MR CRATE IN SOUTH WARD.

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

MR CRATE IN SOUTH WARD.

A meeting was held last night, at the Imperial Hotel, by the ratepayers of South Ward, to hear Mr Crate's views. Mr Cooper was called to the chair, and having introduced Mr Crate to the electors, read the advertisement calling the meeting.

Mr Crate said that he had been requested by a number of the ratepayers to come forward as a candidate for the representation of South Ward in the new Municipality. If elected, he would do all in his power to forward the improvement of the city, and South Ward in narticuiar. By the act he saw that the Council would hav>power to borrow to the amount of LIOO.OOO for the purpose of carrying out those improvements; and he would take the greatest care that all moneys should be properly expended in a thorough honajide manner. He promised to see that all the streets which had been begun should be properly finished before any other new improvements were started. He would also advocate the carrying out of the most effective system of drainage that was possible. In reference to the rates, he was strongly opposed to the present system of assessing and collecting, and pointed out the fact that under the present system the higher the rate was the more the collectors were paid. He also spoke of the great necessity that existed for a Town Hall, or Municipal Buildings, where the officers of the Corporation might be accommodated so as to be accessible to the public; and urged the carrying out of a number of improvements in the city generally, as they would be the means of attracting strangers, and keeping a permanent population. He ali-o recognised the necessity of having a Market-place laid ont, where the farmers from the surrounding districts might meet for the disposal of their produce ; and where also the fisherman might have stalls for the purposes of their trade. In reference to the Provincial Council, hs thought he saw a better day coining, that the days of mere provincialism were numbered, and that a strong united government would arise, when the various expeusive governments were all united in one strong administration for the whole colony. In answer to questions, Mr Crate said th it he would advocate the utilisation of the Town Belt by the formation of parks, planting tree*, preserving those now growing, forming roads and paths through it, and so making it what it was intended to be—a place of recreation for the citizens. He would also advocate the removal of the existing toll bars, and instead the levying of a tax on horses aud drays, &c. Several questions were put to the candidate and satisfactorily answered. Mr L B. CoLEsrAN then moved that Mr Crate was a fit and proper person to represent the ward in the new Municipal Corporation. Mr F. Martin seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. Mr Crate having proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated.

A Boy Barrister.—A singular instance of mental precocity has just be.n given at Montpellier. M. Emmanuel de Ricard, only sixteen years of age, has been admitted a member of the bar ot that town. The First President of the Court, in administering the oath, introduced the youn^ barrister to his future confrees by a flattering address, in which he referred to the brilliant studies that M. de Ricard had gone through. At twelve he had, by a dispensation of age, been received bachelor of letters, and a few months later had obtained the same degree in science. He was then, after a most severe examination, received in the JJfaval School of Brest, but, in place of entering the navy, ha accomplished his law studies at the Ecole de Droit of Toulouse with great eclat, and had now been duly recived as advocate. BED PINE,