Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
Adamstown.
THE election of aldermen took place on
Saturday. There was a great amount
of interest taken in the matter, and a
large number of persons were present.
About half past 5 the result was made
known as follows :
Thos. Wm. Weir 78, Henry Evans
69, John Atkinson 64, Alfred Edden
62, Matthew Turnbull 62, Charles
Freeman 61, Richard Adams 57, Thos.
Hetherington 51, Edward Bardey 49,
David Williams 46, John Weather
burn 46, Robert Anderson 46, Richard,
Tyson 44, Josiah Meredith 43, John
Rees 40, John Davis 37, James Thomp
son 37, Matthew Loyden 36, John
Blackmore 33, Stephen Jenkins 17.
Auditors-John Syme 80, John W.
Harrison 59, Charles Hedley 57,
Richard Butler 48.
The RETURNING OFFICER (Mr. Geo.
Donald, J.P.) said that if no altera
tion was found in the numbers the first
mentioned nine candidates were elected
as aldermen, and Messrs. Syme and
Harrison as auditors. He was glad to
see Mr. Melville, M.L.A., and hoped
they would have the pleasure of hearing
him presently. He then called upon
the candidates in turn to address the
ratepayers.
Mr. WEIR said that nothing took a
man down so much and made him
have so little to say as to place him in
the position he was now placed in. He
was proud of the honour conferred
upon him, and as far as he could would
work for the benefit of the whole
neighbourhood. There were no doubt
some candidates left out who had
worked well in the interest of the place
in times past, and he hoped that in
consideration of their work they would
have an impartial hearing. He believed
those elected would work well together,
and if their actions were watched, they
would know how to deal with them
when they again stood for election.
He thanked them for the position, and
would try as he had always done to do
his duty. (Applause.)
Mr. Hy Evans. said that of all the
positions he had been in this was the
most honourable. They had put the
right man at the top of the poll, and
he (the, speaker) was higher up than
he expected. He would work for the
general benefit of the municipality, and
allow no party feeling to influence him.
He was proud of being in that position,
because he was a poor man. Some men
got into positions because they had
capital, but not so with him. Although
he did not have much money he had a
little brains, and he would use them
to the best of his ability. He must
say that he could not find words to
express his gratitude for the position,
and hoped when his term was up he
would have done nothing amiss. He
sat down amidst great applause.
Mn. JOHN ATKINSON was glad that
he was p!aced third on the list, and
particularly because they had styled
him "Roaring Jack." He could say
that he had done his level best for
Adamstown in the past, and from this
time forward he would do his best to
please all as far as possible. They
had lots of things to meet with, and
he felt very proud and almost off his
equilibrium. He would see that every
penny was spent fairly and for the best
interests of the municipality. (Cheers.)
Mr. A. EDDEN rose with many emo
tions. Since the nomination day he felt
sure he would get a place, and he had
deep feelings of gratitude for the
honour conferred upon him. He felt
constrained to say, "What am
I that you should'st be mind
ful of me." He had done
his best in times past, but could not
boast of doing so much as others. He
now felt a greater and deeper interest
in the place than ever. It was the
first place in the colony where he had
found friends, and his all was invested
there. He hoped by integrity and
honesty to retain the respect shown
him on this occasion. He thanked
them again, and hoped he would leave
a reputation worthy of imitation.
(Cheers)
Mr. MATTHEW TURNBULL would not
make a long speech, as Mr. Melville
was to speak. They would just have
to take him as they found him. He
would work and do justice. He
thanked them for electing him.
Mr. CHAS. FREEMAN thanked them,
and would do what he could honestly
and firmly.
Mr. ADAMS said he had not the
pleasure of being at the top, but he
was proud of having a place. He
wished partly to be guided now by the
people, and not against their wishes.
He would gladly take advice from
friends, and he would work honestly,
firmly, and justly, and if at the end of
his term they thought he was not
worthy they had their remedy.
Mr. HETHERINGTON said : " He that
is low need fear no fall." If he fell he
had only one alderman to fall over.
They all knew him, and he would not
promise anything, but would do what
he thought best in the interests of the
place.
Mr. BARTLEY thanked them for elect
ing him.
The Returning Officer intimated
that Mr. Melville had an engagement,
and hoped they would hear him now,
but Mr. Melville declined speaking
until all the candidates had finished.
Mr. DAVID WILLIAMS thanked the
46 who voted for him, but said that he
was blamed for a "skit" which
appeared in the Evening Call of Friday,
and had in consequence to suffer.
Mr. ANDERSON, although defeated,
did not feel disgraced.
Mr. J. WEATHERBURN felt glad such
a team was elected.
Mr. R. P. TYSON felt consoled
because he was amongst the majority
(i.e. defeated).
An apology was given for Mr. J.
Meredith's absence
Mr. REES hoped the Commonage
people would roll up and return one of
their men at next election. He was
glad such good men were in.
Mr. John, Davis said his rejection
might be gain or might be loss. He
hoped to come before, them on a
future occasion.
Mr. LOYDEN said he was not greatly
disappointed or annoyed. There had
been "skits" in the evening paper,
and other things, which he thought,
were totally uncalled for. He had
worked better for the place than many
who were elected. He had been one
of the secretaries of the Improvement
Committee, and had worked hard. It
was not by ability but by popularity
the candidates were elected. He
would like to know the reason he was
rejected. (A. voice: New blood.) He
hoped to come before them again for
election. He had no ill-feeling towards
those who voted against him. (Applause.)
Mr. JAMES THOMPSON said he was
quite satisfied at the result.
Mr. Blakemore did not appear.
Mr. SYME thanked them for electing
him as one of their auditors.
Mr. HEDLEY also spoke.
Mr. MELVILLE, M.L.A., then rose,
and was loudly cheered. He said
he thanked them for their cordial invi
tation and forbearance in offering to
allow him to speak before all the can
didates had spoken, but he could not
think of doing so. He said he was
pleased to see the universal expression
of satisfaction at the result of the elec
tions, and it was highly complimentary
to the returning officer and to the resi
dents. The manner in which the elec
tion was carried out was not only
superior, but more creditable than
those in many more aristocratic places.
He had been identified with the incor
poration, and he was pleased to be at
the "christening." He was sorry that
it had been delayed so long, and also
that while it was being fought for mis
understandings should have arisen with
one or two of the Adamstown resi
dents, but he could assure them
that there was no action which
he had done in connection with
it that he could say he was sorry
for. He believed in incorpora
tion, and was surprised and some
what incredulous when he heard
of the objections put forth. The first
thing he had done after his last elec
tlion was to find out what was keeping
it back, and it appeared to be a very
clever and original mode of reading
the Act, which allowed 60 days grace
for counter petitions to be lodged, &c.
There had been three different counter
petitions, but none with so many names
as the original for incorporation, but
the way the Act was construed showed
how a carriage-and-four may be driven
through an Act of Parliament. The
authorities wanted the three counter
petitions to count as one, but when the
60 days' grace was up he, with Mr.
Creer, M.L.A., his colleague, wrote a
protest, and handed it in, and the
result was that the Attorney-General
decided in their favour, because none
of the counter petitions had so many
names as the original one for incor
poration, consequently Adamstown
would be incorporated. He was sorry
that he had not been able through ill
neas to attend the banquet they had
held in connection with the incorpora
tion. No place had a deeper seat in
his heart than Adamstown, and he re
gretted that the friendship of some was
lost, but he hoped it would be gained
again, as it had not been done wilfully.
He then gave the aldermen a little
advice on their forthcoming duties.
He said he would be only too happy to
render any assistance they required.
He thought the first thing they should
see to was to get a road from Adams
town to New Lambton, He bore testi
mony to the good work performed by
the Progress Committee, and the ener
getic labours of the secretaries, Messrs.
Lee and Loyden. He then referred to
the political situation, and thought it
was time all quarrelling for offices and
disputes were done away with, and
something done for the country. Al
though he would have voted against
the finances of the Robertson Govern
ment, he voted for the Government in
order that some business might be
done. As to the present Government,
he anticipated they were capable of
performing their duties, and he was
determined to give them a trial, and,
if in keeping with his pledges, he
would support them in order to get the
country governed. If something was
not soon done the result would be
disastrous to the colony. He felt his
duty to be present at the election of
aldermen, and was pleased at the
speeches and manner in which the
business was carried out, and thought
those elected would do credit to the
Legislature of New South Wales.
(Great applause.)
The RETURNING OFFICER gave notice
that the official declaration would take
place on Monday at 6 p.m. He was
greatly pleased at the order of the pro
ceedings all through, and felt proud
that the few remarks which had fallen
from his lips on nomination day, as to
the abilities, of the aldermen, were
corroborated by their member. He
then called for three cheers for the
Queen, which were lustily given. A
vote of thanks was given to the re
turning officer, who responded; also to
the press, which was responded to by
the representative of the Newcastle
Herald.
The proceedings then terminated.
$