THE THORNDON ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 25 September 1883, Page 2

THE THORNDON ELECTION.

Mr. H. J. Williams, a candidate for tho representation of the Thorndon Ward in tho City Council, addrossed a large mooting of , the ratepayers of that part of the Municipality at the Princess Hotel last evening. Mr. Salmon road, a letter from Dr. Grace, expressing his regret that, owing to a prior engagement, ho wonld bo_ unable to accept the invitation of Mr. Williams' committee to prosido over the meeting. Mr. Cherrett was voted to the chair. The candidate, who, on coming forward, was well received, commenced his address by saying that his opponent, Mr. Maginnity, had expressed a desire that the friendly relations which existed between the speaker and that gentleman wonld not bo interfered with by the present contest. He (Mr. Williams) cordially re-eohoed that sontimont, and could assure the meeting that as far as he was personally concerned the good feeling which at present existed betwoen all parties would not bo disturbed by tho ensuing struggle. Boforo addressing the meeting on municipal matters, he would make a few remarks on the subject of Mr. Maginnity's resignation, and review that gontleman's aotion in connection with the wholo matter. He also wished to explain to the ratepayers how it was that his candidature had come about. Those present would recollect that when Mr. Maginnity forwarded his resignation ho stated at tho time that it was tho result of premeditated aotion. On a subsequent occasion Mr. Maginnity put an entirely different construction on the mutter, and how the ratepayers would be able to reconcile the two statements was more than ho (the speakor) knew. In the first plaoo, Mr. Maginnity had mado a great mistake by resigning, and in the second place he had mado a greater blunder by trying to cover up his mistake. His sooond aotion made the first one muoh worse. He (Mr. Williamß) considered that his opponent had done wrong in not obtaining legal opinion on tho subject of his resignation, for if ho had adopted that course there could bo no doubt that the present complication would not have arisen, and the ratopayors would not have boon called upon to consider tho relative merits of the candidates. At Mr. Maginnity's meeting of ratepayers the other day, his opponent was pleased to give the ratepayers an acoount of his stewardship, but, with tho exception ot a few streets whioh ho helped to get made, he (the speaker) did not think that his friend had done anything to merit the favour of tho burgesses of Thorndon Ward. It was a well-known fact that the Thorndon Ward had not had its fair sharo of public money, and it was high time that something was dons with a view of getting a fair amount of money spent in the district. In his address to tho ratepayers, Mr. Maginnity made somo remarks relative to his stewardship which were simply to tho effeot that if ho had done no good in tho post he hoped he had done no harm. (Laughter.) At the meeting on Wednesday night Mr. Maginnity threw himself at the feet of the ratepayers and supplioated for mercy. When asked this question and that question he referred the meeting to tho ratepayers for a reply, and it was his (Mr. Williams') opinion that if that sort of thing wero to be indulged in by a candidate the burgesßes would unmistakeably show that they preferred to represent thorn a man who had the courage of his own opinions. (Hear, hear,) Qn the day ihat the resignation was' placed lh tho hands of the Council, a deputation of ratepayers waited upon him ana asked him whether he would stand for election. His reply was that ho had heard Mr. Par Bons intimated his intention to stand, and he consequently referred the burgesses to that gentleman. Tho following day another deputation, of a different oharactor to the first, waited upon him with _ the same object, and as ho had ascertained in the interim that Mr. Parsons did not intend to put up for election, he (tho speaker) consented to plaoo himself at the disposal of the ratepayers. At that time no one know that Mr. Maginnity would attempt to withdraw his resignation. When Mr. Maginnity intimated that he intended to stand again it was too late for him (Mr. Williams) to withdraw, oven had ho wished, as tho burgossoa had been promised that ho would stand, and consequently there was to bo a contest. Sinoe it had been announced that ho intended to contest the seat rumours had been oiroulated with a view to prejudioe his oandidature. One of theso canards was to the effect that ho intended to withdraw from the >yard, and another was that he was the nominee of the Mayor. Now, both those rumours had no foundation whatever.' He had no intention of leaving a district where he had resided for such a length of time, and it was not true that the Mayor had put him forward to oontest the seat with Mr. Maginnity. He respeotod the Mayor, because, to his mind, he filled tho civic chair with honour and suocesß, and, if elected, ho would work with that gentloman so long as their views were in aooord, but whenever he felt it his duty, in the interests of the ward, to oppose any proposal of Mr. Fisher, he should not fail to have the courage of hia opinions. Ho did not come before them as a nonentity, having neither opinions nor capacity, but as a man who could form clear opinions and express them intelligently. The question of a lawyer Town Clerk would probably be settled before tho day of election, but it would bo just as well to let the ratepayers know his opinions on the subject wore. Ho was favourable to tho proposal, because ho considered that the example of large cities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, together with recent events in Wellington, pointed to the deBirablenesß of placing a solicitor in the position now occupied by Mr. Graham. Wellington lately had been suffering from a chronio attack of law, and the only wonder was that it had not developed into a chronio disease. Prevention was better than cure, and if proper legal advice had been available at the right time, the Corporation would not havo been plunged into large lawsuits, carrying with them very heavy costs. In his opinion, the administration of the City Conncil department needed thorough reorganization, and, if elected, ho wonld do his utmost to effect a reform on the principle of retaining only thoroughly competent officials, and paying them adequate salaries, in order to ensure zeal and competency. Each officer should also be held responsible for the proper working of his department, so that the burgesses might know on whose shoulders the blame of executing inferior work was to be placed. He referred to the Tihakori-road drain as an instance of work performed by some one who could not be found to take the blame. The condition of the streets on the Thorndon reclamation was not satisfactory, and he suggested that enquiries should bo instituted with a view of ascertaining who was responsible for their maintenance and repair. The lighting of the city was also not satisfactory, and if elected he would do his beat to see if some reform could not be effected. With regard to the relaxation of the building regulations, he understood the point was conceded on a proper application being made. Referring to the cemetery question, the speaker pointed out that even if another bnrial puce were provided, those who had relatives interred in the present cemetery would be permitted to continue to inter their dead in that place, so that the sanitary objections would not be removed. Ho objected to the proposal of Mr. Maginnity to set apart a portion of the present cemetery as a recreation ground, but if he saw an opportunity of securing some other site for the purpose he wduld use his best endeavonrs to obtain it. ¦ The candidate having promised, if elected/to do his best to further the interests of Thorndon in particular and the city in general, resumed his seat amidst applause. Mr. W. M'Keever (of Te Aro Ward) asked whether the candidate, if elected, would use his best endeavours to get a quantity of gravel placed on tho Te Aro streets. Mr. Williams replied that if favoured with a seat he wonld direct the attention of the Te Aro members to the matter, and assist them to carry out Mr. M'Keever's wishes. Mr Clark wished to know whether the candidate would, if elected, vote for Glenbcrvie Terrace being carried out as originally intended, or favour the deviations proposed? Mr. Williams promised to carry out the plan which would do the greatest possible good to tho largest number at the least possible expense. Mr. S. Birch urged the electors to give Mr. Williamß a trial, so that when the general elections arrived, the ratepayers might know whether ho or Mr. Maginnity was the best man. On the motion of Mr. R. Burrett, seconded by Mr. G. L. Parsonage, a vote of confidence in Mr. Williams was passed almost unanimously, and after the usual compliment had been accorded the Chairman, the meeting terminated.