LINWOOD BOROUGH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4739, 2 September 1893, Page 6

LINWOOD BOROUGH.

* MEETING OF BURGESSES; •;■ A public meeting of ratepayers, con*' veried in response to a requisition, watV iield last evening afi iihe PMllipetoiraschoolroom, a g?od number being:, present. . The Mayor occupied the chair, and ex-; plained that the meeting had been called to allow the intending candidates to place : ; their viewa before the ratepayers. Mr T. N. Horsley, a former Councillor^ wrota apologising for hia absence, and' saying that he would do everything in bis | power, if elected, to prevcct the introduction of hotels in the Borough. He considered the Tuam street drain to be a disgrace to Linwcocl that should be removed. Mr Frederick Board, a former Council- ' lor, also wrote apologising for hie absence, and stated that the affair* of the Borough would ever receive his attention and thought if he were elected. Mr J. B. Brunt, a former Councillor, said he hoped that he had deserved the confidence of the ratepayers. He had ever worked for the district to the best of his ability. Referring to the affairo of the district;, he said he could take a oertain amount of the credit of the bringing about of the annexation of the outlying' district.? and tho formation of a Borough. The Tuain street drain had been agitated " for, and the ratepayers had done every- . . thing possible to have the drain attended: to. It wa3 a district question, and affected . the sanitary condition of Lin wood. On themattar of reserves for recreation pur- ; poses he was very keen, and he was most anxious that a recreation reserve ohouid . be secured for the Borough. He pointed' out that while Sydenhanx was applying for the old Show ground reserve, and was well supplied with recreation grounds, Linwood had nothing. He waß much in favour of the erection of a suit-, able Town hall. He believed that a loan for Linwood would be rather premature just now. Everything tending towards the improvement of the Borough and the happiness and comfort of the people had' always been the chief concern of the Linwood Town Board. , Mr H. S. Kennedy, a former member,' said he would do as he had done in the past if he were returned. He considered that the Tuam street drain was a matter o£ most urgent importance. Mr I. H. Pentecoßt, a former Councillor, said he thought that the Tuam street, drain should be completed as soon aa" possible. He was in favour of having all kerbing and channelling done by day labour instead of by contract. He had been against the old unemployed being placed on pick and shovel work, but had never been against their employment by the Council. He would be willing to allow the residents of streets to asphalt them with money advanced by the Council. Mr J. L. Wilson, a former Councillor, reviewed the agitation regarding the Tuam street drain. He considered that Linwood should go in for a loan, partly for the purpose of setting the Tuam street drain to rights. He was an advocate of a water-' supply scheme for fire prevention pur* poses. The assessment of the Borough was £420,000, and £5000 could be borrowed for a term of ten years at 6 per cent. Such a loan would only coat between H and id in the £on the iateß. The expenditure of the lean money would put the. Borough into shape, and give it a tone. He was in favour of making immediate improvements, and leaving posterity to pay for them. He was in favour of strong application being made for recreation areas in Linwood. Mr C. M. Boulton said his aim would always be to keep the rates low and secure - an impartial expenditure of the revenue of ■ the Borough. Regarding tbe Tuam street drain, he would favour a special' Parliamentary Bill in that connection.. He was against; a £5000 loan, considering that the rates paid were high enough already. He had no axe to grind— he had a drain nesr his property, and thought he could do without a lamp for some time. ' Mr Peter Davidson said that if elected he would do his very best to promote the interests of the whole district. He con-: aidered the surface drainß of the Borough should be improved. ' Mr David Duncan said that if elected to serve the ratepayers he would do his. ■ very best for them. Mr Charles Hiorns said he would like t3 see the surface drains flushed, and he would endeavour to move in that direction, if elected. Mr Edward Hiorns said he was dead against any public-houses in the Borough, and if his temperance friends wanted an hotel he would vote against it. (Laughter.) He wanted all the side drains flushed, ana drainage matters generally well attended to. He would be in favour of borrowing money if it were spent systematically.. . Mr T. Marriott said he would do his beßfc for the Borough, and try and keep down the rates. He did not think anything could be done with the Tuam street dxaio. (A voice : " Fill it in — the Drainage Board have no money to take it out.") (Laughter.) Mr John Taylor said he would do every-.. ... thing he could for the improvement of the Borough. He wanted the Tuam street _ drain filled up—the etench therefrom could be cut with a knife. All the money ; pbs- ' ?; Bible ehould be kept in the Borough and scent in giving employment to ratepayers;. Everything for the advancement of the Borough of Linwood would have hisVaup- . port, _ ;,, ' Mr Joseph Taylor said one of the first charges on the rates should be the channel- - ling of the Borough. He favoured the flushing of draias and channels, the sinking of wells, the filling up of the Tuam street drain, the acquirement of recreation grounds, the erection of a town hall, and the borrowing of £25,000. Anything to benefit the Borough would receive his attention. Mr Joseph Walker said that he would only support borrowing if it could bo shown that the money could ba put to good uses. . Mr George Collier said Mr Wilson had been the only gentleman who had made remarks at all according with his -ideas. f After giving a history of . the Tuam BJfcreet drain, he said £25,000 should be borrowed for this and othur purpoaeß; , v Mr Henry Toomer spoke against any borrowing for Linwood, saying that the " borough was one of ths best in. the Colony, and the worst of the work required had been completed. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Mayor, and the meeting terminated. •