MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 617, 30 November 1883, Page 10

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

RESULT OF THE POLLING. The contest between Mr G. Fisher and Mr W. Hutchison for election as Mayor of Wellington has excited unusual curiosity, as compared with previous contests,- on account of the intensely personal manner in which they attacked each other in public speeches. The contest assumed the character of a personal duel, the abuse becoming deplorably bitter towards the last day. It is a journalistic duty to record that this feature in the election to an honorable and useful office gave such general offence, that a large proportion of the ratepayers abstained from voting. The actual .number voting Wednesday was 1297, out of a total on the roll of of 2274. Making ample ‘allowance for contingencies in the election, it may be inferred that at least one-fourth of the ratepayers stood aloof from the contest for manifest reasons. The polling commenced Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock, and finished at 6, the votes being recorded in the Athenaeum Hall, where Mr James Ames presided as Returning Officer, assisted by three clerks, Messrs Cherritt, Millward, and Clinton. The scrutineers appointed by the candidates were Mr F. G. Petherick (for Mr Fisher) and Mr R. J. Duncan (for Mr Hutchison). Each candidate had a commit-tee-room, Mr Fisher’s being opposite the hall, and Mr Hutchison’s a few doors away on that side also. A lively crowd of observers, including some busy politicians whose faces are familiar on such occasions, occupied the footpaths all day, while cabs were flying about the city in the interest of the rival candidates. One amusing incident which occurred about noon is described below. Nothing else was worthy of record, during the voting, unless it be the activity of the the younger candidate, who worked through the day as if his life depended on the issue, showing immense zeal as a canvasser in hi 3 own interest. The older candidate took things easily, keeping a cheerful countenance, and not fluttering anxiously among the crowd, a 3 his more energetic rival seemed to do. It is said that lady relatives of one candidate exerted a gentle suasion with some stubborn voters, and did it with a success which affected the totals. Perhaps ladies on the other side had been equally busy on previous days. The voting closed at six o’clock, and the street soon became densely crowded with municipal politicians anxious to learn the result. A long time elapsed before the numbers were declared, and during this interval there was a some noisy fun caused by one or two zealots trying to do a little bunkum oratory. An extra force of police kept these and other demonstrations within bounds, though some flour-balls were thrown by larrikins dodging among the crowd. After waiting threequarters of an hour for the official declaration, Mr Ame 3 appeared at the Athenaeum door and announced the numbers thus : Fisher ... ... 924 Hutchison ... ... ... 363 He declared Mr Fisher duly elected as Mayor for the ensuing year. A loud burst of cheering greeted the announcement, mixed with some feeble groans.

The successful candidate then addressed the cheering and surging crowd from a balcony, as follows :—I am sure that no words I could U3e would sufficiently thank you for the exceedingly great honor which you have conferred upon me. (Cheers.) What man could possibly feel more proud than to be elected three times Mayor of the city of Wellington ? (Cheers.) I wish you to bear principally in mind that I do not, candidly and conscientiously, regard myself as the principal figure in this contest at all. It has been a contest between the people of this city and a particular combination. (Laughter.) And the people of the city, using me as the medium for the expression of their political opinions and beliefs, have expressed in no undecided manner that they intend in the future to rule the politics of this city, as they always ought to do. (Cheers.) It is usual to speak in terms of generous compliment of an opponent, and particularly so in the case of a defeated opponent. But I say—and I say it with much regret —that I cannot speak in any term 3 of compliment whatever of Mr. Hutchison. (Hear, bear. “ Shame.’’ “ Give it him hot.”) Mr Hutchison’s political days are ended. (Hear, hear. “Leave him alone.” “Bosh.”) Mr Hutchison (noise and personal disputes amongst the crowd) as a politician is a political sham ; and as an individual he is a cowardly and contemptible calumniator. For his utterances of last evening I would prosecute him criminally for malicious libel, if that would be any satisfaction to me ; and I would prosecute him civilly for libel, if it was not that I should recover—what ? (The expression here used ha 3 to be omitted from this report.) A man_ who introduces such subjects into his public speeches as Mr Hutchison introduced last night should be declared to be politically .dead for ever and ever. I am neither a prophet nor the eon of a prophet, but I venture to

predict that Mr Hutchison’s head will never again rise in the politics of the City of Wellington. (Applause and objecting noises.) I thank you most heartily for the very marked honor which you have conferred upon me; and I cannot do more to thank you for the votes recorded in my favor than to say I will, to the best of my ability, represent all sections of the city—not cMly those who have kindly voted for me to-day, but all those who voted against me. (Applause.) What does this victory mean ? It means that any man who follows out an honest political course may confidently rely ou the support of the people. For with whatreputation did I begin my small career in the City Council? None whatever. (Voice : “ Right you are.” Laughter.) But I have gradually, by a strict couise of conduct in the interest of the people, won their confidence, as I believe. (Cheers.) Mark the career of the otaer man. He had the confidence of the people to start with ; but they have found him out, and where is he now ? He has not only been defeated to-day, but he will sink day by day into most perfect political oblivion. That is the end of Mr Hutchison. The speaker then thanked his committee, and concluded amid cheers. The defeated candidate did not show himself to the crowd after the numbers were declared. Mr Petford, an old municipal politician, got on to the balcony of Mr Fisher’s committee room, and fixed himself up for a speech. It was a silent speech delivered in dumb show ; for though he shouted louldly, not a word could be heard amid the jeering applause of the crowd, who were now in the humor for noisy fun. Mr Petford talked some minutes against the uproar of jocular chaff, and then retired defeated. The noise quietened down, and soon another ambitious committee-man struck an oritorical attitude on the balcony, and announced that a demonstration was to be made in a certain street at 8 o’clock, to perform the funeral service of the Panama-street ring. This was greeted with laughter, and the crowd dispersed. Mr Fisher’s committee were confident of victory—so confident that odds of 10 to 1 were offered towards 5 o’clock, though the betting began in the morning at 6 to 4—and in their confident wisdom they arranged demonstrations of victory for the evening, before the evening brought the victory. They also enlivened the streets at noon wittna mock funeral cortdge. This was a great invention of its kind. An express van had been fitted up and draped to resemble a funeral hearse ; .one sidedecorated (or shall we say emblazon- d?) with skull aud cross-bones, the other tide marked with a large ring—suggestive of what ? The horse was covered to its heels with a black funeral cloth edged with white, indicating that the dear departed had d ed young, leaving many sorrowing friends. This grim and ghastly mockery cf a funeral car had a deadly-lively tenant on the box seat, who wore grave-clothes of like pattern with the boise, to which was superadded a fearfully white hat with black band of the Lord Lovel pattern. This resurrection coachman whipped his horse and drove his dead-cart along Panamastreet and into the busy thoroughfares, wailing aloud a sort of Irish-Maori tangL dirge. Such a lugubrious paraphernalia presented a dismal apparition in the busy streets at noonday, the effect being more harrowing from the unmusical sounds of the coachman’s doleful dirge—like the uncanny wailing of a disembodied spirit. The dead cart is supposed to have found its way to the Cemetery, though of this there is no official evidenceThe evening demonstration was also funereal, with a difference. The same busy committee had engagsd two bands ; and one of them started at 8 o’clock from the Fire Brigade Station in Manners-street, followed by a large and merry crowd, which whistled, and snouted, and roared out Salvation hymns. Pausing opposite'the office of an evening newspaper, the crowd gave three fearful groans, enough to the dead. Then they marched on, and cheered their sad hearts with more Salvation music,.till they reached Panama-street—a peculiar centre of attraction to some people during this election hubbub. Here the band played the Dead March, the crowd following in slow time ; and this solemn compliment having been paid to the dead echoes of election-day, the crowd marched on to livelier music. Soon they paused again—by this time a very large crowd had gathered—and opposite the office of this journal the procession halted. The band played “ See, the Conquering Hero Comes,” and loud cheers were . given for the New Zealand Times. They were masters of the situation. The band and the crowd then started off again for Hill-etreet, stopping opposite Mr Fisher’s house, and serauading him with several lively tunes of a victorious strain, intermixed with lusty cheers for the victorious candidate. Mr Fisher showed himself, and acknowledged the kindness of the electors. The band and the demonstrators then returned, meeting on their way a second band, the two keeping the city lively and merry till 10 o’clock. So ended a busy, noisy, and eventful day.

(united press association.) Ashburton, November 28. .Very little excitement has arisen over the Mayoral election. Mr D. Williamson, who has been in office for the two previous years, was elected for the third time, beating Mr A. Harrison by 26 votes. The polling was —Williamson, 112 ; Harrison, 86. Bluff, November 28. The Mayoral election to-day resulted in the election of Mr J. G. Ward, who has now been returned three times in succession. Westport, November 28. The Mayoral election to-day resulted in the return of Mr John Hughes by a majority of 89 over his opponent, Mr Wm. Struthers. Such a large majority was totally unexpected on both sides. Mr Myles McPadden was elected County Chairman. Christchurch, November 28. Mr H. J. Mathias was elected Chairman of the Selwyn County Council to-day. The result of the election for the Christchurch Mayoralty to-day was—Hulbert, 671 ; Ayers, 496. Lyttelton, November 28. The result of the election was—S. R. Webb, 158 ; McDonald, 157. Hokitika, November 28. The election for County Chairman has been postponed for a week. Mr W. L. Fowler has been declared elected to the Mayoralty for the third time.

Greymouth, November 28. In the Mayoralty election to-day Dupre defeated Thomas by 12 votes. There was no excitement. Dunedin, November 28.. Much interest was taken in the City Mayoral election to-day. The numbers polled were—Street, 815 ; Guthrie, 477 ; Spedding, 334. Invercargill, November 28. The Mayoral election to-day resulted as follows : Moir, 266 ; Froggart, 194 ; McDonald, 157. Mr J. G. Ward was elected Mayor for Campbelltown for the third term, and Mr R. Manesty, for East Invercargill, for the second term. Mr Thomas McGibbon was elected Chairman of the Southland County Council, and Mr H. Hirst for Wallace County Council. Oamaeu November 28. Mr „ Duncan Sutherland was, re-elected Chairman of the County Council to-day. He has held that office for a number of years. Wanganui, November 28. The Majoral election to-day resulted in the 4 re-election of Mr Gilbert Carson by a majority of twelve over Mr George Hutchison. The election was keenly contested, and great excitement ensued.