THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 106, 21 July 1876, Page 6

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

The nomination of candidates for" the ■office of Mayor of Balclutha took place at Barr's Hall at noon on Monday. TThere was a large attendance, and his "Worship the Mayor presided.

The Town Clerk read the clause of the Ordinance referring to the nomination, and the advertisement calling the meeting. The nominations were then opened and read, as follows : —

Peter Mason was proposed by Mr Clement Grant, and seconded by Mr James Dun net.

•John Dunne was proposed by Mr George; Bain, and seconded by Mr Wm. __tewart, painter.

The Mayor,- said that there being -Hore than one candidate all further proceedings would be adjourned til J Friday, the 21st instant, when a poll nvould be taken between the hours of 9 : a.m. and 4 p,m. He then called upon 'the candidates to address the meeting if they so desired. Mr Mason said : Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, — In coming before you ; as a candidate for the Mayoralty for the ensuing year, it may not be out of place to say a few words regarding my past actions in the Council. When the present Council took office, they had no funds at their disposal, as large a portion of the rates as were immediately to be procured having been collected by the former Council before leaving office. There were then many works which required to be carried out, and also others which had been contracted for by the old Council but which had not been paid. To make matters worse, the CJoiporation's banker called for payment of the overdraft, which amounted to a few hundred pounds. In order to get over the difficulty, the Council unanimously agreed to borrow the sum of £,850 ; and having called for tenders for the amount, Mr T. T. Ritchie's tender was the only one received. The same was accepted. . Some time of course elapsed before the negotiations could be completed, and the Council placed in. & position to undertake new works. Since then, several works have been carried out, both by contract and also by day's wages under the supervision of an efficient Inspector of Works. I have every reason to believe these

hav-3 given general satisfaction to the "ratepayers. Of course it is impossible to please every one, as selfishness, less or more, prevails in all of us, and each "would like to see the streets made to ■his own door. I have for the past two years, represented East Ward. This ward .is looked upon by the Council as a great drain upon the funds of the town. A considerable amount of money has been spent upon Hasborough Road, the metalling of which alone cost £110. Other repairs ihat could not be avoided cost not less than £50. A small piece of ro«id was also formed leading to Douil's mill, which cost £11. There can be no doubt that East Ward has consumed a large portion of the rates. It is. however, patent to all that this could not have been avoided. If the road leading to the railway terminus had been neglected, the traffic would have been completely stopped. This would have entailed a heavy tax upon the inhabitants of the town, as the goods would have had to be brought round the hill. In consequence of a petition numerously signed by the ratepayers of the town generally, the Council undertook the formation of William, George, and Charlotte streets. Some anay think there were other works more urgent, but it must be borne in mind *that the inhabitants of North Ward had 'contributed largely towards the revenue "without having got anything in return. On this ground, and in consequence of the numerously signed petition^ I supported the formation of those streets, the cost of which is £125. The Council has also accepted tenders for the following works in South Ward — Johnstreet, Barr- street, and Drumclogstreet, and which will at once be carried •out It has always been a principle with me to have works carried out by contract, but a number of very necessary works have just been executed by day's labor. These, however, were of such a nature as made it imperative on the Council to carry them out in this lvay. I may mention that the weighbridge ordered some time ago, by a previous Council, has now arrived, but owing to it not having" been found complete, the Council have not been able to have it erected. It is now complete, however, and steps will at once be taken to have it erected. T have served the 'ratepayers in the Council for the past four years, of which board I am the senior member. I have been a member l of the Works Committee during the whole time, and have never shrunk from tony duty that fell to my lot. I now •cotae before you as a candidate for the •office of Mayor. I trust those who approve of my past actions, and who consider that my term of service entitles me to the honor ot the Mayoralty, will support my candidature by their votes on the 91st instant.

The Chairman then said the candidate was prepared to answer any questions that might be put. In reply to Mr Wm. Stewart, he said the inhabitants of all the wards reaped the benefit of the expenditure on Has-borough-road, — not only those of East Ward. — He considered that the formation of William, George, and Charlotte -streets were necessary works, and that

t.hp inhabitants of North Ward were entitled to have the work done.

In reply to Mr Stanbrook. — There had not hitherto been much traffic ou Charlotte-street, because it was not fit for drays. The cutting behind Mr Stanbrook's premises might not, suit; him, but it was necessary for the general public. The drainage could not be provided for till the footpaths were formed.

Mr Stanbrook said the works in Charlotte- street were unnecessary, and he would rather have given the Council a cheque for £20 to leave it alone.

Mr A. Bain asked a question regarding Hasborough-road, to which Mr Mason replied that Mr Bain was not an elector, as he had not paid his rates. He (Mr Mason) asserted that the petition got up by Mr Bain regarding the siding at the terminus was got up out of personal spite, and he considered it a most unprincipled thing to attempt to interfere in such a way with private enterprise. — (Cheers and hisses.) Fie heard some hiss ; such expressions would not alter his opinion that the getting up of the petition was a most unprincipled proceeding. — (Cheers.) If Mr Bain had paid his rates, then he would have had a right to ask questions. In reply to Mr R. Grigor, Mr Mason rspeated his statements as to the necessity which existed for the outlay on Hasborough-road.

Mr Grigor said he believed private interest had a great deal to do with the expenditure on Hasborough-road, as MiMason had a 'bus and the Mayor had also an interest in the matter.

Mr Mason repudiated the insinuation that he had acted in tho matter from personal motives. He was sure the ratepayers would not believe any such thing. Although Mr Grigor may have done suoh things when in the Council he had no right to accuse others of doing the same.

In reply to Mr Bain, Mr Mason said there were a few yards of metal put on the road beyond the town boundary, but the work was done before he knew of it.

In reply to Mr Grigor, he said the main road through the township required attention, but so also did the back streets.

In reply to Mr Bain as to how the Council was going to get on for money, he said he would make the like of Mr Bain pay their rates. — (Laughter.) In reply to Mr Campbell, he said he had done no such thing as put ratepayers off the roll. He had objected to a few who were dead, and others whose qualification had ceased. The Council could enforce payment of rates although the names of the ratepayers were not on the roll. The valuation for the ensuingyear had nofc been completed by the 15th of June, when the Citizens' Roll had to be made up, and consequently the Town Clerk could not compile the latter from the former. No one would be allowed to vote whose name was not on the roll. The valuator was instructed to have the assessment lodged in time, but did not attend to it. He therefore was the party to blame, but he understood he had taken unwell.

Mr Canning denied this statement, and it was agreed he should be allowed to explain after the business was over;

In reply to Mr Henderson, Mr Mason said the valuator was appointed on the 9th May.

In reply to Mr Grigor, he denied there had been any bungling connected with the citizens' roll. He had taken an active interest in getting names pieced on the roll. The roll contained 162 names.

Mr Dunne, who was received with cheers, said that in coming forward he had to crave the indulgence of the meeting, as he had been unwell, and was therefore unable to address them so fully as he would have wished. He had no doubt some would consider it was considerable " cheek" on his part to coma forward as a candidate for the Mayoralty. He had only been a few months in the Council since he was last elected, but both his mind and his tongue had been going pretty busily, and most of them knew what had been going on. His first act, when entering the Council, was to call attention to the disgraceful waste of the ratepayers' money by the formation of William, George, and Charlotte streets, when it was wanted so much elsewhere. —

Councillor Hogg : You signed the petition to the Council to have these very works done.

Mr Dunne : Yes.-— (Laughter.) I may have done so as it was brought to me to sign, but at the time I imagined there was plenty of money to make all the streets in the township. I called attention to the necessity of having John-street formed. The engineer was instructed to prepare plans and specifications, but when these were received, it was found necessary to return them for alterations. This occasioned some loss of time, but the work is now contracted for. He had taken a very independent position in the Council, and could point to a few — a majority — of Councillors, who supported him in getting works done when he pointed out their necessity to them. The back streets would have been soon enough attended to ten years hence, but it was necessary to keep up Hasborough-road for the sake of the traffic. The money spent on Charlotte-street should have been expended on Clyde-street. The Mayor had seen- the Government after his election, and he anticipated the

Government would undertake the ne- ! cessary work in Clyde-street, but this had turned out to be only imagination, if he were elected to the office of Mayor, the first thing he would do would be to call a mee'ing of the ratepayers to decide as to a site for the weighbridge He heard complaints of the want of a weighbridge ; the Kaitangata coal had suddenly turned out to be heavier than it formerly was, and so forth. — (daughter.) The weighbridge would remedy all this. The second thing he would do would be to complete Clyde- street, although he did not know that they would have much money to expend . during the next twelve months, as it appeared they could neither elect Mayor nor Councillors, nor collect rates ; in fact, that the Coiporation was defunct. A Voice : Thea how do you stand for Mayor 1 Mr Dunne thought it would be as well to see the farce played out. When he was opposed last year by Councillor Tosh for South Ward, he had been too sure of success, and consequently was defeated by one vote. The' electors were then very warm upon him about the 80- acre paddock, but he saw no time was to be lost m the matter. He foresaw tho changes of Government which were about to occur, and therefore took possession of the paddock. The fence had cost £80, and the Council now received £35 a year of rent. He therefore did not think he deserved all -the blackguarding ho got. Mr Robertson : If the Corporation is defunct, and you cannot collect rates, I won't have to pay the rent of the 80---acre paddock. — (Laughter.) Mr Dunne said that as to the matter of the Citizens' Roll, he had hoped to be able to say that the present position had been brought about mainly by neglect or stupidness, but he could not do so, as he found there had been no tampering with it. He had even got a copy that day, and he found an additional name put on, and he did not know that the roll was even yet completed. He thought the making up of the roll was a mere feint on the part of the Mayor to comply .with the law. Mr Dunne here explained the proceedings rt the Court of Revision, and at a private meeting of the Council, when, he said, the Councillors were unanimous that the new-comers should be placed on the roll, but the Mayor would not do so because it was illegal. He had got copies of the roll, as it should have been, printed, and it shewed the number that had been scored off. [Mr Dunne here handed round a large number of rolls, with apparently almost the whole of tha names deleted.] In reply to Mr Campbell; Mr Dunne said the Mayor only gave as his reason for not adding the" names to the roll, that the same would be an illegal act. In reply to Mr R. Grigor.— He had nothing to do with the posting up of the Citizens' list. — The Mayor was not legally elected last year, as the election was carried out under the wrong Act — ' The Mayor and Council cen only exist for another year in a friendly way. In reply to Mr Ross, he said the weighbridge had already cost £88. If elected, he would do his best to have it erected without delay. In reply to Mr Stanbrook. — He considered Is 6d an excessive rate. — Mill ogg made a dashing good Councillor. — He was not in the Council when the siding at the terminus was being made. The Council did not sufficiently urge upon the Government to open it up for traffic. The old Council had very little inffuence with the Government; he did not know what the next Council would have. A " Ratepayer" had told told him he should not go as one of the deputation to the Government, but he thought he had as much influence as any member of the Council. He could always go to the Government and get what he wanted.

In reply to Mr Robertson, he said Mr Blair had promised there would, be a goods shed at the terminus.

In reply to M r Hogg, he held the Mayor responsible for the roll. It was not the duty of Councillors to attend to routine work.

In reply to Mr Grigor, he would nofc vote a salary to the Mayor. They had plenty to do with their money without " screwing" the Mayor. The Mayor, in roply to Mr Stanbrook, said the Council was perfectly satisfied of the legality of the roll, and the regularity of the proceedings. Mr Dunne said all he wished the electors to do was to vote for the candidate they considered the best man. He wanted none to vote for him on personal grounds, but only on public grounds ; they should vote" for the one they believed" would make the best Mayor,

This concluded the proceedings

After the above meeting, the Mayor was again voted to the chair, and

Mr Canning said, as valuator, he would be glad to answer any questions regarding the assessment. An irregular discussion, and questioning and answering, ensued, in the course of which it transpired that Mr Canning was" appointed assessor on May 9, and that the Mayor and Councillors had subsequently urged his proceeding with the duties. A letter was read, dated 23rd May, from the Town Clerk to Mr Canning, urging that the work be proceeded with at once, and asking that the assessment-roll be lodged by next meeting. The same was nob, however,

completed and laid before the Council till the 20th June, — five days after the day on which the Act provides the Citizens' Roll shall be made up. Councillor Hogg said he had hitherto said nothing as to who was to blame in the matter, but now he had no hesitation in asserting that Mr Canning was solely to blame for the delay that had occurred in the assessment, and the consequent disappointment and dissatisfaction to so many ratepayers in their being deprived of votes.

This Mr Canning denied in terms more emphatic than polite, and the proceedings terminated by a vote of thanks to the Chairman.