he would not have wanted to oppose a city councillor standing for the office of mayor, but that he stood to clear up his reputation, as unwarranted accusations had been made against him. Thomson, over the course of the election campaign, started to believe that he would not have a chance at the election. The result was very close, with Thomson receiving 474 votes against 461 votes for Gapes. The returning officer declared Thomson elected at the evening of the election day (28 November 1877). Thomson was installed as mayor at a meeting on 19 December 1877. Thomson's election caused a vacancy on the City Council. The only candidate for the by-election was James Jameson, who was thus declared elected unopposed. Thomson stood for re-election against the senior councillor Charles Thomas Ick. Ick defeated Thomson by 601 votes to 343. He represented the Christchurch North electorate from 1881 to 1884, when he retired. He was a supporter of the Atkinson Ministry. Westby Perceval, Aaron Ayers, Thomson and Eden George contested the Christchurch South electorate in the . Perceval won the election and Thomson came third. Death Thomson died on 13 September 1903. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery. Notes References This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: |- 1828 births 1903 deaths Burials at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch English emigrants to New Zealand Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Mayors of Christchurch New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates Christchurch City Councillors New Zealand Freemasons Unsuccessful candidates in the 1887 New Zealand general election 19th-century New Zealand politicians