MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. THORNDON WARD CONSTITUENCY.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 209, 6 September 1877, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. THORNDON WARD CONSTITUENCY.

A numerously attended meeting of the ratepayers of Thorndon Ward was held last evening, in the Princess Hotel, Molesworth-street, to hear the views of the candidates for municipal honors. Mr. J. R. Brown occupied the chair. In opening the meeting he briefly referred to the object for which it had been called, and expressed a hope that the three candidates who were to address them would have a fair hearing. Mr. George Allen, the retiring councillor, stated that it was twelve months since he had an opportunity of meeting the ratepayers, and he therefore meant to explain to them many of the actions he had taken in the City Council during that period. At the very outset, however, he would wish to state that he had frequently differed with his brother councillors in regard to various municipal matters, which they had no doubt noticed in the daily journals from time to time. The building, of a new town hall and corporation offices was one subject on which he differed*; and next as to the drainage scheme and the appointment of an enginear, he considered that Mr. Climie's scheme should- have had the approval .of two competent engineers. Various opinions had" since been expressed regarding the outfall of the drainage, and it "was yet a debateable question as to how it was to be disposed of. Mr. Bell, of Christcburch, had been appointed as Consulting i Engineer, but his services had not ( yet been obtained, and it wasstill to be seen how far' they would be of advantage to the proper settlement' 1 of > the scheme. Mr. Allen referred to the action he had taken in regard to the Glenbervie catting question, as also to the extension of the wharf,in regard to which he observed that he had been, quite in accord with his colleagues. In reference to Roxburgh-street, he had moved that the matter should be referred back' to the Public Works Committee, and it had ultimately resulted in the contractor having been paid a small snm by way of compensation. Mr. Allen here referred to the revenue derived by the City Council, which he stated amounted in round numbers to something over £20,000— a sum which he considered ought to be sufficient for all the works required in the city. , In reference to the street metalling, he stated that j he was fully of opinion that a great loss had been occasioned through ita not having been carried out at the proper time. He approved of the waterworks scheme, which he considered a credit to the city, and in regard to other matters observed that; though he had sometimes disagreed with his brother councillors, he 'had done so with the best of motives, and with the object of serving the interests of the ratef 'payers generally. If re-elected, he would endeavour as far as possible to act in accord \ 'with the other councillors; and being. quite, independent in his views, could assure' 'the ; ratepayers that their interests would receive" j his best attention. In reply to various questions, Mr. Allen explained the action he bad taken in regard to the wharf contracts, and stated' that he had «very desire to see the projjected public works carried out, so as to give , eraployment.tbctbe working classes. Mr. £. T. Gillon next addressed the meeting. , lp his opening remarks, he referred to a rumor which he stated had been circulated' that he and Mr. ,Maginnity had been brought forward in the interest of certain contractors, an ingenious story to which he desired tpghe ithe moat positive denjaL, as, if retqrned he would act, as he previously had done in the Council, to the utmost of his- ability finv the benefit of 'the ratepayers; generally. He 1 had only come forward at the desire of a large number* of the *atepayers, and although- it might have been mentioned that some incidental expenses would be defrayed by those who supported him, that would not in any way influence his.action if elected to ¦& seat irr the Counail. Mr.. Gillon, drew attention to the expenditure'at present' incurred by the Council 'in' carrying/ out. the worlds, (now in operation, and stated that, if elected, he would see that it was as much as possible reduceJ, so as to bring it within jj more Teasdnable limit. He .stated that iv.the way of salaries alone the present expenditure was nearly ' doable what it had been, before, and he thought it was quite capable of being_reduced, so that the ratepayers should have more value for their money than-ihey at present received. In repjy to questions, he. said he did not think that three years was too long a time i fbr<Soun-l cillors to remain in office^ and especially as by the operation of the Act, that certain or -the Counmllbni -were- required to Ddtire annually. He wasnot in favour of an increase being made in the water-rate. Mr. Magixnity, the third candidate, next addressed the meeting. He stated that he had come forward with Mr. Gillon to contest the election upon thoroughly independent principles and, if elected, no would serve the ratepayers to the best of bis ability. He had every

confidence in his position in having come forward with Mr. Gillon, whose previous services in the Council, he considered, rendered him a colleague in every way to be proud of. He generally endorsed Mr. Gillon's views, and in | answer to questions as to the expenditure which had taken place in various portions of the ward, stated that there were many places at present requiring improvement which should have been attended to long ago. In regard to the carrying out of the drainage scheme he mentioned that, if elected to a seat in the Council, he would advocate that the drains should be carried out to the front of the various ratepayers' premises.. He quite_jipj L proved of a fair proportion of the revenue being spent on private streets, as the property •-they represented contributed towards the rates. He was also in favour of the erection of drink- ¦ ingibuntainaia various parts of .the city, and thought that they might in their way tend to to the public good, in the assistance they would undoubtedly offer to the temperance cause. Mr. Maginity concluded his remarks by assuring the meeting that, if elected, he would enter the Council as a thoroughly independent man, and with the geneml interests of the city at heart. . A vote "of confidence in the three candidates was then proposed "by Mr. Gregg, and seconded by Mr. Boulton, and carried by a large majority. • ¦ . • ( The customary vote of thanks was then parsed to the Chairman and - the meeting separated. -_-