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Municipality of Ryde: election, 1876
Election date: 5 February 1876 for East Ward only. In Central Ward and West Ward number of nominations equalled the number of positions (1)
Aldermen elected: (2)
Central Ward: Joseph COX (elected unopposed)
East Ward: Gerard Edgar HERRING
West Ward: William SMITH (elected unopposed)
Aldermen who served during 1876-1877: (3)
William COULTER; Henry William COWELL; Joseph COX; John FORSYTH; Frank GALLARD; Gerard Edgar HERRING (4); William JACKSON (5); John RICHMOND (6); William SMITH (7); John TUCKER; George WICKS
Mayor: (8)
Gerard Edgar HERRING / George WICKS
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References:
(1) Sydney Morning Herald 2 February 1876 p3
(2) Sydney Morning Herald 12 February 1876 p6 and Council minutes 4 February 1876 and 9 February 1876. Cox and Smith were nominated and elected at the same time Sydney Morning Herald 2 February 1876 p3
(3) Council minutes
(4) Resigned. Minuted 16 October 1876; letter of 13 October 1876; replaced by John Richmond
(5) Council minutes of 5 January 1877 recorded Extraordinary vacancies in East and West Wards. East Ward vacancy was filled by John Richmond. West Ward vacancy was filled by William Jackson. He had replaced Ald. Smith. The last meeting attended by Ald. Smith was 27 October 1876. There was no evidence of a letter of resignation being minuted but the vacancy was advertised in Sydney Morning Herald of 12 December 1876 p1: West Ward vacancy in the stead of Mr William Smith resigned. Nominations and elections 27 December 1876.
(6) Replaced Ald. Herring. Sydney Morning Herald of 20 November 1876 p3 recorded that ‘at the time fixed for the receipt of nomination papers for the election of an alderman to fill the Extraordinary vacancy in the East Ward no candidates were nominated … Col Sec sought names of some person willing to accept the nomination … John Richmond’s name was proposed.’ Council minutes of 22 December 1876 recorded that the Governor had appointed Richmond to be alderman for East Ward in stead of Herring. See also Council minutes 10 November 1876 and Sydney Morning Herald 18 October 1876 p11 re Extraordinary vacancy for East Ward
(7) Council minutes of 5 January 1877 recorded Extraordinary vacancies in East and West Wards. East Ward vacancy was filled by John Richmond. West Ward vacancy was filled by William Jackson. He had replaced Ald. Smith. The last meeting attended by Ald. Smith was 27 October 1876. There was no evidence of a letter of resignation being minuted but the vacancy was advertised in Sydney Morning Herald of 12 December 1876 p1: West Ward vacancy in the stead of Mr William Smith resigned. Nominations and elections 27 December 1876.
(8) Ald. Herring was elected Mayor at a meeting on 9 February 1876
Meeting of 16 October 1876 Extraordinary vacancy in East Ward as Ald. Herring resigned as Mayor by letter of 13 October 1876.
From Council minutes of 13 October 1876 under Correspondence: ‘from Alderman Wicks stating that as the Mayor Mr G E Herring is about to resign …’ – Ald. Wicks voted in as Mayor on 16 October 1876
Compiled by Local Studies and Family History Librarian, City of Ryde Libraries, 2019
The Municipality of Ryde and the Municipality of Eastwood amalgamated on 1 January 1949.
Aldermen were elected for three years but in the first few years of the Council one alderman from each ward was obliged to resign, determined by who had received the least votes at the first election. Thereafter, as their three year term expired, the aldermen would retire but could seek re-election.