MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

CHRISTCHURCH. The official declaration of the result of the polling for Mayor of Christchurch took place at noon yesterday, when there was a very large gathering of the public. Punctually at noon Mr G. L. Lee, the Returning Officer, came forward and announced the state of the toll to be as follows: — C. P. Hulbert 671 A. Ayers 496 Majority for Mr Hulbert... 175 He had therefore to declare Mr Charles Partridge flulbert duly elected as Mayor of Christchurch for the ensuing year. [Cheers.] Mr Hulbert said it was unnecessary for him to say alike for himself and on behalf of his friends that he was exceedingly gratified at the result of the election. It had proved that the citizens had confidence in him, and he thanked them most heartily. Now that the election, which had been fought out by both sides was over, he trusted that those who had opposed him would assist him in carrying out the duties of the office. He would not thank them further now, but would endeavor by carrying out the duties of Mayor to which they had elected him in such a way as to deserve their thanks at the end of his term of office to prove how deeply he felt the honor they had conferred on him. There was just one question to which he desired to refer, and that was the method of election at these municipal contests. As they were now conducted the ballot was a farce, as the citizens were worried and badgered into voting by paid canvassers, who seemed to delight in lying and traducing the character of the "candidate opposed to the one for whom they were employed. He would, if possible, like to see all paid canvassing put down by law. That the citizens themselves were in favor of this was shown most conclusively by the fact that nothing like the number who had signed the requisition to his apponent had recorded their votes in his favor. He would not detain them longer, but thank them most heartily for the proud position in which they had that day placed him. [Cheers .1 Mr Ayers said that he desired to congratulate the Mayor elect upon the very proud position he -now held. It was a position he would have liked to have been able to hold, but he did not intend to cry. If they thought he could not take a licking as well as give one, they were mistaken. He desired to thank the 496 ladies and gentlemen who had recorded their votes in his favor. He had sat with theJMayor elect in the Council, and a better worker he had never met. [Cheers.] He had no doubt he would fill the onerous position of Mayor with dignity and credit, and that at the end of the term they would, like him so well that he would be asked to take a second year of office. With regard to what Mr Hulbert had said on the subject of the ballot, he (Mr Ayers) entirely agreed with him. He would like to see it made penal for any man to solicit votes except through the newspapers or on tho public platform— [cheers]—and he would make one to go round with a petition to the Government to bring in an Act to make the law. So far as he was concerned he had endeavored to serve them faithfully in the Council for six years, and he would still continue to do so to the end of his term. [Cheers.] He would do his best to support the Mayor elect whilst there [cheers], and endeavor,if possible, to reduce the rate 3 and generally advance the interest- of the citizens. He now proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning-Ofiicer, whose efficiency in the

discharge of his duties and strict impartiality went without saying. [Cheers.] Mr Hu-bebt seconded the vote of thanks, which was duly acknowledged by Mr Lee, and the proceedings terminated.