MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

West Coast Times, Issue 635, 7 October 1867, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

THE ft OMIN ATION . Tho Nomination of Candidates' to fill the nine seats which will > become vacant on tho 9th instant, took" place on Saturday at the Municipal Council Chambers.. Eevell street. The nominations had previously been made in writing according to the Act, and each Candidate had at tho foot of the nomination paper indicated his consent, if elected, to servo as a Municipal Councillor. ' . ' ' > At noon, his Worship the Mayor, made his appearance in front of the Council Chamber, and called upon the Town Clerk to read the numos of those who had been nominated' as Councillors. The following is the list as nominated by the Town Clerk :—: — % J. E. Anderson, nominated by G. W. Binney, seconded by Walter Eobinson. J . J. Bartletr, nominated by J. P. Klein, seconded by Hans Hansen. James Browne, nominated by A. Mcc, seconded by J. M. Higghi. Samuel Boyle, nominated by D. Cullen, seconded by A. Mee. Charles Edward Button, nominated by Michael Cassias, seconded by AndrcV Mowatt. Michael Cassius, nominated by W> Fisher, seconded by A. Mee. Francis L. Clarke, nominated by W. Shaw, seconded by C. D. A. Friedlein. John Cross, nominated by J. Forsyth, seconded by W. Smith. Eoberfc Ecelesfield, nominated by D. Macfarlane, seconded by T. Pringle. James Midglcy lliggin,noniiuatcd by James Browne, seconded by A. Mee. James M'Both, nominated by J. Hanson, I seconded by J. P. Klein. Thomas Munro, nominated by W. Shaw, seconded by J. E. Anderson. G. A. Paterson, nominated by Samuel Boyle, seconded by Q-. W. Binney. j Evan Prosaer, nominated by W. Hyde, sej conded by J. Powell. William Eobinson, nominated by E. Hall, seconded by J. Burke. William Shaw, nominated by Andrew Mowatt, seconded by Henry Cohen. William Swanson, nominated *by J. J. Humphrey, seconded by W. Evans. . ± Edwin Tayler, nominated by Evan Prosser, seconded by J. M. Higgiu. 1 The Matok said that there being a larger number of candidates nominated than required to act as Councillors required by the Act, ho would adjourn the meeting until Thursday next, when a poll woidd tako place, commencing at nine o'clock in the morning, and closing at four o'clock in the afternoon. Ho would be happy to remain' whilst the candidates addressed the citizens, but as there were eighteen candidates he would suggest that each gentleman should confine his address to the space of five minutes. The whole of the candidates then addressed the electors in alphabetical order, each being greeted with cheers on his coming forward. , Mr J. E. Anderson said that lie had much pleasm-e in meeting his fellow-citizens again as a candidate for municipal honors (cheers). Ho came before them with every confidenc?,knowing that he had done his duty in tho Council for tho past twelve months (cheers). What he had said, and what he had done, he had said^ and done fearlessly' and honestly, and if anything had been wanting,_jn iifn inability it had been more his misfortune thai? his fault, and, moreover, ho trusted that his past experience would make him more fitting for the post. Wo doubb there had been a great deal of mismanagement, no doubt there had been something wrong, but if ho was elected he would go in for retrenchment. (A voice — "Going to be a good boy this time Jemmy.") Ho would meet the electora^pn Monday and Tuesday in different parts of tne>' town, and would then answer any> questions thatTnight be put to him in a straightforward manner. (Cheers). Mr Bartlett said that at the request of a large number of the ratepayers of Hokitika he had come forward as a candidate. Ho had a very large ■ stake in tho town, and felt interested in its welfare, because if the town went ahead he should go ahead with it. He should go in for reduced rates, and a much smaller expenditure.' He did not, however, believe in paying a good man a small salary, for that he never did in his own establishment, but he did expect to have a full day's work for that salary. If he was returned he would do 1113 utmost to benefit the town ; if he was rejected it would possibly save him a great deal of trouble, and ho dared to say a great deal of abuse. (Cheers). Mr BoYiE said that he would not have come forward if he had not have been prer sented with such a strong requisition as it was innpossible to refuse. He should go in for retrenchment, and a low rate on a new valuation, and he thought -that the business of the Corporation could be carried on with .a shilling rate for tho year. (Cheers). Mr James Browse said that it was quite impossible to suppose that he could enunciate his opinions in five minutes. He addressed a meeting last night, and he then advocated, not only a considerable retrenchment in every department, but that the money of the ratepayers should be spent in a more equitable manner in those districts where it had been raised. Ho wanted to draw the attention of the Corporation to tho accounts of the Corporation, Avhich at tho last moment had been placed before the public. He found that the salaries wore set down at L9BO for the year, whilst the actual payments made out of the pockots of tho ratepayers were L 200 0; never was there a more garbled statement put forward than the auditors had put forward. It was an assertion by a great statesman — " that figures might bo made to conceal facts," and j this was true with regard to the statement brought forward by the Council; under a host of figures altogether wrong, they had conceded what were the true facts. With regard to the question of salaries, he felt satisfied that having a good Town Clerk, they might do away with tho rest of the officers. He considered that they had no right to employ either a town surveyor, or a town solicitor; a town surveyor was not needed, and if they wanted legal advice they had only to go to a solicitor and pay him for his opinion. Ho wished to state, that despite the statements that had been put forward by the Council, that those who went into the Council would bo startled ; that instead of having assets they would have a large debt of LI4OO to pay ; for the assets put forward by the Council, were just such assots as were put forward by a bankrupt in his schedule — assets which looked very well upon paper, but winch never realised anything. If he were returned lie should retrench, not so much in salaries as in the abolition of offices and in employing only such assistance as was really wanted. (Cheers.) Mr Button said that ho had very great pleasure in appearing before his fellow-citizens, as he know ho could rely upon the support of thoso gentlemen who had put their names to his requisition. Ho entirely agreed with Iho previous speakers, that retrenclunent was necessary, but he thought that it should bo in the machinery rather than in giving low salaries. If, as Mr Browne had Btated tho new Council would go into office with a settled debt of LI4OO, if ho (Mi- Button) were to como bofore them, and promise to reduce tho rates to sixpence in tho pound, he would only bo trying to foreo down their throats a statement which they would not beliove. (Choors.) For, if there was a debt of LI4OO to contend with, it would bo absurd to supposo that they could reduce the rate 3to anything less than one shilling tho pound- Heprc-nusedj <

howover, that he wonld do all in his power to secure efficient machinery to conduct tho modus opemndi of the Corporation at as low a cost as was consistent with efficiency. He trusted to be able to meet tho citizens either on Monday or Tuesday, when he would fully explain his views on municipal matters. (Cheers.) Mr Casshts said, that he did nob- intend to occupy their timo at any length. Ho had come forward in consequence of receiving a requisition, which had been niO3t numerously and influentially signed, and considering that ho had been some time before the public a3 a representative for the town in the "Provincial Council, and considering also that he was willing to give, not only his time, but his ability to the service of the district, he thought that he was justly entitled to tho support, of not only those who knew him, but also of those who did not know hint. Of course, in his capacity of councillor lie should advocate retrenchment, with a due regard to tho proper and efficient condlict cf the public service. Ho was opposed to the rates which were now due nob being enforced, but he believed that in the next twelve months tho rates would be necessarily very small, because he anticipated that the new political era upon which they were entering would I give them a much more liberal support on the part of the Government. Hitherto the town had been occupying an exceptional position — it had received no support from the Government, but the , improvements had been carried out entirely by rates levied on the inhabitants 5 but they had now gob a different state of tilings, notwithstanding the opposition on the part of the Superintendent. (A voice — "Ho is dead now.") He anticipated that under the now arrangement which was about to be inaugurated — (loud cries of "time l time!") — there would be grants for municipal bodies. (Bepealed cries of "time! time!") He thought too, that improvements for special localities ought to be made by special local rates, and not as heretofore be levied on all — (cries of "time! time ! ") He was only about to say — (here a handful of dirt, flung by some person in the crowd, struck the candidate in the face, and he retired _ laughing, although the act elicited loud cries of shame from the majority of tho citizens.) Mr Glaeke said that he came forward for re-election at the request of many of die ratepayers. Ho would refer them to his past conduct in the Council, and to its records for his history. He had always been in favor of retrenchment.but being at times in the minority he could not eifecthis objccl, but ho was not to blame for that (cheers). If they thought him worthy of reelection he would do allinliis power to benefit' the town. (Cheers). Mr Cfioss said that lie certainly should not have appeared before them that day had it not been for a very strong requisition ho had received from his fellow-citizens, no thought that it was mO3t essential in the Council that they should have a good public works committee. Now, if ho were elected, he should be happy to bring his public knowledge to boar on tho subject of public works. It would not do to trust all to the Town Surveyor ; but he thought that the public Trorks committee should see that each matter was correct before it was brought before the Council. If he was elected ho should go in for retrenchment, but he would not do as somo had done,advise them not to pay their rates ; for how could they expect improvements to be carried out without money ? If he was elected he should go into that Council determined to do his duty for the general welfare of the community. (Cheers,) Mr B. Eoclesfield said that it was only yesterday he made up his mind to present himself for re-election to a seat in the Municipal Council. He need not state what his future were ; for, from tho first time ho entered the Council he had been in favor of retrenchment, particularly in salaries, and when the rate was struck at 23 in tho pound, he' brought forward an amondment that it should be Is 6d. He need not state that he intended to show.by deeds that he meant to go in for retrenchment ; ' and whilst he believed that a good servant should be well paid, he did not agree with giving a man LSOO ayear if they could get the same \work done as well for L 350. He thought that one of the faults which the old Council had committed was in striking general rates for improvements in certain stseets, whilst other streets J i never got improved at all. He thought thot w^iero new streets were required to be formed the expense should be borne hi a special rate. He believed in deeds and not words, and if they thought him worthy to represent them he hoped they would give him their votes, but if not he trustod they would get nine better men. (Cheers.) Mr Biggin said that he had no idea of appearing before them that day, until the very last moment ; he was almost forced to take the position he then o ccupied. If they considered him at all competent to serve their interests he would do all in his power to meet their wishes. If he was elected it would not bo from any personal interest ho possessed, but because the electors considered that he would act according to his own judgment — honestly and conscientiously. It wa3 not because he thought himself fit to be a councillor that he now appeared before them, but he did so at the request of a number of gentlemen who knew him, and, if elected, ho would do his best to promote the welfare and benefit tho interests of the toAvn. (Cheers.) Mr J. M'Beth said that he had consented to become a candidate with considerable reluctance. He agreed with much that had fallen from the previous speakers. He believed that the mode of raising and spending the rates by the late Council had been most unfair,- and he considered in raising the rate 3 the first thing to be done was to have an estimate of the various public works before the rate was struck. Ho did not know what revenue the Council would get from the new government ; it was, however, possible that they might get some assistance towards the rates. He should go in for not collecting the remaining portion of the last rate, but should prefer to see it fairly adjusted so that it might not fall so heavily on the ratepayers. He should, if elected, thank^them heartily, but, if on tho contrary, he should not be much disappointed. (Cheers). Mr T. Mttneo said, that although ho had been requested to become a candidate by a large number of tho ratepayers, he stood before them as an independent man, belonging to neither party nor clique in Hokitika. He believed his conduct as a member of the Improvement Committee had met with tho approval of his fellow citizens. With regard to what the late Town Council had done, he thought a great deal of money had been expended with a show of very little work for it. Next year, however, the rates w.ould not bo required to be. so heavy. Tho question, however, to be decided, was not so much the raising of the rates as the manner in which they were to bo expended. Ho thought that they should look with much greater attention to the drainage of the town than had hitherto been done, as a preventiro against fever. Should he bo elected he would do his utmost to forward the interests of the town at large. (Cheers.) Mr PATTERSONsaidthatitwas with tho utmost reluctance that he acceded to a requisition asking him to become a candidate. If ho was elected he promised to do all in his power to work the Corporation choaply and effectively. He should give no further expression of his views on Municipal matters at present, as he had addressed a large meeting last night, and had been very well received ; lie s,liohl(J conclude by slating, tha? j

in the event of being elected lie should endeavor to do his duty. (Cheere.) Mr Phossee said'that he had not any intention of coining forward until the last moment, but, as Mr Shaw had said, he generally came in very late. There was a meeting held a short time since at the theatre, at -which certain resolutions were passed con- 'A demning the action of the late Municipal'! Council, and considering that, he (Mr Prossci) determined to come forward, believing; that if he did not do so, he should be endorsing the statements which werettifij^g put forth. He had always advocaflJß|^| interests of the people, and thej^BßPß^^ very well aware that as every thing could not be done at onee — that the most pressing necessities of the town must be first attended to. He should not detain them long, a3 he proposed to meet the citizens in various parts of the towu, but this he would say, that" they could nob do without 'a Town Clert, they could not do without ( a Bate Collector. As to the Town Surveyor, he (Mr Prosscr) proposed that he should bo allowed to take private ' practice, and if that had been done, they ■would have got the services of the Town Surveyor ■at a le"ss sum than they did now. As to the appointment of a Town Solicitor",' he certainly thought that when the Council wanted legal advice, they should get it as cheap as possible, and probably they might be able to do altogether without going to a lawyer, if they returned Mr Button, The rates also had been struck before he (Mr Prosser) took office, but he would state at once, that he thought that not only the rates, but the assessment should be reduced. Mr Browne had made some very broad statements, in facfc he had told the meeting that the auditors had garbled the accounts of the Corporation. Sow ho (lir Prosser) could assure them that the affairs of the Corporation -were in a very satisfactory state. The first moiety of rates had all been collected except about Ll7O. The second moiety amounting to L3T.07 was now due, and the late rate collector's deficiency of L 174, would have to be made good by his sureties. After all was paid that was owning, the new Council would come into office with a balauco to then* credit of L 2121, and yet Mr Browne had told them that their assests were only as good as so much waste. If the rates were not collocted of course they would be no good ; but he (Mr Frosser) could see no reason why fchoy should not be collected. He would now stale that ho thought there were two offices that could be yery well dono away with. If plcetcd he would advocate retrenchment, and he would also advocate that steps should immediately be taken to get a grant from the local board, soon about to be established, and indeed ho thought a grant might have been got from the Government before had the matter been properly submitted to them. He had every confidence in submitting himself to the citizens, believing that they would appreciate what he had done to benefit the ' town and district. (Cheers.) Mr Robinson said that when he had been asked if he were elected whether he would advocate the interests of one particular portion of the town, ho at once replied that he would nob go in for one portion of the town against tho other. He would very briefly tell them what his views were. He would advocate tho immediate prosecution of such works as were necessary for the public health ; he would advocate an immediate reduction of salaries, and also an immediate reduction of the rates to Is in the pound. He was in favor of the whole of the town sections being handed over to the Municipal Council by means of which a revenue would be raised which would materially lessen the rates. He would say no moro now as he proposed to meeh the electors during the ensuing week. (Cheera.) Mr Shaw said that it seemed as if the great cry which had been raised at present was as to the question of the rates. Now, he did not wish to deny hi 3 responsibility with the late Council, but it so happened tliat having had three months' leave of absence granted to him, he was away in_ another part of Ifew Zealand when the rates were struck. When he came back he certainly did consider the valuation to be extremely high, and he brought 'forward a measure to see whether they could not do away with the second portion of the rate. If the Council had received the assistance [which they had expected from, and had been promised by the G-overmnent such a rate would have been entirely unnecessary, but seeing that they had been deceived by the Government, he was not, after all, sorry that the rates had been fixed at as high, a rate a3 they were, for, if that had not been done they would not have been able to carry out the public works they had done, neither would tiie new Council have had- such a balance to their credit to begiu with as they would have now. They must recollect also that-,if they had only a sixpenny rate, they could only have sixpenny-worth of improvements. . He, however, believed that in future the rates would not exceed sixpence in theiljjfcfjfifdj and for this reasoned long they woula^hjave local G-overnment established in the district, andj Hokitika as tho metropolis of-"""'County of Westland, would most r, "plbbably*^ receive a share of the revenues'^aV^the disposition of the local Government, sum money to be spent in improvements in: toe town. *' If that were the case, and there was. every reason to believe that it would be so, the actual rates to be paid by householders would be very little. He should have been very glad if personalties had been avoided on the present occasion, and he would have been tho last person to cast the first stone, but a charge had been made by a previous speaker, reflecting on several persons, 'and two gentlemen in particular, in a manner under which no honest man could bo satisfied if left unexplained. He did not care himself about abuse, becuse he was as much accustomed to meet an attack on his character as he was to eating his breakfast, in fact he liad frequently told the gentlemen who thus attached him, that they were the greatest political friends that he had. But there were other people more sensitive. Ho supposed they all knew Mr Wilkinson, a confidential clerk in the office of Morrison, Law and Compauy — would they for one moment suppose that that gentleman would, with his follow auditor, lend himself to misrepresenting and garbling the Corporation accounts. Mr James Beowne — I never charged the auditors with garbling the accounts. I charged the Council with botching the affairs and accounts of the Corporation (uproar). Mr Shaw — Was it not the business of the auditors to examine overy item of the accounts, and to comparo each item with the vouchers bofore they certified the accounts to I be correct ? Mr Jame3 Browne— l never said it was the auditors. I said it was the Council. Mr Shaw — Then was not it a slander on their worthy Mayor and all the Councillors to say that they would lend themselves to such a proceeding. But he did not- wish further to occupy then* time -by dwelling 011 that subject. Whatever opinions people might have formed concerning his conduct, this ho could honestly and conscientiously say that no movement had been started for the benefit of the town in which.he had not taken an active part, he had spared neither time nor money in endeavoring to promote the welfare ofliis fellow-citizens, and, therefore, ho would confidently appeal to them and ask them whether they had that bad opinion of his conduct which had been expressed by some few men, and also by a porfcjpn of, the press. (Cheers), *>•

Mr Swaxson said that as this was the first occasion he had appeared in public he trusted that they would look over any imperfections in his speaking. lie did not' approve of tho manner in which tho public works of the town had been carried out. He would refer to the uppev end of Revcll street, and would ask how it was that important portion of the town had been so long neglected. It was true that fair promises had now been made respecting it, but why had. it not been done before. He could refer them \o another fine piece of management— they all knew the protective works thit had been erected opposite the Empire right-of-way. Well, in the specification for that work, it was stated that the piles were to be driven eight feet by a monkey; ■well, the party who took the work was allowed to dig holes and put the piles into them. Now, if that had been known when tho tenders were called for, he considered that a clear saving of from £50 to £S0 would have been effected, but, as it was, the contract was given by the members 'of the Council out of pure favoritism. Then, with regard to the Town Surveyor, he did not see what necessity there ■n as for a Town Surveyor at all. It was true that levels would have to be taken for tho streets, but that could be taker by 3ome competent person employed for Hie occasion; and, as to the inspection of Public Works, he should, if elected, be happy to give his practical knowledge to the Council, and would act as Inspector ,of Public Worls gratuitously for six months. (Cheer*.) Mr Taylee said that having been called on by a few influential ratepayers, he k had come forward as a • candidate.' He considered that the qualification necessary for a Councillor to possess to be as follows : — He should be a man of business, a man of sound sense, and a honest man. If they elected him he would do fill his power to look after interests, and would Spend the money of the Corporation as carefully as lie would his own. lie would say no more at piesent, . but would give his views on municipal questions at some future day. (Cheers.) On the motion of Mv Shaw, three cheers were give for the Mayor, and the meeting then dispersed.