CHRISTCHURCH.

The' election of three members to fill tho racanriM in the City Council, caused by the retirement by rotation .of Cr ßj Bird. Brigg«, end Toaaer took place yesterday. Eight eandiSwenttothepoU Mr William WiUon appwmt-ly had engaged almost all the availed cabs and hackney o*mages in the city for the facilitating his friends' TOtine There was an almost total absence of "Muibs," the only one being a placard in wMch the electors wero cautioned lest they iboold inadvertently rote for the {tie) the first scare of Christchurch. This Us presumably intended as a hit at Mr Wilson, who claimed the suffrages .of the citizens a? "first Mayor of Christchurch." During the d»T the excitement attending the election was wnfined within reasonable bounds, but after thecloimg of the.poll, and while the crowd were awaiting the semi-official declaration of the rwolt, adwntage wa* taken of the, opportunity for a display of dwgraceful larrikinism hrsoiae fewelioice spirit*, who pelted with four those of the candidates who were suffidenth conspkuons to afford a target for them b> «"»**• Though the poll closed at go'jJocVthe returning officer, Mr G. L. Lee, Ww*«« J P seted *"" J* 4o ™ untfl 9 o'clock, at which boar he appeared on the verandah of theCoonalChainbW an< * announced the yjjaJi, The noae made by the crowd made ft atfto fiaponftle for those at even a m«fo»te disteßW to hear more than the deel&ntien that &« candidate who headed the poll ws* Mr Gapes, with 1292 rotes. Tho iiaiher ef rotes given for each candidate flonH only be ascertained by reference to the Jiit pasted fnbae£ ne Btiy> from which the followinriswpied:— GfiOfs, James..: 1292 Wilsoß, William ..." ... 932 ' Ayes, Aaron... 667 - .' Bird, James A 645 , Briggs, Charles E. ... ... 492 Bsole, Enoch H. 388 ' Uoomer, Henry, sen. ... 291

Xrenwyne, William 233 After the noise had somewhat snbaided, Mr Gapes climbed on to the fence, and, holding on to the rerandah post, attempted to •ddrses the citizens assembled. Hie attempt ■ns cot immediately successful, as before he could utter a word he ; was struck in the face ty a quantity of flour, and forced to jamp down whilst he cleared hie eyes. SfcthiGj* daunted, he Again mounted ftcd «s this time allowed ■to make his acinowfedgemente of the honor done him. This he 3id in the following words:—" Gentlemen, — I isope yon will excuse mc for the few aomente I hare delayed you, but» the fact is &at flour went into both my eyes, and I caald not see. It is anything bnt a pleasure to be go treated, and I did nofc«xpecfc it from * respectable lot of citizens. {TOproar.} Perhaps, however, it is excusable on occasions of thii kind. I think it would not be altogether becoming of ine to detain you with anything Eke a speech at this late hour, even supponng that I had intended to address you. I simply return you my sincere and hearty thanks for tb*T«ry great honor you "have done mc this. d»y by putting mc in so prominent a position <m fctfp&L * [Cheers.] I beg to be excused front say further speech, as I don't feel at ill comfortable with this flour in my eyes." {Sheet/} - Mr Wilson then ascended, and addressed the electors, who received him with cneer. and bSotfeg.* Hβ said:—Gentlemen,—^You htxe doM bj* % rery great honar and a very pest Kadtttßa, and I will endeavor to serve *a»to4fe»;bMfc.oi jay power. I thank you fromaelsoeomotiiy heart, not only those who hm Toted for mc, but those who thought ft wu not ticjrJntr to vote for mc." A iiowerof ff»nriere the speaker, asdAt tiw same time the fence upon which he ni standing gate way. A number of esthiaiMts wiled the opportunity to lay hold of Mm, aod raising him upon their sbouldea, itltey bore him into the Clarendon Hotel, foiloVed by the insjority of the crowd. This brought the proceedings to a close. .