ELECTION OF MAYOR

West Coast Times, Issue 644, 17 October 1867, Page 2

ELECTION OF MAYOR

♦ MR SHAW'S MEETINGS. Mr Shaw, one of the candidates for the office of Mayor of Hokitika, met the citizens last night, at eight o'clock, at the Empire Hotel. Mr J. R. Anderson occupied the chair. The Chairman introduced the candidate to the meeting as an old friend, and one with whom he had acted in the Council for twelve months. He then proceeded to recapitulate the services which Mr Shaw had rendered to the public, not only in his private but in his public capacity, and after dwelling upon tho necessity of electing a tried man in preference to one who was unt ied, said that he had much pleasure in recommending Mr Shaw to fill the responsible office of Mayor, and ho trusted that each one would exert himself to secure that gentleman's return. Mr Shaw said that he must expre-s his great gratification at seeing so large a meeting that evening, and at finding that so many influential persons had formed themselves into a committee to promote his interest in this part of tho town. He must also express his great gratification at bciug returned again to represent them in the Municipal Council, notwithstanding that ho had been placed in circumstances of difficulty, through not having been able to attend meetings .of his constituents, having been prevented by illness from doing so. But there was yet time for him to answer for all the iniquities with which lie had been charged, and lie should also be happy to answer any questions which might be put to him with regard to his conduct as a member of the Municipal Council. He might state that, since he went into that Council, he had attended to his duties to the utmost of his ability. It was true that he was absent for nearly three months after his election, but he could inform them that, having at that time other establishments down south which required Ms immediate attention, he had obtained three months' leave of absence in order to visit those establishments. He could, however, say that, before he went south, as well as after his return, he believed that he had not mis3ed an attendance at the meetings of tho Council. The proper and legitimate duties of the Council were of a very simple and he might say of a routine character, and they would be much more so for the future. There was this particular feature about the 'first Municipal Council, that from its being the first legally recognised body it possessed a great amount of power if they chose to- take advantage of it. At that time the district had been laboring under a system of misgovermnent — they had no Chamber of Commorco to seek redress, but the Municipal Council and he (Mr Shaw) had taken advantage of that in order to bring pressure to bear so as to carry measures which certainly have been productive of a very large i amount of good, and which the public, when they became acquainted with their working, would estimate at their real value. There was the old vexed question of the sale of the public lands. Through the culpable delay on the part of the Government the greatest uncertainty prevailed" a3 ~to the tenure of those who had occupied lands and erected it might be extensive and valuable buildings thereon. The business licenses which they, had taken out had been allowed to expire, and tho land had been withdrawn from tho operation of the Goldfield's Act, they were just in this position, that had it not been for the good sense and feelings of honor of the people of Hokitika there was nothing to have prevented any person dispossessing them of their lands by force. .Now he (Mr Shaw) was instrumental in getting the Council together to consider that subject so as to bring pressure to bear on the Grovernment, and the consequence was that a measure had passed the Assembly which not only secured to those persons their rights, but also secured to those imfortunato persons who, having been washed out on the beach, had erected houses along tho tramivay, the right of being placed on the same footing as the other parties to which he had alluded. Ha (Mr Shaw) thought that the inauguration of such a measure deserved some slight recognition from his fellow-citizens. But that was not all. All along the western side of North Revell street the Government refused to sell the land, but instead of doing so they left it in the hands of the Municipal Council. It might not be generally known that ho (Mr Shaw) msved in Council and carried it — " That the Corporation should recommend to the Government that the land bo surveyed into sections, and sold along with the rest of the property, tho latter being granted a fair valuation." He (Mr Shaw) was also the means of procuring for tho people of Westlaud a measure being passed by the General Assembly, and which gave to the people of Wesfcland the fnll control of the expenditure of their own revenues. He (Mr Shaw) had initiated that movement, and although many very clever gentlemen had said tTiat the movement was " all bosh," yet he persevered, feeling satisfied the injustice under which Westland was suffering from the measures adopted by the Eastern side of tho Province would culminate in a vigorous effort to shake off the yoke of Canterbury. He and others did persevere until a measure was carried by the General Government which would give them the entire management of their own revenues. He had devoted a great deal of time and some money to effect this object, for he might say that lie was a sufferer to the Separation movement to the extent of L 80;8 0; but when he camo to consider tho great good that had been effected thereby, he was very glad that he had thus suffered. (Cheers.) He had done his duty as a Councillor, and tho fact of their electing him without his coming forward and making promises of retrenchment was in itself a source of proud gratification to him, as it was a proof that despite what had been said of him, that the citizens were satisfied with his past conduct. He (Mr Shaw) perceived that one of the candidates, Mr Button, had made a speech last night, in which he stated that the test of past services could not always be taken as a test of worthiness, because if that were the case the members of tho old Council ought all to havo been returned; but Mr Button seemsd to have forgotten that he (Mr Shaw) and Mr Prosser were both returned, and therefore it was evident that their past duties had been performed in a manner which was satisfactory to the constituents. (Hear, hear). Mr Button came forward saying in effect, "Do not elect tho old Councillor, but elect mo, because I am a lawyer and have a legal education, and therefore I shall bo ablo to explain matters to the Council, and keep the members in order. He (Mr Shaw) would, however, tell Mr Bulton * that education was not confined to lawyers, and ho would venture to assert that a strictly legal education, notwithstanding the great insight it gave in law, v both ancient aud modern, had rather a tendency to narrow the mind than to expand it and give it enlarged views of public affairs. He (Mr Shaw) thought that Mr Button had said that he was l'eared in the cradle of municipal institutions, and ho (Mr Shaw) took it that because his father or his grandfather was tho Mayor of Launceston, in Tasmania, therefore it was right that he (Mr Button) should 'be elected to the office of Mayor in Hokilika. Now he (Mr Shaw) could readily imagine why Mr Button should think it to be sufficient to ensure his success in aspiring to tho office of Mayor; on the contrary he (Mr Shaw) would ask — supposing such to be tho case — what right or claim did that give Mr Button to tho office of Mayor, or what right would that give his son to be Mayor. He (Mr Shaw) could readily imagine Mr Button looking back

to the days when he was rocked in the cradle of Municipal institutions. Only let them fancy Lady Button rocking the Municipal cradle in which rested little Billy Button, the future Municipal Councillor. (Laughter.) He wondered whether the Lady Button when singing to the infantile baby " Hushaby baby upon the tree top" had any idea that she was rocking the future man, who in the future was to spread small municipal brass buttons over tho whole of the Australias (renewod laughter. The idea that a man, because his father or his grandfather, or his uncle, happened to be Mayor of Launcston that ho Bhould be fitted to be mayor of Hokitika, was a most singular thing, and reminded him (Mr Shaw) of the anecdote of a person who on being asked whether he could speak German, replied " No, but I have a cousin that can play the German flute." He (Mr Shaw) believed Mr Button's private character to be moat unexceptional, and if that gentleman would take the troublo to serve for a year in the Council as a councillor, he (Mr Shaw) believed that ho would make a very good Mayor ; but howexer good or clever Mr Button might be, it would be entertaining a most ruinous policy to adopt the system of raising to the civic chair a young man who had never worked for them, but whom they were placing over the heads of those who had served them faithfully. He (Mr Shaw) would ask them if they had a servant in their employment who had done hi 3 duty thoroughly and faithfully for a long time, and they were to bring in a man who was supposed from inexperience to know nothing of the duty which ho was required to perform — would not, he (Mr Shaw) would ask, would not the old servant feel such treatment keenly, and yet, such was the course now being pursued by a certain portion of the community. He (Mr Shaw) had worked hard for the public; he had never spared either his time or his money in supporting those institutions which he thought would be beneficial to them. Thera never had been a project started for the public good or for charitable purpose that ho had nob given a liberal subscription to. What money ho had made in the town he had invested in it ; he was a very large ratepayer, and had property to the value of LIO.OOO in Holdtikn. He was a large employer of labor, distributing through that moans upwards of L2OO weekly. This being the case he was not likely to leave the place, he could not pack up at two hours notice, and leave a place as his friend Mr Button could, and as he believed Mr Binncy could vouch on one occasion had been done. ( ♦ Mr Binkct — I can -vouch you are giving out a great lot of fogyisni — a very great lot of bosh. Mr Sitaw — Mr Button was at one time very anxious to represent InvercargiU, and they elected him to the Provincial Council. Mr BiKney — He never was elected Mr Shaw. The Chaiksian — I must call you to order Mr Binney. If you have anything to say you can speak after Mr Shaw lias done. Mr Shaw understood that Mr Button left InvercargiU at a very shorb notice. Indeed, he (Mr Shaw) believed that should Mr Button have occasion to leave the country he would be able to do so at a very short notice. In what respect then had Mr Button prior claims to Mr Prosser or himself. (Mr. Blake — " Any amount.") He thought Mr Button was a noble-minded fellow, but, unfortunately he had fallen into bad hands, for there were people here who fancied themselves the aristocracy — men who buzzed about in the sunshine of the Hokitika Court, and he (Mr Shaw) believed that Mr Button had been led by these butterflies, who when they saw a man endeavoring to raise himself endeavored to preserve their own dignity by crushing him. He (Mr Shaw) did not come forward to oppose Mr Moorhouse for the seat in. the Assembly, on the contrary, Mr Moorehouse came forward to oppose him, brought forward by those who could not bear to see him (Mr Shaw) endeavoring to raise himself in public estimation — they did not bring forward a Tasmanian in opposition, but they -got hold of a stranger — and so with Mr Button — they had taken hold of him to make a tool of him. He (Mr Shaw) said the ether day on the hu3ting3, that the last kick given by Mr Moorhouse to Westland in the Assembly, was when he attempted to take twothirds of their revenue in order to apply it to works in which they would not reap the slightest benefit. He j(Mv Shaw) had been deceived in Mr Moorhouse, for he thought at one time he was a friend to Westland, but they all knew how grievously he had disappointed them in the Assembly; and when he found them determined to release themselves from Christelmrch domination, he turned round and abused those who were striving to effect this, and called him (Mr Shaw) a disappointed printer. The last little kick which this party had given, preparatory to their packing up and leaving the place,and in order to show their sympathy with Christchurch, was to bring forward Mr Bntton in opposition to old and tried servants of the public. He (Mr Shaw) hoped if they did not return him that they would return Mr Prosser. He might mention that only a short time ago, when confined to his house through illness, he sent for Mr Prosser, and after stating to him that it would be a great insult to the community if an untried man was returned as Mayor, proposed that sooner than such should happen they should go to two or three mutual friend's, and tho party determined on by those friends should resign in the other's favor. Mr Prosser said that he would give a reply in a day or two, and accordingly that gentleman informed him that he (Mr Prosser) had determined to stand. He (Mr Shaw) then determined to stand also ; but even now, should the support of the public fail him or should they wish hiui to retire lie would at once do so in favor of Mr Prosser; for it was the principle he cared for. He sought no pecuniary recompense, for he considered tho honor quite sufficient remuneration. It had been said that a person connected with the press ought not to engage in politics or hold a seat in the Council. He thought this statement to be most absurd. Let them look at the London " Times " ; the editor of that journal, Mr Delany, held a seat in the British House of Commons, and so, for many years, did Mr Walter, one of its largest proprietors. Mr Baines, the proprietor of the "Leeds Mercury," held also a seat in Parliament, and the proprietor of "The Freeman's Journal," one of the ablest, if not tho ablest of the Irish papers, was Lord Mayor of Dublin, and had been knighted when he held the office of Lord Mayor. Then again let them look to Victoria, Mr M'Kinnon and Mr Smith of the " Argus" had both sat in the Victorian Parliament, and Mr A'Beckett who had been connected with the "Herafd" had also been members, and so also had Mr Syme of the " Age." In New Zealand that talented gentleman, Mr Crosbie Ward, of the "Lyttelton Times" had served in the Assembly, and so also had Mr FitzGerald of .tho " Press." So much then for the statement that gentlemen connected with newspapers ought not to fill political situations. Why who so likely as them to know what was wanted in a country and to seize upon the right means for developing its resources ? As to Municipal matters tho criterion for such honors should be that tho candidate should be an honest man who would neither feel nor fail to do his duty, no matter whether ho was an auctioneer or a disappointed printer. If they thought he should withdraw in favor of Mr Prosser ho would withdraw. (No, no.) He should b» gratified if they conferred, an honor upon him,

and to which he thought he had a right. (Cheers.) Mr Binney explained that Mr Button had never been elected to the Provincial Council in Invercargill. He had a numerously signed requisition presented to him there, but shortly afterwards he received intelligence that his wife was in a very delicate state of health in Tasmania, and, having written to his committee a letter of resignation, he left in three days for Melbourne. Mr W. Blake, a clerk in the employment of Messrs Button and Reid, asked Mr Shaw whether, in the event of his not being returned as Mayor, he would continue to serve as Councillor. -He asked this as he understood Mr Shaw to say, yesterday, that if he was not elected as Mayor he would retire from the Conncil. Mr Shaw — No, I shall not retire from the Council. "What I said was that if not elected Mayor, for the future I would look after no public office. Mr ConEN moved that Mr Shaw is a fit and proper person to be the Mayor of the town of Hokitika. Mr D. Weie seconded the motion, which was put and passed. The meeting terminated, with a vote of thanks to the chairman. At nine o'clock Mr Shaw met a number of the citizens at the Terminus Hotell, Revellstreet. Mr Hughes occupied the chair. Mr Shaw,wlio was well received, addressed the meeting at some length, and alluded to the various improvements which he had advocated in that district. In reply to questions, Mr Shaw stated that he should vote against any salary being paid «5»-the Mayor. He would as soon as the fnwincea would permit take steps for giving free "access to North Tancred street. He further stated that he liad not resigned, nor had the other Councillors done so, when asked by a portion of the citizens because they believed, and that opinion was confirmed by Mr Harvey the Town Solicitor, that if they did so there would be no Corporation, inasmuch as the the old electoral roll had been done away ■with by the New Municipal Act, which only provided for the making of a new roll on the 15th September. On the motion of Mr Ceoss, seconded by Mr O. Powell, a vote of confidence in Mr Shaw was adopted unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.