THE MAYOR'S MEETING.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 192, 15 July 1873, Page 6

THE MAYOR'S MEETING.

—*■- Mr M. Fraer, Mayor of f -romwell, addressed a numerous meeting of rajbpayers in the Townhall on Fridav evening. Mr IC. E. Dagg was called to the chair. Mr Fraer said he had cmvened the meeting in order that he might ]nt before the citizens a statement of what had ben done by himself an 1 Council during the miincipal year now about to terminate, hi so doius he hoped to be able to show that he had not ben neglectful of the promises he hail made wh<u elected as Mayor ; but that he had, on the lontrary, endeavoured to carry out, as far as tb means and opportunities at the disposal of theOouncil had permitted, a 1 the measures and improvements that were referred to in his opeimg address to the Council on assuming the M;yoral chair in August last. He would briefly motion some of the most important matters wbeh had been dealt with by the Council, and e;plain how far they had succeeded in attaining the objects sought to be accomplished. Firs'in importance was the matter of water-supply. Acting upon the suggestion of Mr Dews, the Ditrict Kngineer,—who had furnished a report (H the subject,—the Council had taken steps to ruder the town race as serviceable as possible by building a tank and laying pipes to carry tie water across the sandy ground westward of tie township. Since the tank was built, the sirply had been continuous, and although still.nsufhcientfor the requirements of the town, it 'as the best the Council had been able to provde. With regard to the "dust pestilence," he Council had brought the matter under the ptiee of the Government, bur- were informed tht no money could be granted excep! by vote of he Provincial Council. He was c >nvinced, however, that nothing effectual could he done towels allaying the dust nuisance until a plentiful supply of water was provided. The reserve t» the south side of Mel more-street had been sufeyed, and it was found that the buildings ereted thereon were on the street-line. which 'lis there a chain and a half wide. A few days ,y>i he had been requested by the Council to Mr MaeKellar, M.P.C., asking that eutleman to get a sum (say £200) placed on tb Estimates to recoup the Corporation the cost'f constructing the main road through the tow. This had been done, and he hoped the iie> would be voted. The creation of a third W|'d in the Municipality, and the consequent action of two members to the Council, would, Wdoubted not, be highly beneficial to the intents of the ratepayers. The Council had enkvoured, though unsuccessfully, to secure urher delivery of Duuedin mails at Cromwell. »le was glad to say the Council could claim some fredit for the establishment of a weekly mail to Bimnockbuin, Carriole Range, and the Nevis ; anil .also for the influence they had exerted in getting a short track made irom Cromwell to Cardrona. The Council had also been largely instrumental in getting a road made in thedireetim of Quartz Ueef Point. Impressed with the necessity of securing a hospital site in the neighbourhood of Cromwell, the Council had eomnimieatcd with Mr MaeKellar on the subject, remesting him to secure, if possi >le, a reserve of laid for the purpose. The important question ofcoinmonage was one for which the Council night claim credit for having assisted to place it ina better position than it had ever been before. 'be result of the agitation in December last was tht impounding had been slopped, and the Govmment had arranged for 7000 acres for eomutnage purposes in the immediate vicinity of tli town ; and he was glad to hear that £2OOO lid. been placed on the Estimates with the view ofproviding additional grazlng-ground. The desbbility of holding periodical sittings of the Ditrict Court here had been repeatedly urged bythe Council, and it was gratifying to think tht there appeared some prospect of success in tht direction. iSueh were the principal matters wicb had engaged the attention of the Council ching their term of ollice. lie regretted to say tht at the outset of their labours one of the j Cmicillors treated him (the Mayor) with disre- ; spjt; but he was happy to add that he was

cordially supported by the other members, that the Councillors had since worked web together, and each had done his best for the advancement of the town. They had held up to the present time 18 meetings, 15 of which were attended by Or. Dawkins, 13 by Or. Grant, 14 by Or. Marsh, 15 by Ci'. Wright, and the whole number by the Mayor. To give the ratepayers an idea of the financial affairs of the Corporation, he would read the following STATEMENT OP REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. Receipts from July 1, 1872, to June SO, 1873. Cash in hand £147 5 5 Rates and Rent 203 15 3 License Fees 259 0 0 £670 0 8 Expenditure from July 1, 1872, to June 30, 1873. Salary and Commission to Town Clerk £62 0 9

£O7O 0 8 Re would now speak as a candidate for re-elec-

tion as Mayor, and state his views regarding some 1 \ of the matters which would demand the atten. 1 1 tion of the new Council. / "- 1 first v« * <-o nC £ 1 ! to water-supply for the tar before dinner, tueyfl Corporations Water-wo- " passed last session of Assembly,—which pro- x 4w vided great facilities for the construe ion of-./8 waterworks,—was about to be made applicable, I by Ordinance of the Provincial Council, to this I Municipality. Under the authority of that Act, f he would recommend the Council to borrow say 1 63000, by means of debentures redeemable at 1 the end of twenty-one years, for the purpose of I carrying out an effective scheme of water-supply. I He believed that sum would be sulfic ent to I carry out an effective and permanent scheme. I The interest on £3OOO at six per cent.—the 1 maximum allowed by the Act—would amount 1 to £IBO per annum.—a sum which could he I easily paid by the Corporation without rhtri- 1 ment to other necessary wo'ks. There would I probably be some little revenue derived from 1 the sale of surplus water, and the proceeds of I such sale might go to form asi king fund. If, I however, the ratep.ivers did not return as Conn- I cillors men who were favourable to the initiation 1 of a good water supplv, he need hardlv remind I them that his own individual efforts would avail but lictle. He would, if re elee'ed, endeavour I to have street-levels permanently fixed, and the 3 existing uncertainty on that S'ore done away with. He would nls i favour the formation of ' Sligo and lnniscort s L reets at as earlv a date as possible. With regard to the land situate on j the south side of Melnvtre-s reet. extending westwards from the A reus office, he wouid he in favour of reducing the width of the street and putting the land up for sale. He did not 5 think other property-owners would sustain any I injury through that land being sold. In conclusion, if the ratepayers considered he had faithfully attended to his duties as Mayor, and if fchey still placed confidence in him, he would claim their votes on the election dav. He wished, however, to state that he was quite willing to release anvone who had signed his requisition from the obligation to vole for him if his conduct did not meet with approbation. He did not wish nor expect any ratepayer to vote for him as a personal favour. (Applause). Mr Jolly asked the cuididate whether, if elected, he would be in favour of erecting a bridge at Frankton Falls or at Morven Ferry ? 11 Mr Fraer thought the matter affected Croni- *1 well very little. He was inclined to think that a bridge would not be built at the Falls, because it would not be a payable speculation. If it were done, however, consumers of produce in this locality would be benefitted, because Messrs Robertson and Hallenstein would he enabled to supply flour at a cheaper rate than they could afford to do at present.

Mr Jolly and Mr Colclough considered that both Mayor and Councillors should be pledged to use their influence against the proposed erection of a bridge at the Falls, which would give Messrs Robertson and Hallenstein a monopoly of the produce trade in this district by shutting out the Arrow as a source of supply. Mr Fraer replied that if the Council preferred a bridge at Morven Ferry, he would not oppose it. He believed, however, that the proposed bridge at the Falls would not be procee 1 with; and he would also remind the meetii at Mr Hallenstein intended bringing forwai tion in the Council recommending (i nment to encourage the erection of bridge th at Kdwards's and Morven Ferries. In reply to Mr MurreU, Mr Fraer said the Corporation auditor- had never sent in a report censuring himself as Mayor. He was afraid the querist's tuto ): had not posted him up very well. (Laughter.)' In answer to Mr Colclough,

Mr Fraer said : There -were some fonr or five tenders sent in for the Cardrona track.

No one had access to them except myself; all the tenders were opened at the same time, — Mr MsicKellar's included; and tho lowest was accepted. I was simply acting for Mr Bews in the matter: the Council had nothing to do with it. Mr Colclough said he had a proposition to make, hut he wished it to be understood that he was not a pledged supporter of the candidate.

He moved—"That this meeting has confidence in Mr Fraer as a candidate for the Mayoralty." Mr dames Nicholas had great pleasure in seconding the motion. On being put, the resolution was carried without a dibteiitient.

J. Wright—cleaning streets 36 13 4 S. Brookes—cleaning streets 4 15 0 Auditors’ Fees 2 2 0 Assessors’ Fees 6 6 0 Poll Clerks ... ... ... 4 4 0 Petty Cash 0 0 0 W. Williams—water race... 60 0 0 Attending to race .. 7 15 0 Law expenses—A. Brough 19 1 4 Law expenses—F. J. Wilson 2 2 0 Stationery and sunddes ... 7 10 6 Matthews and Fenwick ... 12 1 0 Daily Times... 1 2 6 Municipal Ordinances 1 11 0 J. Taylor—water pipes 141 2 6 Cartage of water pipes 72 () 0 Day labour in laying pipes, &c. 64 16 4 I. Hallenstem & Co.—timber 31 4 10 Outhrie & Asher—timber... 13 12 5 J. Taylor—timber 26 3 0 Grant— timber.. 5 2 0 W. Williams—extra water 12 10 0 J. Hayes 4 10 0 Cash in hand 65 14 5