The Mavoral Election.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9499, 30 November 1899, Page 3

The Mavoral Election.

i MS GREEN BLADE ELECTED. BY BIG MAJOHIiY. t. -—- r A great deal of interest was tukei ill the cuiituiiur ihoMujotalty jester day, anU tiio inoa(is oi bum oaodi' dates—Messrs. H. J. Greenslade anc e J. M. Foy, and (he candidates them ' B , selves—worked hard in order tc '»'secure their return. From the time '» the polling booths were declared open, : and throughout the day numerous ve- • hides were busily engaged in convey- ' ing voters to the poll—the activity in this respect being most marked in j- Albert street—where the Borough j Chambers had been appointed the ( 1 polling place for the most populous ( ! ward—the Middle—in the Borough, ,' and where the Returning Oflicer (Mr. . T. W. Clark) presided. The ' other , polling booths were the Gresham Hall , (for the North Ward) and Oddfellows' . Hall, Richmond street (for the South), and were presided over by Messrs. W. Clark and J. McDonald, deputy Returning Officers. J Additional importance is attached ! to the present contest, as it is the I first Mayoral election which has taken place since the municipal franchise was extended to weekly tenants and residential occupants. The rolls have been greatly increased in volume, and contain over 1200 names, bo that our readers will see that the work of the Returning Officer has been rendered more arduous. Indeed, it is fortunate that the new Act makes it imperative to appoint a polling booth for each ward in any Borough where the population exceeds 3000; or the resources of the Returnjng Officer might hardly have been equal to the ( task of recording such a large number of votes at one booth—that is, under the conditions obtaining at former contests. Shortly after 7 o'clock the Return* ing Officer announced the result, which was as follows H, J. Greenslade .. .. 649 J. Mi %., ~ .. 392 Majority for Greenslado 257 The result was rrceived with great cheering from the large concourse of j burgesses wbo_ had assembled to await the official declaration of the poll. The polling at the several booths 1 was as under Foy Greenslade Oddfellows' Hall.. 152 176 I Gresham Hall 80 117 Borough Chambers 160 356 392 649 There were only nine informal votes, 1 Mr Greenslade, who was greeted . with tumultuous and prolonged cheering, was hoisted shoulder high by some of his more enthusiastic admirers, said:—"Ladies and gentlemen,—! hnve to thank.you very r heartily indeed for having for the second time oko'ed mo to tho honor- I able position of Mayor of Thamng, I wish to say that to day—arid I aay it 5 iu all quietneßs—l have fought one of the greatest combinations which has even been brought against anyorio at 1 the Thames, standing for the office of Mayor. (Loud. cheers)., I have had a very strong combination with me, however, a combination which once united can never be resisted. That combination, ladies and gen'lsmen, consists of the ratepayers of the Thames, who possess sufficient in* telligence and independence not,to be dictated to be anyone. I take this victory not so much cs one for Greenslade as one for the people—who admire manliness ai.d independence. (Cheers), b I wish to say that during my next • term I shall work as honestly and energetically for the interests of tho ratepayers as I have done during the past year, I thank you again very hoartily for this decisive majority, At the commencement of the polling this morning Mi Foy and I shook hands, and I wish to thank him for the manly and friendly way in which he has carried out this contest. Although beaten he is. not disgraced. I recognise ] that it is for me to work woll for tho ( ratepayers because I have been elected \ by the voice of tho people, (Loud and < continued cheeiing), i Mr Greenslade then called for three ; cheers for Mr Foy, whioh were given, after which the cheering for Mr Green* slade was continued with great enthusiasm. Mr Foy said: Ladies and gentlemen, I wise to return my sincere thanks to all who havo supported me tot»day. The odds wore . greatly against me, but lam not downhearted, Perhaps at some future time I may be more successful. I would like to say, that' as far as Mr Greenslade is concerned, I he has treated me in a very friendly | manner—for whioh I thank him. Ab a councillor I have three years of office before me, and during that, time it is my intention to act straight forwardly to the last. Mr Greenslade will have my support in everything I consider fair and just, I again thank you for tho support you have given me and am only sorry that 1 am not at the head of rhe poll. (Applausel The assemblage then gradually dis--1 parsed.