MR. DRANSFIELD AT TE ARO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4288, 17 December 1874, Page 2

MR. DRANSFIELD AT TE ARO.

A very crowded meeting of Te Aro ratepayers was held last evening at the Panama Hotel, to hear a further explanation of Mr. Dransfield's views upon matters connected with the Mayoralty election. Mr. K. J. Duncan, who was voted to the chair, recounted the numerous services rendered to the city by Mr. Dransfield, who had been a faithful servant of the public for nine yeai-s past, and was, therefore, deserving of the honor which the ratepayers now had it in their power to bestow. Mr. Dransmed said he felt very much flattered by the kind manner in which Mr. Duncan had alluded to his services in the past. It was perfectly true that he had for a considerable time been a servant of the ratepayers of the city, and particularly of the ratepayers of Te Aro Ward ; but the accusation had been brought against him that latterly he had deserted the ward, and to that accusation he wished to give a flat denial. Tho ratepayers of the ward must be perfectly well aware that a dead set had been made against him by a certain party, led by one particular individual, aud it appeared to him that tho most manly course would be to try the issue upon that gentleman's own ground. He did fight the fight, and the result, as they all knew, was that he came off the victor. On the present occasion he was being persecuted, he might say, by a gentleman who took a very prominent part at that election. The meeting must know very well to whom he alluded, and it must know also that this same person habitually pursued the same course toward all public men with whom he differed ia opinion ; so that he (Mr. Dransfield) did not

occupy a singular position. The opposition he had had to encounter from this quarter was marked by excessive vindictive feeling, and he would caution the ratepayers that if they assisted this person to carry out his views they would do the place a very serious injury. In point of fact he would become their master, and they would have to go to him cap in hand. This surely could not be regarded as a desirable state of things ; indeed, if this sort of thing went much further public men would be forced out of public life altogether. When he determined upon contesting the election, he knew very well that he should be subjected to this systematic persecution. He need only refer to the letters in that evening's Post to show the spirit in which he was followed up. As to his having any desire to monopolise the office of Mayor, he entirely disclaimed the idea. He simply felt as every loyal-hearted citizen should feel who desired to do the city some service. For the last nine years he had, as the chairman had stated, done whatever was in his power to advance the interests of the city, because he was aware that he shared the benefits which were common to all. He had no personal interest in the matter, and he felt that the ratepayers believed him when he said so. He was not hunting after the office, but he was bound to come forward, because his friends told him that if he did not do so he would be showing the white feather. He was bound to show fight, and having entered upon the contest he intended to do so in a wholehearted manner. Of course he was not going to deny that he had faults—all men had—but it could not, on the other hand, be denied that he had done the city considerable service in the past. It was equally certain that after the experience he had gained he could be of more use to the ratepayers than a gentleman who had only come amongst them within the last few years, and who had, according to his own showing, never studied the civic matters of the town in the slightest,. or even inquired into the manner of conducting the Corporation business. He said that if elected—and he never intended to trouble himself unless he were elected Mayor—-he woidd begin to make himself acquainted with the wants of the city. Well, he woidd leave the ratepayers to judge whether that exhibited the kind of feeling with which a candidate for such an important position should be actuated. The ratepayers of the ward would remember that when he last addressed them in that room they discussed the subject of the Te Aro foreshore, a subject which they should not lose sight of. They were perfectly familiar with his action in the matter, and what fruits it had borne, but it would still require great care to get the matter carried to a final issue. When completed he had no doubt in his own mind that it would increase the value of tne property in Te Aro by 100 per cent. The Thorndon end of the town had received a very fair share of the public expenditure, and it was due to the interests of the people of Te Aro that the foreshore reclamation should be carried out as speedily as possible. Business extension would •follow, for the reclamation would lead to the -construction of wharves, stores, and other works for' facilitating commerce. Pressure would, of course, have to be brought to bear on the proper quarter, and he had no doubt that the just claims of Te Aro to a larger share of expendihire than it, had hitherto had would be acceded to. Whilst addressing them upon matters affecting Te Aro, he might-men-tion one thing at the risk of being considered egotistical, and that was this : that as one of the College Governors, and with the assistance of Mr. W. W. Taylor and Mr. J". C. Crawford, he had, succeeded in getting the College erected at that end of the town, in opposition to a strong feeling that it should be erected on the old site. The meeting would, he thought, agree that that was a matter of some importance to that end of the city. He now felt that difficulty usually experienced by those who were compelled to speak often : it was hard to hit upon anything new. He did not pretend to have the oratorical powers possessed by Mr. Moorhouse, who was at least amusing if he was nothing more. The satiric strain was not in his line, but he thought that in the discussion of hard matters of fact he. was quite capable of taking his stand beside Mr. Moor- , house. If there were any matters upon which he had not already, offered some explanation, he would be happy to make known his views to the meeting then. A Ratepayer inquired whether Mr. Dransfield would advocate the expenditure of aporti in of the rents derived from the belt in forming

Fox-street or which were now in a deplorable condition. Mr. Dkansfuxd replied that the Council had no power to spend money upon private streets. Mr. Smith asked whether Mr. Dransfield would be willing to advocate the claims of the residents of Arthur-3fa-eet, whose houses were in some places many feet below the levels, in •consequence of the levels having been raised since the houses were erected. The City Surveyor had been spoken to about it, but no satisfaction could be obtained, and he for one would be put to an expense of £SO in consequence of this action. Mr. DiiASSFiELD said he desired to secure as many votes as lie could, but nevertheless it would not do for him to interfere with the action of the City Surveyor, who had his duty to perform. He (Mr. Dransfield) had been charged with being a strong-minded man, but he made it a point never to interfere with the officials in the performance of their duties. ■What he would recommend would be that the residents should wait upon the Council, and there represent their grievance. He should then have no hesitation in assisting them to have their grievance removed. Mr. Arohek said he should support Mr. Dransfield to the utmost of his ability, because he had observed throughout Mr. Dransfield's career that he was a friend to the workingclasses. Being a working-man himself he could testify to the fact that Mr. Dransfield had never made any attempt to reduce the rate of wages, and that surely was a very good reason why he should receive the support of the work-ing-classes. Mr. Dransfield had made enemies, no doubt, but that was no reason why they, should elect over his head a man who was like a butterfly —here to-day and away to-morrow. Mr. C. White then proposed,—" That Mr Dransfield is a fit and proper person to become Mayor of Wellington, and that this meeting pledges'itself to support him in the election." Mr. Archek seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.