a meeting of the stockholders by the stockholders of the corpo- Sec. 9. This act shall be in force from and after its ratification. Body politic. Corporate name. CHAPTER 171. An act to amend the charter of the city of Goldsboro, and to revise and consolidate all laws in relation to said city. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact : Section 1. That the inhabitants of the city of Goldsboro shall be and continue as they heretofore have been a body politic and corporate, and henceforth the corporation shall bear the name and style of the "City of Goldsboro," and under such name and style is hereby invested with all property and rights of property Corporate powers. which now belong to the corporation under any other corporate name or names heretofore used, and by this name may acquire and hold, for the purpose of its government and welfare and improvement, all such estate as may be desired bequeathed or conveyed to it, not exceeding in value three hundred thousand dollars, and shall have in [a] right to contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, to purchase and to hold and convey real or personal property. Corporate limits. Sec. 2. That the corporate limits of the city of Goldsboro shall be as follows, viz: Beginning at a point in the center of the main track of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, five hundred and fifty (550) yards south of the southern boundary line of Elm street in said city and running thence south seventy-two degrees east one thousand three hundred and sixty-five (1,365) yards to a stake; thence north eighteen degrees east to Ash street, extending eastward; thence along said Ash street to Marsh branch or big ditch; thence up said branch to the center of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad track; thence north eighteen degrees east one hundred and forty-five (145) yards to a stake on or near said branch; thence north seventy-two degrees west to the center of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad track; thence south eighteen degrees west along said track one hundred and seventy-five (175) yards; thence north seventy-two degrees west to a point intersected by the northern extension of the west boundary line of George street; thence north seventy-two degrees west two hundred and thirty (230) yards from said intersect ing point to a stake; thence south eighteen degrees west to the southern boundary line of the old county road leading from Goldsboro to the old site of the town of Waynesboro; thence along the south line of said county road to the southeast intersection of Elm street and the new county road leading from Goldsboro to the covered bridge across Neuse river; then from said intersection along the eastern line of said new county road two hundred and seventy-five (275) yards to a stake; thence south seventy-two degrees east to the center of the main track of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad; thence south eighteen degrees west along said track to the beginning. In locating the above boundaries the courses shall be as they were in the year eighteen hundred and forty-eight, disregarding any variation of the compass since that time. Sec. 3. That said city be and the same is hereby divided into Division of four (4) waids, denominated the first, second, third and fourth wards. wards, and bounded and described as follows: The first ward: Beginning at a point in the centre of East Cen- First ward. tre and West Centre streets, where the centre of Chestnut street intersects the same, and runs thence northwardly with the centre of said East Centre and West Centre streets to the northern boundary line of said city; then with said boundary line westerly to the northwestern corner in said boundary line; then with said boundary line southerly to a point opposite to the centre of said Chestnut street; then easterly to and with the centre of said street to the beginning The second ward: Beginning at the beginning point of the first Second ward. ward and runs thence northwardly with the line of the first ward to the northern boundary line of said city; then with said boundary line easterly to the northeastern corner in said boundary line; then with said boundary line in its various courses to a point opposite to the centre of said Chestnut street on the east; then westerly to and with the centre of said street to the beginning. The third ward: Beginning at the centre of the intersection of Third ward, William street and Chestnut street and runs thence southerly with the center of William street and an extension thereof to the southern boundary line of the corporate limits of said city; thence with said boundary line westerly to the southwestern corner in said boundary line; then with said boundary line northerly to a point opposite to the centre of said Chestnut street extended; then easterly to and with the centre of said street to the beginning. The fourth ward: Beginning at the beginning point of the Fourth ward. third ward and runs thence southerly with the centre of William street and the line of the third ward to the southern boundary line of the corporate limits of said city; then with said boundary Election of town officers. Appointment of registrars. line to the southeastern corner in said boundary line; then with said boundary line northerly in its various courses to a point opposite to the centre of Chestnut street extended on the east; then westerly to and with the centre of said street to the beginning. Sec. 4. That there shall on the first Monday in May, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, and biennially thereafter, be elected a mayor and nine (9) aldermen for said city, who shall hold their offices until their successors are qualified; the first, third and fourth wards shall have two (2) aldermen each, and the second ward shall have three (3) aldermen. Such aldermen shall be residents of the ward for which they are chosen and they and the mayor shall be elected by all the qualified voters of said city. Sec. 5. That the board of aldermen of said city shall appoint, at or before their meeting in March, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, (1899) and biennially thereafter, a registrar of voters for each ward in said city; said registrar shall give ten days' notice at the court-house door in said city of a registration of voters Vacancies among in and for said city, specifying time and place. In case of vacancy registrars. in the position of registrar from any cause, the mayor of said city shall fill the vacancy. Registration books, when opened. Sec. 6. Said registrar shall be furnished by said board of aldermen with registration books at the expense of the city, and it shall be the duty of said registrar to open his books at the time and place designated at said city at least ten days before the day of election herein provided for, and to register therein the names of all persons applying for registration and entitled to register and vote. It shall be the duty of the registrar to keep the names of the white voters separate and apart from those of colored voters. The registration books shall be closed on Saturday preceding the election at seven o'clock p. m., and no registration Requirements of shall be valid unless it specifies as near as may be the age, occupation, place of birth and place of residence in the ward in which he offers to register as weli as the township or county from whence the elector has removed, in the event of removal, and the full name by which he is known. electors. Appointment of Failure of judge to serve. Sec. 7. That said board of aldermen at or before their meeting in April, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine, and biennially thereafter, shall appoint two judges or inspectors of election for each ward in said city, who with the registrar shall open the polls and superintend the same on the day of election herein specified, and the polls shall be opened and the election held at such place or places in such wards as said board of aldermen may fix and establish at such meeting aforesaid. In case of failure or refusal of any judge or inspector of election to serve, the registrar of the precinct or ward shall have power to appoint some competent person to fill the vacancy. vided for each Sec. 8. That said board of aldermen shall provide for each ward Ballot boxes protwo ballot boxes, one in which shall be deposited all voters [votes] ward. for mayor, and the other in which shall be deposited all voters [votes] for aldermen. Each of said boxes shall have an opening through the lid of sufficient size to admit a single folded ballot and no more. The judges of election, before the voting begins, shall carefully examine the ballot boxes and see that there is nothing in them. tion of voters. Sec. 9. That it shall be the duty of the registrars and judges of Days for registraelection to attend at the polling place of their ward or precinct with the registration books on the Saturday preceding the election from the hour of nine o'clock a. m. till the hour of five o'clock p. m., when and where the said books shall be open to the inspection of the electors of said ward or precinct, and any of said electors shall be allowed to object to the name of any person appearing on said books. In case of any such objection the registrar shall enter upon his books, opposite the name of the person so objected to, the word "challenged," and shall appoint a time and place on or before the election day when he, together with said judges of election, shall hear and decide said objection, giving due notice to the person so objected to: Provided, noth ing in this section shall prohibit any elector from challenging or objecting to the name of any person registered or offering to register at any time other than that above specified. If any person challenged or objected to shall be found not duly qualified, the registrar shall erase his name from the books. Ballots written or printed without Sec. 10. The ballots shall be written or printed on white paper without device. The mayor shall be voted for on one ballot, and device. the aldermen shall be voted for on one ballot. mined. Sec. 11. When the election shall be finished the registrars and Result deterjudges of election, in the presence of such of the electors as may choose to attend. shall open the boxes and count the ballots, reading aloud the names of the persons who shall appear on each ticket; and if there shall be two or more tickets rolled up together, or any ticket shall contain the names of more persons than such elector has a right to vote for, or shall have a device upon it, in either of these cases such tickets shall not be numbered in tak ing the ballots, but shall be void and the said counting of votes shall be continued without adjournment until completed and the result thereof declared. nal return. Sec. 12. The judges of election in each ward or precinct shall Delivery of origiappoint one of their number or the registrar to attend the meeting of the board of city canvassers as a member thereof, and shall deliver to the member who shall have been so appointed the original return or statement of the result of the election in such ward or precinct, and the members of the several wards or Declaration of result. Persons qualified to vote Elections held under this act, how held. Term of office of mayor and aldermen. Oath of mayor before entering upon duties of office. When aldermen shall qualify. Vacancies occurring in office of mayor or aldermen. In case of failure to elect municipai officers, how election is ordered. precincts boards of election who shall have been so appointed shall attend the meeting of the board of city canvassers for such election at the mayor's office at ten o'clock a. m. on the day suc ceeding the election. Such board of city canvassers shall organize by electing one of their number chairman and one of their number secretary, and a majority of said board so appointed shall consitute a quorum of said board of city canvassers, and said board shall open and inspect such election returns and forthwith declare the result of said election. Sec. 13. All electors who shall have resided in the state twelve months and in the city of Goldsboro ninety days, and in the ward for which they offer to register thirty days next preceding the election, shall be entitled to register. Sec. 14. That all elections held by virtue of this act shall be held under the supervision of the sheriff of Wayne county, who shall attend the polls, and by himself and his deputies preserve order. Sec. 15. That the mayor and aldermen shall hold their offices respectively until the next succeeding election and until their respective successors are qualified. Sec. 16. That the mayor, immediately after his election and before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take, before a justice of the peace, the following oath: "I, A. B., do solemnly swear that I will diligently endeavor to perform faithfully and truthfully, according to my best skill and ability, all the duties of the office of mayor of the city of Goldsboro while I continue therein; and I will cause to be executed, as far as in my power lies, all the laws, ordinances and regulations enacted for the government of the city; and in the discharge of my duties I will strive to do equal justice in all cases whatsoever." Sec. 17. That on Thursday succeeding the day of election the aldermen elected thereat shall qualify by taking the oath of office before the mayor or a justice of the peace as prescribed for commissioners of incorporated towns and when organized shall succeed to and have all the rights, powers and duties prescribed by law. Sec. 18. That if any person chosen mayor shall refuse to be qualified, or there is any vacancy in the office after election and qualification, the aldermen shall choose some qualified person mayor for the term or the unexpired portion of the term, as the case may be; and on like occasion and in like manner the aldermen shall choose other aldermen to supply the place of such as shall refuse to act, and all vacancies which may occur, and such persons only shall be chosen as are herein before declared to be eligible. Sec. 19. That in case of failure to elect municipal officers as herein provided, the electors residing within said city of Golds |