1876 Christchurch mayoral election

New Zealand mayoral election November 2016 November 2016 1876 Christchurch mayoral election New Zealand Christchurch COA pre-1949.jpg Presidential no 1877 Christchurch mayoral election 1877 20 December 1876 140x120px James Gapes Independent politician 680 56.90 140x120px Charles Thomas Ick Independent politician 515 43.10 Mayor Fred Hobbs James Gapes The 1876 Christchurch City mayoral election was the first election for the Mayor of Christchurch held by public vote. The election, held on 20 December, was won by James Gapes, who beat fellow city councillor Charles Thomas Ick. Background Initially, councillors elected one of their own as mayor towards the end of the year, and the role was usually awarded to the most senior councillor. The system changed with the introduction of The Municipal Corporations Acts Amendment Act, 1875, as that legislation stipulated that mayors had to be elected at large (i.e. by eligible voters).Municipal Corporations Acts Amendment Act 1875 http://www.enzs.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=2168 University of Auckland 20 April 2013 21 October 1875 24 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924001305/http://www.enzs.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=2168 dead In December 1875, when the new act first applied, the incumbent mayor, Fred Hobbs, was the only candidate nominated. The returning officer, Edward Bishop, thus declared Hobbs elected unopposed on 17 December 1875.Christchurch http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18751218.2.13.1 20 April 2013 The Press XXIV 3214 18 December 1875 3 After having served two terms, it became known at the beginning of November 1876 that Hobbs would not seek election for a third term. This was regretted by one of the local newspapers, The Star, as they regarded him as having "discharged his duties with a thoroughness and zeal which will not be readily equalled by his successor."The Star http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18761102.2.6 15 April 2013 The Star 2 November 1876 2684 2 In the same editorial, the two eventual candidates were named. From December 1876 onwards, Leslie Lee acted as returning officer for mayoral elections for many years.City Council http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18761205.2.13 29 January 2015 The Press XXVI 3510 5 December 1876 2 Candidates James Gapes James Gapes was from Essex in England. He came to Christchurch with his wife, children, and a relative in 1859. They travelled as assisted immigrants, i.e. they were part of a supported immigration scheme and thus of humble origin. He started a glass, paint and paperhanging business in Victoria Street and was a member of many organisations. He was also known as a flutist, giving concerts together with Sir John Cracroft Wilson. https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d39-d3.html Gapes, Thomas, and Co. 1903 The Cyclopedia Company Limited 2 June 2010 Christchurch https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d9-d10.html#name-420453-mention Mr. James Gapes 1903 The Cyclopedia Company Limited 22 February 2010 Christchurch Gapes was first voted onto Christchurch City Council as a city councillor in a February 1873 by-election.News of the Day http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18730304.2.9 8 May 2016 The Press XXI 2365 4 March 1873 2To the ratepayers of the City of Christchurch http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18730214.2.20.2 8 May 2016 The Press XXI 2350 14 February 1873 4 Charles Thomas Ick Charles Thomas Ick was an auctioneer by trade. He came from Otago to Christchurch in 1870.Partnership Notice http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18700815.2.12.1 7 May 2016 The Press XVII 2281 15 August 1870 2 He was first elected as a city councillor in October 1872.City Council Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18721017.2.23 7 May 2016 The Press XX 2951 17 October 1872 3 Election Eligible electors in Christchurch had their first opportunity to vote for a mayor on 20 December 1876.To the Electors of the City of Christchurch http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18761208.2.12.1 13 April 2013 The Star 8 December 1876 2713 2Christchurch City Council http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18761212.2.18.1 13 April 2013 The Press XXVI 3516 12 December 1876 4 Gapes represented working class interests, whereas Ick represented the wealthier part of the population.Telegrams http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=BH18761222.2.14 13 April 2013 Bruce Herald IX 865 22 December 1876 5 1876 Christchurch mayoral electionChristchurch http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18761221.2.11.1 13 April 2013 The Star 21 December 1876 2724 2 Independent politician James Gapes 680 56.90 Independent politician Charles Thomas Ick 515 43.10 165 13.81 1,195 Gapes won the election, and was sworn in as mayor at the next Christchurch City Council meeting on 2 January 1877.City Council http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18770103.2.14 13 April 2013 The Press XXVII 3584 3 January 1877 3 Gapes was defeated at the next mayoral election in December 1877 by Henry Thomson,The Mayoral Election http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18771129.2.21 24 April 2012 The Press XXVIII 3855 29 November 1877 3 but won another election as mayor in November 1880.Mayoral Elections http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18801125.2.15 13 April 2013 The Star 25 November 1880 3933 3 Ick became mayor in November 1878 when he beat Thomson.http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18781128.2.11 Mayoral Election The Star 28 November 1878 24 April 2012 3 3321 References Category:Mayoral elections in Christchurch Category:1876 elections in New Zealand Category:Politics of Christchurch Category:1870s in Christchurch