TOWN BOARD ELECTIONS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3042, 6 September 1870, Page 5

TOWN BO ARD ELECTIONS.

«. THORNDON WARD. The election of one Commissioner to serve during the ensuing term for this Ward in the Town Board took place at noon yesterday, at the Schoolroom, Sydney street. Shortly after the hour appointed, Mr Carpenter, tho returning officer for the Ward, read the authority under which the election was held, and called upon the ratepayers present to Hominato a candidate to fill the vacant seat. Mr Rttinie said he had very much pleasure in proposing an old and tried servant of the ratepayers of Thorndon Ward in the person of Mr Charles Bonny thorn Borlase. (Cheers.) Mrßorlase had represented the Wtird for some time, and had always looked after their interests ; in fact, he felt sure they could not get a better man. Mr David Lewis seconded the nomination. The Returning Officer then aßked whether any other ratepayer had « candidate to propose. Some listle time having elapsed (without any response. The Returning Officer declared Mr Charles Bonnythorne Borla9e duly elected as a commissioner to represent Thorndon Ward at the Town Board. Mr Borlase said he desired to thank the ratepayers for the honor they had done him in re-electing him on this occasion. Tho Town Board had had an incubus of debt of £1500 to pay off, towards which the ratea had been obliged to be devoted instead of being used for the repairs of the Btrects, a work which was very much needed. Both himself and Mr Carpenter had done their best to get a fair share of the funds for the Ward. Ho would not detain ihem any longer but would only assure thpm that he would do hi'B best for the interests of tho Thorndon Ward and the city generally. Mr Dixon moved a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, which was carrier! by acclamation. Mr Carpenter having returned thanks, the meeting dispersed. TE ARO WARD. The nomination of candidates in this Ward took place at 1 p.m. at the Market Hall, Cuba street. Considerable interest appeared to be taken in this election, as shortly after tho hour appointed, there could not have been less than 150 persons present. Mr Quin, the Returning Officer for the Ward, having read the authority under which he acted, called upon the ratepayers to nominate candidates. Mr Pearco then came forward and said that he had much pleasure in proposing the re-election of Mr Dransfiold. The honor of representing the ward appeared at last to have provoked a contest, as a requisition, rather numerously signed, had been presented to Mr Young requesting him to come forward, and to judge from tho attendance j of tho ratepayers considerable interest seemed to be felt as to the result of the election. In an institution like the Wellington Board of Works it was almost a hopeless task to expect to give general satisfaction, and although each ward had not perhaps received the fair division it considered itself to bo entitled to, Btill it could not, in hia opinion, be denied that tho board had been most useful and serviceable, and that if the interests of any particular ward had not been, in the opinion of the ratepayers, so well cared for as it ought to have been, tho common weal of the city had, on the other hand been very largely bonefitted. He (Mr Pearce) did not intend to say auj thing against the opposition candidate (Mr Young), but with regard to Mr Drahsfiold, he would remind them that that gentleman had now faithfully served them as their commissioner for five years, that he had during that time always been attentive to his duties and to their interests, and that it would uot be right or fair to repluce him by an untried man. Mr J. E. Evans briefly seconded Mr Dransfield's nomination, and hoped that the ratepayers of Te Aro would be true to themselves and their interests by returning Mr Dransfield at the head of the poll. The Returning Officer having asked whether any ratepayer bad any other candidate to propose, Mr Snelson Btepped forward and nominated Mr. T. W. Young, and said that the fact of Mr Young being an untried man was nothing against him, as it was impossible to tell what a man was until he hed been tried. If; was veryjevident that Mr Dransneld had been tried rather too long, and had been found wanting in attending to tho interests and welfai'e of the ward. Mr J. M Intosh seconded Mr Young's nomination, and said that if the ratepayers returned him, he believed that they would find him a good man. and much better and more regardful for their interests than Mr Dransfield. Mr Dransfleld, in coming forward to address the electors, said that his conduct and his stewardship during tho five years ho had had the honor of being one of their Commissionera, were before them and wore well known to them, and by them ho was preparod to stand or fall. He would, however, challenge his opponents to come forward and state their reasons against his re-election. It was impossible to please every body, and the only charge which could be brought against him was | that he had not perhaps studied the interests of the Te Aro Ward so much as he was expected to have done. Thi3 he would, to a certain extent, admit ; but would also, at the same time, state that he considered it to be his duty to attend as much to the general welfare of tho whole city, as to one particular ward of it, and in that light he had contrived that the most money should be ; spent where there was tho largest number of inhabitants, and consequently tho most ratepayers, and where the works were tho most required. Mr Dransfield concluded by appealing to those present as to whether he had not, for the last ten years, been connected in some way or other with every movement, political, social, or otherwise, which had for its object tho welfare and benefit of Wellington. • Mr Young then briefly addressed the electors, and said that if Mr Dransfield had done his duty, and had given fair dues to the ward, there would neither have been any complaint about hia conduct, nor any opposition to his re-election. In his (Mr Young's) opinion, however, his conduct at tho board had been very detrimental to the interests of tho ward, and therefore when a requisition was presented to him (Mr Young) to come forward, he felt no delicacy in acceding to it, and if returned he would endeavor to do his duty faithfully to tho ratepayers. A shew of hands was then called for by tho Returning Officer for the respective candidates, and the l'esult was rather more than two to ono in favor of Mr Dransfield, tho numbers being somewhere about 95 to 45. Mr Young demanded a poll. LAMBTON WARD. The nomination for this Wnrd took place at tho Athenauim at two o'clock; Mr Edward Mills, who is at present ono of the commissioners representing the Ward, acting aa returning officer. Mr Mills opened the proceedings in tho usual manner, and said that his duty simply consisted in calling upon the ratepayers of the Ward to nominate some duly qualified person to represent them as one of their commissionera at fcho Town Board, in the place of Mr John Plimmer, resign cd. Mr Solomon Levy said that he had much pleaBure in nominating Mr John Plimmer as their commissioner. He had known Mr Plimmer for the last thirty years, and had always found him ever forward and ready to promote in every way the interests and welfare of Wellington, and he therefore hoped to see him re-elected. Mr J. H. Wallace, in seconding Jtho nomination of Mr Plimmer, said that ho coald endorse the few remarks which had just been made by Mr Levy. Mr Plimmer had, for ninny years past, been, as regarded the future of Wellington, what he (Mr Wallace) should call in advanc* of

I fcho ngo. He had originated many really useful works ; had always been a steady and energetic advocate of everything tending to advance the interests of Wellington ; and had proved himself in every way a very practical and useful man. | Whatever works were originated, and were likely to prove conducive to. the good and welfare of the city, they always found a warm and consistent supporter in Mr Plimmer. Both the water company and the gas company had found a strong supporter in him, besides several others which ho ; (Mr Wallace) could mention ; and therefore he thought that the ratepayers of the Lambton Ward could not. do better than to re-eloct Mr Plimmer. The Returning Offieo then asked if anyone olso had any other candidate to propose, when Mr M'Kenzie said that ho had much pleasure in proposing Mr W. M. Bannatyno as a fit and proper person to represent the rate-payora of Lambton Ward. Personally, ho had no objection to urge ngainst Mr Plimmer, fov he was a friend whom ho highly esteemed 5 but, politically, ho thought he hud neglected his duty to his constituents, and, therefore ho had undertaken to propose Mr Bannatyne when requested to do so. Ho did not believe in the idea that tho commissioners hud a vested right in tho Town Board because they happened to have been elected before. If such an idea wa3 to become the rule it would bo waste time for the ratepayers to meet at all ; and the only thing left for them to do, would be to hand over the municipal government to tho prosont commissioners for life, and pay their taxea without grumbling. But he thought an influx of new blood would have a most beneficial effect. The proposer of Mr Plimmer had eulogised his good qualities — slated that he had always dono his duty, and pointed to him as the source from which "all our political and social good had emanated. .Now, he was of a different opinion. Ho did not think that a person who neglected to attend tho meetings of the board for upwards of nine months was doing his duty to his constituonta. Heulso claimed credit for having brought the Municipal Corporations Act into operation in this city. He did not think the introduction of ho Corporation Act an unmixed good ; and he felt confident that tho majority of the persons who had signed the petition for it were not aware of tho full effect of tho act. Tho act contained 390 clauses, besides eighteen schedules, occupying thirty-six pages of closely printed matter. According to the act, the corporation had power to levy a ruto of Is in tho £. They also Imd power to impose a special rafo of 6 A in tho £ on all rateable property on petition of onofchird of the ratepayers of the district. The special and general rates, however, were not to exceod at any one time 2s in tho £. The valuor had power to enter their property any day he pleased, and if they prevented him 'they laid themselves open to a fine of £10. If they failed to pay the rates in fourteen days after notice the collector could sue for tho debt, and tho invalidity or badness of the rate should not avail to prevent such recovery. If they failed to pay t.lio rate (heir land and property wight be sold. The Corporation had power to borrow monoy to tho extent of five times the amount of the ordinary rates of tho preceding year, and to levy a special rato for the payment of principal and interest, such special rate to continue an annual recurring rate without any further proceeding irom tho Council. Now those were very large powers to entrust to any one, and therefore it behoved them to be very careful in tho selection of their representatives. Formerly tho ratepayers determined I tho amount of tho rate to bo imposed ; but this privilege was now taken out of their hands and the Council had powor to impose the rate without any reference to the ratepayer. "Under these altered circumstances he thought it would have been a graceful act on the part of the Commissioners to have resigned their trust, so as to have given their constituents an opportunity of electing persons under tho new order of things, and who ought to bo pledged not to impose too heavy a rate. Ho did not think it just, that a special rato of 6d in tho £ on all rateable property should be imposed on petition of one-third of the ratepayers in tho district. He did not believe in the minority ruling tho majority in this way. Well, this act would come into operation, if the electors did not present a counter petition before the 16th Sept., more numerously signed than the requisition. In conclusion, he would again remind them of the manner Mr Plimmer had attended to their interests, by absenting himself for upwards of nine months from the board ; of the absolute necessity of electing a representative who would attend to Ilia duties 5 that Mr Bannatyne had pledged himself to do so, and therefore he felt confident thahe would be returned at the head 1 of tho poll. Mr John Martin seconded the nomination. Mr Plimraer then addressed the electors, and said that ho could appeal with confidence, not only to what he had done during hia connection with the Town Board, but also for the last thirty years. It was well known throughout tho whole of Wellington what ho had done, and what servicea ho had rendered during that time. The reason why ho had not recently attended tho meetings of the Town Board was because in consequence of what took placo at tho Board some months ago, he had sent in tho resignation of his seat at the Board, but it was not accepted, and since then ho could not consistently attend any of the meetings. He had told thorn that he did not intend to make a speech, but he was prepared to answer any Bensiblo quostions.tbat might be put to him. Ho could defy any one to allege any deriliction of duty against him 5 and if any one present could do so let him coino forward and do it. Mr Bannatyne, as well as himBelf, had been known to them for years, and if they preferred Mr Bannatyno and elected him, ho (Mr Plimmer) would not quarrel with them for it. Mr Bannatyno said that ho had been asked to cut it short, and ho should therefore do so, and not detain them long. A requisition had been presented to him, asking him to allow himself to be nominated for tho vacant commissionorship for the ward, and ho had acceded to the request. He presumed that tho requisionists would not have moved in tho matter if they had not desired a change in tho representation ; and if ho was elected he would endeavor to serve the board to tho best of his powers. Ho would not refer to his past connection with Wellington, nor to any past services, but would merely say that if the ratepayers of tho ward were satisfied with Mr Plimmer's services as their commissioner they would of course re-elect him. He would leave the case in their hands. The Returning Officer then called for a show of hands for each candidate, and declared it to be. in favor of Mr Bannatyne, some half-a-dozen only being held up for Mr Plimmer, while Mr Bannatyne bad a great many in his favor. Mr Plimmer demanded a poll, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to Mr Mills, proposed by Mr Plimmer and seconded by Mr Bannatyno.