POET CHALMERS MAYOEAL ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9907, 28 November 1893, Page 5

POET CHALMERS MAYOEAL ELECTION.

Mr J. Watson, juu., one of the candidates for ihe mayoral chair of Port Chalmers, addressed i meeMng of the ratepayers (at which eeveral ladies were present) in the Foresters' Hall, Pott Chalmers, on Saturday evening. Mr E. Kodfred.was called to the chair. Mr Watson said he stood before the meeting is a candidate for the mayoral chair, for which iae offered no apology. He was not only'a ratepayer, but had lived in the borough since his jhildhood, and had already-served as a coun3illor for four years. He detailed the reasons which led him to oppose Mr lanes, and said that from the encouragement he had received tie was convinced he was justified in coming Forward, and he believed when the numbers went up he would not be very far behind Mr Innes, if he did not beat him.—(Applause.) The candidate went on to refer to the retiring mayor as one of the best mayors Port Chalmers ever had. Very few knew how watchful of its interests that gentleman had been. : The staff, he said, was a good one, and the council worked harmoniously together for the benefit cf the borough. He denied that there was any clique in the council. He warned them to beware of agitators, who by their animosity and spite would, if permitted, reduce the council meetings to the level of a bear garden. When he told them that under different management some years ago the borough had lost hundreds of pounds of its rates, and that at the end of last financial year there was only some £60 outstanding, the most of which had since been collected, he thought they would give some credit to the council that had served them so well during the last nine years. There were only at present four members in the council who were there when he joined four years ago_, so that there was no necessity for the bursting up policy that some persons advocated, as the personnel of the council was continually changing. He desired to poinb out that in fair play it was his turn now to occupy the mayoral chair, as both of his opponents had held the office. Turning to the affairs of the borough, he pointed out that reserves in tho town produced £162 12s 6d in gross rental, the town belt quarries £75, the dairy farms at Purakanui £76 3s lOd, and their reserve at Duuback £162 10s. which seemed an inadequate rent for 3000 acres. The income from all sources for the year ending March 31 last was £3995 3s 9s, and the. expenditure to an equal amount. Tho public debt of the borough amounted to £33,400, made lip as follows:—£5000, 7 per cent., falls due in 1901—eight years; £15,000, 7 per cent., falls due in 1905—12 years (waterworks) ; £9900, 7 per cent., falls due in 1908— 15 years (waterworks) ; £3500, 6 per cent., falls due in 1909—16 years (new buildings). On these loans there was a yearly interest payable of £2334-. These loans should be consolidated, and by their conversion into, say, 5 per cent, debentures they would save about £660 per annum. Even if they had to pay £105 for each debenture they would'save say, £500, a year. If they did him the honour to return him-r----(applause)—he hoped with the assistance of the council and their permission to save in this way £500 a yesr to the borough, and would then retire from public life feeling that he had done his duty.—(Applause.) The sinking fund, which had for some time past been vested in the commissionsrs, had accrued to the amount of £2457 8s lOd. During the present year the commissioners had resigned, and the fund had been vested ia the Public Trustee. For some years past nothing of importance had been done to their roads and streets, and very soon a considerable outlay would be required for metal and repairs. Bellevue place was still in a stat9 of nature, while Harrington and Scotia streets required to bo cat down to an easier grade, and if they had funds they could be advantageously spent, and he hoped by consolidating • the loans and increasing the revenues from the reserves to always leave sufficient to carry out these works.—(Applause.) Many complaints (and not without cause) had been made about the insufficient water supply to the upper levels. He proposed to adopt plans by which this could bs remedied. In the matter sf the honorarium annually voted to the mayor, personally he did not want ib. He had always looked on the amount voted as something to keep the mayor from being out of pocket too much, as he was always expected to head subscription lists, &c. He promised them, if he were sleeted, that no case brought under his notice of genuine poverty should ever go without a pound while the vote lasted. He appealed to ill the ratepayers to record their votes on Wedlesday for the candidate who would best serve .hftm, and would bow to their decision in the natter. —(Applause ) In reply to questions, Mr Watson said the ervico pipes were not large enough to carry ufficient water at all times to the higher levels, nd it would therefore be useless to put a 2in >ipe in Laicg street. He was of opinion that arge tanks or reservoirs should be erected in he upper parts of the town. The quarry reals rere reduced about two years since, the council leing compelled also to accept the surrender of he leases held by persous in the quarry reserves, le was not in favour of increased rating, and onsidered it would bs better fco wait until the eases of the endowments fell in rather than iurease tbe rates. If the loans were consolidated hoy would..be ab!e to do a great deal in the ?ay of necessary repairs to the streets and ther woil- He wes not in favour of reducing he salary oi tin, tiwn clerk, and considered it rould be unwise to pay that officer so small a ilary as £150 per annum. The overdraft Jast ear at the bank did not amount to £500. The iterest paid on overdrafts was — general ccount £12 2s 4d, and water account £21 0s a. He was quoting from ths printed balance leet, certified to by the Auditor-general. Applause.) The cost of consolidating the ians he could not state definitely, but to pay DEthe £34,400 it might be necessary to raise 35,000. He would not be in favour of paying lore than £104 or £105 for debentures. He

Id not say what Sir W. J. Clarke, of Melme, who held the debentures, might feel ined to sell them for; perhaps he might,, ler present- ci-canisfcauc^s, take from £100 t« 15, even if he had'some years back paid £11?. was not anxious to hold s seat on the dock st; but if is were necessary, and he was Hed mayor, he would, ia tho interests of ths m, accept a seat on the board, dr R. Ritchie moved and Mr W. Dawsoi? onded a motion that Mr Watson was a fit 1 proper person to fill the office of mayor, amendment was proposed that Mr Watson thanked for his address, but it was nofe iou^cd. The chairman declared the motion :ried. -