The Municipal Elections.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 1

The Municipal Elections.

THE COOK CANDIDATES AT THE FORESTERS' HALL. The candidates for the Cook Ward seats in the City Council addressed a meeting of ratepayers at the Foresters' Hall last night week. There was a fair attendance and Mr D. McDougall was voted to the chairMr J. Coombe said that if the drainage of the city was to be made efficient, funds would have to be raised apart from the general revenue. He pointed out that Mr Loughrey's estimate of £14,000 was only, to complete the main drains, and to pnt pipe drains in the principal streets. He exprsseed an opinion that the electric light was a good thing for the city, but would not be as cheap as was generally believed, because the cost of the water would have to be included. At the same time he thought the light would be a great boon to the city. With reference to the Destructor he took exception to the Mayor's letters to the papers. It did not cost £IOOO for cartage, for instance, as the Mayor said it would. It would coat £l2O for a boiler, and the interest on the cost of the Destructor would be abont £175 ; there would be about £SOO for plant and £2OO for a shed site, &c., so that it ; would take about £IOOO to meet the expenses for starting the Destructor. He was of opinion that the place for the Destructor was Clyde-quay. if it was to.be erected anywhere. The Council was willing to shift the locality further along at a cost of £2OOO, to please a few gentlemen, and that he was opposed to. He denied that Councillor J. Young had been instrumental in settling the difference with the Harbour Board, and quoted the division lists of the Council to prove his contention. If credit was due to any Councillor for settling these differences it was due to Councillor Richardson, in whom, he remarked, the city was losing a very valuable Councillor. In conclusion, Mr Coombe said he was not making any great promises, but he would,, if elected, do hiß best, as he had done in the past, for the intsrests of master and man. (Applause.) In answer to questions, Mr Coombe said he found that during the last six months Councillor John Young had been absent 14 times.

Mr F. H. Fraser said he came forward in answer to arequisition. ~ While he admitted the bad condition of the streets, he thought it probable that the question of drainage was more important still, and that was the only object for which he would assent to increased taxation. He was otherwise strongly opposed to any increase in the rates. He thought it was a pity that Mr Climie’s scheme of drainage had not been adopted and carried out. Generally speaking, he fancied the Council had gone ahead a little too fast in many matters, leaving necessary details to be arranged afterward. He strongly advocated repairing the streets on the Thorndon reclamation, and taking over the Botanic Gardens. With respect te the Thorndon recreation ground, he would like to see such a ground, but he did not think it fair to tax the whole community for it. He did not think there was any urgent necessity for baths—that was a matter that could well be left to private enterprise. As to the oemetery, be would be in favour of removing it if it were shown to be necessary. He was of opinion that the Destructor would be a useful thing, and would tend to make the city a great deal cleaner. With respect to- the water-supply, though we had a good supply, it should be carefully looked after, and" the best use shouldbe made of it. Whether there was sufficient water to keep the electric light going he did aot know, but if there was the light would be a great improvement to the city. He took upon bimpelf the credit of getting a site for the Te Aro railway station. The present position of the station was ridiculous—(applause)—and he pointed out that the contractor for the Te Aro reclamation had shown how the railway could be brought along. (Applause.)

Mr T. O’Loughlin read, an address which he had recently issued. Mr Coombe made an explanation to the effect that he had always been in favour of a site being given for the Te Aro railway station (this in answer to something Mr Fraser had said).

Mr F. Moeller briefly stated that he would be in favour of going on with the present system of drainage until some thorough system was adopted. He was in favour of planting the city reserves, and of the City Council taking over the Botanic Gardens. He was also in favour of a drive round Oriental Bay and to the Patent Slip, as tending to make the city more attractive. He thought the main thoroughfares of the city shonld be put in good repair. With re* spect to private streets, he thought they should be taken over by the Council, if necessary a few at a time. In answer to questions, Mr Moeller said he was opposed to the Destructor being put up at Clydequay, but he did not think enough rubbish could be gathered to keep the Destruotor going.

At this juncture a letter of apology for non-attendance from Mr Muir was read.

Mr A. Wilson said that he would hav® opposed the purchase of the Destructor hzd he been in the Ceuncil. They could hay© burned the rubbish on the Town Be<ft for the next 20 years. With respect_ to reorganisation of the Corporation service, he disapproved any sweeping changes, considering that the present staff was an excellent one. He held that leaseholders from the Corporation should not be allowed to sit at the Council table. He approved a recreation ground for Thorndon, but not at a cost of £4OOO. He saw no reason for removing the cemetery ; he had been up there and he didn’t notice any bad smells or anything of that kind. A good cemetery could be obtained at the south end of the city. He strongly favoured the postoffice clock being reinstated. As to railway extension they ’ had ocular demonstration that the railway could be brought along the reclamation, arid bo should do all he could to support it. (Applause.) Mr P. Coffey said Mt John Young had asked him to state that he could not be present that night, considering it his duty to attend at the City Council meeting. Mr H. J. White, who had retired from the election, briefly explained his reasonß for so doing, which was that as a fireman he couldnot hold a seat in the Council. Therefore, with a view to preventing complications, he had at once withdrawn his nomination. (Applause. ) Mr Coombe remarked that Councillor John Young might be excused for attending his last meeting of the Council. (Laughter.) A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. '• /. ' ' - • *

The fact that the weather was not of a nature calculated to stimulate election excitement last Friday probably accounted for the municipal elections passing off very quietly. At the Thorndon and Lambton polling booths the business of the election was conducted quietly, and without anything in the shape of excitement. At Cook and Te Aro booths a more lively feeling was evinoed, and at both these placeß the candidates (with one or two exceptions) were to be seen pushing their respective interests with much energy and perseverance. The Thorndon and Lambton candidates, in faet, seemed to have decided to let the election take its course; while the candidates for the wards at the other end, . with the exceptions aforesaid, adopted the active principle. The polling booths in the various wards were as follow ; Thorndon Ward, the shop adjoining Mr Tinuey’s, Charlotte street ; Lambton, tha City Council Chambers; Te Aro, the Rechabite Hall; Cook, Foresters’ Hall, Tory, street. Following are the results of the elections in the various wards :

thorndon. Mr W. Hester, the Returning Officer, declared the result of the poll at 7.5 p.m. as follows A. do B. Brandon ... ... 272 Martin Chapman ... ... 253 H. J. Williams 244 Thos. Orr* ... ... ... 192 George Allen i.. ... ... 173_ Messrs Brandon, Chapman, and William® were elected. - , LAMBTON. Mr Cherrett, Returning Officer, declared the result of the poll at 7.45 as follows C. E. W. Willeston... ... 652 W. Seed ... 580 L. L. Harris ... ... ... 575 Andrew Young ... ... 4SB J.R. George ... ... ... 408 Messrs Willeston, Seed, and Harris were elected. TE ARO WARD, The result of the election in this ward was declared by Mr H. M, Lyon (substitute for Returning-officer) at 8, as follow : A. W. Brown ... 502 J. Smith* .... ... ... 430 J. H. Heaton ;.. 422 J. Petherick ... ... ... 321 W. H. P. Barber 234 T. Carter 128 Messrs Brown, Smith and Heaton were duly declared elected amidst cheering. COOK WARD. In the above ward the candidates polled aa follows : F. H. Fraser ... ... ... 320 F. Moeller ... ... ... 286 W. Muir ... ... ... 263 Jl Coombe ... ... ... 197 J. Young ... ... ... 186 C. F. Worth 184 A. Wilson ... ‘ ... ... 166 T. O’Loughlan... ... ... 147 The three first-named gentlemen were declared duly elected at a quarter past 7, when the poll was declared- Mr Moeller briefly returned thanks and was loudly cheered. Mr J. Ames was the Returning Officer/