MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Chbistcuokcu. A meeting of the ratepayers of the city was held yesterday at the Town Hall, at noon, for the purpose of electing five members to serve in the City Council for the ensuinr year. Mr W. Wilson occupied the chair, and stated that the object of the meeting was the election of five members, four in the place of Messrs Tombs, Euddenklau, Duncan, and Jameson, and one in the room of Mr Hislop resigned. The four gentlemen named were eligible for. re-election. He regretted that the nomination had unfortunately fallen upon the chief day of the races, but the terms of the Ordinance left him no alternative but to call the meeting for that day. None but those who had paid their rates were entitled to vote. Previously, however, to commencing the actual business of the meeting, it was necessary that two auditors should be appointed to audit the accounts of the past year, The present proceedings were held under the provisions of the existing Ordinance; but the new one would probably come into operation during the month of March. On the motion of Mr St. Quentix, seconded by Mr M, B, Hart, Messrs J. Ollivier and E. C. J. Stevens were appointed auditors.

The Chairman said that the meeting would now proceed to the election of a member of the Council in the room of Mr Hislop, resigned,

Mr J. C. Bbooke briefly proposed Mr J, C. St. Quealin, who was an energetic active man, and who took a great interest in the affairs of the city. He had always taken a foremost part in all the public meetings which had been held. Mr G. Allen seconded the nomination.

Mr F. Bishop proposed Mr W. A. Sheppard as a fit person for the office. He was a very shrewd, clear-headed man, and he (the speaker) was sure that he would be found very useful in the Council. • Mr Nairn seconded the nomination of Mr Sheppard. A show of hands was taken with the following result : Sheppard 16 St. Qaentin 6 • The former gentleman was declared duly elected, and a poll was demanded by Mr St. Quentin.' The Chairman remarked that the nest business before the meeting was the election of four members to supply the places of those who retired by rotation. Mr Nairn proposed Mr G.Allen as a fit and proper person for a seat in the Council. He (the speaker) considered that some of the City works, as proposed and carried out by the late Council, were of a very costly, and at the same time of a very unsatisfactory character. He should be told, no doubt, that many of these undertakings were to be regarded as mere experiments. Now experiments might be useful, but he thought that the City Council ought to pay for them out of their own pockets. (Mr Nairn detailed at some length what he considered to be instances of the truth of this assertion.) He thought that economy ought to be studied, and that a sixpenny rate would be ample for all the purposes required. Mr Thompkins seconded the nominatien. Mr J. C. Bbooke proposed Mr E. Keece. He was a thoroughly practical man, and one totally independent of any party bias. The citizens needed such men to represent them in the Council. Mr Angus seconded the nomination. Mr Grier6on proposed the re-election of Mr A. Duncan. It would be superfluous to say anything in his favour, as he was so well known to all present, as an independent and thoroughly energetic man of business.

Mr Angus seconded the re-election of Mr Duncan. Mr Calvert proposed the re-election of Mr Ruddeukiau, whom he characterised as one of the most conscientious men he had ever known. He (the speaker) bad long worked in the Council in company with Mr Ruddenklau, and had always found bima most useful and efficient colleague. Mr Calvert concluded by vindicating the late City Council from the charges which had beeu brought against it. He remarked that if Mr Ruddenklau were re-elected he would be in favour of the lowest possible rates. Mr H. Leake seconded the nomination. Mr T. 1). Jones in an address of some length, proposed Mr D. Nairn. He (the speaker) could not endorse the sentiments of Mr Calvert with respect to the acts of the late City Council, who, he thought, had been very extravagant in the works which they had undertaken, and who seemed to be actuated by no other motive than that of squandering the rate-payers' money. The shilling rate which had been levied was wholly uncalled for. It appeared to him that the object of the rich ratepayers was to lavish the money of the poorer ones in the t embellishment of t}ie city, and more especi- ( ally those portions of it nearest their own premies. He approved of the sentiments of Mr Nairn, and h. ped that every candidate would be pledged to a sixpenny rate. Mr Daymekt seconded the nomination. Mr Giuehson proposed the re-election of Mr Jameson, as he was a straightforward man of business, and oue who had done good service in the Council. Mr Grierson concluded by expressing his opinion that the citizens of Christchurch ought to be proud of the exertions of their late members. The Rev. T. R. Fisher seconded the reelection of Mr Jameson. He believed that money should be spent upon works of an ornamental character in the city. Make Christchurch healthy, commodious, and handsome, and many persons would be induced to take up their abode in it. Mr Watson proposed, and Mr T, D. Jones seconded the election of Mr M, B. Hart, Mr J. C. Brooke proposed the re-election of Mr Tombs, who, as a practical builder, would be found capable of imparting very valuable information in the Council. Mr Glover seconded the nomination. Mr Deabslby proposed, and Mr Buxton seconded, Mr J. L. Wilson, but that gentleman declined to present himself as a candidate. No other candidate having been proposed, The Chairman called for a show of hands. The result was as follows Jameson 34 Tombs 31 Duncan 2D Ruddenklau 24 Allen 17 Nqirn 7 M. B. Hart 7 Reece 5 The first four were declared duly elected, and a poll was demanded by Mr G. Allen, and appointed to take place at the Town Clerk's office, this day, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The meeting then broke up.

The hall wis rather numerously attended, and the proceedings passed off very quietly. Lyttelton. The election of seven members, to fill tho vacancies caused by the resignation and retirement of Messrs Wilkin, Willcox, Ward, Wright, Hill, Grubb, and T. M. Gee, was held in the new room of the Colonists' Society, at n on, yesterday. Mr J.Ward, Chairman of the Council, occupied the chair, and called upon the ratepayers to nominate some persons to fill the vacancies caused by the resignation of Mr Willcox and Mr Wilkin. Mr Balestibe proposed the re-election of Mr J. S. Willcox, which was seconded by Mr John Hill. Mr J. F. W. Wilkin proposed Mr Stout, seconded by Mr Webb. Sir Wetborn proposed Mr Thomas Mutton, seconded by Mr R. England. No other candidates being nominated, the Chairman called for a show of hands, with the following results Willcox ... 20 Stout ... (1| 5 Mutton ... • io Mr Stout demanded a poll, which was fixed to take this day, from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. The Chairman then called for nominations lor the other five vacancies. Mr Balestiee proposed Mr John Grubb, seconded by Mr Willcox. Mr Balestibe proposed Mr John Hill, which was seconded by Mr Harris. Mr Leslie proposed Mr W. Cummins, IMonded by Mr T. Merson. Mr J. G. Fyfb proposed Mr Adam Chalmers. He thought he would be a great acquisition to the Council if elected. Mr Grubb seconded the nomination. Mr Wetburn proposed Mr H. Allwright, which was seconded by Mr Webb. Mr E. W. Roper proposed, and Mr Weastell seconded Mr W. Pitcaithley. Mr Merson proposed Mr E. W. Roper, and in .doing so, said that the ratepayers would find him, if elected, a thoroughly independent nan, and one who would do the best in his power for the good of the general body of the ratepayers. The nomination was seconded by Mr A. F. Gwatkin. The Chairman said his attention had been called to the fact that one of the candidates proposed—Mr Pitcaithley, was not on the toll in his own name, but in that of P. Fox and Co. According to clause 3of the Ordinance, the only persons'eligible were those whose names appeared on the rate roll. He was compelled to decline to receive the nomination. He had sent a message to the solicitor of the Council, Mr D'Oyly, who would give them his opinion on the disputed point. . Mr Willcox said that in former elections members of firms whose names were on the rate roll had voted in the name of such firms, and he did not see why the nomination of Mr Pitcaithley should be refused. Mr Fyte thought that the clause in the Ordinance referring to joint occupation of premises would meet the case. The nominations were proceeded with. Mr John Grubb proposed Mr Joseph Ward, which was seconded by Mr S. E. Wright. Mr J. S. Jenkins asked the Chairman whether, as an interested party, he could pretide. The Chairman said that under the Act he was bound to preside. Mr WnxKitf proposed Mr K. England, which was seconded by Mr J. P. Oliver. Mr Weastall proposed Mr Thomas Merson, which was seconded by Mr M. Carrol. Mr D'Otly, the solicitor to the Council, Mtated it as his opinion that the Chairman had no power to receive the nomination of Mr Pitcaithley. Mr Pitcaithley said he should enter his protest against the proceedings if he were Dot allowed the right of being nominated. He pud the rates, and he considered he had a right to claim to have the nomination received. The Chairman said he should decide that the nomination could not be received, and called for a show of hands for the other candidates.. Mr C. Littlecott said that the body of the ratepayers were not satisfied with the decision arrived at by the Chairman. Mr Pitcaithley moved that Mr J. S. Wilcox take the chair. He considered'the Chairman bad no right to dictate to the meeting. The resolution was not seconded, and after a little good humoured chaff, the show of hands was proceeded with, with the following'result Grnbb ... 9 Hill 11 Eoper 7 Cummins 11 Chalmers ... 11 • Allwright 14 Ward 7 K. England 15 Merson 16 A poll was demanded by four ratepayers on behalf of Mr Roper, which takeß place this day from 10 a.m. to 4 p m. Messrs W. Graham and T. S. Jenkins were elected as scrutineers for tbe polling. The Chajkman then read the balance-sheet, from which it appeared that the receipts from Jan. 1 1867, to Dec. 31st, had been £2,328 16s 3d, and the expenditure for the same period £2,151 17s 7d, leaving a balance in favour on tfcat date of £176 17s Bd, which had been increased up to the present date to £604 10s 7d.

Messrs Beaumont and Woledge were appointed as auditors. MrE. A. Hargbbates moved "That the meeting do now adjourn till 6 p.m., for the purpose of allowing the candidates to give a sketch of their policy," this was seconded by Mr Harris and carried, and the meeting dispersed.