THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6474, 26 November 1881, Page 6

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Mr James Gapes, one of tho candidates forth* Mayoral chair next year, addressed the ratepayers lost night at the Academy of Music. There was a large attendance. On coming upon tho stage, Mr Gapes explained to the audience that during the day he had received a requisition asking him to call a meeting at which all the candidates could address the ratepayers. Though he had cot at the time arranged for a Chairman, be had at once done his best to sreure a piece in which the meeting could be held. All hit time had been taken up in doing this, and he would •.bereforc now ask Mr Andrews, as a favour, to take the chair, with the understanding that this must by no means be taken as identifying Mr Andrews with his candidature.

Mr S. P. Andrews here took the chair, in spite of a protest from Mr Oliver, who wot told by Mr Gapes that he bad nothing to do with it

The Chairman introduced the candidate, explaining that he had always opposed on principle the same ctlitan being Mayor more than once. In his opinion the honour should go round to the different Councillors in taro. (Applause.)

Mr Gapes then addressed the meeting to the following effectHe would first explain his position as a candidate for the honourable office of Mayor. He had thought that several of the Councillors would contest the honour, and only a few days ago determined bo stood for election himself. His nomination paper was not written till three quarters of on hour before the lime for its being presented, and hi* own signature was not appended to it till about three minutes before tho time. Finding that not one of the Councillors who hod been in office two years bad the pluck to venture before the public, be had determined to seek a position which, however, he did not crave, the Mayoralty, for a third time. There were circumstances which he would like to

give details of, in order to vindicate hie preteat action. Ho felt it a duty to himself to explain hie conduct, which bad been snimadverted upon. That wae the reason be had placed himself in nomination. Last year he had laid great strew upon the necessity of pulling all the private street* in order. During the past year, thirty-eight of the streets had been dealt with. It hud been proposed to borrow £SOOO for this purpose, a most important one, for if not kept clean, these places would be nests of disease. He had suggested that the owners should pay far the roadway and footpaths, and the Council pay for the sidle channels. The work had cost about £SCOO, and the streets yet to be done would cost probably another £3OOO. The small loan of £SOOO was amalgamated with the great loan of £200,000, and, as he had feared, this amalgamation had mused the rejection of the small loan. The consequence was that the streets were not done, and never would be so long as the people had the privilege of objecting. The Council now had a credit balance of about £2700, an exceptional state of things, as previous to his term of office there had almost always been a debit balance. Some of the Councillors suggested last Monday that this should be made a fixed deposit, but he thought it should bo applied to side chamulliog the private streets. He bad never favoured the proposal to borrow £20,000 for the water supply, though he would hove been benefited by a. The whole of the city would have been rated, while only a part would have reaped the benefit He had not voted on the question as he did not think it fair. Ho quite agreed with a high pressure water supply, but it should be one * that would reach the whole of the city, when the Insurance Companies would be compelled to reduce their charges, the reduction on which would pay a considerable ps*! bn, or the whole, of the rate. If they d;i not reduce their charges he would suggest the formation of a Co-operative Insurance Company. (Applause.) Four years ago he, as one of a Committee appointed by the O- un-il, had recommended the placing of a

ps;r of stationary steam engines for an ei .-ended general water-work* scheme. The estimated cost of this was £37,000. The Council would not listen to it. He did not care whether steam power or turbine power was u*sd. so long as the high pressure supply irti available for the whole of the city. With regard to the market reserve, the recent trial had proved a failure. [Mr Olircr: “ You hate been the cause of its being a failure.”] He had objected to it because ho could not ms the necessity for it, and the putting up of an 7 kind of & shanty would be no credit to tho city. Mr Oliver admitted that it was a dea: failure. [Mr Oliver: “No, I don't.”] Wel'. Mr Oliver had pointed out to him that the holders did not open except on Saturday night. [Mr Oliver : “ I object to th *t. ft is not correct.”] Mr Oliver seemed to think it was cot correct, at all events it sms his (Mr Gapes') opinion. Twenty feet of the best frontage in town was given for £O, whereas business people for tho same frontage elsewhere had to pay £ls for rates. [Mr Oarer ; “ It was £5 last year, it is £lO now."] it might be so ; and these men paid no rate. Besides, their shops wore only match boxes, and some day there might be a fire which would destroy, not only them, but some valuable other property. Ho would advocate the frontage to Victoria street being let for building purposes - (hear) —and the other frontage bein* kept for a fish market. With regard to the proposed Town Hall he had suggested that the frontages should be devoted to offices which would have let at from £IOO to £2OO. The cellarage would have brought another large sum. Hulk-lent would thus have been raised lo p»y interest and sinking fund on the loan. The Town Hall would have brought in an additional revenue, and the Council would have had their own hull and offices free of rent, (Applause.) [Mr Atkinson : “Tell us if it is possible to reduce the rates.”] That was exactly what he was now doing. Me now came to what he might call the question of the day, the dismissal of the Town Clerk and hi* officers. This was perhaps the main reason for his coming before the ratepayers tliat evening. He would explain his conduct and leave them lo say whether he had acted right or not. He would refer lo an article in the G foie, and in doing so he would first take th< stricture* on his conduct, when flir A-thur Gordon came here. A* soon as he at what time the Governor was hkvly to arrive be had told the Council that he int-nded to invite fitr Arthur Gordon to a luncheon, at which the Councillors and public officials should meet the Governor. The Council thought it would he bell-r to have a public dinner, admission to which should he p-.id for. He had accepted this proposal, and had guaranteed to make up any dsfictency, not exceeding £SO. He bad been lucky enough to hare to pay only £2B, but would have paid double the amount if called upon. The affair was a success. Coming now to the Town Clerk business, after quoting from the article in the Globe, Mr Gapes continued : If ho had given an illegal notice the question of the legality would certainly have been raised. Councillor Hulbert's resolution stated that legal notice should be given. On tho first of tho month he hod asked for the officials’ several agreements in order to give the notice. He had given all the officials notice until ho came to the Town Clerk, who had no agreement, but who said that his duties had been stated by a special order of the Council. Mr Haskins was about to tender him advice, as was his duty, but ho (Mr Gapes) prohibited him from doing so, as ho (Mr Haskins) was an interested party. Ho had examined tho records of the Council and then stated the case to Mr Cowlishaw, whoso immediate advico ho asked, Mr Cowliahawsaid : "You can’t give notice to-day. I tie a verr difficult question” Ho had, in compliance with Mr Oowlishaw’s request, handed over all the documents dealing with the question, and Mr Cowlishaw had finally given tho opinion that the Town Clerk should have three months' notice before the close of the current year. Tho last three months of the current year had already begun, so Mr Cowlishaw recommended him to give no notice on his own responsibility. Be had submitted the matter to the Council, who had passed a resolution that the thing should be carried out. But how was it to be done ? Mr Haskins could have brought an action for damsgee if he received an illegal notice, and Mr Cowli* •baw said it would rut with a jury to decide

tho question. Would Anyone take such a responsibility f (Cries of " Yes’* and “ No. 1 *) Councillor Halbert bad said that ho had no fault to find with any of the official*, so that the Town Clerk would hare been dismissed for no fault If he (Mr Gapes), by acting illegally, bad caused the Council to lose £IOOO damage* for a wrongful dismissal, the rale* payer* would not thank him. Mr Haskins had always done hi* duty, and hi* dismissal would injure hi* character. (No.) Businei* men would not engage the terrier* of a mao who had been dismissed for no fault. IMr Atkinson : " Wo* he engaged for ever F*'] Ho was engaged for no definite time. After the matter bad been disputed of, by the Council consenting to drop it, the Town Clerk had, of hi* own accord, offered to *ign on agreement engaging him at three months' notice. (Applause.) He had no more to tell them, except to aay he was Terr pleased to meet them in thi* way. He would be very happy to answer any reasonable questions. (Applause.) In answer to questions, Mr Gapes said the Council bod no power to grant the use of the square for Messrs Joubert and Twopeny’* Exhibition, but ho thought no one would object to the distinction of Christchurch being selected for the exhibition, which ho believed would do more good than harm. (Applause.) He preferred Uranmcr Square to Latimer Square for the purpose, because no improvement* had been made on the first, and £2OO had been spent on the second. There would he no power to moke a charge for entrance if people objected to pay. Ho had never promised a rote. Some time ago he had told Councillor Taylor that ho had no intention of coming out, but circumstances had since then altered. He had told both Mr Taylor and Mr Buddenklan that ho would not promise to support either, and that anything ho did would be on the quiet. (Laughter and applause.) Ho was not aware that Mr Buddenklau's supporters had asked him to contest the election, as be did not know who were that gentleman’s supporters. After replying to a large number of questions, Mr Gapes moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which brought the meeting to a close.