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MR. HUNTER AT TE ARO VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN MR. HUTCHISON REFUSED.

Mr. George Hunter addressed about 400 of the electors of Te Aro, in the Arcade, Mannersstreet, last night. Mr. C. Tringham occupied the chair. Mr. Hontbr, who was enthusiastically received, began by saying that his attention had been directed to a letter signed " Daniel Cliraie," which appeard in that evening's paper, but he did not intend to comment upon it at present. He then referred to the manner in which he was misrepresented by an evening newspaper. That paper made it appear that at his Thorndon meetiug, " some 12 or 14 hands " were held up for the vote of confidence, which was passed in his favor All who wero present at that meeting knew perfectly well tbat his hearers, who numbered 40 or 50, were unanimous. He thought that if papers were to report meetings at all they should do so fairly. Mr. Hunter next proceeded to touch upon various important municipal questions. He thought it might be convenient to notice another statement that he had seen in that evening's papers. It appeared that at Mr. Hutchison's meeting ou the previous evening Mr. Charles Taylor had stateu that some other gentleman had told him that Mr. Clark, actiDg lor an English firm, had got large orders for | drain pipes in Calcutta and Christchurch. He (Mr. Hunter) did not know anything about Christchurch, but he had just been talking to a friend of his who had been in Calcutta every year for the past six years, aud that gentleman assured him that drain pipes were unknown in Calcutta. The drains were j all of brick, which material could be purchased at a very low cost. Therefore Mr. Taylor's friend was probably laboring under a mistake. He (Mr. Hunter) read a statement to show the overdraft of the Corporation. He said that on the 30th September, 1874, while Mr. Dransfield was Mayor, the overdraft was £3133 6s lOd; on 30th (September, 1875, when Mr. Moorhouse was Mayor, it was £9306 7s sd; on 30ih September. 187b', when Mr Hutchison was Mayor, it was £13,822 0$ lid; on 30th September, 1877, when Mr. Hutchison was again Mayor, tho overdraft had reached £20,669 19i. It would appear that the overdraft was now abjut £10,000 higher than in Mr. Hutchison's reign, but it was really about the eatne. Ihe £10,000 had been spent in two permauent works, namely, £7000 for the new Corporation buildings, and £3750 for the land required iv order to extend Cuba-street. In reply to questions, Mr. Hunter said that Mr. Clark was authorised by the City Council to prepare a drainage scheme. He had opposed Councillor Greentiuld's motion for the raising of £150,000 for drainage because he thought it would not be wise to place another loan oa the market before the £100,000 already authorised had been raised. If Councillor Greenfield would at a future date bring furward a motion to borrow £200,000 for drainage he would be glad to support it. He would give his warmest support to Mr. Clark's scheme. The payment of £10 a month could, in the opinion of the City Solicitor, be legally paid to members of the Wharf Committee. Mr. Picton Davikb moved, and Mr. P Mokllhk seconded, a v-te of confidence in Mr. Hunter. Mr. Crook moved, and Mr. Pbtbks seconded an amendment to the effiict that Mr. William Hutchison was a fit and proper person to be Mayor of the city. The question was put,and the original motion carriud by an overwhelming majority. j |

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18790524.2.19.1

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue XVII, 24 May 1879, Page 2

Word Count
593

MR. HUNTER AT TE ARO VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN MR. HUTCHISON REFUSED. Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue XVII, 24 May 1879, Page 2

MR. HUNTER AT TE ARO VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN MR. HUTCHISON REFUSED. Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue XVII, 24 May 1879, Page 2