HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

West Coast Times, Issue 944, 1 October 1868, Page 2

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

MR. D. MACFARji \N*:'S MEfiftis'iJ.

A crowded meeting of the c'tizens was h»:M kst night at the Empire Hotel, at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of hearing Mr D. Macfarlane, a candidate for municipal honors, give expression to liis, vipnh

Mr John Hall of (Hall and Jflnlay) occupied the chair. The «3hairman having briefly a'ated the object of the meeting, intioduced the candidate.

Mr Macfarlane, who was loudly cheered, ?aid that he would preface .thp ftmarlU Tie had to make by deprecating the system which had been pursued by some of the candidates of running down their opponents — this to say the least was unmanly — as each candidate ought to ftand on his own merits, and not try to advance himself by depreciating others. One of the candidates alluding to the scheme of water supply which he (Mr Macfarlane) advocated, had said that he (Mr Macfarlane) had a special object to serve in endeavouring to carry it out. This was true, but the object wa- to serve the community and not himself. In aspiring to a seat in the Borough Council he had a special object in view, and that was to brinji a continuous water-supply into the town and the surrounding districts. He would endeavour to show — first, that the scheme was practicable, and that it would pay; secondly, he would endeavour to show how the money could be raised to carry out the scheme ; and, thirdly, he would point out the advantages which would accrue to the town and the country at large, as well as to the Government. In the country, about ten miles from the town, there was a natutal reservoir containing an unlimited supply of the purest water. The cost of bringing that supply into toAvn would be from £ 1 0,000 to £15,000. He believed that it would not exceed £15,000. He proposed to construct a water race to carry fifty heads of water. Now, five of these government heads would be quite sufficient to supply the town, leaving forty-five beads for the use of the miners in the various districts through which the race passed. He proposed to sell these forty-five heads at £3 per week each, which was an exceeedingly low figure, and this would realise £7,020 per annum. Now, then, as to raising the nece sary funds. lie proposed to borrow the sum of £10,000 with a Government guarantee, and this, he believed, could bo obtained. The Corporation would have to

eceive £7,000 from the land sales— now r ome recommended that this should be c pent in cutting tracks in the country. He a lid not believe this could be done, but t he money could he spent in bringng a water supply into the town. s Ie proposed to take from this < imount the sum of £5,000, and this, to- < jether with the sum he proposed to borow under the Government guarantee, . ivould be amply sufficient for the purpose ', )f bringing the water into the town. He ! believed this sunl of ii 10,000 might be obiained at eight per cent., and if the Corporation were to issue £5 or £10 deben-: hires, he wa^ of opinion that there would be no difficult}' in raisin" the necessary sum at once. Several or the ratepayers \v6rc in favor of the money derived from the sale of lands being wholly spent on the streets, but he (Mr Macfarlane) had lived in new towns, and he had seen large snnis of money spent On the streets* and very soon there was no population td Use these fine streets'. What they wanted was that the money should be spent in rrproductive works, such as the work he hoped to see carried into effect. There was another point to Jwhich he wished to direct attention. ' If this sum of £15,000 was spent in these waterworks, it would not only provide immediate employment for those in town and the couiiiry districts, who were at present in Want of work, but it would be the means of attracting a large population, to wh m facilities for mining operations would be afforded. This increase of population would not only be advantageous to the town by causing an increased consumption of articles supplied by the merchants and tradesmen, but it would be advantageous to the Government,- as it would result in an increase of revenue to be derived from, the issue of an iiicrea£fed number of Minor's* Rights, as well as a larger sum received on account of the export gold duty. It would be an advantages also to the present section holders of Hokitika, for with an increjise of population the value of property would be enhanced. He was fully alive to the importance of the draihagequestion, bnt it was s.ecbnd to-4ic scheme Qf.watei;,,siipp]y —a scheme which, if earned into effect, Would only be an integral part of a similar scheme for the whole of the West Coast, the resources of which would never be fully developed until a continuous water supply was provided, A Victorinn newspaper, speaking of the advantages derived from Borough Councils taking the steps for ensuring water siipply, said ; — "The foresight shown in retaining under . the control of the Borough Councils so important a matter as the water supply, sd c?efcutial to tlie health and comfort of the inhabitants and to .the future development ,6£,oiir-rili mjperal resources, is „al-p a matter of cbi's/citulution. Although Only established for a period of six years, the revenue now amounts to £12,000 a year." He (Mr Macfarlone) believed that, if the scheme he proposed w.s carried into effect, it would ultimately relieve the town of i'ute§ 5 and would prove of great benefit to the whole country. (Ch'eer,s): Mr JBinney ployed that Mi- Maefarlajie was a fit 'and proper person to represent the citizens of Hokitika in the Borough Council. He considered that they were greatly indebted to Mr Macfarlane for bringing forwa- d this scheme, which, he (Mr Binney) felt satisfied would prove greatly beneficial to the whole, of the community. He pointed out that the savings' bauk would, if a Government, guarantee .could be got;,, be hippy to advance .portion .of th,a moncj', jvhiM 'the remaining; portion could be obtained frbin private individuals, who would be glad to mv st their money for 8 per cent. If a plentiful supply of water was introduced, the rates required for insurance, which at present were most exorbitant, would be greatly reduced. Mr Boyle seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously: The meeting terminate 1 with a vote di thanks to the Chairman. MR. H. ECCLi:SriKM)'s MEETING. At the conclusioii of Mr Macfarlane's meeting, Mr It. Ecclesfield, who has sat in the old Municipal Council, presented himself to the citizens, and was warmly received. Mr Hall was again voted to the cfcair, and introduced tlie candidate. Mr Ecclesfiekl said that, in coming hi fore them for the third or , fourth time for re-election, he hardly thought il necessary that h.e should refer to fhn .past, inasmuch v as I'iis career as a member of the Municipal Council was well known to his felhny-citizcns. He might state that his principal reason for again coming forward as a candidate for ,a seHt in tlie Council was in brdSr to support the scheme for a watersupply propounded by Mr Macfarlane, for he (Mr Ecclesfield) considered that, - next to keeping the channel open, the scheme for a water-supply was of th»j girstest importance. This V;a3 not the first attempt that had been made to secure a supply of water for the town. The first resulted in the appointment of a committee, consisting of Messrs Mowat, Spence, and himself; but that moveme-it soon fell through. The second attempt was made when thi news of the. great £re at JTelson had frightened the citizens of Ilokitika, and then the matter was taken lip by the Council and the citizens. This time it was proposed to form a Water Company, and the co t of supplying the town was to have been £5,000, and tlie proprietors of the saw-mills agreed to furni h the supply at 30 per cent, annually paid on the capital advanced. The scheme proposed by Mr Macfarlane would prove of great benefit not only to the town, bitt also to the country distiicts, and he (Mr Ecclesfield) felt satisfied that it was a sclieme which might be carried into effect, and, moreover, it was a scheme which would not only increase the revenue of the Corporation, but also of the General Government. Wi.h regard to the formation of the streets, he thought that prison labor might be employed on that work; and as a measure of economy he should certainly advocate it on the score of economy. In reply to questions, Mr Ecclesfield stated that he was in favor of the ballot ;, that he was in favor of the town being divided into wards ; arid that he would not fix the Town Clerk's f alary over £400. Mr Hudson moved— "That Mi- Ecclesfield was a fit and proper person for a seat in the Municipal Council." After referring to the candidate's services as a member of* the Improvement Committee, and in the Municipal Council Mr Hudson said that he thought that, thej' ought not to cast aside an old and valued servant. Mr Jenkins seconded the motion, wlr'ch was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman tcrmina'ed \he proceedings. Both candidates subsequently addressed large meeting's at the Ballarat Hotel, when similar votes of confidence were passed. MB T.UT's BIEISTING. At 8 o'clock last night a meeting of the , ratepayers, convened by Mr Tait, took place at the Gridiron Hotel. There was

ot a large attendance ; but, taking into onsideration the number of meetings rhich were held in other portions of the own, there was a very fair assemblage. Mr White, proposed by Mr Mcc and econded by Mr Graves, was voted to the shair, and briefly introduced the candilate. Mr Tait, who was received with artilause, said that on account of the thin ittendance he would not detain those present' with a lengthy exposition df his iriews, but would merely touch upon one" ' jr two of the more prominent topic's jf public interest. It was not originally his intention to hold any meetingsas he had already fully explained his views through the medium of the press. At the suggestion of some of life friends lie had however, determined to address a meeting of ratepayers, hut m -re. with the view df answering aiiy cidestion. thai might be put to him than making a speech. During the last two or three years, lie considered that a far larger amount of money had been spent, in the administration of Corporation affairs than was at all necessary. He did not wish to indulge in any personal remarks, hut he .would impress upon tne ratepayers the fact that there were two or three candidates now before them who had expressed themselves in favor of continuing that unnecessary expenditure. On Friday the ratepayers would testify by their v tes whether they approved or disapprox ed of the course the Corpoiation had hitherto pursued, and if they returned the candidates he spoke of they would have a continuation of that course for another twelve months. lie had come forward without any ambition to attain office ; but he would assure those present that; if returned; hJi would do his utmost io serve the citizens ; and his first endeavour would be to have ;i reduction in the staff of officials at present employed by the Torporation. (Cheers). He would now he happy to answer any questions that might be put to him. Mr Graves asked the candidate whether, he thought it came within thfj province of j;he Corporation to open the port, or Whether it was the duty of the General Government to do it ? Mr Tait said tha*, as the Corporation had taken over the administration of the affairs of the port, they were bound to keep it open. There were, he believed, three banking accounts kept hj the Corporation — one of which was for moneys collected for port and wharfage dues. The Corporation were expending the" money from that account in opening itp the poft—at least; they were supposed to he doing ?'6: No doubt money was borrowed from tlfe other accounts to carry &n the wprk; biU i it was uet;er for tllem. lo do so lhan to Borrow at inte-est from outsiders. Should he be elected, he would use hi 3 endeavors to get the Council to ask the General Government for funds to keep the port open. The Chairman asked how Mr Tait proposed to make the reductions in the staff 1 he ssoke about. . ( A .-,,., JM'r.Tai.t said that he leaked iipoii the Corporation as & firm carrying on business, and would do in the proposed remodelling of the staff as a private firm would do in a similar case. There was no doubt that Ilokitika at the present cou'd not suppoit so many officials as it was capable of doing twelve " months ago. The way he proposed to effect the Reductions would.be io amalgamate the three offices 6f-/rd.wd Clerk, Hate Golkct.r,and Pound -.Keeper} and this salary lie would give to the occupant of the amalgamated office would he £300 or iiSoO'a-year. The duties of the Rate Collector would be very light if his proposal was carried out. He would make the assessors who made the valuation leave the notice paper of the rates to be levied, and would cause it to he understood by the ratepayers thai they would have to conic t'd tne . Council Chamber arid pay • .their .rates within ■ tliree inoutlis, :froui the ; serVice of such' notice, and that it' they did not do so they would be summoned. The Poundkeeper's office was a sinecure, for beyond serving a few notices and occacasionally selling an animal there was nothing to do, and there was no likelihood that there would be anything, further. The office of Inspector of Nnisances, he considered, could he better filled than it was at present, by one of the detective police, and he had no doubt, but that for £2oper annum the services of one" detective could te obtained. Me would do aWay entirely with the office of surveyor, as he believed that for £100 a year the county eng"neer would per.for.ni all the work la that time how required, and perform it belter than it. had hitherto been, lie would dispense with the services of t' c tbwn solicitor, and when any legal advice was required, the Corporation could ge^ it far cheaper than under the present arrangement, for he believed that the town solicitor, although hi 3 salary was nominally £100 i year; in reality received £300 or £400. Mr Leary asked whether Mr Tait would, if elected,, use his endeavours, to compel Turner's securities .to make up the amount of his defalcations ? Mr Tait said that if it was possible he Would most certainly compel Turner's sureties to refund his defalcations. Mr Mcc asked the candidate's opinion on open voting. Mr Tait considered that open voting was a great curse to a community, and he would strenuously advocate the introduction of the ballot-box in Municipal elections. In the cas? of employes open voting showed in its worst colours; for employers were not always conscientioiis, and it was very often — nay, nearly always — the case that employes recorded their votes in direct opposition to their wishes, for fear .of offending their employers. Mr O'Leary asked if Mr Tait was in favour of cumulative voting ? Mr Tait said that he was not in favor of cumulative voting. He had been looking over the Borough Council Act, and from what he had read in it he thought that the Council could — although with some difficulty — cause, by the time of next election, an alteration to be made in the Act, doing away altogether with this system of voting. In reply to Mr Mcc, Mr Tait said that he considered the Mayor ought to be elected by the ratepayers. lie thought that the clause in the Act whereby the Mayor was elected by the people, could, with little difficulty, be repealed. Mr Mcc inquired the candidate's opinion respecting the division of the town into wards. Mr Tait thought that if a better lot of men than were now in the Council weie not elected on the present occasion, he would be in favour of dividing the town into wards, in order to secure a fair a:;d equitable representation for every part of it. Mr O'Leary proposed Mr Tait as a fit and proper person to be elected as a member of the Borough Council. From his knowledge of Mr Tait he believed he would act honestly and independently, and carry out to the best of his ability all the views he had expressed. -Mr Graves hnd great pleasure in seconding Mr O'Leary's motion.

The Chairman then put the motion, M'hich was carried without a single dissentient^ Mr Tait thanked; those pr.esejit for the Vote of confidence they had passtd in him, and again promised that if returned he would act up to what he had said, and be a faithful representative. (Cheers).

A vote of thanks to ihe Chairman terminated the proceedings.