THE ELECTION OF MATOR

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2227, 17 December 1875, Page 3

THE ELECTION OF MATOR

The.first election of. Mayor for'this borough under the new Act, which provides for tho election, being made by.the burgesses themselves instead; of the councillors as hitherto* took place yesterday.' Mr Eenshaw, who officiated as .returning officer on the occasion, opened the polling-booths in the' Cosmopolitan Hall, at 8 o'clock sharp, but for Borne time after that there were very few votes recorded. About 9 o'clock, however, the scene became more busy,-and there were the usual symptoms of an election. Cabs, 'busses, and carriages bearing the names of tho. candidates, were, driven hither and thither under the' guidance of members of committee in quest of voters. The candidates and their committees could be observed .busily engaged preparing themselves for the long contest before them. There was a general girding up of loins, . and although at this stage Mr Macdonald and his supporters were, considered mere enthusiasts without "the ghost of a show ". for their man, they set to work with a quiet determination and a superior organisation, which/showed that they were determined to "fight it out to the •,end. Posters and bills bearing various mottoes in his.'favour were stuck up in most conspicuous positions, one being to the effect that if Mr Macdonald won, the hospital would gain £150.- This was misundorstood Jby some, who supposed that Mr Macdonald would give the whole of the Mayor's salary to that .institution, but its real meaning was that Mr Maedonald would win £50 from Mr Macnab, and that the Government would supplement this at the rate of £2 to £1 in accordance with a former arrangement. Other reasons why Mr Macdbnald'should be elected. were' urged : with equal force. Mr Davies' committee confined them, selves to posters inviting the .burgesses to "vote for Davies," :but his' numerous friends, prominent amongst whom were members of the Borough 1 Council, worked energetically. •; in his favour, at first in a.bounceablo sort of a way, secure of winning, but-afterwards with more , caution-and determination. -Tlieir organisation:was not so good as that of their opponents, and; wo venture to say that, although Mr Macdonald started without a committee, it,was to the strenuous- exertions of his self-con-stituted committee that he owed his return yesterday.: But. to return to the •polling. In the, forenoon confidence in Mr Davies waß so strong that some bets at 4 to 1 in his favour were effected, but this liberality did not'lastlong, and before 12' o'clock it was,difficult to get' 2 to 1. Meanwhile Mr Macdonald's; chances appeared to be improving so much that he rose in favour, and his backers ac'oepted even money; and. from 1. o'clock to the close of the poll there was no! advahce'in price oa eithor, aide.- It.was evident then that the. contest'would be close, but up to 1 the last there was' a feeling even amongst the most" strenuous supporters that h6 would be defeated, although by a narrow majority. There were considerable crowds around the committee-rooms of both candidates during the day, who eagerly watched the arrival of the vehicles with; voters. There were ,the usual refreshments of beer, -bread and cheese, Ac, in each committee-room, and the beer-casks proved a great attraction to: many. In _ fact, towards evening there was quite a hilarious feeling apparent, which found vent in some instances in little speeches, setting forth the merits of' the candidates ■whom they favoured orwhose beer they drunk, The arrangements inside were effective. There; were two polliag booths, No. .1, from A to Kinclusive/presided over by-MrH.O. Lawlor; and No, 2, from L to Z, presided over by Mr Yeriton. The voters entered through the front door, and made their exit through the back. There were scrutineers on behalf of either candidate in each booth, and' the; entrances were well kept by the police. By the. timo the doors plosed there was a very large crowd congregated-in Albert-street waiting for the declaration of the poll. .As the ballot boxes, were emptied and the votes counted it was evident that the contest was. much closer than -had been anticipated. In the Wo. 1 booth it was a neck-and-neck race. Sometimes Mr Davies' votes counted seven or eight more than those of his opponent. Then the votes of the latter would come out in a bunch, and he wouldcatohup to Mr Davies, hut up to f the time that only 50 papers remained in the' ballot-box Mr Davies had the majority in this booth. It soon became evident, however, that Mr Macdonald's supporters had polled early, for as the bottom of the box was reached his votes became more numerous, and it terminated in Mr Maodonald's favour by 28 votes.; The No. 2 booth placed Mr Macdonald in. a leading position in the first instance, hut the bottom of the box, or the early votes in this instance/reduced his majority to 17.. The totals being computed they were posted at the window simultaneous with the opening of the doors, and as soon as the position of the candidates was ascertained there was vociferous cheering. The numbers were:—.' " '■-■. ' ;' . Macdonald ■'.•.' ■". .358 /Davies '-"'.■ '• . 313

Majority for Macdonald 45

: There was a. general rush for Mr Macdonald, and without waiting for the official declaration of the poll they chaired him from his committee room, Pulleine's auction mart, across the street, and fairly lifted him to the roof of the butcher's shop, which was Mr Davies's committee room. He took his position on the verandah, and tho cheering' wasjO vociferous that it was some - time before Mr Benshaw could,officially declare the result of the poll. Order being at length restoredj-he declared John Edwin Macdonald duly elected- to servo as Mayor .of the, Borough of Thames for the ensuing year. The cheering wa3 renewed in a most enthusiastic.manner. : ' At length order was restored, and; .'••

Mr Macdonald, from, his -elevated position, addressed the crowd. Under the circumstances it'was simply/impossible to him \ accurately, but he'was understood to.say that he had'taken some

care to prepare a speech which would not non- be suitable,' .It'was to thank them fop-Lhe fair spirit iii which the contest had been:: conducted,* and 'he presumed ' that "the. other 'candidate;:' if he spoke. would now .-■address; them in the same spirit and in the same good feeling;' (Cheers'.) The proud' position in which they had placed him at the head of the poll was more dear to.him than if it had been a .political:contest,' for his triumph was now an acknowledgment of the goodwill of his fellow-burgesses. He was not thore es the representative of, any party, and he was proud to say that he took his stand on his own merits and oh nothing else. (Cheers, and a voice: What about the £150 P) As to the £60 which he won, he did not know who set him the example, and notified that he would give that'to the hospital, but whoever it was he would adhere to it. It was no catch on his part', for he knew nothing of it. He would not detain them now with a long speech. Ha would only say that he came out on his own merits, aid or a committee, and it was not until after his address on Saturday night, where what he said (allied with their ideas, that any steps woro, taken to insure his return,. He would only say that the result of the poll was not quite unexpected by him; for without knowing anything of the pressure which bad been brought to bear, ho had himself received promises of support from 300, and not six out of all whom" he Lad asked had said nay ,to: his application. , (Loud cheers.) , •

'Mr Macdonald, on descending, or attempting to descend, to terra firms, was again (much against his will) lifted on the shoulders of his admiring supporters, and carried to the Provincial Hotel. The crowd soon, after dispersed homewards, and the first public election of Mayor at the Thames.had terminated.

In regard to the result of this election, there were, we may say, many features brought forward whioh strengthened the cause of Mr Macdonald, while it weakened that of his opponent, It was brought against Mr Davies that he had withheld the requisition whioh had been presented to Sir George Grey, and not forwarded it to its destination. This may. not have been, nor can we believe it was, any wilful negligence, but there is no doubt that this lost_ Mr Davies some support. again, there is the natural desire : for change, and a natural; jealousy on the part of the populace against anything like an- attempt. at monopolising an elective office such as that of Mayor. It was felt that Mr Davies had 'his full share of office, and ought to make room for others. But we take it' that, the most potent weapon placed in the hands of Mr Davies'opponent was by that gentleman himself, when he said that, had any of the Councillors come forward for the office, he would have retired, but ho would.riot give place to. an"" outsider." _ People naturally enough asked, outsider in what sense P But perhaps one of the strongest" cries" was in reference to a foolish bet of £50 made on the result of the.election, which sum was to be handed over .to the Hos-

pital in case Mr Davios was defeated. On the .whole, however, the public seemed to desire a change, and therefore put in.Mr Macdonald,