MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2030, 27 July 1868, Page 5

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

MR R. S. DODS AT LEITH WARD. Mr R. S. Dods, member of the City Council for Leith Ward, met the ratepayers of that Ward oh Saturday evening last, at Wain's Royal Hotel, Water-of - Leith. There was a good attendance, and Mr Jago was elected to the chair. Mr Dods said he had called the ratepayers together, to give them a brief outline of his conduct wbile in the Coun<al, and to let tbem knew that he was a candidate for re-election. Since he

had been their representative, he had

.. the meetings of the Council and with regularity, and had done his best for the interests of the Ward and of the city. The first thing that he would speak of was the gas contract. Some of the members of the Council had thought there was a favorable opportunity for putting an end to the oppressive contracts. . Ultimately a compromise was effected, by which the most oppressive contract would be terminated in 1870. This was the best arrangement that could be made, as by forcing matters the city would have been involved in a law suit, and, perhaps, been without gas for six or twelve months: He did not like the law, and as long as he could he would keep the city out of the hands of the lawyers. The next matter of importance that came before the Council after his election was the Public Baths. He was in favor of the Baths being in the hands of the Corporation ; but many preliminaries had to be settled, and the Corporation had not wished at the late season of the year to incur heavy ex- . pense. But he- was convinced that the Corporation would now be disposed to consider any proposal', with regard to the proper management of the baths. With regard to the dispute with the Water Works Company, the meeting would be aware that at the last meeting all negotiation had been stopped. The:original offer of the Corporation was, to pay LIOO for water for public purposes. The Company/ declined it, and Wanted L3OO. Ultimately, a compromise was effected for L 175; but when it came to be reduced to writing, the Company refused to include the water for stand pipes, &c. They wanted to measure out the water to the draymen, who sold it. The more the last letter from the Company was looked at, the more ridiculous it appeared. % The Company were bound by their charter to supply water for fires gratis ; and the attempt to fix •charges was simply abominable, fche more so as there was a superabundance of water. He had that night, in passing down Oeorge street, seen the men letting the water run off in a stream, tearing up the .street, and had thought there had been some accident. But he had on enquiry Ijeen told that there was too much water in the reservoir. The indignation of the Council had been so roused ty the letter in question, that thejf had declined any further negociations with the Company, and arrangements were being made to obtain a supply from a spring -owned by Messrs Driver, Maclean, and

Co. Even if an arrangement was made with the Company, it would be advantageous to have an extra supply. The Octagon improvement had been effected -since he took office, and he congratulated "the citizens at it having been effected at a small cost. He was opposed to the allocation of money to each Ward, and "believed that if the money was voted in a lump sum, the City, as a city, would be in a much better state of repair. The allocation system caused a scramble in the Council, each Councillor trying to get as much money as he possibly could for his own Ward. The necessity for work in some of the Wards was greater than in others, and if -the money was voted in one sum, the division would be fairer. Of the L6OO -^allocated to Leith Ward, L4oo' had been Pit, but some of the work done had c out of the general fund, and some had been done by the Government. He could not praise "too highly the conduct of the present Executive towards the Council. The Government had always been '^ready to assist, and had generously complied with many requests. The finances -were never in a better condition, and the

city was never in better credit. Its debsntures brought a high price ; and considering the low state of credit the Corporation was in a few months ago, they sold readily. He considered the sale of debentures at 90 good. It was a capital price for debentures, having 30 years to run, and bearing a low rate of interest.

In answer to questions, Mr Dods said t'lat he would not have meetings of Committee open to the public; but he did not know that reporters were excluded when there was a Committee of the whole Council. It was true that the Hon. W. J". T. Clarke had offered to purchase debentures at 90 ; and, as he had stated, he thought it a good price. He believed in borrowing money for works of improvement, and making those who came after us bear a share of the cost of those improvements. Upon being asked if he knew that debentures had been recently sold in Melbourne at 98, Mr Dods said that he knew some had been sold at par, and some as low as 75. He did not think Mr Clarke's offer a bad one ; but if the Council could get more for the debentures, it certainly would. He was perfectly content to leave the matter in the hands of the Finance Committee ; in fact, he believed that the city never had, and never would have, better financiers than the members of that Committee. With regard to work not being done on one side of the line of George street, while t'te other side was kept in perfect repair, he thought that it was better to keep even one side in thorough repair than to do a little to both sides. The new patent tiles were about to be laid, as an experiment, in the' Ward, and, if successful, they would be largely used in the Ward. Mr Barnes could not execute work without instructions from the Council. The money could not be all expended at once, and all the works could not be going on at the same time. He did not know that there were an inspector, timekeeper, and foreman to look after twelve men. The Inspector had instruction to finish all work begun, as he had been in the habit of leaving one job and going on to another. He believed that it would be better to have most of the work done by contract; but there was certain work that would cost more to call for tenders than to have it done by daymen. He was favourable to shifting the Botanical Gardens. Tt was not a fact that when the contract with the Water Works Company was about to be signed, the matter of an increased number of standpipes was introduced by a member of the Council He was not in favor of collecting the rates as at present done. He thought the rates for six months should be made to fall due about the middle of that time, and that three months' credit, and three months in advance, should be the rule. Thus, rates for the first half of the year should be made to fall due in April, and a day „ fixed by which they j should be paid. Then those who were in default should he charged with the cost of collecting. He did not think the salaries too high ; and though he would not say he was prepared to support an increase of the Mayor's salary, he should j not go in for a reduction. In answer to some questions put by Mr Wilson, respecting a road to the Leith Stream, Mr Dods said that he was not aware the road was in tbe condition described ; and that! if ary ratepayer called his attention to work so necessary he would do bis best to get it done. He believed that some few shillings-worth of gravel had been put on the road leading to his house, but it was not at his personal request. The improvements made to a road at the back of his house (a road he never used) had been done for the benefit of a large number of residents in the Ward, and was one of the most useful works done. He believed that the rates would be greatly reduced next year. Mr Langlands had been appointed by the present Council, ' and he did not think the Council had gone beyond its duty in making the appointment.

Many questions relating to work needed in different parts of the Ward were put to Mr Dods, and answered by him.

Mr Grant moved, and Mr Mason seconded, "That the ratepayers present have full confidence in Mr Dods, and will do their best fco re-elect bim." The motion was carried unanimously, and after a few remarks from Mr Charles Smith upon the folly of expecting too much from a representative, the meeting was closed by a vote of thanks to the chairman.