RETURN OF MESSRS. JAMES HARRIS, G. STAINES, AND JOHN GRAHAM.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3403, 12 June 1868, Page 3

RETURN OF MESSRS. JAMES HARRIS, G. STAINES, AND JOHN GRAHAM.

A public meeting. of the eleotors of East Ward No. 1, and Westwards Nob. 2 and 3, was held yesterday in the City Board room, Canada Buildings, for the purpoie of electing members to serve on tho City Board of. Commissioners for the laid wards. At the hour appointed for the meeting, noon, the dee]), interest entertained in the affair by the electors of the three populous wards above mentioned was evinced by the fact that there were exactly fifteen persons present, including the City Board Returning Officer, G. M. O'Rorke, Esq.; the collector, Mr. J* W. Diddams ; and the,gentl'emen of the Press. ■The Returning ' Ojtjcer informed the meeting that three vacancies had occurred in the ranks of the Board, by the retirement of Messrs. Harris, Bugden, and Green way, in comeqnence of effioxion of time. Se then read the notice convening the meeting, and called upon the electors of East "Ward No. 1 • to elect a fit and proper person to represent that - division in, the City Board. He also intimated that it would be desirable that the proposer and seconder should in each, case give their nances, so as to enable him to ascertain whether or uot their names were on the electoral roll. Considerable delay then ensued, the respective candidates and the electors apparently labouring* under mutual modesty and diffidence. Mr.. O'Rorke : If no candidate is proposed* I shall have to proceed to the next Ward. Still, ho.weyer, as yet no elector had mustered sufficient confidence to step forward and propose the. man of his choice j and for another brief interval some of the members congregated in little knots,, and held mysterious consultations^ while other* looked on with mingled anxiety and surprise. At length, the painful suspense that had hung over the meeting was dispelled, for an elector was seen to rise. Mr. Benjamin Dobson broke the silence by proposing Mr. James Harris as a n't and proper person, to represent East Ward No. 1 in the City Board of Commissioner*. ' Mr. O'Robke : Who seconds that proposal? Another omiuous silence of some minutes ensued* but at length Mr. Asheb Ashes, in compliance with the urgent request of some of those who stood near him^ came forward and seconded the proposal. Mr. O'Rorke : I do not think you are on the roll for East Ward No. 1. (After examining the roll}— I find that Mr. Asher Asher does not belong to that Ward. Another and still longer delay ensued, during* which the several little knots appeared to be absorbed in speculating on the probable result of the affair. Mr. O'Rorke : Does no one second Mr. Dobson'a propoaa.l? Well, I will let them stand over, and proceed to the next Ward. At a subsequent stage, when West Wards Not. % and 3 had been disposed of, The Rbturhing Oi^iobr inquired if any elector oould be found to second the nomination of Mr. James Harris. Mr. Bartlbt: I think, Mr. O'Rorke, I can bring in a seconder in a few minutes. — Mr. Harris's proposer then sallied out in quest of some good-natured elector who could be induced to extricate him from 1 the horns of a dilemma. After an interval of a few minutes, during which the electors displayed the most exemplary patience and resignation, Mr. Bartley returned, triumphantly ushering in Mr. Hampton. ' No sooner, however, did Mr. Diddams espy the V coming man" than he pounced upon him, and led, him out into the passage, where a mysterious consultation took place between the parties. Repeated calls were made for the much-needed seconder, but he remained deaf to the most auasive invitations. Mr. Didbamb shortly afterwards returned alone to the room, and announced that Mr. Hampton declined to appear so prominently before his brother electors. Mr. O'Robki : I shall have to call a fresh meeting unless some seconder comes forward. I shall no.t wait beyond the half -hour. j Mr. Dobson (going out) : Well, Wll try it again. After another interval of nearly ten minutes, Mr. Dobson again returned— this time accompanied by mine host of the Q.C.E., Captain Freer. Mr. Babtlby : There, Mr. Freer will second it. Mr. Hill : Mr. Steers ? Why, he's gone. # Mr. Didiums (being suddenly inspired with the Promethean fire) : Mr. Steers is in arrears. Captain Freer formally seconded the proposal, and, no other candidate being bronght forward, Mr. Harris waa deolared to be duly elected.