THE CONTEST FOE THE MAYORALTY.

(FEO3I THE WEST COAST TOIES, OCT. 22.) The contest for the Mayoralty has resulted in the election of Mr Shaw, by a majority of twelve over Mr Button, and of seventy-five over Mr Prosser. The numbers polled were for Mr Shaw, 205 ; for Mr Button, 193; and for Mr Prosser, 130. At the election for the Municipal Council held some ten days back, Mr Shaw polled precisely the same number of votes that he did yesterday in his candidature for the Mayoralty. Mr Prosser's votes were within 84 of the number recorded in his favor on the 10th iust. The votes for Mr Button yesterday, were na less than one hundred and tirenty-seven short of the number polled for him last week. The numbers may be more clearly put thus : —

A larger number of electors polled yesterday than on the previous occasion, 528 single votes being recorded. If the interests represented by Mr Prosser and Mr Shaw, had not been divided by two gentlemen . having precisely the same claims to honor at the hands of their fellow citizens, the numbers would have stood for Mr Button, 193; against him, 335. The result is very satisfactory as the vindication of a great public principle. We are glad to see that the trading interest has triumphed, as ie ought to have done in a commercial town. We believe that if either Mr Prosser or Mr Shaw had stood alone against Mr Button, either of them would have polled the total of votes now recorded for them both. Under all the circumstances of the case Mr Prosser stands unexpectedly high on the poll. In civic preferment, there is a necessary order of time. We can have but one Mayor a year. But year follows year, and the civic chair is occupied by a certain succession, according to all Municipal common-law. Air Shaw will, however, probably enjoy the distinction of being the last, as well as the first Mayor of Hokitika. elected to that high office by the popu'ar vote of the citizens. The present ordinance is validated until the end of the nest session of the General Assemby only. Oar future M.m.cipil Government may have to be established ou the basis of the new Act just passed by the Assembly, which confers upon the Municipal Council the power of electing the Mayors of Boroughs. We trust that with the close of this contest all anger of feeling thit has been engendered during it will cease. We believe that Mr Shaw will make a useful, practical, Mayor, and he will have the advantage of being surrounded by Councillors of intelligence, ability, and industry. If at the termination of his year of office, he has been found to fulfil the expectations that have been formed of him by his supporters, he will retire with '.honor to himself a3 a faithful public citizen. Like any other public man, however, tho new Mayor must never be allowed to forget that all political distinctions are political trusts; that the highest civic office is not conferred upon a man as a mere compliment ; and that public responsibility is proportioned to the public confidence reposed. In what may be called almost the infancy of our Municipal institutions, and* at a time when \\\e Municipal principle of government is likely to receive a much larger development than has hitherto been allowed to it, it is of the utmost importance that a man holding a position so responsible as that of the Chief Magistrate of a capital town, should be amenable to the fullest extent to a legitimate public criticism. We will only say, in conclusion, that we hope Mr Shaw's conduct in the civic chair will be, throughout his term of office, such as will justify the marked and flattering confidence that has been reposed in him by his fellow citizens.

ihaiv ... Jutton 'rosser COTTNCIIIOE. MATOE. ... 205 205 ... 320 193 , ... 214 130 Equal. Less 12: Le-sB4