Election of Mayor.

CHRISTCHURCH. At noon to-day, the hour for the nomination of Mayor for the city of Christchurch, the only candidate proposed for the office was Mr C. P. Hulbert, the present Mayor, who was accordingly declared duly elected by the Returning Officer, Mr G. L. Lee. Several citizens were present, and Mr Hulbert .briefly addressed them, saying that he considered the citizens had honoured him by desiring that he should occupy his present position for a second term, and also re-electing him without opposition. Taking these two circumstances into consideration, it might fairly be claimed as a proof that his actions in the past bad met with the approval of the

! ratepayers, and he could only promise in the j future to endeavour, by giving his best I attention to the interests of the city, to ' deserve a continuance of their confidence. ', He did not wish to weary them with a i speech, but there was one matter of public : interest to which he should like to refer. The City Council would shortly be asking the ratepayers to allow them to borrow a j small sum for necessary permanent works, ' and he hoped the ratepayers would agree with the Council and vote for it. i There would be no necessity for ! striking a special rate, the interest for the loan could be paid out of i the general rate, and he believed it ! would be quite possible that that rate ! need not be increased for this purpose. : He thought they would agree with him that if they were to progress and keep , pace with the times, and with the other • towns of New Zealand, and render Christ- j chnrch an attractive and desirable place ! of residence, they must improve. It did not seem just to him that the present handful of ratepayers* should be called upon to put their hands in .their pockets every year for permanent improvements, from which their children and grandchildren would reap as much advantage jas themselves. He begged to move a vote . of thanks to the Returning Officer. ! The vote was carried unanimously and ; briefly acknowledged by Mr Lee. After the formal declaration, a number ■ of the members of the Council and other , principal citizens met in the Council j Chamber, by the invitation of his Worship, i and the health of the Mayor was drunk in ) champagne. The health of the officers of ! the Council, of the members of Parliament for Christchurch, and other toasts were also honoured. Among those present were j Messrs J. Holmes and F. J. Garrick, | M.H.R.S, F. Hobbs, H. Sawtell, J. Ollivier, ; G. L. Lee, and R. Bishop.