THE ELECTION.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1937, 21 July 1869, Page 2

THE ELECTION.

No civic election, since the Otago Munmi pa! Ordinance came into operation has excited so much interest as that which look place to-day. “Coming events cast ther shadows before, ” So it has been in respect to the contest for the Mayoral chair. For some weeks the question of “ Who is to be Mayor?” has forced itself, above all others, upon the public mind That the straggle would be a keen one w.ts early obs rvable ; but it was never anticipated that it would have been so fierce. Party feeling nd personalities were introduced to an unusual degree ; and the effect has been most injurious, not to say anything about the uupl asantuess. Although it may be doubted, we are in a position to state that this party feeling has been indulged in to such an extent as to interfere with business. We could mention several instances—some of them very ludicrous, but some very discreditable ; but we will not do so. Suffice it, that this party feeling ha« been carried too far on this occasion, and we hope that it will not be the case in future.

From the first it seemed to be acknowledged on all sides that the contest would lie between Messrs Fish and Birch. The supporters of these gentlemen had been acting most zealously during the week, and each side was determined to do its best. The chances of Messrs Dods and Millar were universally considered to be remote in the extreme, and their names were scarcely ever heard. At an early hour this morning cabs, with the badges “ Vote for Birch ” and “ Vote for Fish and no monopoly,” and “ Vote for Fish and progres ion ” paraded the streets to take voters to thepoh, and as the day wore on the interest in the election increased The advantage of taking votes by ballot was very strikingly shown throughout the whole proceedings. Although mens minds were on the stretch there was no disorder. They differed at times, but they did not quarrel. Those who were appointed by the different committees to present the cards of the candidates, did so with the evident conviction that when the card was given their dutyceased. and that having called the electors’ attention to the necessity for voting, all further pre-sing was useless. The common accompaniment to open voting, extensive treating wa> nearly ignored, and altogether the pioceeilinga were charactised by a sober eai neatness, based up m the determination of the friends of each candidate to secure their mao.

We were glad to no dee a revived interest on the part of the electors. It was viry apparent during the day’s proceeding. The eagerness with which ratepayers claimed to exercise the privilege of voting was very noticeable, and the loud grumblings of those who. from forgetlessness, or worse, forfeited that privilege, may be taken as an indication in the same direction. We do not remember so large a number of the citizens having lost that privilege during any previous year. That this has resulted from for-g-tfulness in a great many eases, we can readily believe,. but the conditions that have to he complied with to enable them to vote are so very simple, that the excuse is hardly receivable. For the benefit of those to whom we refer, it may not be out of place to s ate a few facts. In the first piace, it is only persons of the full age of tw* ntyonc years being resident in the city, who on the first day of June in each each year shall be seized of or 0.-cupy any land, house, warehouse, countinghousc, or shop within the city, either as owner or tenant, and whose name as such owner or occupier shall be inserted on the assessment,” that shall be entitled to be on the rod. Ano her section of the Ordinance provides that all rates shall be raid before the loth of June, to enable persons to he put on the roll; and a subsequent section enacts if his n m he not on the roll he is not entitled to vote. Of the many persons whose votes were refused to day, their rates had been paid a day or two too late, aud eon-equently their nam- 3 did not appear on the oil; and a good many did not possess the qualification in terms of section 9. Badness was nearly suspended ; of course in some trades where ladies were the customers, the usual attention was given to it, but wherever it was possible to defer private engagements, to the public duty of electing the chief officer of the City, they were postponed. The poll closed at 4 o’clock. The following shows the number of votes polled on the occasion of the two last contested elections. On July 22, 1869, there were four candidates, who polled as follows Harris 34U Turn r 27 3 Birch 206 Millar 101

Total .. . 914 On April 20, 1808, thwe were three candi dates, who polled as follow's : Birch .. ... ... 403 Driver 377 Grant 57

Total 837 The number of electors on the roll this year is about 2,500.

Mr Dods retired at an early part of the day.

Port Chalmers.— The poll has been declared—Mr Rolfe, 70; Dr O’Donoghue, 58

Tokomaiki- o.—Mr Edward Stewart is elect d Mayor by a majority of six.

Oamakc. —The nomination o candidate for the oflh-e of Mayor of O miani, took place at the Court-h mae. Oamani, mi Friday; there being a omit 70 ne sons present. Mr Samuel < iibbs, the late Ma\or, was proposed by Mr James Hassell, an! seconded by Mr John Falconer; and Mr William Luke was proposed by Mr George Harper, and seconded by Mr W. Bee. A show of hands being called or, it was taken with the following resuit: — ib s, 31 ; Luke, 12. A poll was demanded.

I a whence. — Mr Horace Bastings has been elected Mayor of Lawrence for the fourth tipi*.

H.W. L.W. S.W. B.W. Tl. Birch ... 211 113 115 129 568 Fish ... 163 88 162 101 514 Doils 29 ir> 8 22 74 Millar 12 12 1 13 38