MAYORAL NOMINATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 7773, 19 November 1888, Page 2

MAYORAL NOMINATIONS.

THE CITY. The nomination of candidates for the Dunedin Mayoralty for the ensuing twelve months took place at the Town Hall at noon to-day. The Town Clerk announced that the nominations received were as follows : Charles R. Chapman, proposed by the Hon. T. Di«k and Robert Chapman. Hugh Goukley, proposed by Robert Wilson and Alexander Cairns.

Mr Chapman said that he had not very much to say just now ; he would doubtless take an opportunity to address fie ratepayers later on. He was standing in opposition to a member of the City Council, but knew that he had a large proportion of public opinion in his favor, as he had stated his intention to take office, if elected, without salary, and also with the promise that lie would give his legal services free into the bargain. It was time that the Corporation received some assistance of that description, for on last year's operations there was a deficiency of L.3,000, while for several years past there had been a deficiency of L 3.000 per annum. He would also attempt to save the ratepayers 2 per cent, on the money borrowed from the bank. He found that the Corporation overdraft exceeeded the amount allowed by the Act, and thereby the councillors had rendered themselves liable to a fine of LIOO each, which, however, he hoped would not bo enforced against them. He had intended to address the ratepayers before this, but the real fact was that he had not got the requisite information ; if before the election ho got any information he would give it to them.

In answer to questions Mr Chapman said thathe believed in areductionof expenditure. In answer to Mr Fish especially he said he thought that with coaching up between now and the election he would learn as much of the Corporation's finances as the previous mayors had learned during their experience of year 3. In answer to a question as to whether he would give LI,OOO towards the Exhibition, ho said that he had an offer, in black-and-white, of LSOO in the event of his being elected Mayor. Mr Goukley said that he recognised the fact that there were many councillors better fitted than himself for the position of Mayor —men who had served in the Council a longer time, and men of greater ability, notably Cr Carroll—and if any of those gentlemen had been candidates he would not have been there to-day. But Cr Carroll and the other eligible candidates had signified their intention not to stand, and therefore he came forward. The citizens had always expressed the opinion that, unless in very exceptional cases, no one should be elected Mayor unless he had previously served in the Council, and he thought that was a very wise decision; for of however great ability a man might be he could not be expected to carry out the duties of Mayor without previous experience in the Council. He had not a word to say agaiust his opponent, who was a gentleman well known to them all, and who had made a high bid for the ratepayers' votes—he wanted no salary, and would give them the experience of his legal training and the benefit of his great legal knowledge for nothing. Now, ho himself knew nothing about law, but men of experience had told him that the dearest of all law was that which was got for nothing.—(Laughter and applause.) He believed that the citizens of Dunedin did not wish people to perform the duties of Mayor without fair remuneration. (Applause.) On municipal topics he would have early opportunities of addressing them, but he might say that just now there was no subject of great importance to trouble them. The principal dilliculty was the want of funds, and it would take the greatest economy to make both ends meet without increasing the City ratcß—a course which, however, he thought must decidedly be avoided. As to Mr Chapman's remarks about the overdraft, he might say that the facts were overstated by that gentleman. In answer to a question, Mr Gourley said that he did not intend to " stand again for the Mayoralty of St. Kilda." Mr Grant : As Mr Chapman has said that he will do the citizens' legal work for nothing, will you bury for nothing any of them who die ?

Mr Gourley : Oh, certainly ! The Town Cleric announced that the poll will be taken on tho 28th inst,

ROSLYN. Mr A. C. Begg was returned unopposed for the fourth time. MORNINGTON. James Scoular, proposed by John Grindley and Alexander Watson. William Wills, proposed) by the Hon. W. H. Reynolds and G. M. Grigg. [By Telegraph.] Lawrence.—Mr J. C. Arbuckle was elected unopposed, Mr G. O. Taylor having declined nomination. Balcltjtiia. —Messrs John Dunne (hotelkeeper) and Daniel Stewart (solicitor) were nominated. Timaku. —Mr D. M. Ross was elected Mayor unopposed. New Plymouth.—Mr J. B. Roy (solicitor) was elected without opposition. Wellington.—Mr John Duthie was the only candidate nominated. Blenheim. —Mr George Riley was reelected unopposed.