PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 324, 25 November 1879, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

Last evening the Town Hall was crowded with an attentive audience which had assembled to listen to the addresses of Messrs Feist and Renall, candidates for Mayoral honors. Mr A. R, Bunny having been voted to the chair, ashed those present to be as orderly as possible, and then called upon Mr Feist, who said— About two months since I had the pleasure of explaining to you my views on municipal matters, and it appeared to me hardly necessary that we should a"ain meet for this purpose, although the p°osi-

tion I occupy to-night is somewhat different to the former one; still, the questions to be brought before us are very much the - same, I think that, whether you occupy a seat in that Council as- Councillor or as Mayor, your interest in and share of the work in the Borough should be pretty nearly one. As I have stated on a former occasion, I wish to avoid personal references to the other candidate for this office. It would not strengthen my position, and the issue of a contest such as we are .to have may be fairly left to the intelligent decision of,the ratepayers. When I first became a candidate for a seat ih> the Borough Council, at the meeting held prior to our election I remarked that those who had charge of the working of the Council at first were similar to the pioneers of a new district in the country—their success depended very much upon the manner in which they carried out their work, Whilst we do not claim to have been faultless in the discharge of our duties, still, it is gratifying to know that you have given evidences of your approval of our share in that work. I wish, in the few remarks which I shall make, to give a brief sketch of what has been done in the past, our present position, and what we wish to do in the future. During the

I supported the carrying out of such works of importance as we were in a position, with our sources of revenue, to undertake, having due regard to the requirements of the district as a whole. We may have been charged with an unequal appropriation of the Borough funds, but I t think that, when viewed with an impartial eye, it will be seen that there has been a fair and equitable expenditure of r the public money. In order to show that 1 this assertion is correct, and without going j into auy lengthened detail of the works carried on by the Council during my term 3 of office, I may n t entiou some of the more ; important ones and their locality First footpaths at the bridge from Mr J. Thompson s to the Railway Hotel; footpaths from the corner of Hall and Church--5 streets to Waipoua; Akura road; Chapelstreet, north and south; South-street, Kuripuni, at a cost of £450; boundary work, Gladstone road; High-street, Ku--1 ripuiii. In reference to this last-named work, I wish to correct a mis-statement 1 winch I believe has been made as to my action towards carrying it out. It has _ been said that I opposed it. This, I need hardly tell you, was not the case. You J will remember that when I was last adf dressing you it was a source of satisfaction to me to be able to say that we had this work on our estimates, and should i be prepared to cany it out almost at once. . v\ hat 1 did oppose was the manner in which it was to be carried out. I was of opinion that, considerihg the importance of the work, we should have had the , services of an engineer, and that the whole ; work would be better done if let in one contract, The general observation of those interested in the affairs of the t borough willibe quite sufficient to convince the wisdom or otherwise of one's past ■ conduct. I will now refer to our PRESENT POSITION, i It is the custom amougst business men as , a rule to have their half-yearly or yearly stock-taking, and happy has been the man who has been able of late to have something on the credit side. We may not be exactly in that position, but I think we shall be able to show, from the statement which I propose to give, that the gloomy predictions of those who prophesied our failure and bankruptcy have proved false, and I consider that the -tJorough is as sound financially as at any time since starting as a Municipality, iiie estimates of our present position to 31st March, 1880, is as follows Revenue. t) , £ s. d. Licenses and Dog Fees 60 0 0 Footpaths (re-imbursedj 30 0 0 Sundries 10 .0 0 Overdraft, 31st March, £I49G 0 0 Expenditure. Present overdraft ... 490 0 0 Salaries, wages, cartage, repairs, etc 225 0 0 Printing, rent, etc. ... 40 0 0 Due Road Board ... 110 0 0 £ riin M . 20 0 0 Contingencies 50 0 0 Street widening 55 0 0 Road work ... ... 500 0 0 £1496 0 0 It will thus be seen that after makin» pro- • vision for our works in hand, contingen-. ' cies, &c., we have an overdraft of £420 less than half the amount we are legally entitled to. I think, gentlemen, that you will agree with me that so far we are proceeding satisfactorily. The next question is as to our FUTURE COURSE, I could enter into a long explanation of the many urgent works that require to be done 111 the Borough, and also other nutteis which it would be well for the Council to take into consideration were we able to undertake them, I shall refer presently to some of those which I think should especially receive the attention of ' the Council during the next Mayor's term of office. You are aware, from the financial statement recently given by the 1 Colonial Treasurer, that in all probability ' we shall lose our subsidy after the present i year, and however unwelcome the state- 1 ment may be, we were not altogether 1 unprepared to receive it. It means as ' clearly put by the Colonial Treasurer, a ' shifting taxation, so that, instead of being ' taxed to meet this part of the colonial 1 revenue, we shall have to contribute towards our local requirements. If the 1 proposal of the Colonial Treasurer meets ] the approval of the House, it will make a 1 deficiency in the revenue of the Borough ] of about £IOOO. I will now give you an 1 estimate which I believe will show pretty 1 nearly our financial position next year. 1

may be regarded as a doubtful part of our ordinary revenue. There is a possibility that the proposal to abolish subsidies may not obtain tho sanction of the House, in which case our income wili be increased to the extent of about £IOOO- The question of how we are to provide ways and means m order to meet the increasing demands upon the Council is one which will require the earnest consideration of that body, W'e may say a few words about a

LOAN. There was a proposal recently from the Marton Borough Council for this Borough to join with others in raising a loan of such an amount as would enable us to go to go the English market. I may say we did not see our way clear to support that proposal because, amongst other reasons it "would involve us in a joint security for the whole amount, and "would be a complicated arrangement. lam not opposed to the borrowing of a reasonable amount provided it can be obtained at the rate of interest allowed by law. In the amended Municipal Corporation Bill, before Parliament this session, there is, I believe, a provision made for small boroughs to pay 8 per cent, for loans, This, I understand, applies only to oases where the revenue is under £IOOO per annum, so that we shall be confined to 7 per cent, If we were to decide on preparing a fresh estimate of large and important works required to be done, and then ask the ratepayers to sanction a proposal to raise money for such a purpose, I am of opinion that in the present state of the money market the effort would prove fruitless. The | plan which I think will be most practicable for us in the meantime is to avail ourselves of the legal overdraft, and by a prudent aud careful expenditure do as much work as possible with the means at our disposal. I will mention a few of the things which I think should receive the early attention of the Council Footpaths, Kuripuni; road to railway station; foot-path from Smith-street to Railway Hotel; Upper Plain Road, also Bennington's Line. The question of

DRAINAGE Cannot bo entered into on anything like an extensive scale, but it may be necessary to construct some small drains in the central parts of the town, which would meet the present, demands of that subject, A large plan of the borough is a thing also very much needed. The kind which I think would be within the reanh of the Council is one drawn to a lar«e scale having all the streets marked with their names j also, the sections and sub-divi-sions with their numbers. This would be a very useful plan of reference, until we are able to obtain a proper contour plan on a much.niore extensive scale. I should be prepared to give my hearty support to a proposal in the Council to assist in a more substantial manner than we have yet done the Mastcrton Fire Brigade, I understand that they are satisfied witli the supply of water, which would be sufficient in all cases which are likely to arise —provided that a more powerful engine could be obtained. I think this is a matter which the Council ought to take up, and if possible purchase an engine for their Use. It maybe urged that this would benefit certain parts of the town more than others; to which I reply, that it is quite a fair thing that those who contribute the largest share of the rates should receive the greater benefit. One other matter I will mention, and that is the purchase of land for widening the Upper Plain road. • I believe that a verbal arrangement has been made with Mr Renall for this purpose, the terms bein« quite as reasonable as we shall be able to obtain it upon.

After expressing his willingness ti answer any questions that might be pu to him, Mr Feist resumed his seat, amk loud applause, Mr Renall, who was well received spoke as follows .—Before commencint what I have to say, I will explain tin matter of the Upper Plain road. By ai Act passed in the last session of the As sembly the Borough has power to taki half a chain of the Trust property, anc the only difficulty was my own piece o 1 land which Isold the Borough, but as j have neither received principal nor inter est I have not given a title. So it is sia of one and half-a-dozen of the other. ] am going to put the land under the Trans' fer ret, when I will reserve the hall chain required by the Borough. It maj be remembered that when I stood on this platform last year sit the election of Mi McGregor, I said if no one else calls you together next year, I will. I have received a requisition asking me to come forward, but I have not published it be- : causa I believe with the ballot requisitions are follies, and that it is a better plan to have a public meeting, move especially as my friend the editor of the Daily gives the Council such limited reports. He tells me we sit so late and talk so long that what we say cannot bo set up for the next day's paper, and that no one would care to read a word of it on the following day. (A laugh.) _ In the first place I would draw attention to a great blunder in the Act, A County is satisfied with calling its head a chairman, so is a Road Board, and it would have been wise if Borough Councils did the same. Calling us Mayors seemed almost out of the queseils Mayors are associated with fine dinners, paraphernalia, and gold chains. Our first youthful Mayor was led away by such ideas into undue expenses. ihat_ the Borough is now in a sounder position is due to the services gratuitously rendered it by the Public Works Committee. Had we given £250 a year to an engineer and £SO to our worthy chairman as solicitor, we should not have been able to accomplish much. It is not my intention, if eiecterl, to fill the chair as a Mayor The Mayoralty carries with it no social position, nor would it admit the present Mayor or his predecessor to a dance got up in this room, When I returned from England I did not desire to re-enter publie life. I had previously done much for the town, and I had never received or wanted to receive anything for what I had done. After I had been back a year I was so importuned by old friends to come forward to check the extravagance which existed in public matters that my objection was broken down, Mr Feist had advised that a professional engineer should be employed for reducing the level of the Kuripuni road. What, however, was our task 1 Was.it not to correct the blunders of a professional engineer? (Applause.) Mr Feist knows that I formerly made all the roads and culverts in the neighborhood, and that after eighteen years there has never been a complaint about them. Can he say the same of any professional engineer? My friend Mr Gapper was frightened at the magnitude of the Kuripuni job, but there was no engineering required at all. The work was simply mechanical, and has been done at a cost of about £3los per chain. When I got into the Council I at once began to take a prominent part in it. Our engineer then was Mr King— a very good man if he had a little more experience. He is the best man amongst the lot, and when I retire as Borough engineer I hope

Mr King will be my successor if the Bo'-' rous;h can afford to employ him. Whqnltook up the work, I met with considerable Opposition from some members of the Council, which I consider was unfair. Some time ago, Mr It cist recommended that ten guineas a year should'be paid to Mr Bun-, ny. Mr Bunny, like a wise and prudent man, said he would give a little advice for the money, but if he went into Court for the Borough lie should charge ordinary fees. I said: "Keep away from Mr Bunny and you will be all right." I will read you an eitract from a Wellington paper, showing the exceedingly unsatisfactory results of employing a solicitor at . Wellington. Last quarter Mr Travers got £156 for advice.- Mr Bunny ought to have settled in Wellington, where they are fond of legal advice and I am not thereto save them, Had Mr Bunny taken the ten guineas he would probably have had to give it back at the end of the year as conscience-money. Instead of , being a Mayor and Corporation, we are only a little board of public works. In my opinion the chairman of such a board should take a survey of all necessary works and initiate them in the Council. I admit that our second Mayor has performed his duties in a very efficient manner, and in this respect he was better fitted for the office than his predecessor I who was wont to snub men who differred from him. I would like to say a few ' words about that £SOO bill, which cropped , "P ft™ the old Local Board. Ido not understand how my friend Mr Feist—a member of both the old Local Board and , Council—could have been so remiss that no account can be produced of how the money was disposed of; no debit or credit account of it is obtainable. Mr Williams declared that lie handed over I asset . s worth £3OO, but a part cf them , , consisted of rates in arrear which we ' have had to strike off as bad. This £SOO has been a drag upon the Borough. With interest and principal, we'have had to, J pay, I believe as much as £650 for it. The £SOO may ha.ve been fairly spent, but that there was no account to show how it had • been expended does not speak well for one who had been a member of tta :old Board, • I cannot think that the opposii tion to myself m the Council can spring' from an honest motiye. A'reference to ! Ihw done will show that my I seryices have been beneficial to the Borough, Two pieces of kerbing have i recently been done in Queen-street; on . one side of the street a surveyor was paid s six guineas for putting in nine pegs: on i the other side I did the work for nothing and saved the six guineas fooled away by IJ® ft"® 1 - 1 tow put in a bridge on the Makura Road j on the same road is I one put in by Mr King; let anyone go ' and see which is the best. The Council, . instead of displaying such mean and petty ' J«j oUß y> ought to support me in the exe- ; cation of public works. The map talked ! about by Mr Feist will be worth nothing unless another engineer is got to check it. It will cost.from £3OO to £sooand you may find after all that it worthless. Fortunately Masterton is placed on pretty level land and if in building ratepayers would put the floor of their houses 12in or 18in above the surface, they need not be afraid of being far out when the levels come to betaken. One of the first jobs 1 did for the Borough was the kerbing in Churchstreet which Mr McCardle found fault with. He gauged the kerbing by the verandah posts of the butcher's shop, but it was not the kerbing, but the posts themselves that were out of line. Some of you may think that I shall not be so influential as Mayor as I am.now as the Chairman of the Public Works Committee, but I can tell you I do not intend m any case to abandon the latter position, I do not ask you to vote for me because I have endowed the town with valuable public works, but simply because I am likely to till the office more efficiently. I am sorry to see that a large number of you are not on the roll. It j 8 evident that you have not paid your rates, I advise you to make an effort to pay them. We want to get lots of work done, and are on y waiting for money to do them with. It has long been a thought in my mind that if ever I was raised to the dignity ot chairman of the borough, I would give it a water supply. This might be done in two ways. A small reservoir could be constructed on the Waipoua on a piece of and I wou dbe able to give you; thence here would be a twenty feet fall into Maserton. But this plan is beyond our present means. My other plan is to dam the mill stream, and bring water by Chapelstreet into the centre of the town. I estimate that this could be done for a sum not exceeding £3OO If we get our subsidy we might find half the money, and those who were directly benefited might find the other half. I would find the land and the engineering, and return the money If he scheme failed. If you think proper I Will do my best to carry it out, and even if not elected I will allow no feeling of petty disappointment to cause me to abandon it. Mr Jiasthope waited upon me the 0 he l day to ask me for the three acres still remaining in the hands of Mr Carter, Mr Jackson, and myself, f or the Kre Brigade. Mr Carter has consented to the transfer, and I believe we shall be able to obtain the adherence of Mr Jackson to the proposal. I do regret one thing, namely, that the Council when naming the borough streets omitted the names of Mr Jackson and Mr Carter. If ever men deserved well of you, they do. When I went to England I left sixty-eight acres of reserves, but when I came back 1 found that, from want of judgment on the part of the Trustees, only twentyeight were left, The Crown grant of forty acres is in the hands of the Public Trustee, but our chances of getting them have become small through the imbecility of Mr J. V. Smith, the late Chairman of the Trust,

Mv Renall concluded his speech by attacking Mr Feist for opposing his election as a member of the Trust. He also deprecated the opposition to the reappointment of Mr Woodroofo on that body. He concluded, by declaring that no engineer should set his foot in the borough work while he (the speaker) had his own way, and resumed his seat amidst loud applause.

Mr Dalrymple, in an eulogistic speech, proposed Mr Benall as a fit and proper person to represent them as Mayor. Mr Woodroofe seconded the resolution declaring that Mr Renall had saved the borough between £IOO and £2OO. Mr J. Russell followed in support of the resolution. No other speaker coming forward to address the meeting, the Chairman put Mi Dfuiyniplg s resolution, A very considerable number of hands were held up for it, and only three or four against. Mr Renall proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which concluded the business

ihe situation in Armenia is serious, owing to the Arabs and Kurds resisting Midhat's authority. •

There is great distress in Hungary, owing to the bad harvest, and numerous deaths have occurred from starvation,

ESTIMATES—1880-1, Revenue, £ 1000 Rates Licenses and fines 350 Dog tax 35 Sundries 25 1200 Overdraft & It EXPENDITURE. Salaries, &c 250 Cartage, labor, wages, &c 300 ElectionReturning Officer, &C 30 Printing and advertising,.. 50 Plant and tools ... 100 Sundries 50 Contingencies 210 Overdraft 420 1200 Balance for works £2,610 You will notice that I have not includ in thiB estimate the subsidy which