MAYORAL NOMINATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 10782, 17 November 1898, Page 2

MAYORAL NOMINATIONS.

DUNEDIN CITY. The nominations for election to the office of Mayor of Dunedin for the ensuing year closed at the Town Hall at noon to-day, at which hour the substitute returning officer (Mr H. W. Wilson) intimated that the following had been received William Swan, nominated by Thomas Fergus and William Wright. George Lyon Denniston, nominated by Adam Paterson and Julius Hyman. There being more candidates than were required to fill the vacancy, Mr Wilson notified that a poll of the ratepayers would be taken on Thursday, December 1. The candidates then addressed the crowd of about n 4 iy people who had gathered on the steps and in the street in front of the Town Hall. Mr G. L. Denniston said he hoped to receive a majority of the suffrages of the ratepayers, which would enable him to attain to the position for which he had just been nominated —the most honorable position in the power of the citizens to confer. He owed it to himself and to the ratepayers to state somewhat fully the reasons that had induced him to come forward at the present time, and he hoped they would forgive him if he referred to that more fully than to civic affairs. He was standing because he hod been asked to stand, but he did not consent to do so until he ascertained that no other councillor was prepared to enter the lists against Mr Swan. It would not be creditable to Dunedin and its citizens if any person, no matter what his claims were, were allowed to liave a walk over for so important a position. The only person who had ever had a walk over for the mayoralty was Mr John Roberts, but at that time there were exceptional reasons for such an occurrence. The citizens of Dunedin liked a fight, and he thought he earned their thanks for giving them one on this occasion. That, however, was not his most important reason. During the coming year many important questions would come before the Council, and though several of them could not in one year be brought to finality, still they would have to be initiated, and a great deal depended upon how they were treated in their initial stages. He referred particularly to such questions as drainage and an increased water supply. He di. not think he could deal with these matters better than Mr Swan could, but at any rate in giving a choice of men to deal with them he was performing a benefit to the City. Too much had already been said about his being a comparatively' young councillor. His term in the Council had been 15 months, but so great were the changes time brought about that he was- not by any means the youngest councillor. There were four younger than he in point of service, and seven older. Four of these latter had already occupied the mayoral chair, and two besides Mr Swan had not been mayor. These two were asked to stand this year, but declined, and he (Mr Denniston) considered it his duty to come forward and contest the mayoralty. He wished to assure them that it was by no means a new departure for a comparatively young councillor to stand for mayor. He could refer to precedents. Putting aside the cases of Mr Roberts and Mr Cargill, wliich were purely exceptional, he could tell them that some of Dunedin’s previous mayors had but little more experience than he as councillor. Mr Leary, one bf the best mayors Dunedin ever had, was elected councillor in 1875 and mayor in 1877, and on the second occasion was not a councillor at all, but went straight from the citizenship to the mayor's chair. Mr Dawson was elected councillor in 1885 and mayor in 1887. Mr Wales was elected councillor in 1894, and was made mayor in 1895; Mr Ross was elected to the Council in 1879, and to the mayoralty in 1880; and Mr Scoullar was elected councillor in 1881, and mayor in 1884. From this he thought he was justified in saying that not much could be said against his claims on the score of length of service as a councillor, seeing (hat (here were so many excellent precedents, Mr Swan made his claim to their suffrages apparently because hrstood Just year. He had nothing lo say against Mr Swan, but he thought that, if Mr Swan had stood aside last year his claim this year would have been considerably strengthened. He (Mr Denniston) entered the contest with the most friendly spirit to Mr Swan, and he hoped nothing would be said by himself personally or his supporters, or by Mr Swan or his supporters, to break that friendly spirit., and he hoped when the poll was declared —no matter who was elected—to be able to shake hands with Mr Swan with as much cordiality as was possible at the present moment. The mayor of this City was no mere ornamental figurehead, even in the quietest of times, and the questions which were just now looming into view were such as would require the exercise of much shrewdness and tact, and whoever was elected would have to these qualities and give them for the service of his town. He asked the ratepayers to elect him on his own merits, if he had any, and not on the demerits of Mr Swan, if that gentleman had any—and he (Mr Denniston) did not say that Mr Swan had any. He did not think it right on this occasion to go into civic matters, and they would not feel obliged to him if he went into a series of figures. He would take an opportunity to do that before the election, as he would make it his business to address one or more public meetings in different parts of the town. On those occasions he Would be very pleased to explain his views and answers any questions put to him. He would leave himself in the ratepayers’ hands. The issue would lie with them, and he hoped they would see their way to give him a majority of their suffrages.—(Applause.) Mr W. Swan said that in seeking at the ratepayers' hands the position of mayor he did not think any apology was necessary from him. In justice to himself, he might say that he had served the ratepayers of the City as a councillor for nearly ten years. He had endeavored to serve them to the best of his ability. When a man had been a councillor for a number of years, the opportunity to serve as mayor should be given to that councillor in preference to another who has not been a councillor for nearly so long a period.—(Hear, hear.) It had been often said that the hope of reward sweetened Jfibor, and to be mayor was (he Only reward a councillor could look forward to. He hud resided in pupedin for ofer (hjrty-six years, and for twenty-eight years of that lime he had been actively and successfully eng.igid in business, During all these years he ipid always taken a part in malts.s belonging to the City, and he had been for a number of years, and was now, connected with public bodies, which public bodies had conferred upon him high honors, He might be permitted to point out to the ratepayers that he did not claim their suffrages because he had previously sought election, but because he considered it his right by length of service. They all believed the office of mayor should be a rolling one, and that it should go to the councillor next in turn by length of sendee.—(Hear, hear.) with regard to the Corporation finances, there was still great necessity for conserving the revenue, and the strictest economy would have to be exercised. Although recently the municipal taxation had been increased, it only gave revenue equal to the expenditure. Several iraportknt matters would have to be considered By ttyp Council. The necessity for an increased water supply had not been loijt sight of, and for some time had been under consideration. There were two proposals before the Council, one providing for increasing the supply by Storage at Silyerstream and the other by utilising the waters of the Upper Waitati and Water of Leith. Both schemes had their advantages, and it was possible a combination of some of them would be suitable; but in the meantime tlie Council had decided to remit the question for further outside advice before taking further steps. They all, however, recognised that the obtaining of a supply of pure water for the Cjty was a matter of first importance. The drainage question would require careful consideration, and eventually would involve the expenditure of a large sum of money. However, two or three very important matters would have to be considered before any drainage works could be proceeded with, The Council would have to gel legislation for the declaration of a drainage area, and also for the appointment of a drainage board, and there was 1 a further very important detail—viz., ways and means. There were no funds to carry out a work of this description at the present time, and to proceed with them this year meant the increasing of the rates. He believed no one would be found to question the necessity of work of this kind being carried out as soon as was possible, for nothing was more important to tne health and comfort of the citizens than pure water and efficient drainage, but they must wait until a few more of the old loans fell irff sail-hat they would have funds to proceed with the work. He did hot uiink it was desirable to detain then} longer at present,' except to say that he'intended to speak to the ratepayers on municipal matters before the day or election. He left liimself in the hands of the ratepayers, feteling confident that they would by their vote elect him to e position he sought and was rightfully entitled to. He wished also lo say that with Mr' Denniston he trusted there would be nd mud-throwing or persona) recrimination, So far as he Was concerned there Would be none. The proceedings terminated with the customary compliment to the returning officer, moved by Mr Denniston and seconded by Mr Swan. CAVERSHAM. The following nominations for the mayoralty of Cavershata were declared at noon to-day: George Francis Burgess, nominated by Francis Porter and Robert Rutherford.

;'Thomas Cole, nominated by D. Houston and Samuel H. Treveua. MAORI glLt.. John Pollock, nominated by William Steven and Mary Binnie, jun. William Robertson, nominated by A. A. Aaskoy and Daniel Brent. GREEN ISLAND. The only candidate nominated was James Miller, proposed by Walter Beufeh and Joseph Ensor. PORT CHALMERS. The nomination of candidates for the position of mayor for the ensuing year look jalact at the Town Hall at noon to-day. Mr A. Leek, returning officer, read the fclbwiig nominations in the presence of aboit lw<nty ratepayers; William Martin lunis, proposed by William Henry Tolcher and James Heillor Holden. John Mill, proposed by Charles Stevcnsvn, jun., and William Pedlow. Mr Mill said that at the request of a good many of his fellow townsmen lie had come forward for the second time to seek their suffrages. He did so with great reluctance. When he was before them on the last occasion he said the position of mayor should be held by one who had served as a councillor, but as there was no councillor coming forward he had given his consent to nomination. Ho had had the honor to be their chief magistrate for the last twelve months, and it bad been a pleasure to him to preside over the Council. During his time there had been no ill-will or bad feeling amongst the councillors, and he could have no greater pleasure than to preside over them for the next twelve months. There would be a great deal for the Council to consider during the ensuing year, chiefly the abattoirs question, wliich was a matter that would have to be handled very carefully, so as they would not be a burden to the ratepayers. He bad gone into the matter with some of the councillors, and considering there were over 600 head of cattle and some 7,000 sheep slaughtered for the town during the year he thought that a 3d rate would be all that would be required. The erection of abattoirs ■would be a boon to the ratepayers, to know that the whole of the meat was inspected. In conclusion, he stated that he had no axe to grind, and the councillors could testify as to his conduct during his term of office. He had given his promise to contest the election, and would leave the choice to the ratepayers. Mr Innis said that on the last occasion he was not very particular iu being elected, knowing that Mr Mill would like to meet his old friend, the Governor, in the position as mayor of the borough; but on that occasion Mr Mill had stated that he would not contest, the election again, and he had now stated that, he would not have been nominated if a councillor had come forward. That he (Mr Innis) could not understand, considering that at the present time he was one of the councillors for Middle Ward, As to affairs of the town, he was conversant with the work of the Council. So far as the abattoirs were concerned, the erection of them was a necessity, but there were other works which were also necessary—the channelling of the streets and a better supply of water. He considered a councillor had a prior right to the position, and that a councillor should serve three years before aspiring to the office of mayor, and concluded by moving a vote of thanks to the returning officer, which was seconded by Mr Mill.

[By Telegraph.] WELLINGTON, November 17. Mr George Fisher has retired from the mayoral election, so that Mr J. B. Blair is probably returned unopposed.