PUBLIC MEETING.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 537, 6 September 1881, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A meeting of burgesses was held Inst night, at the Town Hall, to hear the views of the candidates for the vacant se its in the Borough Council. Mr McGregor wan voted to the chair. After a few introductory remarks, the Chairman said lie would call upon the candidates in alphabetical order. Mr Adams, said ho came before them as a novice. He had no special scheme of his own to propound, but would go in to do his best to separate the wheat from the chaff. Mr Cullen was glad to see such a meeting. It would prevent anyone slipping in quietly. He then referred to the state of affairs about eighteen months ago, when there was a heavy overdraft. At that time some of the oldest members of the Council had deserted their posts, and left the remainder to get out of their difficulties the best way they could. Mr Meech was one who had done so. Hβ was in favor of saving their money and forming the main streets thoroughly. He would oppose any "tinkering." Ho thought in the future they might do with a ninepenny rate. Mr Meech said he did not expect to have tho first shot fired at him. He and Cr Cullen had agreed to help one another to get Upper Jollie street and Balguerie street formed. He had carried .out his , promise about the first, but Mr Cullen had ' left him in the lurch about the other. (Laughter.) The speaker thnn referred to the Percy street culvert, which had cost £40. whereas Cr Cullen, as Chairman of tho Works Committee, had said it could be done for £5 or £6. (Mr Culien: "No.") He approved of a reduction of the rates, and would bo in favor of borrowing money for drainage and water supply. He repudiated the charge of running away, lie had always done his duty and spoken his mind.

Mr Noonan being absent,

Mr Penlington was next called on, and said if he got in lie would make the money go as far as it would. When he became Mayor they had an overdraft vf £300, and when he left office they had £70 to the good. After they iiad formed the streets, they could go in for luxuries, as drainage, water supply,'or reclamation. In reply to questions, Mr Cullen said he would be in favor of putting a wharf on Daly's jetty. All the candidates were in favor of having the lamps lighted during the winter if there wore money to pay for them, but Messrs Adams and Penlington thought provision should be made for that purpose in any case. They all expressed themselves ready to do anything in their power towards procuring an endowment for the harbor. Regarding the bridge near Mr Goodwin's, Messrs Adams and Cullen would have the present structure repaired, while Messrs Mecch and Penlington thought a new bridge should be erected. In answer to a question as to the byiaw against driving stock, Messrs Adams and Cullen were in favor of abolishing it altogether. Mr Mecch thought the difficulty might be met by altering tlie hours. Mr Penlington was not going to pr c inise to alter any by-iaw. If tfik uii'j ! coul-i lit? modified UjasL'n-iU: , , wiib iiii.-

intoifatti of tliu burgesses, he would support it.

. Alter a f(>w remarks about the cr.'ek near Mr B.iyley's Hotel and its mis'iehavior, the iiitft'tiiiiC McpjmU'd, after jviying the iisu.il couipliainent to the Chairman. Owing to prfisureiifjon our spice an<l the ln'ght of the above report is very much condensed.