MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Southland Times, Issue 3155, 23 July 1878, Page 2

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

The election, or Mayor for the ensuing year took place yesterdaj, There was not mach excitement visible, and bad lit not been foi the placards, ' Vote for Lumsden' on some vehicles, a stranger would not have recognised the fact that a contest was going on at all. At half past four the poll was declared at the Cquncjly Chambers. The crush was so great that numbers were {unable to gain entrance. The passage was filled with a surging crowd, who vainly struggled for admit , tance, and those lucky enouerh to get in were not much better cff than those outside. MrScandretfc the returning officer, declared the following result :— Mr Lumsdea Mr Hatch North Ward ... 55 61 Second Ward ... 99 86 Third Ward ... 79 41 South Ward ... 44 49 277 237 Majority for Mr Lumsden. 40. Mr Lumsden, in a very few words, thanked the ratepayers for the honor conferred upon him. Mr Hatch returned thanks to those who had voted for. him, and complimented the returning officer, Mr Scandrett, not only on bis fairness during the election, but for bis zeal and assiduity as town clerk. Mr Kingsland also addressed the ratepayers. He said he would not go into ihe whole question of the difference between the Mayor and Council, as Mr Hatch had spoken two and a half hours on it the other night. He might say that he had never seen so few facts wrapped up in so many words as on that occasion. He could however, if time permitted, rub off all the mud then so liberally flung. Mr Hatch's remarks as to the gas com* mittee, and his memoranda for presentation, were totally unfounded, and as for the Tramway Committee, Mr Hatch knew well enough that the meeting night was fiied in error, and that the Council accepted the explanation of that Committee, and further authorised them to proceed with their work. He also combated Mr Hatches statement that he (Mr Kingsland) bad opposed the Jetty siding. All that had been done was to advise the postponement of the matter. He challenged Mr Hatch to contest the election for the Council wiih him, and showed that it was considered expedient to place Mr Luinsden in the candidature. (Cheers ) A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, proposed by Mr Lumsden, and seconded by Mr Hatch, terminated the proceedings. The election of Mayor for North Invercargill, also came off yesterday, the rival candidates being MessrsGarmaon and Rose. The town is divided into two wards, but there was only one polling place, viz., in North "Ward. Polling proceeded quietly, and soon after the closing, hour the returning officer, Mr- De Joux, announced the return as under :— G-armson 44 Rose 37 Majority for Garmson ... 7 The election is however under dispute a ratepayer having lodged a protest agains its validity, on the grounds that no po! • ling place was provided in the South Ward. BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. (From correspondents.) RIVEftTOtf, Monday. The election of Mayor came off to-day, and was keenly contested by the supporters of the rival candidates, Messrs Murchie and T. Daniel. The poll was announced early as follows }-»• Murchie ... „, ... 70 Dnniel „. ... „. 45 Majority for Murohie ... 25 WINTON, Monday. Mr Donald McLeod was electe d Mayo to-day. '