§ In each ward two of the six councillors elected on the twenty-fifth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, 777 shall go out of office on the twenty-fifth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven, two more shall go out of office on the twenty-fifth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and the remaining two shall go out of office on the twenty-fifth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine. And the order of retirement of such councillors individually shall be determined by the number of votes received by them respectively at their election in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, the two councillors having the lowest number of votes retiring in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven, the two councillors having the next lowest number of votes retiring in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and the two councillors having the highest number of votes remaining in office till the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, the majority of the whole Council always determining when the votes for any such councillors shall have been equal or when there shall have been no contest who shall be the councillors to go out of office. Provided always that any councillor so going out of office shall be capable of being forthwith re-elected if duly qualified.