1876 Christchurch mayoral election

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.

20 December 1876
 
Candidate James Gapes Charles Thomas Ick
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 680 515
Percentage 56.90 43.10
Mayor before election

Fred Hobbs

 Elected Mayor

James Gapes

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).[1] 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.[2] 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."[3] In the same editorial, the two eventual candidates were named.[3] From December 1876 onwards, George Leslie Lee acted as returning officer for mayoral elections for many years.[4]

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.[5][6] Gapes was first voted onto Christchurch City Council as a city councillor in a February 1873 by-election.[7][8]

Charles Thomas Ick

Charles Thomas Ick was an auctioneer by trade. He came from Otago to Christchurch in 1870.[9] He was first elected as a city councillor in October 1872.[10]

Election

Eligible electors in Christchurch had their first opportunity to vote for a mayor on 20 December 1876.[11][12] Gapes represented working class interests, whereas Ick represented the wealthier part of the population.[13]

1876 Christchurch mayoral election[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent James Gapes 680 56.90
Independent Charles Thomas Ick 515 43.10
Majority 165 13.81
Turnout 1,195

Gapes won the election,[14] and was sworn in as mayor at the next Christchurch City Council meeting on 2 January 1877.[15] Gapes was defeated at the next mayoral election in December 1877 by Henry Thomson,[16] but won another election as mayor in November 1880.[17] Ick became mayor in November 1878 when he beat Thomson.[18]

References
  1. "Municipal Corporations Acts Amendment Act 1875". University of Auckland. 21 October 1875. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  2. "Christchurch". The Press. XXIV (3214). 18 December 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  3. "The Star". The Star (2684). 2 November 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  4. "City Council". The Press. XXVI (3510). 5 December 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  5. Gapes, Thomas, and Co. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  6. Mr. James Gapes. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  7. "News of the Day". The Press. XXI (2365). 4 March 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  8. "To the ratepayers of the City of Christchurch". The Press. XXI (2350). 14 February 1873. p. 4. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  9. "Partnership Notice". The Press. XVII (2281). 15 August 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  10. "City Council Election". The Press. XX (2951). 17 October 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  11. "To the Electors of the City of Christchurch". The Star (2713). 8 December 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  12. "Christchurch City Council". The Press. XXVI (3516). 12 December 1876. p. 4. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  13. "Telegrams". Bruce Herald. IX (865). 22 December 1876. p. 5. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  14. "Christchurch". The Star (2724). 21 December 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  15. "City Council". The Press. XXVII (3584). 3 January 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  16. "The Mayoral Election". The Press. XXVIII (3855). 29 November 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  17. "Mayoral Elections". The Star (3933). 25 November 1880. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  18. "Mayoral Election". The Star (3321). 28 November 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
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