers.] Mr Pratt said that in placing him in the position on the poll they had that day he thought they had greatly overrated his abilities. [" No, no."] He had had the honor of working, when in the Council last, with such able men as Mr John "Anderson and Mr. Andrew Duncan, and it was probably owing to the success attendant upon their efforts to serve the citizens, in which he had taken only a small share, that he owed hie present position. ["No, no."] However, he could assure them that, having been elected, he would bring a willing heart to his work, and do all he could for the advancement of the city. [Cheers.] Mr Ruddenklan thanked the electors very heartily for the flattering position he occupied on the poll. A great responsibility had been placed upon him by their decision, but he hoped he should so discharge hie duties as to merit the confidence they had reposed in him. It was a matter of regret to him that some of the more influential men of the city had not come forward on the occasion. He should have been very willing to have given way to some such, and he trusted yet to see them come forward and take their share in the Municipal Government of the city. [Cheers.] Hβ again begged to thank them for the honor they had done him in electing him. [Cheers.] Mr Ick said it gave him the greatest possible pleasure to receive from the ratepayers by hie re-election an assurance of their confidence in him, notwithstanding the fact that he had not asked for a single vote. He had had to contend with a great deal of opposition, mainly, he believed, because he spoke his mind freely* If his plain speaking had caused any offence, he was very sorry, and could only hope that they would look rather to his actions than to his words. He should go back into the Council with a renewed determination to do his best to serve the ratepayers, and this he felt sure was the best return he could make for their renewed expression of confidence in him. [Cheers.] Mr Bird thanked the electors. He should endeavor in his place in the Council to do his duty honestly. Mr Brigge desired to return his very sinoere thanks to the ratepayera for the honor they had done him in returning him as one of their representatives. He took it as a very great honor, indeed that the youngest, of the sixteen candidates before them had been returned, and not at the bottom, of the poll. \ , Mr Banks said that he stood before them j that day as an example of what might be j achieved by perseverance. He had tried be- I fore and had been rejected, but he had not been disconcerted, and at last had been returned. He should endeavor honestly to do his duty, and to see that justice was done to the southern end of the city. The north had plenty to look after it, so that it would not suffer in any way. Messrs Cass,Tremayne, and Binetead having briefly spoken, Mr Radcliffe proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. That gentleman had had to discLirge his duties under very great difficulties, and had done so in a> manner highly satisfactory to all ooncerned. [Cheers.] Mr Lee, in acknowledging the compliment, expressed a hope that some steps would be taken to provide more accommodation and a more suitable place on the occasion of another election. The proceedings then terminated.