MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2253, 27 July 1870, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

The nomination of councillors and candidates for the ensuing year took place to-day, in the presence of about 400 persons. The Town Clerk acted as returning officer, and read the following nominations which had been received by him : SOUTH WARD. Mr John Griffon, proposed by Mr William Hepburn, seconded by Mr D. H. Miller. HIGH \VARD. Mr Andrew Mercer, proposed by Mr G.at). Duncan, seconded by Mr K. Eamsay. Mr C. S. Reeves, proposed by Mr G. H. Campbell, seconded by Mr P Barker. Mr Thos. M. Wilkinson, proposed by Mr John Mitchell, seconded by Mr E. 0. Quick. BELL WARD. Mr B, Bagley, proposed by Mr Thoneman, seconded by Mr It. Gillies. Mr William Woodland, proposed by Mr S. Clayton, seconded by Mr J. Hamaan. LEITH WARD. Mr John Barnes, proposed by Mr P. Gibson, seconded by Mr J. Mathews. Mr J. H. Harris, proposed by Mr J. T. Mackerras, seconded by Mr D. Tutchen. Mr James Wilson, proposed by Mr Jacob Fogel, seconded by Mr James Copeland. Mr W. O. Ball, proposed by Mr J. F. Watson, seconded by Mr it. Wilson. AUDITORS. Mr W. S. Douglass, proposed, by Mr W. Wright, seconded by Mr A. Burt. Mr F. H, Evans, proposed by Mr R. Wilson, seconded by Mr H. Kirkpatrick. Mr Sydney James, proposed by Mr R. B. Martin, seconded by Mr J. Fogel. Mr' James Skirvins, proposed by Mr John Bathgate, seconded by M r J. Dick. The Town Olkrk said that r.s there was no opposite n in South Ward, he had to declare Mr John Griffon duly elected. The polling in the other wards would be taken on Monday next, at the usual hour. At this stage of the proceedings much amusement was caused by the endeavor* of the individual popularly known as Black Sam, who w.os “ got up for the occasion,” to gain admittance to the terrace, which privilege the police on duty would not allow him. He subsequently reached the much coveted point, but only to be expelled. MrGicrKKKN was the first to come forward. He thanked the electors sincerely for she honor they had done in returning him for the sixth time as their representative for South Ward in the City Council, and he had only' to assure them ho would continue as ho had hitherto done to discharge his duties honestly and fearlessly. (Applause.)

Mr Merger had been induced to come forward because of the support he had received on the last election, because of his long residence in Otago, and because he had been urgently requested to do so by a large number of his friends. Should the ratepayers do him the honor to place him at the head of the poll, it wonld be his strenuous endeavors to further the interests of the City generally. ho came forward more to economise City expenditure ; he approved of the rates being collected half-yearly—on the 30th June, anil 31st December—and for his own sake, and for the sake of the electors, would support a motion with that object, if brought forward.

Me I’eeves was fully convinced he would be consulting the electors’ comfort if he made his remarks as concise as possible, as there were many gentlemen to speak after him. He had a very great deal to say on municipal affairs, but he could not now detain them. If there was one matter more than another in connection with the city, which sooner or later they must think of, it was that of drainage. Hitherto wo had been free from contagious diseases; bub it was through a mercy of Providence that we had. Sooner or later some system of drainage must be had ; and it was one of those matters he would mosb strenuously nige. They read that in cities at Home, which had drainage and a system of sewerage, the death rate had fallen off 12 per cent., so that it was a very important matter. Connected with it was the water supply ; and a thoroughly efficient supply they must have. It was a very great oversight, indeed, that at the time the Water Works Company’s Bill was passing through the House—(Here soma confusion was created by Black .Sam taking up a position under the arcade of the Post Office and beginning to talk). Ho was just about to say that be regarded it as a scandalous shame that those who were in the City Council at the time should have allowed the Bill to pass, without having had a purchasing clause inserted. Had that been done the works would have been constructed with a greater regard to economy, and the purchase of the works would have been attended with benefit to the citizens. With regard to the question which twelve months ago inflated them, he thought it had been very well exploded. Referring to the bad supply, ho said he thought something similar should be done to-what existed in London, where the Gas Company were fined for having impure gas running through their mains. We must have better gas and much more of it before we are satisfied. There were several other matters which he would refer to at his meetings. He considered High Ward was not represented in the Council as it should be. He did not mean that its representatives wore not fit and proper men, but the ward itself, which produced more to the City revenues than any other two representatives, was not properly represented ; it should have more than two representatives. He would propose—he merely threw it out as a hint—-that the ward should be divided into two parts ; the other part to be called University Ward. He was opposed to personal canvass, which he considered a total subversion of the principles of the ballot. He had the time to devote to City interests, and he left the electors to judge whether he had the ability. In answer to questions, the candidate said he was opposed to the extension of the City boundaries. Mr Wilkinson offered himself for re-elec-tion because he thought he could servo the ratepayers better than a stranger ; he had had two years experience, and knew how City matters were managed. During the time he had been a member of the Council he had regularly attended the meetings. He therefore thought he had some claim to be reflected.

Mr B aglet said as remarks had been made as to his public conduct, and aspersions cast upon him because of the manner in which ho retired from the City Council, he would review his connection with that body. He had been elected to fill np a vacancy caused by the death of Mr I owers, and had to retire when the term for which Mr Towers hnd been elected expired. While in office, he had assisted to allocate the L 740 voted to the Ward; was a member of the committee which framed the bye-laws; was a member of the committee which was tho means of preventing tho continuance of the gas contract until 1872, and was instrumental in getting George street paved. The reasons which led to his nut offering himself for re-election, now existed in a very modified form, and he was now at liberty to come forward. If they wanted a blatant orator, he was not the man ; if they required one who would imperil his own reputation and their interests by bis outrageous temper, then again ho was upt their man; but if they wanted a man ready and willing to attend to their business, and who possesse 1 an amount of knowledge requisite for the purpose, and one who believed himself capable of doing these things, he was their man.

Mr Woodland came forward because he had been so well supported at the last election, and because he thought it would be considered lukewarm on the part of the ratepayers in the Ward were a walk-over allowed. He would go into the Council free and unfettered; would advocate the improvement of hack streets ; the establishment of public baths ; the collection of the rates half-yearly ; the revision of the byelaws, so far as the sale of wood and coal was concerned, and the sweeping of crossings by the Corporation.

Mr Barnes in one of his characteristic speeches explained how far he was tho working man’s friend ; instanced his past connexion with the City, and said that if returned, he would carry out strictly the promises ho made. Mr Harris denied that he had come forward because he had so little to do, as stated bj Mr Barnes. He felt he owed the electors’ a debt, for having, three years, ago elected him to the highest municipal honors a man could aspire to, but be had been prevented from serving his time of office by circumstances over which he had no control. He promised, if elected, to fulfil his year’s duties as their representative in Leith Ward. If elected, he would attend to his duties ns well as a business man could, and should be pleased if any of his opponents were returned. As to Mr Barnes, he was certainly useful as Inspector of Works ; but would be neither useful nor ornamental in the City Council. Ho (Mr Harris) denied that he asked their suffrages as a stepping stone to the higher office of Mayor ; in proof of which he need only tell them that, if elected Mayor, he was open to a fine of LSO for every day he sat, which risk ho could not afford to run.

Messrs Wilson and Ball afterwards ad' dressed the electors,