THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1123, 27 July 1865, Page 5

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

MR E. CH&.TME" A.vD *ttt J. GRIFFSV IN cOUTH WARD. A public meeting of electors and others of South Ward, was held last evening, at the Imperial Hotel, for the purpose of hearing addresses from Mr E. Chalmer aDd Mr John Grifftn. Mr J. H. Bark was called to the chair. Mr Chalmee briefly sketched the duties of a member of the new Council, and referred to his experience of the present state of the affairs of Dunedin, while serving as one of the City Commissioners. If he was elected, he should endeavour to have the departments efficiently carried out; but he should also endeavour to the utmost to secure their economical administration. If he found that it would be | judicious for the Council to borrow, under the powers given by the Incorporation Ordinance, he should certainly support a loan; provided that doing so did not entail an amount of rate which was not likely to be able to be borne with ease. The matter was one for consideration after the Council had ascertained the rtal position of affairs, and the probabilities as to the amount of the necessary rate*; but he thought that borrowing a certain amount would be the most judicious plan, if it could be properly done. He would certainly, if elected, do all he could to secure that Soutb Ward should have the advantage of a fair share of whatever money was expended; but he would look jealously at every proposed expenditure, in order to satisfy himself that it wa3 really likely to be beneficial. In reply to questions, Mr Chalmee said that he thought a portion of the expense of efficiently maintaining the Volunteer Fire Brigade ought to be borne by the town. As a fire insurance agent, he thought he could say that the agents would always be ready to pay a fair portion of the expenses of the Brigade; but the town should bear another portion, and if he went into Council, he would support that view. He could not tell how to answer the question, whether he would " push on the water-works for the benefit of the town." He was a director of the Water Works Company, but he believed that would not prevent his judging fairly between the town and the Company. If there ever came a direct contest between the Council and the Company, he would gladly retire from the Chamber, and leave that matter to be settled by the other seven members of the Council. As to pushing on the works, of course it was for the benefit of the Company that the works should be completed, and water supplied, at the earliest possible moment. On the motion of Mr Wiuttingiiam, seconded by Mr Coleman, it was unanimously agreed that Mr Chalmer was a fit and proper person to represent South Ward in the City Council. Mr Gbiffek said that he came to the meeting prepared to be well catechised as to his connection with the Town Board, rather than to make a speech. He could not deny that he had not attended much to the business of tbe Board, after he found that his services would be of no avail. In the allocation of the L 35,000, an iujustice was done to South Ward —that was to say, the Ward, through the misconduct of certain

members, lost L'2ooo to which it was entitled. He protested and voted against it, but the Ward got only L4OOO, instead of L 6500. The streets in the Ward were not now in the state they ought to have been; and although a large sum had been spent on the Market Reserve, it was in a most unsatisfactory condition. If he was elected, one of the first things he should endeavor to get done, was to have the Reserve put in order, and a weighbridge and extensive sheds provided, so that tbe farmers might have a market to which to send produce for sale.—(Applause.) The extension of Maitland street, S.W., to the Cemetery, was another important work. He voted for it in the Town Board, but the Ward was done out of it. There was money enough that had been received from the Cemetery, not only to carry out that extension, but also to make a junction with the South Road, somewhere near Hillside. Walker street had not been finished as it ought to have been, although there was money enough in hand, and fairly due to the Ward, to do the work. Stafford street, High street and others, had only been half completed. The rates were not sufficient to enable the streets that had been begun throughout, the city to be finished; and he was satisfied that a loan would have to be raised iv some manner.

In reply to questions, Mr Geiffen said that he was decidedly in favor of the maintenance of the Volunteer Fire Brigade in the most efficient state. As a citizen, he had always willingly done what he could towards that object; and while a

M'LANDRESS,

member of the Board, he proposed to head a subscription amongst the members with L 5. It must be a matter of legislation, how the farmers were to pay, if a market was provided; but he could not Bee why the came should not be done as waa done in Victoria—have the payment in proportion to the accommodation provided. He was not in favor of a tax on all drays coming into the city: draymen were sufficiently taxed by the tolls through the country. If the Municipal Council bad authority in the matter of tolls, he thought there should be no toll-bar within-seven miles of the city.—(Applause.) All the officers ot the Board would have to be re-appointed by the Council, if they were to retain their positions; and he should go in for retrenchment in every department. He did support the increase of the Clerk's salary from L4OO (o L 500; but thsfc was given only for Mr Lazar's services in getting the affairs of the town into order at first, for when Mr Lazar came, those affairs were in a state to "puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer." Emphatically, he (Mr Griffen) would now support a reduction of the Clerk's salary, and also of that of the Engineer. Mr J. R. Smith moved'that Mr Griffen was a fit and proper person to represent the Ward; which waa seconded by Mr J. M'Guike, and adopted without opposition. The proceedings were closed with thanks to Mr Barr, for presiding.