Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2242, 14 July 1870, Page 4

to the high and important office oi Mayor’ I shall ever make it my study faithfully to discharge the duties incumbent on that position. . ... I cannot sec tliafc 10 requires a man ot extraordinary talent or ability to fill the The gravest and most important duty which devolves upon the Mayor of .Dunedin appears to me to be the discharge of his Magisterial functions. I consider, however, that sound judgment, ordinary education, rod strict integrity are qualifications amply sufficient ih themselves to render me thoroughly capable of fulfilling this part of my official duties, in the event of my being returned to the honorable position of Mayor of your Corporation. During the time that I have been a mem-kw of the City Council, L have noticed that there is a great deal of time wasted and unnecessary delay caused in giving answers to the numerous letters received by referring them to various Committees, instead of allov ing them to he dealt with by the Council as a body. There are, of course, some communications which it would be wise to consider in committee, but the majority of the business, I think, ought to be disposed of at once. The advantages of such a course of procedure would he the saving of a vast amount, of labor and time, both to the Town Clerk and the members of the Council. The pul die would moreover get served in a more speedy and businesslike manner than at present. For instance, if application is made to repair a drain pipe, or to remove a few loads of earth, or to have a foothpath gravelled, it is often a great annoyance and inconvenience to the applicant to be forced to wait two or three weeks for permission to perform such works. This delay is'unreasonable and unnecessary. seeing that the works in question are always carried on under the supervision of the Surveyor. If lam elected Mayor, 1 shall endeavor to initiate a system whereby the business of the Council may be carried out in a more expeditious manner. I would also propose to abolish the office of Inspector of Works, and recommend that all public works, such as forming and repairing streets and footpatns, should be let by contract, under the inspection or supervision of a good practical Engineer, so as to have them carried out in a cheaper and more efficient manner ; and I have no doubt but that the streets and channels of the townjwonld he more effectually swept and looked after, if they were also done by contract. 1 think the time has now arrived when the Corporation should have the absolute control over the main line of streets. The necessity for this must be palpable to anyone observing the disgraceful filthy condition in which the principal streets of the town now are, and under the present Municipal arrangements, the Corporation have no power to order the removal of the heaps of mud that are scattered from one end of the City to the other. A work of the greatest importance, in which immediate action should be taken, is that of a system of drainage throughout the City. It must be the opinion of every rightthinking man that if the sanitary condition of the Town be not speedily looked into, wo may expect a fearful outbreak of disease amongst ns during the ensuing summer. Although this is not what may be termed a reproductive work, I think the advantages to be gained, and the evils to be averted, sufficient inducements to borrow money for this purpose. It is now about six months since our Engineer was instructed by the Council to prepare plans for a system of surface drainage in some parts ot the City, and it does not reflect much credit on that gentleman that he has not prepared and laid before the Council any such plans up to this time. Ido not hesitate to say that since we have availed ourselves of the whole of his services, the amount of work done has not come up to my expectation. 1 should, therefore, be in fa vour of advertising for the services, by tender, of a good practical Engineer, to,, prepare Slans for such drainage ; and also for tenors.for the execution of the works to bo carried out under the superintendence of such Engineer. With regard to the'puhlic lighting of the City, I confess I would rather see it done by means of gas than kerosene, and should he inclined to continue a contract with the lessee of the Gas Works for a period of from one to three years, at a reduced rate of charge ; compelling him to put tue works in a better state of repair, and to extend the main line of pipes in such places as may he necessary to supply a good light to all parts of the town. If no attempt is made to carry outjjthese improvements, I should certainly advocate the building of new works by?the Corporation at a cost not exceeding 120,000, or otherwise encouraging a new company by giving them the public lighting of the streets for a term of years, if they were prepared to supply good gas at say L 7 or L 8 per lamp per annum. The thanks of the ratepayers are due to those members of the Council who opposed the motion of the Gas Cominittq to purchase the present works for L 22,000, as from a letter lately received ifrom Mr A. K. Smith, of Melbourne, it appears they would not be cheap at LIO,OOO, and that it would cost an equal amount to put them in good order, and then they would not be so efficient as now works coating LIB,OOO. With regard to the Dunedin Water Supply, I should be glad to see negotiations entered into and successfully carried out for the purchase by the Corporation of the Works now existing, as Fconsider the present system subjects the public to a most oppressive ktax. It will be seen by the above that I do not deal in generalities, 1 state clearly and concisely the various reforms that it is my wish to effect if I should he elected to the office of Mayor, and I have no fear of my motives being misconstrued by the public of Dunediu. They are well aware that in offering myself as a candipate for their suffrages, 1 fim neither au ambitious nor covetous office seeker, and I can namely assure them, in conclusion, lhat should tiicy elect me to the honorable position of Mayor, I should work mainly in their service, and have not the slightest wish or intern io to •.ppri.priate for my own pecuniary benefit any st pend that may he voted for the office. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, T. M. WILKINSOM,

Undertakers. JR. SPICE K, . UNDERTAKER, Established, 1862. And present Undertaker to the Dunedin Hospital, and Lunatic Asylum. GEORGE STREET, DUNEDIN (Next but one to the Red House)