MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

■ ♦ — OHRISTOHUROH. The polling for the Mayoralty, which commenced yesterday at 9 a.m., created considerable interest, and during the morning both parties were busily engaged. In the morning it was conjectured that Mr Ayers was ahead. During the afternoon the friends of both candidates put on extra energy, and the numerous cabs engaged were hurried off in all directions to pick up dilatory voters. Ladies were brought up as well as gentlemen, and till the last moment arrivals kept taking place. It was now generally rumoured that the majority of afternoon voters was in favour of Mr Gapes. As the clock began to strike six, two burgeßses had reached the door, which, however, waß slammed in their faces. Mr Gapes claimed these as two of hia friends, and avowed the intention of testing their right to vote should the result be so close as to turn upon their admission to the polling-room. The utmost good humour prevailed throughout tho day, and everything was conducted in a most orderly manner. The crowd remained hanging about the placa till a late hour, but no statement of any kind was made as to the result ; not even the semi-official one which generally has been posted up in the Municipal elections. It was, however, rumoured in town that Gapes had a majority of 119, and we have reason to believe that the numbera were — Gapes 558 Ayera 439 Majority for Gapes ... 119 We understand that the written copy of the roll, aa supplied to the Returning Officer, proved to be anything but satisfactory ; and that, at any rates, several gentlemen who attended to record their votes bad to experience the unpleasant sensation of finding that their names had been omitted. SYDENHAM. Very little excitement was manifested in the Borough of Sydenham over the contest. Occasionally a few people were to be seen assembled around the Borough Council chambers, but during moßt of the day there was hardly any sign of an election visible. Between 5 and 6 p.m. thero was a small rush of voters, and at six the poll closed. At seven o'clock the Returning Officer (Mr C. Allison) declared the result of the polling, as follows : — John Thompson Brown ... 161 John Joyce 104 Majority for Brown... 57 A small crowd of about 50 persona were present to hear the declaration of the poll. Mr Brown explained tho reaßon for hia contesting the election. He thanked the electora for returning him, and could assure thorn that he would do tha best in hia power for the Borough. The past year of his mayoralty had been a very unfortunate one for trouble and distreßß of all kinds, but he hoped the coming ono would be different, and no effort would be wanting on hia part fco make thinga successful. Mr Joyce said that he considered he owed both his candidature and his defeat to Mr Brown. If that gentleman had thought of standing he should have informed him (Mr Joyce), and he would never have gone to the poll. He had asked Mr Brown to convene a public meeting, at which he would have retired, and explained his reason to the burgesses, but. he was told that it would be bolter to let tho matter go, and the regult waß thatout of 1400 ratepayers less than 300 had voted. Thero was no necessity for Mr Brown to have acted ae ho had done, as if he (Mr Joyce) had known beforo the nomination that Mr Brown intended to stand, he would have supported him. He thanked those who had voted for him, and did not envy Mr Brown his position. He would move a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. Mr Brown said that he considered after he had been nominated, he was bound in honour not to withdraw in opposition to the wishes of those who supported him. He had other very strong reasons for contesting tho election, which he should not like, for the sake of some, to have to explain. [A Voico *. ,c What are thoy ? Explain them !"] Mr Brown : " Well, if the truth must be told, I came forward to keep out William Charters." (Cheers and uproar.) Mr Brown thon seconded the voto of thanks to tho Returning Officer. Mr Allison briefly acknowledged tho voto, and expressed regret that ao little interest had been taken in the election. The proceedings then terminated.