THE MAYORALTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1118, 21 July 1865, Page 5

THE MAYORALTY.

GREAT MEETING :JN THE PRINCESS

THEATRE.

A public meeting wars held in the Princess Theatre last evening, for the pur* pose of heariog addresses from the several candidates for the honor of being first Mayor of Dunedin; the voting for which takes place to-day. The theatre was densely crowded in every part. Indeed so numerous a meeting has never before been assembled in Dunedin; and, as it was the greatest, so the meeting was about the most good humored ever known here. Indeed, the good humour was occasionally carried so far as to prevent the progress of the business; and whole volleys of questions were asked, which were not in any degree relevant to the purpose for which the meeting had been convened. A few minutes after eight o'clock, it was proposed by Mr P. Walker, M.P.C., that Mr John Bathgate should take the chair. There were some cries of " No, no; " but they were not continued, and when Mr Bathgate took the chair, he was greeted with loud applause.

The Chaieman read the advertisement calling the meeting, and said that in acknowledging the compliment of asking him to take the chair at such a large and very important meeting—he should bay probably the moat important which had ever taken place in the history of Dum-din — (hear, hear) —he wished to state that he did not occupy that honored and distinguished position of his own choice. When he was asked that forenoon to take the chair at the meeting in the evening, he gave those who asked him a decided refusal. In the first place, Vs considered that his position should keep him aloof from meetings of that kind— (hear, hear) —and in the second place, as he lived out of town, if he had consulted his own convenience, he should have remained at his own firc-ide. (A Voice : You had better go there.) But it was put to him on the score of public duty, th it the very reason he had given that he did not wish to mix himself up in the present contest, was the reason why he ought to preside on that occasion.—(Applause.) On the plea of public duty alone, he was there at the sacrifice of his own convenience and comfort, to take the chair. In doing so, he trusted that the meeting would not mix him up with any of the candidates who would address them.—(Applause.) He was there only as the mouthpiece and exponent of the opinions of the meeting; and he expressed a hope that all the candidates would receive at the hands of the meeting fair play.—(Applause.) He aski d all present to bear i i mind that on such an occasion good humor should be the ordir of the day.—(Hear, Jj^ar.) He would say that this was the most important epoch which had yet occurred in the history of Dunedin ; and he thought it was a matter for congratulation that so many candidates had come forward to contest the honor of being the first Mayor of Dunedin. This was a good and healthy sign of the times ; and he was sure that out of five candidates they would be able to get one who would fill the office satisfactorily. (Hear, hear, and applause.) The present was a time of depression, but what else cohUI they expect when they thought of what they had been doing- for the last three years. They had been spending money for the improvement of this city, and he believed that during the past two years little short of a million sterling had been spent in building up this town. He believed in the future prosperity of this great and beautiful city. (Loud laughter.) No doubt a very great deal remained to be done for the town, and on their choice of men to fill the offices of Mayor and Councillors depended its future prosperity. He hoped that all the candidates would receive a fair hearing. (Applause.)

There were calls for " Wilson," and other candidates; but it was, after some interruption, decided that the candidates should speak in the order in which their names appeared in the advertisement. Mr William Mason was received with applause. He said that he desired to clear away a little mist which had been spread before the eyes of the electors, relative to what he said on the day of nomination as to borrowing money. If only the last clause of the sentence was taken, the interpretation which had been put upon his remark might beheld to be justified; but that interpretation was wrong, and certainly did not represent his meaning. What he meant was, that he would not •be one to borrow money, and fo to cncufliber the city, to meet ordinary expenthlure— (A voice. You did not say so, sir.) Let the two sentences be read together, and no other construction could be put on it. Could he possibly come before the public of Dunedin and tell them that he could not recommend the borrowing of money for such a purpose as sewerage ? Why any one who referred to the Ileport of the Sanitary Commission, would see that it was absolutely necessary for the existence of the inhabitants that something should be done, and that immediately, for the sewerage of the city. The Report, after alluding to the mortality in Dunedin, stated that "it follows that the mortality for the year from fever, wa3 2£ times greater than the highest rate known in London, and more than 4h times the average ; while from scarlatina it was 3| times the highest, and 8 J times the average rate of London;" and it was added that to the absence of efficient drainage, good water, and proper ventilation for the houses, much of the mortality was due. With such a report as that before him, could any man tell the citizens of Dunedin that it was not necessary to borrow money' for sewerage purposes ? He might illustrate what he meant by not encumb2ring the city. The residents in the neighborhood of the Town Belt, with lately formed roads, or none at all, had to pay perhaps Is 6d a load extra for the cartage of fire wood. If a penny in the pound additional rate would enable those roads to be formed, more than the amount of that rate would be saved on the cartage of firewood alone; and he meant that that rate should be paid, instead of the city being burdened with a debt for making

-uch roads. As soon as he arrived in Dunedin, he saw that it would be of immense advantage if the Town Belt reserve could be utilised; but he found that the Town Board had no power over the reserve. But the new Corporation would have power over it; and he trusted that the suggestions contained in a letter published in the paper a few days a: o would be carried out. There were portions of the Belt which were covered with flax and wholly useless. He should Jike to see the fiax cleared away, and the cleared land let as paddocks, the money got being spent in beautifying the wooded portions, and so providing places of healthy exercise for the inhabitants. Town Belts were usually preservedj for what are. called " the lungs" of the place: but we were well provided in' that respect. We had the broad ocean before us; and we might profitably use portions of the Town Belt of Dunedin as had been suggested. He did not intend to deal in bunkum: that had been dealt out pretty freely at some of the meetings. (Laughter.) The Fire Brigade had been favored with a certain amount of bunkum. He could only say that he would do as much for the Brigade as any man—(applause) ; but it was utterly impossible lor any man to promise what the Council should to in support of the Brigade. If there was a body of volunteers in Dunedin which demanded support, it was the Fire Brigade. — (Hear, hear.) They were found ready and willing to work for the public at all times. Only that evening, he had seen them not only running to a fire, but hiring cabs to take them as speedily as possible to the scene of duty. Men who devoted themselves to the public service in this way, deserved to be taken care of.—(Applause.) .But the great thing to be considered that evening was, " What are the requirements for the first Mayor of Dunedin ?" It was said at the nomination that he was a stranger here; and, at the risk of being egotistical, he must say a few words about himself. In selecting the Mayor, he thought it was desirable, if possible, to find a man with sonic knowledge of the working of corporate bodies. Another, and very important requirement, was that the Mayor should know something of magisterial duties. He believed that an Act would be submitted to the Assembly during the coming session, which would, in all probability, provide that the Mayor of Dunedin should act as a Resident Magistrate. It was necessary that the Mayor should know something about putilic works. lie would state the claims he had on the /suffrages of the citizens, in these particulars. He was an alderman in the corporation of Auckland, so long as that Corporation existed. He had been a Magistrate in this colony for nearly 20 years; and during 18 months of that time, he performed the duties of Resident Magistrate in the town of Ho wick. In 1837, 1838, and part of 1839, he was town surveyor of Ipswich, containing 2-5 000 inhabitants, and having 30 miles of turnpike road to keep in order ; so that in the old country he had had some experience which might be serviceable to the citizens of Dunedin. In Auckland, where he had been resident nearly 25 years, he was appointed President of the Board of Works; ard during the time he held that office, the Board arranged the whole of the levels of the city, and laid down a system of water-supply and of sewerage. He had to ask the meeting, whether, through him, any of this experience could be made useful to Dunedin ? If so, he called upon the citizens to support him by their voles.—(Hear,-hear.) He was now ready to answer any questions; and after he had been well examined, he hoped the verdict would be, " Mason is the man for Mayor."—(Loud applause.) Mr Tattam : Were you not asked to become a candidate for the Superintendency of Otago ? Mr Mason : I was ; and I will tell you why I declined to become one.—(Loud cries of " No, no.") Ido not, and I cannot, approve of the present Land Regulations. The Province has one of the finest estates in the Colony; but up to the present time, it has been mismanaged. You now receive from thesqnnttcrs of this Province something like L4OOO a year.— (Crie3 of " Question," " Never mind the land question, now," and "Do leave the squatters alone.1') lam quite in your hands; if you ask me to go on, I will.— (Cries of " No, no," and " Yes, yes;" there being interruption for a minute or two.) Perhaps you will be. satisfied with what I have already said.— (Applause.) Mr Joii.v Barnes : Are you aware what amount the Mayor and Corporation can borrow ? Mr Mason : No. Mr Barnes : Then I'll tell you. It's L 100,000. Are you in favor of borrowing that amount of money?—(There was sor.ie interruption by the putting of nonsensical questions ; and during its continuance, Mr Barnes forced his way to the centre of the pit, and took his stand on the benches. He continued) —Are you in favor of borrowing a loan—(laughter)—of LIOO.OOO, to finish the city with—(loud laughter)—in improvements, I mean. Mr Mason : I should cut my coat according to my cloth. I should first coniult with the Council as to what was necessary to be done; then I should ascertain the power of borrowing and the means for repayment; and then, if I saw that we were in a position to borrow the whole sum, I certainly vrould go in for it. Mr Babnes: Do you think, under the present taxation of this city, it is right the present inhabitants should be taxed to the amount to finish certain works as they as comes after us will enjoy, without their being taxed for it ?—(Laughter.) Mr Mason : No, that would certainly not be my scheme. I should expect the next generation to pay its share. If you are elected Mayor, would you vote for Mason and Clayton being paid for town work ?—Well, that would depend upon whether the Council chose to employ Mason and Clayton. If they did, I do not wee why Mason and Clayton should not be paid for their labor.—(Laughter and applause.) How about the Exhibition ?—A great deal has been made of the Exhibition. Some of nay opponents, not having any capital of their own —(Oh 4oh J)—have i

thought- to make & little out of me on that score. —(Hisses.) I don't think they'll get much. You all know that Mr Harris was Superintendent, and that Mr Dick was Provincial Secretary when the Exhibition Building was carried out. If I had been guiry of any un2entlemanly conduct in that matter, do you think that Mr Harris and Mr Dick would have put their names to my requirit:on?—(Applause.} Mr T. BiE*a: In the present depressed and embarrassed state- of the finances of the city, will you, if elected, be willing to act for the first year, independent of emolument ?—(Cries of " No, no," and interruption, which was continued until the Chairman called for a show of bands whether the qu«-Btion should be answered or not, and declared that the show was in favor of no answer being given.) Mr Mason: To-morrow will be a busy day. I only ask you to give " a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether," and so to place me at the head of the poll.— (Applause.) Mr W. W. Wilson, who was received with.applause, said that Mr Mason began by telling them that this was his first appearance on the Dunedin boards; but he would tell them that this was not his first appearance in that Theatre. He had been on these boards before on several occasions for the benefit of the public of Dunedin.— (Applause.) But he did not think that he had ever gone through such a crossexamination as he expected that evening. His vocation had been more confined to puting questions than to answering them. — (Laughter.) The last expression which had dropped from Mr M*».son be would take up first. That gentleman said that some of his opponents had made capital out of him ; but he thought that they must have wanted the article very much indeed before th"y went to Mr Mason to borrow it. (Laughter and applause.) They were now on the eve of entering upon a new era in the history of this town, of this Provir cc, and, indeed, of the whole of New Zealand ; for this was the first Corporation established in the Colony ; and the man who was elected to fill, the office of Mayor might well feel proud, whoever he was. (A Voice : "He won't be a lawyer." Laughter.) Mr Mason seemed to have imbibed some new ideas since he last appeared before the electors at the Domination— (No, and yes)—and his recantation was certainly very sudden. (Hisses, cheers, and interruption.) He knew that it was extremely unpleasant f<>r Mr Mason's supporters that he should have to speak so plainly; and Mr Mason had the advantage of him in this respect that he got a fair hearing because he spoke first. He, unf>rtunately, came second; but be trusted that he would receive as fair a hearing as Mr Mason had got —(applause)—and he was happy to think that none of his supporters had interrupted Mr Mason. With regard to loans for works in the city, he stated on Tuesday last, that he was in favor of loans on principle, °.nd sin.c then he had read the Incorporation A«;t, and he found that the Municipal Council had power to borrow LIOO,OOO, provided that not more than that sum was due at onetime. There was a very iarge amount of work to be done in the way of sewerage, and the putting of the town into a proper sanitary condition. He was in favor of a loan for that purpose, but he could not see that the present gent-ration should pay for works of which posterity would reap the great advantage.—(Applause.) Mr Mason —(A voice : " Mason again.") had talked of bunkum and the Fire Brigade ; but he believed that he (Mr Wilson) was the first—he was certain he was the first—of the candidates who had spoken boldly out on this subject, and said that he was in favor of a grant to the Fire Brigade.— (applause)—and if Mr Mason had taken up his ideas, he could not help it. Mr Mason could call it bunkum if he liked, but be (Mr Wilson) believed the Fire Brigade to be the most useful institution in the City. (Loud" applause.) Another subject which Mr Mason talked about—(Cries of "Leave Ma^on alone," and noise) —was that the Mayor would be the Chief Magistrate of the city, he would have io perform many important duties, have to take the chair on the Licencing Bench, and would have to take an active part in putting down sly-grog selling. Another matter which the Mayor should use his influence to rectify was the present system of transferring publican's licences. (Hear, hear,) He could not see why a license could not be transferred as easily as a ship or a house.—(Applause.) Mr Mason had been asked if he would accept the office of Mayor free of salary. He wKs not aware if any salary attached to the office, but he would say that he did not want it.—(Applause.) Any Mayor, if he acted properly, could never derive any pecuniary advantage from the office. His hand should always be in his trousers pocket.—(Laughter.) They might laugh, but there was a great amount to be done in the way of charity in this' town, and every penny of the Mayor's salary ought to be spent in that way. If any dinners or balls were to be given, let the Mayor give them out of his own pocket. —(Loud applause.) With regard to the manner in which the assessment of property in the city had hitherto been conducted, he would say that he considered that the assessment roll had been made up in a very injudicious manner. It was notorious that every property in the town had been too highly assessed—(hear, hear), in many cases for above the actual rental. He was in favor of having the assessors chosen, as the auditors were to be, by the ratepayers. —(Applause.) There were many other improvements which he should like to see carried out in the town, and one of these was the improvement of the Octagon. At present it was an eyesore to the city, and by its construction would some day soon be the cause of some very serious accident. (Hear, hear.) The present shape of the Octagon might have been all very well when the town was little more than a village, but its improvement ought to be one of the first matters which the Corporation ought to see to. As to the Cargill Monurnent-r-(A Voice: " Throw it into the Bay " Another Voice: "No fear; that is au Old Identity." Loud laughter.) He supposed that the Monument must remain as it was there, but he would have it fenced.

in, and the rest of the Octagon made into a public thoroughfare.—(Applause.) He was not going to give them his history since he was born. He bad been known to them for tbe past three years; and if they thought that during that time he had conducted himself as a good citizen ought to do, and if they thorght that when required he had given his services for the good of the city, he would only add that if they elected him as the first Mayor of Dunedin, he would feel very grateful for the honor.—(Applause.) But he hoped that they would elect the best man, and he would be satisfied if he was found to be the second or the third best. It was true, as Mr Mason had said, that the Mayor should be acquainted with Magisterial duties; and he felt sure that he knew something of these duties, although he had never been a Magistrate.— (Applause.) Mr J. Barnes : From what resources would you take the money to improve the Octagon ? Mr Wilson : From the rates.

Mr Barnes : Are you aware that the Octagon belongs to the Government; and would you make us pay from our private pockets for what the Government should do?

Mr Wilson : It might be transferred to tbe Corporation; but so long as it remains in the hands of the Government, I suppose it will remain as it is at present. If it were given up to the town, I should propose the formation of a thoroughfare right through. (Applause.)

Mr Barnes : Have you made any calculation as to what that would cost?

Mr Wilson : No, but I know that the expense would not be equal to the benefit to the town.

Mr Barnes : Would you be satisfied, under present circumstances, to keep the present expensive staff in office ?

Mr Wilson* : Not knowing what the present staff is, I cannot say ; but I would not keep a larger staff than necessary, and I would not pay them larger salaries than necessary.—(Applause.)

Mr Barnes attempted to put some further questions, but was interrupted by loud cries, and was compelledto sit down.

Are you in favor of taking the privilege of supplying the city with water out of the hands of the Water Company, and taking it up by the Corporation ? lam not aware that the Corporation could take from the Water Company anything which belongs to them ; but if they did not proceed more rapidly than they had done with their operations, I should be iv favor of the Corporation giving a grant to another companj, to carry out the work. He believed in the town being supplied with water, even before gas.—(Applause.)

Will you use your endeavor to provide a suitable cemetery for the inhabitants of North Dunedin ?—(Loud laughter.) Most certainly. If the Government would gi ant a piece of land, there would be no objection, and great benefit might be derived from it. —(Loud laughter) The Chairman said that the candidate whose name stood next was Mr J A. J. Macgregor. Since the meeting commenced, he had received a note from that gentleman, who wrote —

Seeing my nam^ in the paSlic journal of to. day's dit'e, ni announced to ad''ra>s a ni°etinp convened for she purpose of hearing the view* of the respective candidates for the Miyoraliy, I have to inform jou that I am exceedingly B>rry that my previous enepcinent to taeet tlie elec'ora at the Water of Leith will preclu Ie my having the pler.'urp of attending 'hi-* meeting until afnr the conclusion of tlis meeting at the Water nt Leith. if the pro'ee'linas there be terminated in time I shall be only tuo happy to avail ni\se!f of the opportunity.

He would, therefore, with the consent of the meeting, call upon the next candidate. —(Applause.)

Mr R. H. Forman said he hoped the meeting would grant him attention lor a few minutes. His speech would be very short; for he hud n«, like Mr Wilson, had the advantage of often appearing on those boards before, and he could only hope that it would be some time ere he would have again to address so large an assemblage, inasmuch as appearing there ,it all made him feel remarkably nervous, lie was not at all used to public speaking. He had been used generally to do his duty in acting for the benefit of the public. He had come forward as a candidate for the Mayoralty, in consequence of the desire of several of his friends. The only grounds on which he could base a claim for support, were these :—For the last two ye^rs, he had filltd a very important public situation in the city.—(Cries of " Oh! oh !). He had been a City Commissioner for spm^time, and he had a good deal of knowledge of what had been going on in reference to the past management of the city's affairs. He thought that that knowledge gave him some claim upon the citizens on the present occasion. As far a3 the Chief Magistracy was concerned, he thought he had some claim, inasmuch as he had on several occasions sat for Mr Strode, as Resident Magistrate and Justice of the Peace. Those were his claims. If be was elected as Mayor, he would do all he could for the benefit of the city; aud that was all he could say.—(Applause.) No question was put, and there were calls for " The next candidate."

Mr Fokman : I am very happy to find that you are so well satisfied with me, gentlemen. Mr James Patersox was received with applause He said that he had come forward at the request of friends —not of his own accord, lie was pretty well known to the inhabitants. He had been before them for many years, in various capacities; and whenever asked to do any public service, he had endeavored to serve the public to the best of his ability. That was all the recommendation he could brinar, on again offering himself for a public office.—(Applause.) The office of Mayor was new here: we knew little or nothing of its duties ; and it was'no use for any man to stand up and say what he would do as Mayor, or how he would order ihings«-(applause)—be-cause no one could know what he would have to order, or what might prove to be the requirements for the proper discharge of the duties oi the office. The first time he was called upon to take any part in public? affairs, was when he was elected to the Provincial Council.—(A Voice: And you were proud of it, I suppose?) Yes,

he was, and any man ought to b^ proud to be co elected. Affectation would be useless —be should feel immensely proud were he to be chosen by the citizens of Dimerlin to be their first Mayor.—(Applause.) He had no past history and no professional position to boast of. He had been a tradesman, as was his father before him; and whatever position he now occupied, he had nothing to thank for it, but the labor of his own hands. —(Loud applause.) If his services in public had met with approbation, he had gained all the reward he" sought. When a duty wa9 put before him, he did it— fearlessly, honestly, and without hesitation. —(Applause.) Whether, in doin;r it, he pleased one man, or 20 men, or 100 men, it was the same to him; if his conscience told him that it was his duty to do a thing, he was prepared to do it. Thus he had acted in times past —thus he was prepared to act in times to come, in whatever position the public might be plea"sed to place him.—(Applause.) He had never given a pledge, and he would give none now. His whole interest was bound up in Otago.— (Hear, hear.) He believed that Otago had before it a beautiful prospect of prosperity in every sense of the word—(hear, hear); and he believed, too, that it would much depend upon how the citizens chose their representatives in the elections to the municipal body, how that prosperity should be moulded. It was quite true^— and he thought it would commend itself to the good sense of every one who knew anything of the circumstances of the city —that we could not gst on without borrowing. But that must be done with, prudence and with care; the money got must he expended in the game way; and if that was done, he had no hesitation in predicting the utmost prosperity we could wish for the city.—(Applause.) It was not his intention to 3:iy one word with regard to the many topics that had been, started that night; and all he would say more was, that if from their knowledge of" him, the citizens wpre pleased to choose him as Mayor, he should feel it to he the proudest moment of his life, and he would exert himself to the uttermost to promote the prosperity of the city.—(Applause.)

Mr Siierwin : If elected, will you, at the termination of the present gas contract, endeavor to relieve us from the monstrous tax we are now paying, of Ll7 10* a-year for each public lamp ? Mr Patebson : If" I am elected, I shall endeavor to conduct the whole of the business of the cityin the most economical way it is possible for man to do.—(Applause.) Mr Sherwin : Are you aware that, -at the first meeting of the Council, you will have to re-appoint the present officers, or appoint fresh ones? Mr Patkrson : I do not know that it will affect the question, whether I am aware of it or not. If it is a fact, it will be for the whole Council to consider whether the present officers shall be confirmed or others appointed. Mr Siierwin : But are you aware that the Act compels you, at the first meeting, to do one or the other ? Mr Patebson: No, I am not. Mr Siierwin: Then, the sooner you real the Act the better. —(Laughter and confirsion.) Mr Paterson : I have read it; but that simple point might well escape notice. If elected, will you do your best to get lights put in Great King-street between, Frederick street and the Water of Leith ? If elected, I will use my best endeavors to throw light upon the whole community— (loud laughter.) I live in a part of the city which is perhaps the worst off: I live at the top of High street. It is a dangerous part; but we have no lights there after sundown, neither have we roads to walk on. Mr Barnes : Are you in favor of borrowing a luan—(laughter)—to finish the c ity—(lnnghter) —I mean to finish the improvements of the footpaths, as far aa they go.—(Loud laughter.) Excuse me, you know 1 wasn't brought up with any great or high learning. Are you its favor of borrowing money to finish the improvements already part finished in the city? Mr Patersos : I have already stated that it 13 impossible to finish the streets without borrowing money; and as a resident in Dunedin, I should like to see all the streets finished and made (Serviceable. As that cannot be done without borrowing I must be in favor of borrowing. A Voice : A large section of the citizens are Roman Catholic? ( Uproar.} The Chairman appealed to the meeting for a bearing of the querist; but as theinteruption was continued, a show of hands I was called for, and was declared to be against the question being put. No other question being put, The Chairman said that the business of the meeting was concluded. —(Cries of "Macgregor.") If Mr Macgregor had arrived, of course he would be heard. — (Cries of "We'll wait for him," and laughter.) Mr Wilson proposed a vote of thanlis to the Chairman, which was carried and was briefly acknowledged by Mr Bathgate. * "Three cheers for the best man, whoever he may be," were called for and given; and then, with cheers "for Wilson," "fo| Mason," and "for Paterson," the proceedings were concluded, shortly after ten o'clock.