MR HOLBEN.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7959, 21 April 1904, Page 3

MR HOLBEN.

who is_ standing for the vacancy on the Council, next made a few remarks.

The candidate was warmly received. The points he intended to touch on wore the abattoir and opera house, he said, and then went on to cross swords with "Whalebone," who had written to the papers. He had no axe to grind, in connection with streets or anything else. As far as the street was concerned when they took over the land he approached the Council and was told "that if he carried out the work according to the plans approved by the Council all would be well. The total cost would come to £861 and the Council would take over the road. If that was grinding, an axe he was paying for it pretty dearly.

ComiDg to abattoirs he was never in favour of Hokowhitu. They ought to go to Longburn until such time as they could get a site on the railway line, or elsewhere where there was adequate water supply, etc. "As a youth in this matter it strikes me as very shoddy that a majority of the Council should persist in purchasing the Hokowhitu site in spite of the ratepayers." As to the Opera House he favoured the present site, but agreed with Cr Haydon that it would be advisable to have a Town Hall, which could be used for other purposes.

" I think the waterworks at present are a perfect frost; just when you want the water you are told it is cut off," he remarked. He thought that instead of meddling with 7-inch pipes they should have waited a short time and then put in 12-inch all through. It would be advisable to consider the question of getting a reservoir higher up than the Hospital, so as to obviate being cut off by a washout at Fitzherbert bridge. ' As to new streets, he would support every applicant who.wished to make a new thoroughfare, provided he paid for it and carried it out according to the regulations.

In conclusion he said : " I am entirely on my own; you take me at my cash value. If I get there I will do all I can for the good of the Borongh. If I don't get there—well, there will be nothing lost." Observing in passing that the Borough Council was the laughing stock of the colony, he said: "If I get there and there is any funny busiuess going on you can bet your life I shall make enemies rooting it out." (Applause.) In inviting questions, the Chairman exhorted them, if they bad any questions, to " put it mildly," as it was the candidate's maiden appearance. " Most decidedly—you are letting me down light,'.' said Mr Holben in reply to a question whether he would support putting name plates on the streets.

" Any more questions ? " asked the Chairman.

" No, it's 10 o'clock," replied a voice. A vote of thanks was accorded the candidate, and the meeting terminated.

Mr S. Abrahams will Bpeak in the^ Lyceum Theatre to-night under Mr W. T. Wood's presidency.