THE MAYORALTY ELECTION.

Yostorday thcro was great excitomont in town over tho annual election to the Mayoralty, tho contest between Messrs Sumptor and Steward being one of the sharpest which has been seen here for yoars. Gonorally tho fight was a goodhumored one, though election squibs were plentiful, and cabs and expresses flying about the streets gave things ft pretty livoly appearance. Both sidei worked hard, and fully ninety per cont. of tho available votes wore polled, Thoro was not a little botting about tho ovenl, both sides being pretty confident at the commencement, but towards the afternoon it appeared to be generally thought that a win for Mr Steward was protty certain, and tho only question was by how much. About half-past 5 p.m. all doubt on tho point wai dispelled by tho declaration of tho result by tho Returning Ofticor (Or. Gibbs) as follows, viz. : — Steward, 230 ; Sumptor, 185 ; ma» jority for Steward, 45. The following is tho detailed result :—

Mr Steward (who was received with cheers) thankod the citizens for the honor they had done him in returning him attain as their Mayor, and stated that ho had the satisfaction of knowing that throughout a very sharp contest there had bpon nothing said either by himself or by the gentleman who had stood in opposition to him which could give pain or annoyance to either. The issue which had been really before the electors was purely a personal one, namely, the question whether Mr Sumptor or himself should under pre sent circumstances be returned — there being no question of principle of any tart at stake — and ho felt quite suro- that, had Mr Sumpter, instead of himself, been at the head of the poll* the duties of the office would have been as faithfully discharged as he (Mr Steward) hoped to discharge them. This was the last occasion on which ho expected to have to thank them in his present capacity, and next year Mr Sumpter would, so far as ho was concorned, have a f roo innings against whoever else chose to enter the lists, but this year he would have shirked his duty had he not responded to the invitation which he had received, as well from the Council as from the citizens, to place his services at their disposal. There had been, us usual at election times, a good deal of harmless chaff, and perhaps a little of a less innocent nature, but that would soon all bo forgotten, and he had now only to thank them for placing him at the head of the poll, and to express the hope that when lie went out of office noxt year he should leave the town, financially and otherwise, in a bettor condition than it was to-day. (Cheers.) Mr Sumptor (who was also received with loud cheers) said he occupied a position which was necessarily not the most pleasant, namely, that of the defeated candidate, but as he had como somewhat late into the field he scarcely expected any other result. He thankod those who had recorded their votes in his favor, and expressed the belief that the gentleman whom they had elected to the Mayoral chair would do his best faithfully to fulfil the duties of the office. (Cheers.) A voto of thanks to the Returning Of H cor, proposod by Mr Steward, and seconded by Mr Sumptor, closed the proceedings, and the crowd, which was the largest seen at any oloction in Oamaru for years past, speedily dispersed.

Thames "Ward ■ Jetty Ward Severn Ward High Ward S Steward 60 43 69 58 I. S sumpt 46 38 62 39 ter. 230 185