PUBLIC MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1722, 29 November 1887, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A publio meeting was held m tbe Odd ~ -Uowb 1 Hall last evening la order that * ie candidates for the Mayoralty might ® _ye an opportunity of addressing the £ urgesses on municipal matters, and also £ bat the matter of procuring a steam tiro ngine might be considered. I r Mr D. Williamson was voted to the E hair, and explained the objeots for whiob J; he m_o_ing waa called. . Mr Harrison, who was received with c ipplause, said that he felt that ths * ipeechea of the candidates were not going c obe tbe moat important part of the pro ' .eedlngs, because the burge.sos were bo \ ' .ouversant with tbe business of the * Borough that there was little necessity to ; ' lilate on any of the matters that came ' within the control of tho Council. He ' bad now been m the Oounoil some seven ' and a half years, and during that period ' bad served the ratepayers to the best of ' hia abilities. Qe had always endeavored to ascertain tho opinions of the burgesses on the various questions that came before the Council, beoause he felt that a Councillor, as a representative cf those who elected him, should re-hot their views In regard to the question of procuring a steam fire engine, seme of hl. colleaguea on the Goaooil neeraed to tfciak that he was opposed on personal grounds to the engine beiog obtaine 3. This waa not so ; hia opposition was because be was sure that the bulk of the burge .sea were against tbe proposal. At the Bame time he did not think it would bo advantageous toprocurean engine at the present time, because, In addition to the first cost, there would be the expense of malntonanoe and ihe neceasury increase of the water supply, besides many other matters that woald require a grea. deal of money. In his capacity as Councillor, he did bis best to promote economy m the affairs of the Borough, but he thought that m many things tbe Oounoil did not study economy so closely as was desirable. The inoorne was falling ; rhe valuation had decreased yearly for aome time past, and other sources of income were falling m a similar manner, fie alluded to the oase of occupiers of reserves who now found the reot they had, m more prosperous times, agreed to pay wag pressing heavily on them. Thia matter was now before the Counoil, and some Councillors were In favor of consenting to a reduction, and he would be so. too, if he thought lt was legal, but he inollned to the belief that it was not. He feared that the retrenchment proposals of the Government would lead to the loss of part, if not the whole, of the subsidies now paid to local bodies, and thus another source of Inoome would ba taken away. It behoved the Oonucil to study economy. The overdraft was now some £1300, and he thongbt that thiß should be ex tingulshed, teoaußO if it were so the money which was now consumed as Interest on this liability would be available for expenditure on streets and other necesaary works. They had been living a little beyond their means, and bn thought they should get within tbem ss soon as possible. He then went on to allude to Mr Sealy'a caudidature. He understood that that gentleman thought that he would forfeit the confidence of the burgesses if he did not come forward for a seo.nd term of office. Now he took exoep.ion to this view. In other places it waa recognised that the occupant of the Mayoral chair should not occupy that position for more than one year, and lt was under exceptional olroamatances that one gentleman should be elected Mayor twice m suooesslon. He did not see tbat there waa nny great difficulty m tho position of Mayor, and he felt confident, if returned, of hia ability to manage th affairs of the Borough, especially as he would have the assistance of very able and experienced Councillors. He expressed bis willingness to answer any questions tbat might be put to him, and In conclusion said that he hoped the burgesses would, if they appreciated hiß efforts m the past, record their votes In his favor. The sftaira of the Borough had always been hlo first consideration, and he had often set business aside In order that he might attend to some duty that fell to hia lot as Councillor. During his seven and a half years' service he had only been absent from the Oounoil meetings once or twee, and on those ooca_lons he hud been away from town. He trusted that if the burgesses thought him fit tbey would confer tho honor he sought npon him. Mr Scaly, who was received witb applause, said that he was before them that evening as a candidate for the Mayoral office m oon.vqne__oe of a numerously sinned and very fl.tterli g requisition, wheh he received on his return from the reoent sitting of the Municipal Con ernnce. It had not been his wish to force hlmßßlf uoon them, because he felt that the < ilioe wa. one m the gift of the bmgOßs.s annually. Bat although this was so, it was still the privilege of the burgesses to aßk anyone to come forward for a second term. He mado an explanation as to the oircamsttno»B under which he came forward. Wbile he w»s m Wellington he was informed that one of the looal papers had stated that he had consented to come forward. At thiß time, be had neither consented nor refused, because he had not been asked, and he thought that it waa only right that he should correct the error. He therefore telegraphed to say that he had not consented, but this was taken advantage of by certain gentlemen, who, during his absence and to his detriment, represented that he had refused to stand, and on this understanding signatures of many burgesses were obtained to his opponent's requisition. He thought this action the more ungenerous because he was absent at the time attending to the interests of the burgesses_ He alluded to the question of fire prevention, and said that he bad long been of opinion that the Insurance Companies did not contribute their fair proportion. At the recent Muniolpal Conference, on his motion, a Committee was appointed to take the whole matter Into consideration. It was ultimately agreed that consideration should, be postponed till enquiries had been made m the Australian colonies as to the working of legislative enactments on the subject there. In two of the Australian colonies it haa been found necessary to define by law what portion of the post of maintenance of fire brigades and fire prevention plant slf .old be contributed by lnsurauce Companies, and he waa sure that New Z.aland would before long find that suoh an enactment was neoessary here. ' They wou}d reoollept that, when he we_ before tbem fast year bo expressed an opinion that ('. was desirable that the live stook -"'flvards .hou'd b e within tbe Borough, _„.. . -- — «*ll of tb»t< opipioq He aud he wa_ .. * °"»mcll approached thought that when the v.- * *»._d tt the Company, if the former hau _. favorable site to ofFar, the anßwer they received would havo b .en different. Wheu m Wellington, therefore, he waited on the Minister for Lauds, and bb a result uf his representations he had every confidence that nineteen sections, being the remaining portion of the block on which the pound stands, wonld be vested m the Counoil aa a -ite for a live stock market. He had also when ln Wellington waited ou the Minister for Public Works m regard to tho matters of the Moore Btreet croßßing and the planting with trees of the railway reserve. The Assistant Engineer had been sent to report, and If the Oounoil only kept the matters m view ho had no doubt they would be attended to. He should oontnue to oppose any increase of the rates, and his efforts would Jbe.n the direction of a redaction. Mr Harrison hsd fold tbem that tho Council was very extravagant, wap living beyond it. means, and was getting iy,. tho,. , Into dubt, Qe woi surprised th'it' CQanoUJoi 1 Harjleow with his seven iM'

a half years of experience was not m">re I conversant with the affairs of the Council, d During the p.et year the indebtedness of $ the Council had been reduced to the _ extent of nearly £500. The overdraft B had been reduced by £141 16s 2d, £100 a bad been paid off on aeo unt of the t bridge, and £50 on account of the pound, r making a total of £491 J6. 2d. While { paying off their liability they atili had been able to employ aB much labor as m i former years. He had not the slightest v dobt that wbh care and judgment, the ( Cnunc 1 would buou extinguish the whole { of its lability. He alluded to the new { form of lease' which tho Council bad | reoently adopted, which gave liberal \ terma to the tenantß of Borongh Reserves, f . and to tha Btepa taken to obtain tbe assist- ( ance of tbe neighboring local bodies, ia | forming a Board of Health for the dis- < trict. He referred to the question of ] swimming Baths, and his persistent en- , daavors, while a member of the School t Committee, to Induce the Board of Bduoation to ereot baths ln the school i grounds. Tha petition wbioh reoently came before the Oounoil was forwarded, with a strong recommendation that it be acceded to, to the Domain Board. If the Domain was within the control ef tbe , Oounoil he would be In favor of that body undertaking the er.ot.on of baths, but a» matters now were the Oonnell would not be joe titled m expending money there. Daring the seven years he had been a member of the Council he had always been able to record hia vote on any eubjeot, and when he found himself unable to vote on his own judgment he would vacate his seat. He never took Oounoil business outside the Council Clumbers, because he felr that Councillors were elected to look after the >-__*lrs of the Born ugh, and by reason of their position they had opportunities of acquiring knowledge that people outside c uid not gain. It had been said tbat , neoause his opponent had been m the . Oounoil seven years, and had bean de- . feated four times, tbat he was entitled ! to the Mayoralty, He oombatted this, ; and said that length of servioe had nothing to do with the matter ; tbe bur- : gesses oould ohoose who they liked. As , to the argument about the number of , times that bin opponent had been de- , feated, that was ridiculous, for it simply I meant that auyono had only to persevere . aud he waa bound to be elected. It had , become an established precedent m Ash--5 burton that each Mayor Bhould ocoupy j the ohalr two years, and he considered f the plan a good one, because a new man f on entering the chair, required some , little time to learn the run of tbe ropes, r and if be occupied offioe for two years he oould bring to bear m the -econd term the experience he had acquired ln the first. He oonoluded by expressing a hope | that if the burgosßes were satisfied with a hlo p«st aotlona they would vote for him a on polling day. Mr Dimant made a personal explanation r as to Mr Sealy'a statement that signatures a to Mr Harrison's requisition had been obt tamed by means of mis-statement. He s denied that thiß was. bo. That those wbo 0 had taken round tbe petition had stated _ nothing further than that Mr Scaly had c not, at the time, consented to stand, and c they had as authority tor that state* r ment Mr Sealy'a telegram. Mr Scaly reiterated what he had preB vloualy stated. c A question asked as to ths Borough t Reserves was answered by the candidates. 1 The meeting to consider the fire engine t question was then opened. Mr Williamt son vacated the chair, whloh was taken t by the Mayor. 0 The Mayor explained matters. He ; said that the meeting had been called m consequence of a requisition whioh had c been signed by a number of burgesses. c The Oounoil, a short time ago, passed a _ resolution authorising the obtaining, of a y Bteam fire engine, provided £200 be r\ subscribed. Ho presumed that the c burgessen who had bees the promoters B m tbe matter of calling the meeting had ,j oome prepared wiih some resolutions, aud h he called on one of them to addre .a the , meeting. q There was no response to the Mayor's y request, After waiting a few minutes, g Mr Miles Baid th.t he would like to r\ hear something about the engine. If thi. Be who oV j »oted to the engine ware B not going to spe- k, some of those who 4 were m favor might give the meeting P their views. a The Mayor said tbat he was entirely ln the hands of the meeting, but he thought that i' was only right that tho petitioners Q should h. v. their say first, and he had c pre.no ed they would oome prepared with : - eomethuig to lay before the meeting. Mr Andrews spoke In favor of the - opinion of the bu-gpSßes bi'ing obtained 1 on the matter, because be 'h ught ir one r) ln whioh th< y shou'd a cba ro* of x press t ing their viowa The expense would be B heavy beoiuse tbe cont of maintenance a w uid be heavier tha Bum. estimates that Q he had heard. Ho th ugnt the vote of j the burgesses Bhould be taken. Mr Dimant asked what i-flaenoe any 1 determination tha meeting miitht come to 2 would have on tho Borough Cjuncll. jf The Mayor paid that th» question was j rather a peculiar one. De could not answer for the whole of the Councillors ' but he did not think they wished to 3 evade the question, and he thought they . were perfectly willing to take the . burgesses into their confidence. The matter had been fully discussed at the Oounoil, and as to procure a steam fire g engine did not mean any addition to the I rate it was not thought neoessary to „ consult the bnrgeß.es. The Council had pone In for larger undertakings without 8 taking the vote of the burgesses. If to . preoure the engine would entail any m t ...ease of rates he was sure the Counoil . would have taken the necessary steps to £ obtain the vote of the burgess.B. , In reply to Mr Cates, the Mayor ex- . plained that the Fire Insuranoe Aesociar tion had Intimated to the Council that I if a steam fire engine were not procured 3 the Association would have to consider r the question of di. continuing the 25 per , cent discount hitherto allowed. . Mr W. p. Davis maintained tbat there . was no guarantee that the concession £ woald be continued even wore an engine t prooared, and he moved. "That this . meeting do not agree with the determine t . tion of the Borough Council to procure a Bteam fire engine at preoont." . The motion was not seconded and - therefore fell ilxrough. r Mr A. Orr moved that the action of ( the Borough Oouucll m resolving to _ prncuro a Bteam fire engine as soon as ( £200 Is pu-iranteed, bo endorsed. | Mr J Kelr seconded. Mr BuUopk said there was much mis { apprehension abroad m regard to the real i faots of the o*se. Some people thought that if the engine were prooared an additional rate wonld have to be struck, -maruut, as the Mayor had explained, the *'"" - „i----'.'--- rat0 i vvoulci cover the nresoot Binning __ , cost and ma-me/.a-.00. Th-rd WM also an IropreMion that the Association la threatening to discontinue the 25 per cent discount had singled out 4ebboj. ton but this wan not so. The Association w_{M anxious to fall m with the views of the people here but It wan not fair to plaoe Ashburton, as now supplied with gre extinguishing plant on the same footing as placeß that wege far better off m regard to ability to cope with fires, Mr Scott was greatly opposed to the engine being obtained. The Council's overdraft was now about £1(500 There was the first oost of the engine, £600, and then the cost of erecting sheds and of maintenance woold havi to be provided for. The present _t>i;. g.- v»;ia quite fit to cope with any fire that was'iikely to ogqur here. As to the cry about tbe dl«- --, continuance' of the concession, the Assocbtbu bad raised tho rates onoe ! | before blft tb,ej. *0°.9 .bad %o JoT.er t£.a_,

If they went m for this engine their overdraft would be £2000, and the interest on would go a long way towards making roads. Tt had been eaid that the money now paid for pampers would keep tb* steam engine In coal, bat he pointed out that tha hand engine wonld etUl be required, end so there would be no saving In that direction. , Mr T acker was aetoniahed at Mr Soott ; now opposing the engine when be bad voted for hia (Mr Tucker's) motion at th« Oouncil meeting. In regard to the oost of the engine i . .was delivered In Lyttleton for £478, with about 700 ft of hose. Rangiora whicb had a Bimilor engine paid the engineer £25 per annum, the earn* amount tbat was paid to the custodian and .'earner h?re ; that disposed of the costly maintenance question. As to the water supply they had the assurance of the Engineer that East and W^st street were each supplied with from 360 to 400 gallons a minute ; the engine, would use 260. Water oould be turned from the mam streets Into any of the side Btreet-, acd with the length of hose the engine oould work, a fire anywhere within the town wonld.be accessible to the engine. Mr Soott denied having voted ln favor of the engine. Mr Hugo Friedlander spoke In favor of tbe motion. Although the Association could not givo a guarantee to oontlnu. the concession because such a body oould not bind ita successors, still the oharaoter of the gentlemen composing it wa. too well known for it to ba thought that they would aos otherwise than m a straight forward n.aon a r. It was pretty evident that if the engine were n< t oroouTed the ratea would be raised, and £lOJO per annum more would oome ouo of the pockets of proper y owners here. Mr His ton moved, as an amendment, ' that a ballot of the ratepayers be taken 1 on the matter Mr Dimant seconded. 1 Messrs D. H. Brown, Williamson, and the Mayor having spoken, the amend- ■ ment was puc to the meeting and lost, > The motion endorsing the Council's 1 action was then put and oarrled, A vote of thanks to the chair termin- ■ ated the proceedings.