KAIAPOI BOROUGH ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 96, 3 September 1868, Page 2

KAIAPOI BOROUGH ELECTION.

Yesterday being the day appointed for the nomination of candidates, the Mayor, at 12 noon, opened the proceedings by announcing that the following persons, all duly qualified had been nominated in the form prescribed by the Act, viz: — Peter L. Nielsen, Edward G. Kerr, Charles Oram, Henry Middleton, Josiah Birch, Alfred Weston, Edward Revell, Joshua C. Porter, Matthew Hall, Frederi k S. Funst.in, Wiiliam Hammett, Charles Lezard, and Charles Dudley. He had received the withdrawal of William Hammett, also in proper form. He announced that a poll would take place on Thursday the 10th inst., when the seven persons highest on it would be declared elected. Ho called on the candidates to express their views. Mr Nielsen, as first on the list, waa ready to answer any question. Mr Porter asked Mr Nielsen what were his ideas with regard to the future management of the borough finances. In former days they had an income of £1000, now there would only be the rates to fall back upon. Would Mr Nielsen, if elected, be willing to give the town a fair share of his time, in order to keep down salaries and working expenses ? Mr Nielsen replied in the affirmative. Mr Kerr had, at the request of numerous friends, put himself forwnrd as a candidate for re-election. He referred to his conduct for the past two years as a specimen of what his future conduct waslike'y to be He should as heretofore vote without fear or favour for tho general interests of the town. He agreed with Mr Porter's ideas on financial subjects. It was obvious that if their income was reduced to £250 they could not afford to pay £ 1 30 to a clerk, which with office expenses, would ndure their available funds to less than £100 a-year. If they went on in this way, the Council would be a matter of form, and all the rates would bo expended in salaries. He advocated the payment of a person about £35 or £40 per annum, to draw up specifications, keep accounts, &c, and act as treasurer, the rates to be collected on commission, and all works to be done by contract, under the supervision of a Public Works Committee, to be appointed from month to month, by the Council, out of their number.

He was decidedly in favour of contract work, and opposed to day work. Mr Oram had been a member of the Council for twelve mouths, therefore it was unnecessary for him to explain his views at any length. He was in favour of the scheme for reducing the expenditure on salaries, and was a strong advocate of contract work. Mr Ellis asked if Mr Oram considered the river reserves were let at a sufficient rate. Mr Oram did not consider that Is per foot frontage vas sufficient rent ; he considered that the letting of the reserves had depreciated the value of private property to a considerable extent. He was in favour of putting the market reserves up to public competition, and letting them for a short term. Mr Middlctou had nothing to say regarding past services, but, if elected, should do his duty by the ratepayers to the best of his ability. He agreed with Mr Oram as to the depreciation of property through the letting of the reserves, and should not like to see any more let at that rate. Mr Porter was not aware that any fault had been found with his conduct while he had been si member of the late Municipal Council of which he had the honour of being chair»**>n. In regard to their system of business, Mr Kerr would bear him out that he had for a long time past advocated a scheme for cutting down the expenses ; he was sure, if the Councillors did the work of inspecting, superintending, and pissing contract.*, &c, a person could be got to fulfil the duties of clerk, &c, for £35 or £40 ; in fact, rather firm see the scheme fall through, he would do it himself if none other could be found. In his opinion, from the first tha river reserves had been let too low ; he could not understand why land in Cookson street should let at £1 p>>r foot while the reserves only brought ls, When it was proposed to make reserves for a market he opposed it, but he was happy now to say that he was in the minority. He believed it was for the good of the town to retain llu-se reserves, and ehould consistently oppose any attempts in a contrary direction. He was decidedly against altering the site of the bridge, he could not give an engineer's opinion in regard to position, but recollected when Peraki street was saddle-flap deep in water, that people were walking about dry tdiod on the north. There was also a question of title ; Peraki street, it appears being private property. He must say he had never heard a good reason advanced in favour of the removal of the site. Dr Dudley had very little to say on the subject. His past actions during 5 years service would, he hoped, be an earnest of his future conduct. He had a good deal of time at hie disposal, and considered that any one so situ Hied should devote a portion of it to the publio good. In regard to the bridge question, he had not made up his mind ; he th-mght before it was entertained, its promoters were bound to prove that there wera advantages to be derived from shifting the site ; this they had not done at present. If a bridge were erected at that site, the "mined could at any time fix a toll upon it. which they had the power to do by the Municipal Act passed by the General Assembly, and the Provincial Government would have no power to override tl>at, though they might coerce the Council in the matter. Mr Hall had been persuaded by bis friends to allow himself to be offered for re-elec i>m He had no particular policy to enunciate, but would deal with things as they came. He had always made it a point to be present at all meetings of the Council. (Hear, hear.) After December he did not know if he could atu-nd so regularly, but would always be present when any matter of importance was to be discussed. Messrs Bird, Weston, Lezard, and Funstou not being present, Mr Oram proposed, and Mi* Kerr seconded, tbat Mr R. W. Smith should act as scrutineer for the whole of the candidates which was agreed to. Mr Oram proposed, and Mr Kerr seconded, a vote of thanks to the Mayor, which was carried unanimously.