MAYORAL ELECTION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 246, 26 November 1878, Page 2

MAYORAL ELECTION.

The nomination of candidates.' for the Mayoralty took place on Friday last, fit the Borough Coiiin-il office. =. Uμ t- ! -

morning of that 'Iny tii*-*

j in fli'» fi''!ii ''< r. ■>:■■ '■ ---v ■■■ -v-iu «i*oooris ;.i O ccii and C. \V. Bridge. On Friday morning, however, the latter suddenly withdrew, and, as a result, Mr H. G. Watkins, the present Mayor and Mr Waeckerle were brought forward. The candidates nominated were Mr H. G. Watkins, Mr C. J. Waeckerle, and Mr W. Meech. Mr ■ Watkins was proposed by Messrs Henning and Wood,Mr Waeckerle by Messrs O'JReilly and Kissell, while Messrs W. Sims and J. Sunckell, jun., were sponsors for Mr Meech. At 12 o'clock, the returning officer announced the nominations received and the date of the polling, and the candidates proceeded to- address the burgesses present. i Mr H. G. Watkins said they wore aware ■ he had only, that morning entered the

field, in consequence of the retirement of Mr Bridge. For his own part he would rather have declined, as he would r have preferred to have a year's grace to eWble him to devote his attention to his private affairs. There wer6 advantages in a contested election, as it afforded an opportunity of testing the opinions of the burgesses. During the twelve months in which he had held office, he had shown no partiality in any way, either for end against end or in any other manner. ; i c considered that the action taken by Mr Meech with regard to the proposed extension of the boundaries an illegal one. It proposed to trample on the people's rights. Six-sevenths of these interested had voted against it It had been done for some political purpose, as Mr Meech had stated that he would rever consent to an extension is another direction. With regard to the loan, he considered the proposal premature. He was not against loans in general. (A Voice—" Nor bills.") He could not avoid making a few remarks on the working of the Council. Mr Meech had constantly raised factious opposition. The speaker then referred to the deadlock that had taken place, the "deputation," and the truce that had then been arranged. They had got through nearly all their important business, and if the Council would only work together for the future, business could be proceeded with easily. He had applied for the 2000 acres, and was proud to say they had now a property eecond to none. Ho had been blamed for not pushing forward the letting these reserves, but it was Mr Meech who had hindered it. Even at the last meeting the question had nearly been shelved through his action. The Council was sometimes in a difficulty about carrying on correctly inconsequence of their having no legal adviser. He had frequently consulted Dγ Poster, and in every case the learned counsel had appioved the course taken by him. He would like the burgesses to know that any pledges they might have given as to their votes were not binding. It was not fair for any candidate to have sought to bind them by a pledge.

At the conclusion of Mr Wat-kins' address, a suggestion was made that the meeting should adjourn to a future evening at the Town Hall. It was then discovered, however, that, properly speaking, there was no meeting, and there is no doubt that the whole of the proceedings were irregular.

Mr Waeckerle thought it would be labor lost to call a public meeting. It would not be attended.

Mr Meech said that Mr Watkins' speech had been solely an attack upon him. This spirit had been the ruling passion of his actions. He came forward because he considered that during the past year there had been, gross mismanagement. He thought the business could be carried on better. He had other claims on their support. As a member of the Road Board ho had worked well for the district. The Mayor had taken every opportunity to abuse and \ilify him. With regard to the extension of the boundaries, the statements made were false. He was not against the extension of the boundaries in any direction, provided they took in rateable property and not grass hills. The action was taken by the Borough Council, and any member could bring it forward. He could not allow such assertions to pass. At the public meeting he would open the question again. Mr Waeckerle would like to say a few words. The other candidates had only referred to the past. He would speak of the future. He thought after two years' experience they should be able to bring the affairs of the Borough into working order. Tc do so required a man with time on his hands to spare. He had plenty of time, and would be willing to devote it to the service of the Borough. As to the loan, he thought it would have been far better to have raised the loan than to have their present overdraft. A vote of thanks was then accorded to the returning officer, and the proceedings terminated.