Municipality of Ryde: election, 1871

FIRST COUNCIL

Election date: 10 February 1871 

No poll required for East Ward as the number of nominations equalled the number of positions (1)

Aldermen elected: (2)

Central Ward: William COWELL; James DEVLIN; Henry HEARD

East Ward: Charles BLAXLAND; Walter Scott CAMPBELL; Thomas SALTER

West Ward: Frank GALLARD; Edward TERRY; George WICKS

Aldermen who served during 1871-1872: (3)

Charles BLAXLAND (4); Walter Scott CAMPBELL; William COWELL; James DEVLIN; Frank GALLARD; Henry HEARD; James Shepherd HENRY (5); Thomas SALTER; Edward TERRY; George WICKS

Mayor: (6)

Edward TERRY

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(1)   Sydney Morning Herald 8 February 1871 p8 

(2)   Poll declared 11 February 1871; Sydney Morning Herald 14 February 1871 p3. The newspaper records Alderman Cowell as William Cowell but he is probably Henry William Cowell which is how he is recorded in subsequent years

(3)   No Council minutes exist for this year. After James Shepherd Henry was appointed in Ald. Blaxland’s place, the list of aldermen at meetings as listed in the Sydney Morning Herald appears stable 

(4)   There were protests against Charles Blaxland’s nomination Sydney Morning Herald 8 February 1871 p8. On Monday 13 February all of the aldermen (with the exception of Mr Charles Blaxland who ‘does not intend to take office’) made the declaration required by the Act Sydney Morning Herald 14 February 1871 p3. An Extraordinary vacancy occurred when Ald. Blaxland’s seat became vacant. A meeting was scheduled for 16 March to nominate a replacement Sydney Morning Herald 1 March 1871 p1. The poll was scheduled for 20 March Sydney Morning Herald 17 March 1871 p1. James Shepherd Henry was elected to East Ward Sydney Morning Herald 25 March 1871 p6

(5)   Poll took place on 20 March 1871 to replace Ald. Blaxland; poll declared 21 March 1871 Sydney Morning Herald 25 March 1871 p6. There were ongoing disputes concerning Henry’s election see Sydney Morning Herald 30 June 1871 p1 under ‘Ryde Municipality – A Public meeting’

(6)   Ald. Terry was elected Mayor: Sydney Morning Herald 14 February 1871 p3

Compiled by Local Studies and Family History Librarian, City of Ryde Libraries, 2019