NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MAYORALTY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 36, 20 July 1870, Page 5

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MAYORALTY.

0 — The nomination of candidates for the office of Mayor of Cromwell took place at noon on Saturday, in the Council Chamber. On the motion of Mr Goodger, seconded by Mr Kelly, Mr J. S. Burres took the chair, and requested Mr Joseph Harding (in the absence of the Town Clerk) to read the nominations, which were as follow Mr George Wellington Goodger, proposed by Mr William Shanly, and seconded by Mr P. Kelly. ' , Mr Williak Smitham, proposed by Mr R. Brown, and seconded by Mr R. E. Dagg. The Chairman then called upon the candidates to address the ratepayers. Mr Goodger said that as he had addressed a meeting on the previous Wednesday night, he had but little more to add on the present occasion. He would just observe that it was to his interest to carry out measures calculated to promote the welfare of the inhabitants, and would, if elected, do all in his power for the advancement and prosperity of Cromwell. Mr Smitham said he had been requested by a number of the ratepayers to come forward as a candidate for the chief citizenship, and had felt it to be his duty to accede to that request. Before stating his views on municipal affairs, he was impelled to make some strictures upou the conduct of the present Mayor. Last year Mr Goodger had been elected by a large majority, but afterwards thought proper to resign. It was well known what had been the results of that resignation. As the seconder of Mr Goodgcr’s nomination, he thought that gentleman might have consulted himself and the proposer before resigning. The fact, of Mr Goodger afterwards trying to withdraw his resignation proved that he had craved to be' Mayor; and although he now held that office, yet he (Mr Smitham) had seen nothing to show that Mr Goodger was really Mayor. Mr Goodger had brought this township into disgrace : the Council had been for many months the laughing-stock of the whole Colony. He (Mr Smitham) had come forward in order that this state of things might be changed. Mr Goodger had lately applied for about twenty acres of land close to the town : was it just that the leading citizen should monopolise so much ground in our very midst ? He then commented upon Mr Goodger’s occupation of a portion of the Lower Flat, stating that he had spoken to Mr I. Lpughnan on the subject, and that gentleman had said that Mr Goodger personally applied to him for permission to fence the land. Another gross wrong that Mr Goodger had done was to plunge a respectable citizen, with his family, into heavy expense through a law-suit in the Supreme Court, the circumstances which had led to the action havtng been entirely brought about by Mr Goodger. Having thus briefly reviewed the Mayor’s past career, he would now state his own views on municipal affairs. The first scheme he would propound would be an efficient water supply. The comlition of the present water-race was a standing reproach to the Corporation. The plan he would propose was to bring water from the hill behind Mr Simpson’s house by means of iron pipes, convey it across the bridge, and supply every house in the town with water at the door. He had ascertained from a geutlemap fully competent to give an opinion, that the entire cost of carrying out such a scheme would not exceed £4OO. He would advocate the formation of a company to undertake the work, and would himself take shares in it to the extent of £SO. The formation •of the cross streets was another matter that would engage his earnest attention. He would use his influence to have Cromwell made the terminus for the Dunedin mails in place of Clyde as heretofore. Under the present arrangement, the mails were not delivered iu Cromwell until three days after arrival at Clyde ; and he would strongly urge that the Postmaster-General be petitioned to make Cromwell tbo terminus after the end of the current year. He considered that periodical sessions of the Supreme Court should be hold in Cromwell: much expense and loss of time would thus be avoided. Weekly sittings of the Warden’s Court were absolutely required here, and ho would use his endeavours to that end. The fees and fines accruing from the Mayor's Court justly belonged to the Municipality, and the Council should combine with other municipalities in obtaining the right to gaia the revenue from that source. The subject of commonage was one of the first importance, and it would be bis aim to secure a large extent of land for that purpose. The opening of a tract of agricultural laud on the Hawea Flat would be an immense advantage to this district, and we should persistently urge the matter upon the attention of the Government. These were his views on the moat prominent questions now before tho people of Cromwell. If the ratepayers elected him as Mayor, he hoped that twelve months hence Cromwell would be second to no other up-country municipality in Otago. (Applause.) Mr Goodger replied to the charges brought against Him by Mr Smitham, and denied the allegation that he had applied for twenty acres of land contiguous to the town. He ridiculed the plan proposed by Mr Smitham for supplying the town with water, and said he would underto give Mr Smitham lessons in hydraulic engineering. He then sketched the history of tke water snpply from the advent of the Municipality, but want of space compels ua to omit his remarks on that subject. Mr Kelly asked whether M r Smitham would sanction the payment of tho expenses of Mr Whetter’s law-suit to which tho candidate replied, “ I will bind myself to nothing. If it is just,-1 will sign the minute ; and if not, I won’t sign it.” A number of questions were put and replied to ; after which, Tho Chairman called for a show of hands, with the following result: —Goodger, 9 ; Smitham, 7, Mr E. Brown demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Smitham, and The Chairman announced that the poll would be taken on Thursday, at tho Council Chamber and at Kidd’s Cromwell Hotel, between tho hours of nine a, in. and four p.m. Mr Goodger then proposed, and Mr Smitham seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Burres for presiding, and it was carried by acclamation.