MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10969, 25 November 1897, Page 3

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

THE CITY,

The intere&t manifested by the public in the contest for the mayoralty of the city for the ensuiug term at no time during the election procaedings reached that point at which excitement may be said to begin. The meetings addressed

!by the caudidatss were languid gatherings in i wh'ch the audieuces were rather limited, and the polling yesterday was conducted in a very quieb manner. There were four candidate, three of whom based their claims to the suffrages of the ratepayers on the service they have rendered to them as members of the council for several yearp. These gentlemen were Mr James Gore (a former occupant of ths mayoral chair), Mr H. F. Hardy, and Mr W. Swan. The fourth candidate waa Mr E. B. Cargill, who had offered himself as a candidate upon ths invitation of a number of his. fellow cit zens, to whom it had occurred thnt.it would be peculiarly appropriate that the office of the mayoralty should be!held during the year of Otago's Jubilee by the son of Captaiu Cargill, one of the pioneers of the province—the Aaron.oi the settlement, as the late Dr Stuai-t was wont to describe hipj. From the begiuniug of the contest it was evident that. Mr Cai'gill'a personality and the sentiment which his caudiditure satisfied made him a formidable opponent for the strongest of tbe tiio arrayed in the field against him, and all through those who"had urged him to place his RervicoK at the disposal'of thovratepayers had been quistly confident of his'_ success,,, Mr Swan was regarded as the most dangerous of the other candidates, for it was known that he h&d mode a very diligent canvass pi' the city, and obfcaiaed large promises of support from ratepayers iv Leith Ward—his own ward, and fartne mo^t populous of ths subdivisions of the city,—but Mr Gore's chances bad slbo come during the latter' days of the contest to be viewed with a good ita'tl'qf favour, and this was regarded as rather a weakening of Mr Swan's prospects, and consequently as a atrriigfche'uing of the chances of Mr Cargill. Jvlr Hardy, having declined to resort to the ordinary electioneering tactic* of forming committees and canvassing the burgesses', was never thought to have more than what, in phraseology, would be described as ths most extreme of outside shows. He who would win an election must, whether he liked'it or not;, have recourse to the tricky and dodges incidental to electioneering. While Mr Hardy reiiod oi) his friends coming unsolicited to the polling'booth to record their suffrages in his favour, the committeos of the other candidates worked.energetics.Uy yesterday to bring to <hs poll those who wers believed to be favourable to tbeir men, and several vehicles were employed co that end; As the <iay wore on, it bedims' evident :to those who were opposed to Mr (Vgi" thftt the profa&bililiies of tbab gentleman* i-eturn were greater than they had reckoriad upon, aad by the tim? the poll closed it was recognised in the best-infnrmed ..quarters that the miyor foe the ensuing year, had bsen elected from outskla thd council ifcself. There was, however, by no rneins a h>iavy poll, t-bu number jf' ratepayers who exercised their privileges laing, ill tact, comparatively small. The total aumbnr of names po. the bargees roll ws.s 24-50, jut the possible vnts w&s less th».u thsfe i by2so, ;his figure representing the number of rat:> jayers who were'dither deud-or absent. The I'nmber who aeiuilly vetftd, howr-v^r, was only L 575, so that 'between 600 aad 700 ratepayers nku could have recorded their vote* did not do io.; The counting of the pAper* vmstffeotsd vith remarkable expedition, auri was eoiuplrted nach before thfl-.time at which the de<;!«.ration if the pell w*s looked for. As about 6.4-o'p.in.' he. Returning Officer (Mr W..8. Taylor) mr.ouuned tlie result of the polling to be as oilows:— . ' '■

Edward Bowes Cargill William Swan James Goro ... ' Henry F. Hardy ... Informal .... .

Votes' 604 143

Majority for Cargill

About a couple of. hundred parsons present in front of the Town Eali at the ijima, but the declaration of the figures evoked,no" demonstration whatever,- , •-..--. •,.

Mr. E. B. Cabgili,, addressing the public, said the figure's which had just been read to them showed that the citizens of Duiißdiu.had elected him by a very substantial ms^iity to the honourable position of mayor foe,.the eri«aing year.... He was gild to find that JtiV'did.. not misinterpret the requisition «hieh,w&s presented.to him'and the .gscernl-signs.■of-the. mind of the public incoming forward upon : that invitation to stand for ..the mayoralty.—(Hear, hear.) Perhaps tii a fact of the eleotion having been so keenly contested by several councillors who had,strong olaims to tnej offieß on grounds which they had stated had given a greater valtte to the result that had taken place in his ' favour, because it showed that his election was not only sucu^sd by a substantial majority of the people, but that it had been gained notwithstanding very g'tjehuous efforts ou the side of the opposition.—(Hear, hear.) He did not complain in atiy way of the opposition, and he was not there to utter one word of exultation over those who had not been' so fortunate as he. The election throughout had been conducted in a very tscellent spirit—the candidate* had agreed at the outset that no bed blcod should be introduced,.'add so far. as ho was concerned he had coi said any-, thing that would irritate any of his opponents or the friends of big opponents. He could oniy say (hat he was very grateful for the great honour that bad betn donohim, and that it would be his endeavour to the very utmost of his ability to fulfil the duties of the high office to which he had boeu elected; and he trusted that those who had opposed him in i the election he would find sfciuciing ty him iv j doing all that "would make for tiiat progress i which was the one <lcaiia of them all.—(Hear, ! hear.) . !

Mr W. Swan s*id lie nsed not state .that he was proud of the position hfi occupied on the poll—(hear, heari,—although h« ■ would have been much, prouder if ha had bsen tbe successful candidate.'- Hawe-ver, that wa« tho first occasion on which Jse had aspired vo lh« otSce of mayor, and ho hoped that ha Biigat bs mos-e successful on -the. next occasion.— (Hssir, hear.) He had very little to s;ty beyoud to cbauk those V7bo had been good enough to giychim their support and voles at that, election, and he: thanked his .committee and friends: for the very active part they took in endeavouring to secure his return. He trusted, if• spared, that he would be more aucesssfu! next'year; and that the"ratepayers yrould then see-tiseii; way to give him their support aud -pub him at the top of tha poll. ■ Although Mr Cargill had uot received the support of tbe mcjoi-ity of the ratepayers, that gentleman had been able to record the largest uuinhec of votes, aud he (Mr Swan) as a councillor would be willing and most happy to give him any assistance that Jay in hia power during his term of office.—(Hear, hear.) Mr H. F. Hardy :, I beg to thank the gentlemen who v^ted forinß, and'l beg to propose a vote or thanks to the returning officer.

Mr Swan seconded the vote of thanks. Mr Gore was nob pr«sout at the declaration of the poll. '

cavehsham. Considerable interest was evinced in the mayoral election for this borough. The polling was ss follows :—. ■; Howict K-y Wilkinson ... ... '132 ' William Bridgman 122 Informal, 1. Mr Wilkinson briefly thanked his supporters, and said thft Borouph of Cavershatn hnd a reputation lor its progressive, spirit, which reputation he considered they had sustained in returning him aa mayor. He assured them he would do his best to farther the interests, of the borough-and to carry out needed reforms. Mr Bbidgman also spoke a few words, stating tho result was rather unexpected. . The customary vote of thanks to' the returniDg officer concluded the? proceedings. ..-'■SOUTH DtWEDIN. . . The polling for toe mayoralty of South Duuedin created a good deal of interent, and, as the result of the voting showed, the contest was very keen. Tha actual figures are: — Chaa. Fisher 223 I Thomas Fiddes ... 217 | Majority for. Fisher, 6. Both candidates briefly returned thanks. Mr Fishek stated that he was pleased the ratepayers had shown th>.t they still reposed cijuiidence iv him. aud he hoped tbat a(; the and' cf hia term ot office hia conduct would have been such that would fully prove that their confidence had not been misplaced. MORNIXGTON. A good deal of infcuresfc was taken in.the conteat in this borough, and some 229 ratepayers recorded their vct«s. At about 20 mitmties past 6 tbe resnmin£ officer (Mr Francis 13. Smith) declared the result of the polling to be as follows :— I

William Dawe Frank Anderson

Majority for Dawe, 67,

Mr Dawe expressed his thanks to the ratepayers for having placed him at the head of the poll, and stated that he would do his ba*t to perform all the duties appertaining to the position to which he. barf been elected.

Mr Anderson also briefly thanked those who hp.d voted for him. He understood that certain iuflueiiceß had been at work in the contest which should not influence municipal or political elections. Ho etrongly objected to canvassing for votes, and asserted that the ratepayers ought to go to ths poll and record their votes unsolicited. Hu himself had neither had a committee nor had ho ray.de a person*! canvass.

The besfc feeling existed between himself and the other candidate, and the election had bsen conducted in a friendly spirit. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the returning officer. ROSLYN.. Mr W<;dge, the returning officer, announced the result shortly after 7 p.m. to be as follows: D. Scott 228 L, Kemnilz ... 224 Informal, 1. MAORI HILL. The polling at Maori Hill resulted in the return of Mr John Pollock, who polled 86 vote 3, while Mr William Robertson, his opponent, polled 63. I . NORTH-EAST VALLEY. The polling for the position of, mayor of the North-East Valley reeulted as follows :— John Bvaus 229 Joseph Eli White ... 110 Majority for John Evans, 119. There was one informal vote, and the result when declared was received with applause. Mr Evans thanked thote who had votad for him for plncing him in the position they had and for the very handsome majority they had irivon him. It showed they had confidence in him, and he could assure them that ho would do his duty in" the position they had called him to. Mr White returned his sincere thanks to the ratepayers who had recorded their votes in his favour. He had done his best to win, but the electors had given the preference to the one who had occupied a position in the council. He proposed a vote of thanks to the rsouming officer, and this was acconde:! by Mr Evans. There were 307 yotes cast last year as against 340 this. ■ FORT CHALMERS. Tbe election ot mayor tor the ensuing year took place yesterday, and, with the exception of a few conveyances dritriug about the Tort, a stranger would uofc have though!; anything uausuil was taking place. The candidates were Mr W. M. Inne.s (the present mayor) »ud Mr John Mill. At 645 p.m. the Returning Officer (Mr Leek) declared the -following result in front o: the Town Hill, over 100 persons being pzeient:—

John Mill ... William Martin Innes Informal

Majority for Mill, 37.

Me Mill thanked the ratepayer* for the high position fchsy lml placed him ia'as mayor of tha town. He would do bin best to merit thair confidence. Ha assured them that any matter brought under bis notice for the welfare of ihe town should have his earnest attention. It was a vary grss.t honour to be returned, considering he had uevec beeu a couucillor. He had not solicited a single vote, but had left it to the goad sense of the electors. He was ou the best of friendship with Mr Innes, which he trusted would continue. Mr Innes had done good yco-. man work for the town, and be trusted Mr Innes wuuld do more iv the future. There was a great difference between fbe mayor, who had to do hi* be'.t for the whole of the ratepayers, and the councillors! .who had to do their upmost for the wards they represented. He agx-ia thanked them.—(Cheers.)

Mr Innes said he w*s the defeated candidate, but he did not take it hard, as he had. bjeu defeated ou other oecisions. ?<lr SJiil bad stated that he had not solicited a single vole, but fee did «ot fay the number of friends who had been working for him The ratepayers had elected Mr Mill, and be bowed.to their decision. He thanked those iadien and gentlemen who had, voted for him, anrl proposed a vote of thanks to the returning officer, which waa seconded by Mr Mill.

[By Tklegkaph.]

Campbblltown.—air J. G. Ward defeated Mr S. Nichol, t.ha retiring'm»yor, by 12 votes.

V/asmasui.—H*l-.ricfc 402 Liffioou 169. Hil.rick was returned hy <t majority of 233

Kaiapoi.—J. L. Wi'so^ 125, William Doabledav 95 votes.

Sstdesham.—N. K. Bowden 284, Jamss Porresser 510. . '' ....

Balcltjtha.—D. T. ' Fleming..' 123, John M'.'-eiil 74-; majority 49. The election has no local siguiQcauce so far sa the question oi prohibition is concerned.

Gobe. —Dr Jamsa Copland 165, D. R, Poppelwell 112 ; majority for Dr Copland 53.

.Ashburton —:OhailßS Read elected xviih 181 vot>-s against W. H. Coilms 116 ; majority 65.

Westport—The mayoral election reguitsd in the retucu of Mr .Jam^a Coivin, the voting beinft—Colvia 294, Uttey 129. ..

V/bllisgton.—J. E. Blair 1359,. G. Fisher 578. SiJeakirjg after the. declaration, Mr Fisher said no one had had to fight the power he had. He would taice care the municipal franchise was altered, and then the resiiStwonl'd be different. Mr C. T. Brown was elected mayor of Melrose and' Mr. W. A. Fitzherbert of Hutt. . , ~