THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10708, 4 May 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

' Nominations for the office of Mayor and for twelve City Councillors closed at the City Council offices on Mon. April 20th. Mr H. Baigent, who has been Mayor of the City for the past two years, was the only can ■ didate nominated for the Mayoralty, and was therefore declared by the Returning Officer, Mr Ambrose E. Moore, to be elected. In "returning thanks to a number of citizens yesterday, Mr Baigent, who was re-elected to the office of Mayor, unopposed, said that when he was returned last time he fully made up his mind to retire from the office at the end of his term. Iv his position as Mayor he had to be cautious, and when necessity arose, sacrifice his own feelings to combat the troubles which came before him. A great deal of pressure had been brought to bear upon him to come forward agaiu, so that the present policy of the Council would be carried out, and this was his sole reason for seeking re-election. He looked upon this fact as a public expression of opinion against the scurrilous attacks which had been made upon him. In referriDg to the members of the old Council he said they had endeavored to transact the business of the City well, and he hoped the citizens would be honest enough to recognise honest service. Another reason that had helped him in his decision to come forward was that there were several works of importance in hand which had been commenced during his term of office, viz., the improvements in connection with the water works, the gasworks, and the erection of new Municipal Buildings, and these he hoped to see satisfactorily completed in six or eight months. He defended the action oi the Council in increasing the overdarft to raise money to erect Municipal Chambers, and contended that the Council was justified in doing so. The Municipal Chambers were badly needed, and in securing the money that way great expense had been saved, as when raising a loan expenses iwere incurred for advertising, returning officer, and polling places, besides the time taken up by the office staff. He considered that a proposal to spend £8,000 or £10,000 on a Town Hall would not be carried, as probably a large 3um would soon be required to carry out a drainage scheme. Mr Baigent said he had been honored more than other Mayors. He had taken part in the celebration of Nelson's Dia--.mond Jubilee, had represented the city of Nelson at the reception of Koyalty in Wellington, had taken part in the Peace celebrations, and had been Mayor at*the time of the Coronation of King Edward. He again thanked the citizens for the honor they had done him, and said his best endeavors would be to advance the city.