THE ELECTION FOR MAYOR.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1933, 16 July 1869, Page 2

THE ELECTION FOR MAYOR.

The nomination, of candidates for the office of Mayor, for the year 1869 —7O, took place to-day, at noon. The meeting had been ad*vertised to be held on the terrace of the Government Buildings, and there at the hour of meeting, a considerable number of persons had assembled. A few minutes before twelve o’clock there was quite a down-pour of rail), which had not previously fallen heavily ; and efforts were to have the scene of the proceedings shifted, Jt was found that this could not be done, and consequently the business had to he commenced under very unpleasant circumstances. The Town Clerk, who acted as returning-officer, read over the nomination papers with all possible haste, and at his suggestion those assembled adjourned to the new post-office. Upon that place being reached, a delay occurred fhrqugh the entrances to the centra hall having been closed; Admission having 1 been gained, some SOO people found either sitting or standing room ; and the candidates addressed the meeting- The proceedings were accompanied by an unusual amount of noise ; but no unpleasantness took place, so far as we are aware. On the terrace of the Government Building*. ' ... The Returnt\< ;-or kicer road the nomination papers, which had been received in the following order ' Mr Thomas Birch, proposed by Mr John Hay, Princes street, seconded by Mr Joh Wain, Manse street, Mr Henry Smith Fish, junr., proposed by Mr E. B. Careill, Princes street; seconded by Mr Jacob Fogel, Great King street. Mr Robert Smith Hods, proposed by Mr Robert Wilson, Stafford street; seconded by Mr John Edmond, Princes street, Mr John Millar, C.E., proposed by Mr

Thomas Pedmayne, Cumberland street ; seconded by Mr James R. Crawford, M. D., Princes street. r There being more than one’eandidat© nominated, he (the Returning Officer) declared all further proceedings adjourned until Wednesday next, the 21st, when a poll would ttllvG plclOG. At the Post Office Hall the candidates addressed the meeting. There having been calls for Mr Birchs proposer, Mr Job Wain stepped forward. He sa'd that it afforded him groat pleasure to address them on behalf of Mr Birch. He had known him for a long time, and had worked with him in the City Council. He had had some experience through working with M; Birch, and he had always found him to he up to the mark, and a first-rate Mayor in every shape and form. (Laughter.) He had acted with Mr Birch on several committees, and always found him at his duties, attending those committees, where he had everything in order, that the business might be proceeded with. There bad been a great improvement in the tiuaueid matters of the Corporation since Mr Birch had been Mayor. There was another small item in his favor, and that was the way in which the workmen under the Corporation had been paid since he came into office. Prior to his taking office, it was sometimes two or three months before the men were paid ; while Mr Birch had been Mayor, he (Mr Wain) knew as a fact that these men were paid at least once a fortnight. That was something, particularly as there was often a difficulty it getting the Finance Committee to meet to pass cheques. He had received the following letter from Mr Birch, and he thought it was only fair to him that he should read it (applause) :

“Wellington, 12th July, 1869. “ Gentlemen,—l had expected to have addressed you to-day, personally, but my absence is unavoidable on account of my duties here. Matters of serious importance, affecting the interests of the Middle Island, come on for discussion this week, and I consider my presence here on such an occasion, paramount to all other considerations. I am sure you will accept my explanation, and exonerate me from anything like lukewarmness, by my inability to be present at the nomination. I observe from the newspapers that there is to be a contes.ed election for the Mayor’s chair this year ; and this to my mind proves that the ratepayers are becoming alive to their own interests, by electing a gentleman for the office from among the candidates, in whom the public have confidence, —one who will perform the duties honestly and impartially, who will devote his time and energies, and whose social position will place him above temptation. You, gentlemen, have had some experience of my conduct during the fifteen months I have occupied the Mayor's chair, and I need not address you in vindication of my character, which I understand some unworthy people have had the audacity to attack, very possibly to serve some mean purpose of their own. Conscious of the rectitude of my public conduct, I despise their low malice, and I consider it below my dignity to treat them in the terms they merit. Cheap gas for the City and citizens will receive from me all legitimate support, after careful investigation into plans, plant, and ultimate expense, I have no doubt also, but arrangements might be entered into and consummated, for the purchase of the Waterworks. This latter project has been already under consideration by the and I am, notwithstanding certain difficulties in the way, sanguine of arrangement. My opinion is that the supply of gas and water for the use of the City should be so’ely in the hands of the Corporation. I intend being in Dunedin before the day of polling, if my duties here will permit, hid on no consideration will I imperil, by my abseuse from the House, the interests of the Colony in the present crisis,—even for that of being reelected Mayor. Should I, however, get a gentleman to pair with, I will leave here on Friday the 16th instant. Meantime, relying in my abseuse on the consideration and support of my former friends, “I am, gentlemen, “Yours very truly, “Thomas Birch.”

Mr E. B, Cahgill, on ascending the platform, was received with loud applause. Hp said that it was unnecessary for Mm to detain the electors or waste their time by addressing them at any length. He had to propose Mr Fish, and he was happily not in the position of having to propose an absent man. The candidate he proposed was present, and was there to speak for himself, which he (Mr Cargill) dared say that he was better alpe to do than he (Mr Cargill) could do for him, might lust say that he considered that Mr Fish, by his ag a Councillor, by his zeal and by his intelligence which he had displayed in that capacity, and for the interest he had taken in the affairs of the city, merited to stand well in the regard of his fellow-gitizpns, (Hear, hear.) He thought that when the electors saw some fresh blood brought forward in this way. and ready to take up a position or a part in the administration of the public affairs, every possible encouragement should he given. He thought that there had been a tendency sometimes to look at the office of mayor as the especial pro* petty of a limited circle of men. He thought that the citizens would do well to encourage those who came forward as fresh men, and showed the ability and zeal -which were so necessary to secure the confidence of the citizen#. Therefore he had much pleasure in proposing Mr Fish, (Applause. J Mr Jacob Fogep said that it gave him great pleasure to second Mr Fish’s nomination. They all knew that Mr Fish was a young man, but he had good abilities to take care of the city. Mr Birch had been Mayor for two years, or rather twice elected to that office ; he had since been elected to the position of a member of the Assembly ; and therefore he ought to resign the Mayorship, The Mayor ought to attend to his duties, apd pot he in Wellington. He knew that Mr Fish was 'able tp giye the proper amount of time to his duties as Mayor, and it therefore gave him great pleasure to second his nomination,

Mr H. S. Fish, on coming forward, wai received with lohd and continued cheering He said as it w'as his intention to address (he electors several times in the interval that remained before the election, he would not travel over ground that would would have to he gone over again. He had no personal illfeeling against any of the candidates, and Mr Birch and he, especially ip their relation of Mayor and Councillor, lp lc l worked together in perfect harmony, and mutually assisted each other. But in his opinion the office of Mayor should be a rolling one, and that no one should be Mayor for wore than

one year. The incentive to a Councillor to work was that he should ultimately be elected Mayor. He had been taxed with presumption in seeking that honor, on account of social and commercial position. He could only reply that in his opinion | Vlessrs Garrick and Griffon were the only members of the City Council who had superior claims, and they had declined to come forward, although he had strongly urged them. After them there was none older in the Council than himself. With regard to Mr Birch’s claims, he had been elected to one of the highest offices to which his fellow-citizens could raise him, and if he fulfilled his duty as th ir representative he must be away three mouths annually. It was plain the two offices could not effectually be held by the same person. It had been objected to his candidature that he was too young; but being oue of Pharoh’s lean kine, and having no beard, he looked younger than he was. Yesterday was his 32nd birthday, and if in so many years a man did not gain sense sufficient to fit him to be Mayor, be never would acquire it. The great question of the day was the Gas. If he were returned either as Mayor or C uncillor, he would do his best to crush that monopoly which was grinding the people to the dust. L 30,000 had been spent in seven years, and it was time it was done away. Although all did not consume gas in their houses, all paid rates for lighting the streets ; and, therefore, all might be considered gas consumers. LI,OOO a year might be saved or expended in extended lighting. In reference to market dues, he considered the fees paid by licensed hawkers far too heavy. The scale was now under consideration by the Corporation, with a view to a reduction. A letter appeared this morning in the Daily Times, which was obviously directed against him personally, and recommending that the choice of the citizens should fall upon one able to expend the Mayor’s salary in charities and keeping up the dignity of the office. It was no disgrace to have to tod for his daily bread. The person signing himself “ Uignity,” had insulted his fellow-citizens. What were the sinews of the City ? Were they to be found in retired provision merchants ? (Great laughter.) As to the salary that might or might not be voted, he believed, if elected, he should be able to spend as much in charity as the person who signed himself “Uignity.” He felt proud on that particular occasion of being a tradesman. It was a matter of gratification to himself, and should be to them, that a man who did not occupy the highest social position should come forward and ask them to elect him. Poor man, as he might be, struggling as he did for his daily bread, he might fairly appropriate to himself the words of the immortal Burns, and say— The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, A man’s a man for a’ that. (Great applause.) Mr B, S, Dods then came forward, but for some time was unable to obtain a hearing, in consequence of Mr Beadle wishing to put a question to Mr Fish, Mr Beadle was urged to take his place on the platform but having done so, was nut allowed to speak. Order being in some degree restored, Mr Dons said he regretted that Mr Fish had so far strayed as 10 introduce personal matter into his remarks. He (Mr Dods) was not responsible for letters in the Daily Times, and he had yet to learn that, because by honest industry, he had been able to retire from his calling as a provision merchant, that that should be considered a disqualification for the office of Mayor. It was pure claptrap for a man to stand there and say he was a working man. He respected working men, and poverty was no crime. nor should it be. In fact he was as anxious as any one to see a poor man fill the office of Mayor. However poor a man might be, or however much time he could spare from his private business—he said that the office of Mayor required all one maids time ; and the man that was to fill it should be able to give all his time to it, The idea of a candidate saying that he would stand or fall by the gas question, was mere clap trap —a mere political cry. [Cries of ‘‘No, no,” and “Yes.”] Why, the City Council were unanimous to a man as to the necessity that existed for reducing the taxation of the city, and they .were unanimous, with a single exception, in endeavoring to get the gas and water supply into the hands of the Corporation. Therefore for a candidate to tell the electors that’ lie, above all the other Councillors, should fill (Cries, ■' None of your spleen,” “He was the first to agitate it,” &c ) He thought it was an act of imprudence, if not of impudence, for a candidate to say that he was the citizen most worthy to fill the office of Mayor. He was aware that there were many gentlemen in the city who could more worthily-and more honorably fill the office, and who have a greater claim upon the votes of the electors than ary of trie gentlemen who now appeared, before them : at> candidates, was aq impression that existed with a large section of the citizens that the Mayor ought to be chosen from amongst the members of the Council. It should be so : a councillor was entitled to some encouragement fuv his ser. vices ; and that being his view, he offered himself as a candidate. Some, be believed, would question his ability to fill the office ; lie might say that be considered his ability to do so quite equal to that of any.other candidate in the field. The person who filled tbe office of Mayor of the city should possess sound commo i sense, and business ability, and be of unblemished reputation ; an I he ought not to seek the office for his own personal or for his own personal benefit. Personally, he was perfectly regardless as to whether be was elected or not. If he was el cted, be would give the time and* the ability he possessed to the performance of tile duties of tbe office, which he should esteem it an honor to fill, If not elected, he would retire from the con. test with perfect good will. He left the matter entirely in the hands of the electors ; and he would repeat that, if elected, he would give his time and energies to carry out the duties of the office; if not, he was I perfectly content.

Mr John Millar was. received with ii|iugljxl shouts and cheers For some time he was unable to obtain a hearing. Hi said it could not be pleaded that he was too young to till the civic chair, (A. Voice— You are too old. You know too much,) Hia age and experience must have fitted him for the office, It must be plain to every man that he was conversant with political affairs. On the election day he hoped to see the right man in the right place. He was sorry to say since the thirty miles of streets were formed under his direction that there had beep reckless expenditure. Individualb r , he respected the city councillors, but he did not respect them collectively, fluting the last four years, L 50,000 in taxes and L2S,OQQ borrow'ed money had been squandered, with no satisfactory account being given of it,

The great error bad been, that of spending public money without getting tenders for the work to be done. The money had been spent in day labor. (Cries of “Gas ! gas !”) He had hoped that Mr Fish would have re ferred to the reports that he (Mr Millar) laid before the Town Board in 1863, in which he showed the necessity for having the supply of gas and water in their own hands. (Mr Millar was so much interrupted by shouts from all sides, that for a considerable time he could not be heard.) With reference to the price of gas, so far as the public contract had gone, he believed no merchant would have lowered the price of his goods as the company bad done. (A Voice : “Who are they?”) The company were entit ed to their pound of flesh. The day had, however, arrived when the Corporation would be able to control the present company and the Waterworks. He thought the Gas Com pany should haye reduced the price two years ago. The fact was, the city must have its own gas works under municipal control. In reference to Pitt street where a public road was being made for the sake of private property, and more than L3OOO was being spent on it, he would simply refer the Corporation to his drawings, made in 1865, shewing that if he had sanctioned such extravagant expenditure he would still have been City Engineer, One remark he would make with regard to the working classes, he objected to seeing the lobor of the working classes interfered with by driving criminals through the public streets—(Great uproar.) With ragardto the future, if he should have the honor of filling the civic chair —(That’s impossible)— he would pursue the course he had hitherto adopted, and had no doubt reason and justice would prevail—(Cheers and hooting).