MR HARPER AT THE TOWN HALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1076, 17 October 1883, Page 2

MR HARPER AT THE TOWN HALL.

There was a very good attendance at the Town Hall last Evening, when Harper met the ratepayers of the Upper Ashburton Riding, for the purpose of explaining his views in regard to County matters. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and the following gentlemen were on the platform ;—Messrs H. Friedlander, J. Ward, D. Oliver, and Dr Trevor.

The Mayor said he wished it to be understood that he was in his present position as an elector of the Upper Ashburton Riding, and not because ha happened to hold the office of Mayor. The Borough Council and the County Council were no doubt bound together, but the burgesses had no direct interest in the election. It was not necessary to say much of Mr Harper, who might not be personally known in the town, but in his ovvn part of the County he was respected. The ratepayers owed a debt of gratitude to the candidate for coming to them that evening, and he was sure that a fair and impartial hearing would be accorded to him.

Mr Harper, who was received with applause, said he had chosen the Town Hall as a meeting place, not because it was in the riding he was now contesting, but because it was the chief centre of the County. Many of the ratepayers live t within the borough, and he thought the gentleman who had kindly presided was the right man in the right place, by virtue of his being the Mayor of Ashburton. He was glad to see such a large number present, as it

showed that a keen interest was felt in heal government. Whether they were for or against him mattered little, so long as they exhibited a lively interest in the election. With regard to the extraordinary vacancy that had occurred in the County Council he would say at once that he had not come forward in answer to any requisition, but he lived in the centre of the district now unrepresented and was engaged in pastoral pursuits, and he considered that th's gave him a right to contest the seat. On these grounds he had offered himself as a candidate, and though he was not over sanguine as to the result of the election, he would, if chosen, do his bes 1 to further the ratepayers’ interests. He thought that it was a great pity Mr Wright had resigned. (Hear, hear.) That gentleman had dene useful work, and it was a matter of regret that he had left the Council. However, he had done so and it could not be helped He would speak in the first place of the work the Council had done in the past, for it was difficult to say what they would do in the future. Still, the ratepayers should remember that if elected his vote would only be one amongst many, and they should not expect that an individual could do much, but he would do his best to carry out the views he held, Since the last general election the Upper Ashburton riding had been altered so as to include the hill country. It would have been better, in his opinion, that instead of this one riding returning two members it had been divided into two, each of which should have a single representative. The greatest work ths Council had done was undoubtedly the water^races—indeed, he might say the Ashburton Council had done more real work than any other governing body i.i Now Zealand, This was no doubt duo to the fact that the Council possessed capital men, otherwise the work would not have been performed in so

satisfactory a manner. (Applause) The water-races wore, as everyone knew, a great boon, and those who lived in or travelled over the country districts would recognise this. No less than 750 miles of these water-races had been made through public and private property at a cost, including headworks, flaming, culverts, etc, of L 19.000. When they saw the headworks and noticed the construction of the fords, culverts, etc., it would be seen that the work had been done excellently, and with a due regard to economy. In no other part cf the colony, and he might add, in Australia, had a similar undertaking been carried out, although they were imitating us in the Malvern district, but the latter had gone to work in a very different style and the works would not compare with those in this County- Another good thing the County Council had done, and that was the establishment of plantations, Probably those who lived in the town did not see much of these plantations, but they had been of great benefit, and would considerably alter the dryness of our climate. Then, again, there was the Ran? itata traffic bridge, which the Ashburton Council had carried out against the opposition of the sister County of Geraldine, with the result that a pvignifjcent bridge had been built, which he had no hesitation in saying was at least equally as good as the old one. (Applause ) Now, he would tell them what he thought the Council should do in the future, and if elected ho would use what influence he had in the direction he would indicate.

They had seen what good the water races had done, and it had been shown that it was possible to take the rivers frcm their source's and use the water for the advantage of man and beast. Well, he hoped they would not atop where they were in this matter, but enlarge the extent of the races three or four times. It might sound a bold and rather wild assertion to say that no place was so well adapted for irrigation as these plains. If they used the I&akaia and Ashburton for this purpose, not an atom of the land in the County would be left unimproved. Irrigation was the great topic in Victoria and t-outh Australia, and every possible means were devised to parry out this, as it was recognised that a great; increase of revenue would accrue to the colonies interested. If these water-races were extended all oyer the county the value of land would increase to an extent most people were not aware of, and would carry a population twentyfold greater than at present. He himself had come to the district prejudiced against the land on account of the stones, but he had since found that where the stones were heaviest the land was best, all that was wanted being water. In regard to another local matter, he was glad to see that the Chairman of the Canterbury Plantation Board was n Ashburton man.

The Board had lately been letting these reserves at an exorbitant rate, 2s 5d per acre, which was too much considering the Government price for grazing land. A large revenue would be obtained from

this source and he hoped some of it would come back to Ashburton. B® would now refer to the suggested traffic bridge oyer the Ashburton. (Applaus ). They would remember that a vote of L 5,000 had been obtained for this purpose last year, but this was not sufficient to carry out the work and the County Council asked the Koad Boards to contribute, but the latter bodies were not rich enough, A deputation waited on the County Council to ask them to make a beginning of the bridge, so that the grant might not be lost, but they would not consent. Consequently they had lost the L 5,000, and bethought that unless- Mr Wright _ used his influence they would not again get the grant. He (Mr Harper) considered that the bridge was required, a.id the rapidly increasing traffic rendered its construction necessary, and he would

therefore, if elected, do his best to obtain Government assistance. The amendments in the Counties A ct by which County Councils were enabled to act at River Boards were then referred to, which the speaker considered would simplify matters. The County Council was the proper local governing body, and they should have greater taxing powers. Now they were rated by the Road Boards and the County Council, but he would like to see these bodies merged into one and that one should be the Council. In conclusion, he thanked them for the hearing they had accorded to him. If he were elected he would do his best for the ratepayers, but he would not canvass for votes, as he t eld such a course to be opposed to the spirit of the ballot. Mr Harper resumed his seat amid loud applause. The Mayor having invited questions to be put to the candidate, Mr Porter asked Mr Harper whether, is elected, he would do his best to have a bridge constructed

over the Wakanui at Allenton. Mr Harpar said that the road referred to was a private one, and therefore not under the control of a public body. The question would have more properly been put toaHoad Board than to a County Council candidate, but he was not sorry it had been referred to, as it wasa matter in which there was considerable misapprehension. The road was in Tancred and Alien’s property, and there had been some hitch in dedication of the roads in that part of the district. The local bodies had never been asked to accept the roads, but had been informed they could obtain control over them by paying for the deeds. As a matter of fact they were private property, and legally the local body could do nothing, as the auditor or the ratepayers could order the Road Board to refund. However, he (Mr Harper), had been requested to interview the proper parties so as to come to an understanding, and he

would do so as soon as he went to Christchurch. Mr Hardley asked the candidate if he was in favor of the railway being extended to Mount Somers 1 Mr Harper regarded this question as beside the mark, as it was outside the province of a County Council to interfere with a Government railway. When he came to the district and rode up to the route of railway, he cer.ainly could not conceive why it was made, and thought it strange to take it in that direction. However, there seemed to be considerable conflict of opinion, and perhaps it was beat to extend the line both ways. Still, it was not a matter in which the County Council should use their influence. Mr Poyntz asked Mr Harper if he would endeavor to get a i3ill passed compelling owners of property who cut up their land to make roads and put in culverts. Mr Harper said that he was of opinion that such a Bill was in force. Mr Thomas substantiated this. _ Mr Poyntz was under the impression that the Bill only applied to property inside boroughs ; if this were so would Mr Harper be in favor of extend,ng it to road districts I Mr Harper : Certainly. Mr Hugo Prlodlander then came forward and said that he had first to apologise for not having called a meeting on his own account, but he did not regard the occasion of sufficient importance. Indeed, the only way would have been to have held meetings throughout the riding so that all the ratepayers might know the views of the candidates, but he thought this was scarcely necessary as the general election would come off next year. However, Mr Harper had kindly consented to his saying a few words to them, although he was quite unprepared to deliver a long . In regard to the Hoad Board

matter that had been mentioned, although it was outside the province of the Council, he would commence where the other candidate had left off. Mr Harper had referred to the cost of conveyance of the roads in Allenton, but the only charge to be met was thatof agency, which amounted to one guinea. How Tancred and Allen came to dedicate the roads on their property, he (Mr Friedlander) could not say, but no doubt it was arranged between the late clerk of the Upper Ashburton Road Hoard and Messrs Gundry and Edminston. Mr Gundry now held the deed, and taking a broad view of the matter the Board should do the beat they could with the representatives of Tancred and Allen, If they could get anything out of them wall and good; but if not it was only fair to those on the land who had paid rates for so many years that the roads should be taken over, and if required the bridge over the Wakanui made. That was the only fair way to look at it, as it was doubtful if when the sections were sold the auctioneers promised anything more than that the roads should be dedicated. Tancred and Allen had fulfilled their part of rhe contract, and the Road Board

should do theirs. For that reason he had moved that Mr Harper should do his best to arrange the matter in Christchurch. He now came to the real question of the County Council. He had formerly been a member of that body, and had ho not gone Home he would not now be seeking re-election. He would not therefore speak of the past, as it would be, in a sense, blowing his own trumpet. But he might say that his views regarding County Councils had changed considerably of late. He thought that they should exercise more power than they had at present, and he advocated that they should combine for the purpose of obtaining it. He

i felt sure that the members of local bodies, ; knowing thoroughly the requirements of ■ the district they represented, could epend the money more profitably than the gentlemen at Wellington, who were often governed by political motives. The County Councils should therefore combine and compel the Government to give them more power. In reference to whac had been said about the water-races there could te no question that they had done a great amount of good,, but the 1/19,000 spent in the work came from the whole county, and there were many places where no water was obtainable. This being so, it Was only fait that those not reaping any benefit should be assisted. If the Council had no more money to spend, then he thought that those who had profited by the water races should contribute towards those who had none. As to the proposed traffic bridge over the Ashburton, he was of opinion that when the Road Boards said they could not pay their share, they should have been compelled to contribute indirectly, by the County Council striking a rate over the whole County. By this,, means tfiey would have saved the L 5.000, which he was afraid they would never get again, as (the bridge must inevitably be made sooner or later. He wauld not detain them longer, and thanked them for their attention. (Applause.) In answer to a question from Mr Carter, Mr Harper said he did not think the County Council had power to put a light

at each end of the Ashburton railway bridge, and Mr Friedlander thought the electric light might be profitably used there. Mr Elston asked in what way Mr Friedlander would raise the L 5,000 required for the traffic bridge. Mr Friedlander said that some time ago when he unsuccessfully contested a seatin the Borough Council, he wrote a letter stating that he was a great advocate for reducing the expenditure. Considering the state of things he thought that they should do without the bridge for the sent. Later on he would have the whole County rated to rai»e the required amount, which he did not think womd' lW' so large as estimated, as the bridge would not cost more than between L 7,000 and LB,OOO. Mr J. Ward proposed a hearty rote of thanks to Mr Harper for his manly and straightforward address to them thit evening. Mr Carter seconded this, and it wu carried by acclamation. Mr Harper briefly acknowledged the compliment, and said he would do bis best to get in. His interests were identical with their own, and if ho was successful he would give his careful attention to hia duties. He concluded by proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and thia being carried the meeting separated.