THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

West Coast Times, Issue 641, 14 October 1867, Page 3

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

DECLARATION OP THE POLL. The official declaration of the poll took place on Saturday at noon, in front of the Council Chambers, Revell street. The Eeturning Officer (bis Worship the Mayor) said that he had now to declare the state of the poll, which was as follows : — Button 320 Paterson 270 M'Beth 246 Bartlett 223 Boyle ... .'.. ... 217 Prosser 214 Shaw 205 Ecclesfield 169 Higgin 161 Browne 158 Anderson 137 Munro 118 Swanson 104 Taylcr "'.' 86 Cross ... gj, Clarke ... _ ''[ jj Robinson ... a ... " 4g Cassius ... ... '" gg He had now to declare tho first nine gentlemen duly elected. The whole of the candidates, whether successful or unsuccessful, who addressed the meeting were loudly cheered. Mr Bttttof said it aflbrded him extreme gratification to thank them for the iiroud position in which they had placed him. It was indeed the proudest moment of his lifei but yet not so proud a one as he expected to receive from their hands in a very few days. He had been asked by a few friends to stand as a candidate for the office of Mayor, and he had consented to. do so. An idea had unfortunately got abroad that he would not stick to Hokitika for twelve months, but he could assure them that nothing but unavoidable circumstances— circumstances over which he had no control— would induce him to leave them. He must again thank them tor the proud position in which they had

placed him, and if in the election for Mayor they honored him with their votes he would do his utmost to deserve their confidence.

Mr Pateeson thanked them most heartily for the confidence reposed in him, and for the honorable position in which ho had been placed. He would endeavor to act in such a manner as would show that their confidence had not been misplaced, so that ho might fill the position to which he had been chosen, not only with satisfaction to himself, but to the citizens. During the election he had found many friends, and he trusted that he had not made one enemy. Mr M'Beth said that of course he felt much pleased at the high position in which he had been placed on the poll. Asa councillor, he would endeavor to do his duty, and to give satisfaction to all parties.

Mr Bartlett said that he had to thank them, first for having elected him as a councillor, and secondly, for the honorable position in which they had placed him on the poll. He could assure them that he went into the Municipal Council determined to act independently, and to do his duty for the benefit of all.

Mr Boyle said that he would do his best to serve all parties, and sincerely thanked the citizens for the honor they had conferred upon him. Mr Pjkossee said that lie had to thank them for the position in which they had placed him, and also lor the increased confidence bestowed upon him. He was glad to find that the votes of the citizens had denied the charges that had been made against the late Council, that they had acted unfairly to the majority of the ratepayers, for notwithstanding those charges, they had re-elected three members of the old Council to represent them. He did not place much confidence in the very high position which some of the candidates had taken on the poll as indicating the confidence of the ratepayers, for when one end of the town took the course of plumping for two or three candidates, in order to secure their return, ho thought that it was no indication that other candidates did not possess the confidence of the ratepayers, and seeing this to be the case, he felt very much flattered that the ratepayers had reelected him as one of their councillors. He might also mention, that previously he was not asked to resign although others were, and consequently he did not do so, Mr Button liad said that in a very short time he trusted to be elected to tho position of Mayor, but he (Mr Prosser) thought that past services should be regarded by the citizens when choosing a gentleman to fill that important office, and referring to the services which he (Mr Prcsser) had rendered, he thought that he might ask for their votes for the office of Mayor, Mr Prosser then explained why he had not been able to attend a meeting which had been called at the Empire Hotel, and concluded by again thanking the citizens for the confidence they had again imposed in him. Mr Shaw said that he had to thank tho very large number of ratepayers for the position in which they had placed him on the poll, which was' a great gratification to him, because his character had been particularly assailed. It was a consolation to find, after he and his fellowcouncillors had been branded as rogues, and accused of falsifying the accounts of the Corporation, that he had been placed on the poll at all. During the late contest he had not asked a single person for a vote, through ill health he had not been able to attend a public meeting in order to address the citizens, neither had he issued a single placard bearing tho inscription of " Vote for Shaw, and the ' cutting down of Salaries," or or any other equally taking motto, and for these reasons he thanked the citizens for the confidence which they had again reposed in him. It would be a positive untruth on his part if he were to say that he felt gratified or satisfied with the position which he occupied on the poll, for he thought that he ought to have been placed much higher. Since he had been in Hokitika, in his profession and in his character as a private citizen, as well as in his official capacity, he had always studied to advance the interests of the community at large, and as such he felt that he was entitled to their support ; not that he meant to say that he had neglected his own interests for the sake of the public, for that would not have been right ; on the contrary, he could make out a good bill as well as any man, and although his friend Mr^Bulton had, he (Mr Shaw) was informetijvm'oduccd a bill^ of his for advertising aifrsumting to L 7 7s, yet that would bear favtjsable comparison with a lawyer's bill. (Laughter.) He (Mr Shaw) had never neglected his own business, neither would he do so, so long as ho took part in public alfiiirs, but thi3 he would say, that so long as ho was in office he would always endeavor to do his duty to the public. Something had been said about tho office of Mayor— now he (Mr Shaw) was not particularly

ambitious of being Mayor, and with regard to what had been said by his friend Mr Button, he (Mr Shaw) would say that it was possible for a man to make a very good councillor and yet be a very indifferent Mayor, for ho was of opinion that experience was wanted in order to qualify a person for that important office ; and he (Mr Shaw) would say that he should be sorry to see a gentleman of Mr Button's profession elected as Mayor, for he hardly saw how such a gentleman could efficiently discharge the arduous duties of the office and yet attend to the interests of his clients. He was sincerely obliged to those citizens who had voted for liim, at the same time he must say that in a colonial community the man who did nothing to advance the interests of the public was the more likely to be raised above the heads of those who had worked for the public good. However, he should continue his endeavors to efficiently discharge his duties, both public and private, as he was desirous when he left this community of leaving a good name behind him.

Mr Higgin expressed himself as greatly gratified with the honor that had been conferred upon him. He was perfectly aware that there was a great amount of responsibility as well as labor attached to the office of councillor, but he could assure them that he would endeavor to discharge his duty honestly, faithfully, and conscientiously. Mr James Bbowne said that he appeared to thank them for having placed him at the head of tho rejected candidates. He thanked those who had voted for him, and he had no reason to be displeased with those who had voted against him, for he believed that the citizens had selected the nine best men to represent them in the Council. Some of his friends had told him that he was too plain spoken, and that was the reason ho had not succeeded. He, however, could not help that, for it was his nature. He wished to say a few words in explanation. When speaking at the nomination he happened to place a wrong word in the wrong place, and thereby rendered it capable of a meaning ho did not intend to convey. He never- said and never intended to convey the meaning that the late Coxineil were robbers, and although a paper had stated that he did so, yet that paper very well knew that "he meant nothing, of the kind. It had, however, been used for an electioneering purpose, and, no doubt, had succeeded in putting him out. Throughout the whole of this election he had studiously avoided criticising the candidates in an unfair manner, and he had never endeavored to make his paper serve himself politically. And now he might state that he did not think.tliat any member of the press should take a political position, as he would be sure to make use of the columns of his paper to advance his own position. When he came forward before, he retired in favor of Mr Prosser, who he considered had much greater claims than he (Mr Browne) had. At the present election he was very anxious to bring forward his partner, Mr Klein, who was an excellent man of business, but at the very time that he (Mr Browne) was contemplating this a numerously signed requisition was presented to him, and he then considered it to be his duty to come forward. He might • state that he had never issued either bills, posters, or placards, to endeavor to influence tho public in his favor. He was very glad that Mr Higgin had been elected ; he (Mr Browne) had induced that gentleman to stand, and had nominated him, and he believed that Mr Higgin would make a very valuable member of the Council. He would again sincerely thank those who had voted for him, and would also state that whilst he was connected with a newspaper he would never again stand for any public office.

Mr Anderson said that he was sorry he had been defeated, but that could not be helped now. Ho hoped, however, that next time they would place him in a higher position on the poll. Mr Muneo thanked those who had voted for him, and believed that those who had voted against him had done so conscientiously. When he was a member of the Improvement Committee, he did his best to forward the interests of the citizens, and he certainly thought that his past services had given him a claim to support on the present occasion ; it seemed that if he had not served the public formerly, he would have been in a better position now. He must, however, say that he believed they had chosen nine good men to represent them in the Council.

Mr Tayler said that he heartily thanked the eighty-seven electors who had voted for him. He never would have conio forward had not Mr Prosser told him that he did not intend to stand. But having been proposed, he determined not to flinch ; he nailed his colors to the mast, and although he had lost the battle, he thought they must admit, that he had fought a good fight. Mr Cboss said that in coming before them as a defeated candidate, there was nothing to be ashamed of in that defeat, ashehadnopersonal ambitiou to gratify in coming forward. He had been brought forwardbecause it wasthoughtby sonic that, as a practical man, he would be useful in public works, and he might mention that, although nine very good men had been elected, yet there was not one practical man amongst them to look over the public works. He begged sincerely to thank not only those who had voted for him, but also those that had worked for him.

Mr Mowatt apologised for the absence of Messrs Ecclesfield and Swanson, who, ho believed, had been unavoidably prevented from attending. Three cheers, at the instance of Mr Button, having been given for the Returning Officer, the meeting dispersed.