ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 15, 23 February 1870, Page 5

ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS.

The nomination of two Councillors in the room of Messrs Dagg and Dawkins took place at noon yesterday, in the Council Chamber. The attendance of ratepayers and citizens was large, and great interest was taken in the proceedings. The Mayor presided, and opened the business by requesting the Town Clerk to read the nominations sent in. Those were— For Bridge Ward, Mr W. H. Whetter (lato Mayor), proposed by Mr W. Smitham, and seconded by Mr James Dawkins. For Kawarau Ward, Mr R. E. Dago, proposed by Dr James Corse, and seconded by Mr W. Tallboys. The Mayor said that as there was but one candidate nominated for each Ward, it only remained for him to declare Messrs Whetter and Dagg duly elected to represent Bridge and Kawarau Wards respectively. He hoped that the gentlemen elected would be useful members of the Corporation ; and so far as he himself was concerned, he would always be happy to coincide with them in any measure calculated to advance the interests of the town. It was high time that the affairs of the Corporation were placed on a mare satisfactory basis. Mr Whetter then rose and said he had the honor, for the fifth time, to thank the ratepayers (or returning him to a seat in the Council. Tho . first! two years of the existence of the Municipality he had been chosen as a Councillor, and it the commencement of the third year he stood for the Mayoralty, when he was opposed by Mr Coodger, and was returned by a majority of twelve. At the end of the third year ho retired in favor of Sir Goodger, but when that gontle- \ man resigned {on the 2nd of August, 18:59,) he I (Mr Whetter) was again solicited to allow himj self to be nominated, and the result was that he j was elected without opposition. What had occurred since that time was sufficiently well |lmowu to the ratepayers. The Council had the lad vantage of tho best legal advice in the Province |—he alluded to that of the Provincial Solicitor—laud all that they had done was in accordance |with his written opinions. In consequence of Ithe action that had been brought against him in Jthu Supreme Court, he had succumbed to Mr iGoodger—not that he considered the present tMayor was in the right, but solely on account of r .the groat expense likely to be incurred in defendSag the case. Although he uow played, as it |wero, “ secoud fiddle” in the Council, ho would |do his best for the advancement of the towu. jTlirouga the action taken by certain gentlemen, Ithe Corporation affairs were at present in a most Slisgraceful condition, and it would be his earnest Indeavor to effect an improvement in that direcion. Mr Dago said that with regard to what was ast, if he could not forget, he could forgive, nd he would now say, “ Let bygones be bypnes.” He thought the late Council hail done heir utmost to promote tho progress of tho sown. While thanking the ratepayers for his Ire-election, he desired to assure them that ho ||vould always be ready to lend a helping hand m a ny movement for the public good. The Mayor expressed his desire to work har|toonioußlywith the members of the new Council, |||md said that as there was a groat deal to he if one ’ w °nld instruct the Town Clerk to give | ?jn°tico that a meeting for the despatch of business Svould take place on Monday next. || Mr Smitham bogged to draw the attention of Iwthe Mayor to the subject of the deficient waterasupply. He thought the Mayor now possessed u e power to ensure a constant supply of water ■ the^town. The Mayor slated that hia chief object in 'king his present office was to secure an eflent water-supply, and it was hia intention ortly to call a meeting of the ratepayers to scuss the question. There was very little übt that the Corporation would be able to rrow money for the purpose of carrying out a iter-scheme, as that would be a reproductive >rk. He had taken steps to ascertain whether w-inch glazed earthenware pipes would be tficiently strong to carry tho quantity of watei piired, and he hoped to be able to give some rther information on tho subject iu a few days mce: J Mr Smitham explained that what ho wished arrive at was, how to get a supply of water r immediate use. The town race, as every one iew, was worse than useless in its present centum and he would urge the Mayor to take iraediate steps for securing a constant supply r domestic purposes. Tho ratepayers naturly looked to tho Mayor to protect their interts in this important matter, and there was an •gent necessity for something being done at ire. For the last fortnight there had been no ater m the race, and this caused serious inconiQionce to the whole town. 1 Several other ratepayers also complained of wypfl-great scarcity of water, and wuJavor minified hia intention of getting water turner! on without delay, fir FRiER proposed » vote of thanks to tho t«ayor ior presiding, which was accorded, and H the meeting dispersed.