THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Southland Times, Issue 2482, 22 July 1876, Page 2

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

o • A contested election for the office of Mayor in most towns is an occasion for a good deal of oxcitement. Yesterday, however.in In veroargill, though there were three candidates for this honorable office, there was little in the streets to indicate that anything particular was going on. Opinions geemod to be nearly equally divided between Messrs Cuthbertson and Matthews, as to which would be likely to head the poll. Several vehicles rattled along the streets, bringing the voters up to one or other of the four polling places at the Council Chamber, j the Oddfellows' Hall, the Wesleyan Methodist Schoolroom, and the pollingroom for the South Ward ; but there was apparently only one of the trupa placarded with Mr Cuthbertson's name, one with Mr Cleaves, and the rest were in the interest of Air Matthews, who was in possession of almost all the rolling stock of the town, and in fact did almost all the conveyancing business during the day. The booths were closed at 4 o'clock, and it was currently reported that the state of the poll would not be declared until about half-past sor 6 o'clock. There were not more than a hundred persons present outside the Council Chamber, therefore, at half-past 4, when the door was thrown open and those present rushed in. The Mayor then announced the state of the poll to be as follows :— Cuthbertson 266 Matthews 108 Cleave 75 He therefore declared John Robert Cuth bertson duly elected Mayor of Invercargill for the year ending the 31at July, 1877. He had now to state that if any of the candidates who might be present desired to address the ratepayers, they had an opportunity of doing so. For two or three minutes there was the silence of a quakers' meeting— Mr Cleave, who was the only candidate present,, not making

any sign. The ratepayers had scarcely left the hall before there was a rush back again, as Mr Wade, and two or three other energetic gentlemen, had deter mined to have- speeches from the candidates in the old British style, and with almost miraculous adroitness had rounded up about a huudred and fifty ratepayers, bagged a couple of mayoral candidates, and were driving them into the Council Hall. The Mayor (Mr, MitcEell) with his usual courtesy, resumed his seat, and again declaimed the state of the poll, which was received w; .th emphatic cheers. Mr "Cufchbertson returned thanks for the 'honor done him. He said it was peculiarly grateful to him in consequence of Mb not having solicited a single vote. Tho ratepayers had judged for themselves as to whom they considered the most suitable person to direct their local affairs. He was aware that he was at a disadvantage in being the successor of the present Mayor, who had filled his office with great success, dignity, and imparti-. ality. He hoped that when he retired from the office he would do so with a? much of the good will of all parties as Mr Mitchell had, and in a few days he would begin to set to work. (Cheers). Mr Matthews merely thanked the 108 ratepayers who voted for him, and made no further remarks. Mr Cleave was apparently not present. Mr Cuthbertson then moved, and Mr Matthews seconded, a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Mitchell responded. He believed that Mr Cuthbertson would do his duty, aa he himself had tried to do. The office of Mayor was not one of mere honor, but also involved a vast deal of work. It did not require only one night a week, but what he had devoted to it, six nights a week. He had no doubt from the large majority of votes given to Mr Cuthbertson that the ratepayers believed that he would exert himself in a similar manner. After three oheers had been given for tho Mayor, the ratepayers dispersed. The following are the details of the voting in the respective wards : —

There were only two informal votes rejected. It was stated in the talk of the town that one circumstance which increased the majority of Mr Cuthbertson was the foolish attempt made by our evening contemporary to convert this into a political election, by referring to Mr Cuthbertson's being in a minority at the contest for the representation of Invercareill in Parliament last December, and treating his candidature as a futile attempt to rehabilitate himself in public opinion.

Cuthbertson Matthews Clears NorthWard 47 31 30 Second do 100 37 25 Third do 74 23 12 South do 45 17 8 266 108 75