Mr O'Meagher then said ho only camo forward to do his duty as a citizen, and he who would shrink from it was a coward. Uowover, he bore no ill felling towards Mr Gibbs ; but he insisted that he was not qualified, and he knew it. After order was restored, and no other quostion3 being put to the candidate, Mr Gibbs retired. Mr Gilchrist now came forward, and briefly ad dressed tho audience. Sincere desiro to advance tho prosperity and welfare of Oamaru had alone induced him to come forward as a candidate for election as first Mayor of Oamaru. His guiding principle in everything, if elected, would be to act in such a manner as would tend to promote the general welfare of the place, and to deal with all things in a spirit of impar tiality. He did not consider it necessary to enter into details ; but, with regard to what Mr Gibbs had said when speaking against him, he would add a few words. He said that both had como to Oamaru about tho same time, but that ho (Mr Gilchrist) had not devoted any attention to public matters. For his own part, he could say that whatever he had been connected with since he came to the place had never been brought into a " muddle," as Mr Gibbs had said would be the case, if an unfledged politician were elected as Mayor. He would leave his qualifications in the hands of the citizens : if they were good, they would vote for him : if Mr Gibbs' were better, they would vote for him j but, at all events, let them vote for tho best man. (Applause.) No questions were asked of Mr Gilchrist. Mr W. F. Ingram, an ex-candidate, came forward and tendered his sincere thanks to those electors who had promised to support him, and also to those who again the previous day were engaged in getting names to a requisition, asking him to resume his candidature. Though not now a candidate, he felt sure that whoever was elected would receive tho hearty co-operation of the citizens in his endeavors to advance the prosperity of Oamaru. 