First International Conference of American States And so, as Secretary of State, Blaine sent invitations to all the nations of the Hemisphere to come to Washington in November 1881 with the principal goal of considering and discussing methods to prevent war between the nations of the Hemisphere. But destiny intervened: President Garfield was assassinated on 19 September 1881 and the new President Chester A. Arthur, who was no friend of Blaine's, quickly removed him from the State Department. Shortly afterward, the Conference invitations were withdrawn on the grounds that the unsettled situation at home and abroad would make such an event impossible. Now a private citizen,
1881 Christchurch mayoral election 21 December 1881. After his one-year term, he was re-elected mayor unopposed. He retired after two terms and stood in the 1884 general election in the Stanmore electorate but was unsuccessful. Ruddenklau died in 1891. Taylor and his family left New Zealand in 1884 and settled in Oakland, California. 1881 Christchurch mayoral election The Christchurch mayoral election held on 30 November 1881 was contested by German-born baker, hotel proprietor and businessman George Ruddenklau, and businessman Charles Taylor. The election was won by Ruddenklau with a small margin. The election was set for 30 November 1881. At the beginning of September