MIRAMAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 20 April 1912, Page 6

MIRAMAR.

MR. HECTOR M'LEOD'S .MEETING,

Mr. Hector MLeod, a candidate for the Mayoralty of Mmunar, addressed tho electors in the Town Hall, Miramar, on Thursday evening. Mr. J. M. Campbell presided.

the candidate opened his address by referring to tho great development which had taken place iu the borough within tho past few years, and touched on the history of the peninsula since the earliest ff'f settlement in Wellington. In lbß9, there were only 28 ratepayers in ,the district, but, per contra, there" wero 1584 voters on the last electoral rail. In his original plans for the cutting up of tho (lis net, Captain James Courts Crawford had seen far enough- to provide for a reservo lor a railway line and station at heatoun, and although ho had not lived to see his ideas take form, it was curious that the electric trams practically followed tho route outlined, and the terminus of tho lino was just near the site of tho railway station of the future. Captain Crawford had also foreseen tho dav there would bo n dock—entering just about whero tho Mirnmar cutting is today—and extending inland into what was in the old days known as Burnham Water (an area of water which, at one time, covered a good deal of Miramnr Flat, but which had long since been drained). Tho dock, tho landidato pointed out, was likely yet to bo located in tho future in tvans Bay. Tho original owner was said to havo paid 10s. per acre for Miramar. Needloss to say it was worth considerably more than that now. The land, which now formed tho borough was purchased from tho Natives by tho New Zealand Land Company, which cut it up into 18 blocks, and sold them to Captain Craw-' ford, tho Rev. V. G. Hine, W. N. Luxford, and W. Boniter, but subsequently Captain Crawford bought out tho others. Prior to 1888 the borough was part of the Kilbiniie Highway District and was administered by tho Hutt County Council. In that year it became known as tho Seatoun Road Board district, and. on Novom-. ber 15, ■ 1904, it rose to the dignity of a borough, and still flourished as oiie. As instancing the amount of money which had been spent on public utilities in Miramar, Mr. M'Leod stated that the first road loan which had been Taised (for roads aud cuttings) was X3OOO, but the recent loan for roads amounted to .£23,000. Tho loan for tho three ferry wharves was .£3625, and the amount spent recently on tho wharf and reclamation at Miramar totalled .£55,000. In addition to those largo sums the tramway loans had totalled .£35,000, with another .£18,750 in subsidies. The water system was costing £23,000, and the drainago .625,000. In addition to the forejoing works the borough had entered into a scheme to provide a power-houso which would supply tho district with electric current for the trams, lighting, pumping, and power generally. Other repent indications of progress were tho formation-of a volunteer fire brigade and a subsidised brass band. The establishment of the Wellington Gas Company had blazed the track for the establishment of industries at Miramar. The industries must go to Miramar. Thero was now a four-railed tram ' track leading from the wharf through the cutting, and tho cheap transport charges and facilities for handling big quantities of raw materials close to the harbour front made the location ideal as nn industrial centre. Where else had Wellington tho land for such purposes? With tho industries must come population, and with population a decreaso in the train fares, extension of roading facilities, and tho development of the borough's seaside resorts. In the meantime he advocated an improvement in tho train service, extension of the roading, footpaths, and electric light, moro treeplanting in suitable places, aud a careful supervision and scrutiny of the power supply scheme. On the motion of Mr. W. Bath, seconded by Mr. ,S. Grey, Mr. M'Leod was given a hearty vote of thanks. At the conclusion of his meeting, Messrs. A. Grigg, A. H. Griffiths, P. Palmer, and H. A. Smith, candidates for two vacancies on the council, addressed the meeting and weTe given a good hearing. SPEECH BY:MR. RICHARDS. Between 20 and 30 ratepayers attended at Wyatffl Kiosk, Wprser Bay,' last night, to hear an address by Mr. H.' E. Richards,' who is contesting, the Mayoralty of Miramar. Mr. Corner was-voted fo'the chair. Mr. Richards'reminded his hearers that his experience of local government went back to the days of the old Seatoun Road Board, of which ho was a member. He was-also one of- the first members of the Miramar Borough Council, and had taken part in such important pieces of business as tho inauguration of the tramway system; Ho was head of the poll at the last, council election. ■ He. had no axe to grind, and was absolutely' independent of all parties, and would work for tho good of the whole borough. He had mado it a rule to get first-hand knowledge of borough works, and had made a practice of spending has spare time, even in rough, wet weather, in inspecting the borough roads. It was not true that he was tied to the present Mayor. He supported Mr. Brodie when he thought him right, but had often voted against 'him in tho council, nis wholo interest was in the borough, his home was there, and he was not a speculative holder. He was one of the original shareholders and strongest supporters of the Ferry Company, which gave the borough its start. The speaker next reviewed a circular' issued by his opponent, Mr. Hector M'Leod, and mentioned that he (Mr. Richards) had ' introduced a scheme for standardising tho roads of tho borough, but while he was away this was modified in favour of the speculators. Had 'he been hero a good deal would havo been heard of it. In regard to tho Gas.C&mpany he did not think his (Mr. M'Leod 's) activity was in the direction of inducing the company to settle in the borough. Mr. M'Leod's efforts in regard to the foreshore and reclamation had not tended to progress. The speaker also claimed to have done more than his opponent for tree-planting. He admitted that Mr. M'Leod did have something to do with the' fire brigade matters in- that he attended a meeting which came to nothing, but he (tho speaker) afterwards convened a meeting, which led to the starting of tho present fire brigade. The candidate held that the Citv Council had not shown proper consideration for the wishes and interests of Miramar, and ho instanced tho refusal to adopt the system of minimum faro cars for long distance passengers. He took credit for inducing Mr. Crawford to present the borough with a strip of land, -which, when planted with trees, would look extremely well from the waterfront. Tho .£12,000 tramway loan was now fully provided for, without further payments. lie would therefore apply further payments on the present scale to the depreciation fund. The sinking fund investments wero now .£4500. Tho rates were: ljd. interest rate, and ljd. general rate. It might bo necessary to call up another }d., as there was an overdraft of over ,£"00. This was duo in part to tho erection of the Town Hull out of rates, and expenditure on the tramway. If elected, ho would favour a benefit scheme for the. council's employees, to which tho council and tho employees both should contribute. He would "advocate an extension of tho tolephone system, which would greatly assist tho fi.ro brigade. Ho would vigorously prosecute the present loan proposals, in connection with which ho thought the borough was in on extremely strong position. It had several good cardsi to play, and if it played them well it could make.a very good bargain. At the conclusion of tho address several questions were asked and answered. A vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr. J. H. Mayer, seconded by Mr. R. Douglas, and carried by acclamation.

Addresses were, also delivered by the following; candidates for The two vacancies ill the council:—Messrs. A. firise, 11 Smith. 11. Palmer, H. Griffiths and J. G Phillips.

Mr. John Smith, candidate for th* Citv Mayoralty, will addrow thn (doctors at v tk» Town BaU, at 8 pj», on April 23.