MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Southland Times, Issue 10923, 25 April 1907, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Invercargill. MR SCANDRETT RETURNED. Co’us’idcpalblo interest was taken in the town election yesterday, when polls wene (kalian for the ‘election of Mayor and Council. The day was of the description most suitable for such an. occasion, leaving excuse, as far as the weather was Concerned, for voters to refrain from exercising tdreir privilege at the ballot box. Tho interest of the pdUlic centred in the contest for the Mayoralty between Messrs W. B. Scandnett -and .1, Stead, and it wad lanfticipatcd that the declaration of tho poll would not reveal any groat dilTeivncv in the amount of support giK'ou bev eaoli candidate. ' Four polling booths were open, the new municipal buildings providing two, while the Wesleyan schoolroom and South Fire Brigade station were utilised as usual. The polling may be regarded ns fairly heavy, KV,4 formal votes being cast, as against 14011 in the mayoral election of 19015. •then tho mtein booth closed at 7 p.m., n crowd of respectable, dimensions hud already congregated in front of tho Town Hall, and in spite of the raih j which commenced to fall, it steadily in- | cransOid until tho time of declaration, j The one subject of discussion was the probable result of the poll, and it was [ apparent that, the general verdict was iul favour of Mr Scandrc-U, though many ; considered that Mr Steed had a good ! fighting chance. The actual result, when announced at S o'clock by the Returning Officer (Mr T. W. Walker), occasioned, some surprise, as so decisive n> victory had not been contemplated by either siVio. The greater part of the crowd did not hoar the figures, and it might bo . suggOiAod that the new Council should order a megaphone for use cm such occasions. The following are details of the polling

Totals .. 1014 520 !6 Majority for Mr Seamlretl: 524. Tire Returniijnjr Officer declared Mr W. B. Rcandrett (inly electi«l for the ensuing year.

On the call of Mr Taupe three cheers were given for the Mayor. The Mayor, said that lie was greatly 1)1 eased to see the citizens attending in such large numbers to hear the resnlt of the poll, and was greatly obliged to the electors for having again placed him in Hie position of Mayor. He haul felt that it was his duty to offer himself fc*r reelect! on, as he had been requested by so many to give the ratepayers an opportunity to keep 'him in the office. The result showed that he had rightly interpreter! Rio bird expressions voiced by so many citizens. He could not serve thorn any better than lie had in tlv? past—the town always had Ms best services— I bbt he would promise Unit his fat urn term h.s Mayor would he marked by the s-.tuie endeavour, (Applause.!” Mr J. Steald, who was also given threo cheers, said that the result of the poll wruM not in any way impair the friendship which existed between Air Seamin',tt and himself. He had held the opinion that the position of Mayor should bn a rolling office, but evidently the majority of ratepayers thought otherwise. They held that when one In that position was fairly successful ihdrewas Tin reason, why there should be a change tor change’s sake. As one who had been on the Council for many years, he thought tint the ratepayers should not pay so much attention as to who should be mayor, but take a greater interest in the compftsi'tion of the Council. If there were n good mayor ami a good Council the municipal much livery would be perfect. Without be'ng personal, he could say that wifK a good Council and bad Atnvor not muc.li harm could piedone, and

with a bad Council and a ■cfood mayor hie conk] Tint do much ip>i>d. There were many ciuosliona in which he felt a keen mterest, and he was *orry therefore to he out of the Council. As the electors hml practically forced him I°* retire, he

accepted their vwvlict with a jrood ernce. (Applause.) If a wish were ex-

pressed later thJbt he should s r Tv*‘ ia an other rapacity ho mirht aprain offer hi;

services. On tins occasion* he felt lha lie had heon beaten by a worthy citi

j Mr B»tea<l liven moved, and the Mayor seeorrdficl, n vote of thanks to the Re•m it in 1!! Officer, which was carried with ’ applause. j THE NEW COrNTTL. j Tiro Mayor announced that tbe result !of the Council election would bet made I known at nine o’clock, and the crowd j settled down to wait. During the irtter- ; val the returns of the suburban elections wore oircuiatcd, and the results discussed. A few minutes after the lime predicted the Returning Officer appeared and announced the result as follows

It w ill bo swn that thfl retie retiring councillors who offered themselves' for reelection were returned. The hew Councillors are Messrs R. Galbraith. C. McDonald. and R. B. McKay'. Mr D. McFarlane, in returning thanks, said that he had been placed in a proud position, ami he hoped to merit the confidence d splayed. There were a great, many' impDrtiant matters to come before the Council, the principal one being an increased water supply and a Greater Tnveiccirgill scheme. In his opinion they could not get the latter without first securing the former. He ifelievod that an artesian supply could bo gapped—not from Tjake Waktatiipu, whichiwottld dwamp. Invercargill—but from some local source. All the (matters to bo dealt with would receive his earnest consideration. (Applause.) Air W. A. Ott thanked the electors for

(Heir expression of confidence, His views on the water finest ion were that future possibilities must ho considered, even more than present requirements. He favoured a gravitation scheme from IBpton, which would enable the Council 1o instal a. proper Sanitary service. Before definite steps could he taken the sunurhs would have io join with the town. The cost would not. he thought, entail the heavy burden on the ratepayers which was supposed. Ho exTWdsod the opinion that a- loan would have to ho raised to improve tHo gaswor 1 -,, and pay off the Town Hall. Mr Galbraith briefly returned thanks for his election. He would use his best abilities in the 'discharge of His duties.

Mr F. G. Stone said that the water question Would have to he seriously considered. As to the gravitation scheme, possibly ten people could pay the extra cost, where 30 or 40 could not. He intended to oppose anything which would lend to an increase in the rates. On thquestion of amalgamation hei expressed the opinion that' the suburbs wou'd not join the tb'wn. The gasworks were in a rotten state. (Laughter.) It would take £OOOO to put them in order. THe Town Hall, which he Hail predicted would cost £25,000, Had cost that amount, it everything Had been charged that should have been Shows’ in the hill. (Laughter.) He was quite up to these tiddly-winking sort of things. (Renewed laughter ) If any of the ratepayers wanted information the., had only to cal! on him to get it. Mr A, Bain thanked the ratepayers lor

returning him. He was known S3 a bardhitter, ojud sometimes tramped on pie's corns. When they got their, turn they did not forget it. That would not deter him from doing his duty to the I jest of his ability. He pronounced in favour of a gravitation water supply, which he said would not cost much over the other service, and would save a big coal workirg bill at the Tower. The scheme would also work in with the sanitation scheme. The present drainage pipes were w laid that they could be utilised in. x-he 11 mil scheme of sanitation. He concluded his remarks with soinjs humorous remarks on the birth-r (•*. Mr C. McDonald also than l .. the ratepayers for electing him. Mr W. Stead, in returning thanks, said that lie was favourable to a gravitation scheme. It would assist to improve sanitation, and would save hundreds of pounds Jn working expenses. Mr I. L. Petrie, the defeated candidate, said that he was not discouraged. It was unlucky to be the thirteenth min', but, he might come forward again at a future time. He warned the ratepayers against endorsing the too sanguine schemes which had been propounded. They meant loans, and increased rates and rents. He advocated the establishment of a free rending room, ami better supervision of the milk and food supplies. He made an exhaustive comparison between the financial position of Christchurch and Invercargill, and declared strongly against the gravitation water supply. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Returning; Officer on the motion of Councillors McFurlane and Ott. This is the first occasion on which Mr Walker has acted as Returning Officer at a full Council iind Mayoral election. He is to be complimented on the completeness of his arrangements, and the facility with which the announcements were made.

Sean (lx tt Stead fnT To'vn Hall fi.::, 277 8 Wesle.ian Sfhnolnvm 13s 85 0 South Fi e Rrigade Station 271 158 S

Candidate , ! i i Fire Sta’ion 1 D. McFiulane 717 ]sr» 312 127 s W. A. Olt .. 72s ay i 331 1230 B. Galbraith .. 717 170 333 1220 R Cleave mm isr> 31S 110!) F. G. Stone .. CS-: 17 341 1199 1>, Roche fi!»S 175 321 1197 X. Bain (!•! 171 088 1192 W. Stead GS4 181 320 llca XV. Mai tin .. GUI 10S 324 1183 J. Walker .. 67'. 1-4 313 1104 C. McDonald On5 172 287 1114 U. 15. McKay 032 F ! :. Not ERcted. 280 1(‘8'J I. L. Petrie .. 474 127 2f.S SCO Informal 10 3 11 33