MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Western Star, Issue 404, 25 December 1880, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

A poll was taken on Wednesday for the return of a Councillor for IS orth Ward, in room <.of, Mr T. Daniel,, elected Mayor. The■'., candidates were Messrs J.W. 1 Chapman and M., Hayes. That the election excited some interest'! is evidenced"by;tbe fact that close upon.. 100 ratepayers • registered their votes.? Mr Hayes, speculated...in a moderate quantity of " printe.rs*,ink," and he also provided a trap for the convey•ance of laggard voters to the poll. Mr Chapman, on the other hand, apparently feeling.secure of his return, resorted to none of -.these tactics to secure votes. Shortly after six o'clock, when a considerable crowd had collected at the Town Hall, the Returning Officer \(Mr'. Gy 0.. Cassels) declared the following to be the result of the poll: .

Chapman . ... 55 Hayes ... ... „. 40 Mr Chapman then stepped forward, and returned thanks for being elected. He promised to do the best'he conld for, the interests., of the borough as a whole—not the upper or,, lower portion of the town, North or. South Ward in paiticularrHe'alsb retilVnedithanks to those who exercised' their 4 'judgment in voting against-him. He noticed that bis opponpnt had issued posters asking the ratepayers to vote for him (Mr Hayes), as the " Liberal" candidate. He (Mr Chapman) thought it an unusual thing at a municipal election for cand dates to be announced as a I iberal or a Tory. Instead of spending mtiiiey over the election, he intended to divide, between the hospital and .Nicboi Millar a sum equat.to what t.lie elections had cost his opponent. (Hear, hear.) He referred to\the action of the chief magistrate in going about the town canvassing for his opponent:u-The Mayor should' not throw himself, between' two citizens during an election, but should remain neutral. (Hear, hear.) Mr Hayes returned thanks to those who voted for him, and hoped be would be more successful on the next occa» sion, , ■ . ,;,■ ~., .>

Mr Daniel stepped forward, and said he wished to defend himself for the part he had taken in the election. He was an elector of Biverton, and as such be could do as he though; proper. He put the office of Mayor under his foot during the election. There was not a person in Biverton could say he had ever taken a mean advantage of anyone, and it would be well if everyone could show as clean a sheet as he could. The meeting then dispersed.