THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1121, 25 July 1865, Page 5

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

MR. 11. .1)11 iVEa IN JEITI-I WARD. Mr 11. Dbivkk met the electors of Leith j Ward, last evening, at the Albion Hotel, King street, at 8 o'clock. The room was crowded. Mr J. H. Harris took the chair. The Chairman, in introducing the Candidate, observed that he had unexpectly been called upon to preside at the meeting. He should not occupy much time in speaking, for his object was not so much to speak himself, as to hear what the candidate and others had to say. He had known Mr Driver for more than four years, and therefore, had not scrupled to sign the requisition, knowing him to be a practical man j Mr Driver briefly explained his views on various topics connected with the state of the city. If returned, he should be in favor of a loan for carrying out the necessary improvement.1! in the city. He was unconnected with any other candidate, and did not appear before them with the view of casting reflections upon the conduct of the late Town Board. He would not detain the meeting by any lengthy obscr- j vations, but would simply ask the electors to put questions on any point on which they desired to elicit his opinion, and he was ready to answer them. Mr Barnes: I want to know whether Mr Driver thinks he could do his duty for South Ward, and at the same time for this if he sits there —for his property is in South Ward/ Mr Driver: Allow me to state, my interest in South Ward is represented by a warehouse, and the streets around that warehouse are improved as much as the city could afford. I therefore do not ask anything more for South Ward. Mr Barnes : I am glad to heir you own that the representatives of that Ward had done their duty to you. Does the improvements made in the city of Dunedin for the last two and a-half years meet your approval ? Mr Driver : I think it is hardiy for me to reply to that question. I did not come with a scheme to lay before you for the improvement of the town. If lam elected a member of the Council, I shall be governed by circumstance*, and shall vote for such plans as appear to me best for the city. I commenced by saying I did not intend to pitch into the Town Board, nor into any particular member of it; but it is a fact generally complained of that the streets of Dunedin are in bad condition. But Ido not intend to say one unkind word of any member of the Board. In reply to further question?, the candidate said, the amount he should advocate raising on loan would depend upon what was necessary for the improvement of the streets and for uewerage. He did not think the Act would enable the Corporation to take the Water-works into their hands. If it could be done, he thought it would work better. He thought the tolls in the immediate neighborhood of the city should be abolished. He himself had been at the expense of making a road to avoid paying tolls. An elector wished to know if Mr Driver wa3 a naturalized subject of the Queen. Mr Driver replied that ho was, and had been so for the past four years. In reply to further questions, the Candidate said he was not in favor of borrowing LIOO,OOO at once, but in such sums as might be requisite, and would pay the interest out of of the city rates. He was speaking in ignorance of what the amount of rates was, and if it would require increased rates iv order to pay the interest; he should not advocate going on borrowing. He was aware a large proportion of the city estates were leased prior to the discovery of gold, and therefore they did not realise the amount they would have done, had they been let at a later period. He could not bind himself to confine the amount of contracts to LSOO, but if the %ork of the city could be done as cheaply and as well by letting it to working men, as by doing itonlan;er contracts, he should be in favor of that plan. He would most distinctly state that if electedhe would not give Leith Ward support at the expense of the other Wards of the city. He should feel bound i I 17,000 FEET i

to consider the interests of Dunedin as a whole, and if there had not been a fair proportion of money expended on Leith Ward he should endeavour to obtain its proper share, and see that it was expended with care and judgment. (Applause.) With respect to the amount of salary to the Mayor, he was not prepared to say, not having materials before him on which to found a judgment, but speaking without prejudice, he should think the amount should be L3OO or L4OO a year. He was decidedly in favor of utilising the Town Belt. The Chairman, by permissien of the meeting, said that the suai of L 35,000, lent to the late Town Board by the Provincial Council, formed part of a loan of L 500,000, sanctioned by the Council. If the candidate were elected, would he use his influence to obtain the L 35,000 as a gift ?—He thought it only due to i Dunedin, as the place where by far the greatest amount was contributed to the provincial revenue, that this should be the case. Mr Birch Baid he was a member of the Council at the time, and it was never expected the L 35,000 would be repaid. The Chairman believed Mr Birch was right, but as it stood, it would have to be repaid. Mr Driver had no t'oubt, if the City Council brought it forward, there would be sufficient influence brought to bear to make it a gift. The Cuaibmax : Would you try to get the Council to make it L 50.000. Mr Driver : LIOO,OOO if they like. (Applause). .In reply to a ratepayer, Mr Driver paid he should be in favor of those who were too poor to pay the rates, I being employed by the Town Board if men were wanted, and giving the amount due in labor in preference to distraining for the amount of- city rate iv arrear. He considered great alteration was necessary in the Octagon, and would decidedly use his influence to get a footpath made across it, pending more substantial improvements. On the motion of Mr Stott, seconded by Mr Straughan, a unanimous vote was passed approving of Mr Driver as a representative of the Ward, and the meeting was brought to a conclusion by a vote of thanks to the Chairman.