THE MAYORALTY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2627, 19 July 1871, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

MR BIRCH IN LEITH WAI*D. Mr Birch met the ratepayers of Leith Ward at White’s Hotel, Albany street, hut evening, at 7 o’clock. Mr Finch Was elected chairman ; and after a few introductory remarks, Mr Birch said he had come before the ratepayers to ask their votes in favor of his election as Mayor of Dunedin, for which office he hoped they considered him equally qualified as cither of the other candidates. It had been said that he was an outsider, and that in consequence the present Mayor felt justified in opposing him—that had not he (Mr Birch) opposed Mr Thoueman, he would not have offered himself. Such an argument was illogical. Had the Mayor said he would use his utmost endeavors to defeat Mr Birch in favor of Mr Thoneman, he could hive understood the argument; but he believed Mr Fish was only too glad to have an excuse for coming forward, and of throwing the responsibility on his (Mr Birch’) shoulders. Be that as it might, he was determined to contest the election, for he had not come forward without invitation. The requisition presented to him was most respectably signed. He had taken time to deliberate on the request, apd he had felt it his duty to come forward in accordance with it. If not returned, he should not feel the slightest chagrin : the first night’s sleep would set him to rights. Every man had a right to vote according to his conscience, and he trusted that the fact of his not having a committee nor committee rooms would not prejudice him in their eyes. Air Fish had taken credit to himself for successfully obtaining a loan for carrying out city improvements. Air Bathgate, when manager of the Bank of Otago, undertook to negotiate a loan, but the debentures lay in his hands a dead letter at 75. Air Fish stated that a portion of those debentures was sold at 75, which was not correct. Had it not been for the intervention of Air Larnach, when the Corporation was in a state of impecuniosity, the late loan would never have been realised on such favorable terms. Air Larnach did succeed in placing LI,OOO in Melbourne at par, and sold the balance at from SO to 90. The truth was, the City was indebted to Air Laruach’s efforts, who could not have succeeded so well as he did had he not been associated with monied men in Victoria. It was right and just that he should receive the credit really due to him. Another loan had sjuc? been initiated of L 12,000, which Mr

Clarke, cf Melbourne, purchased at 90. The Mayor had taken great credit to himself for having floated the last loan; but it was not the Mayor alone who deserved the thanks of the City. The Council were equally entitled to them with him. But neither the influence of the one nor the other would have availed had it not been for the visit of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Since that time the City had got into notice, both in the A ustralian a;;d P'nglish money markets. He (Mr Birch, was somewhat staggered that neither the City Council, the Provincial Council, nor the Provincial Government had taken certain steps necessary to the protection of life and property in Leith Ward, with respect to the encroachments of the Water of Leith. He did not say that this omission had arisen from any difference between the Mayor and the Superintendent; but he believed, if some one were returned who could act with his Honor, something might be done in the matter. He thought the Mayor was wrong in opposing the man whom the people had chosen. In fact he thought the Mayor wrong in taking an active part in politics in any way except in recording his vote. Never, while Mayor, had be (Mr Birch) taken an .active part in politics. His object was, not to exhibit favor to one or the other party, and that, he thought the proper course to be taken by all future .Mayors. A remark was made at a meeting by the Mayor that the citizens should return one capable of efficiently filling the position of Mayor. He considered that remark as uncalled for and invidious. He occupied that chair and fulfilled its duties to the best of his judgment. He considered no man ought to have made such a statement, for there were plenty of justices of the peace in Dunedin that would be glad to give any necessary assistance to the Mayor in his magisterial capacity if the Mayor were trustworthy. If he himself were not returned he should be glad to see Mr Thoneman elected, and as a justice of the peace, to sit with him in the Mayor’s Court. When he was Mayor of Dunedin, the L 14.000 and LIO,OOO loans were chiefly devoted to forming the footpaths of the City. To a certain extent, that was accomplished, but the main expenditure of the last loan was in kerbiog the footpaths. In Wellington, where he was about six weeks ago, and in Christchurch, the streets were kerbed with wood, which had lasted now twelve or fourteen years. He iiid not mean to say it was wrong to kerb the main street in that expensive manner, but in the bye-streets, plenty of working men had purchased property after having wrought hard to obtain money to meet their liabilities, and he did not see why they sh mid be compelled to pay the cost at onee. He therefore would suggest that the repayment should extend over a series of years. He looked upon it the working man should meet with consideration in Dunedin. He did not come before the public with a lot of rhodomoutade, nor talk of patriotism nor use big words : he came b fore them as an honest man paying his rates and taxes. He did not think it. necessary to protract the meeting by any farther lengthy remarks; but one point he wished to draw attention to, and that was the bad logic of Mr Fish, who coute ded that if L 21,000 had been expended in the purchase of the g>s works, the rates would have been reduced to Is in the pound. It was simply not true. He could not understand how any man could first propose that gas works should be erected, send for a gentleman from Melbourne at a heavy expen e, obtain plans and specifications, and then change his mind and say the old works should be purchased instead, and then the rate would only be Is instead of Is 6d in the pound. He (Mr-Birch) did not doubt his go.al intentions, but he questioned his ju Igment. In his (Mr Birch’s) opinion the assessment would not be less than Is Cd in the pound for years. With regard to the finance of the City, the loans were not the whole of the indebtedness for the last few years. In addition to that there was the Bank overdraft, amounting, he thought, to about L£oi)o. In conclusion,|he would say if they thought him worthy of support and returned him Mayor, he would do his duty faithfully. One matter he had nearly forgotten to notice. The Mayor had taken credit to himself for having arranged for setting aside a portion of ground for a North Dunedin cemetery, but it was during his (Mr Birch’s) Mayoralty that that was reserved. All that was now necessary was to pass a Bill validating the reserve. Several questions were asked by different ratepayers, to which Mr Birch gave ready and satisfactory answers, and, aftera lengthy meeting a unanimous vote was passed in favor of supporting Mr Birch as a candidate for the office of mayor.

MU BIRCH AT WAIN’S HOTEL. It was announced that after the meeting at White’s Hotel, Mr Birch would address the electors at the Drill Shed, Water of Leith. On closing the first meeting, Mr Birch proceeded at once to that place, hut some one had got hold of the key and would not give it up nor open the door. Ultimately the meeting adjourned to Wain’s Water of Leith Hotel. Mr Glendinnen was chosen chairman, and Mr Birch briefly and eloquently addressed the meeting. Again the vote was unanimous in his favor. Many persons who applied for admission at the Drill Shed, went away, tired of waiting ; or, the meeting, which under any circumstances would have been considered large, would have been very numerously attended, , MR FISH’S MEETING. Mr. H. S. Fish addressed a numerous meeting of the ratepayers of High ward Inst evening, at the Mission House, Russellstroet, Mr. Pearson in the chair. Mr Fish’s speech was simply a repetition of his views as explained by him at the Masonic Hall. He was well received throughout, and at the conclusion of the meeting a unanimous vote of confidence was carried. Mr Fish afterwards met the electors at the Alhambra Hotel, Maclaggau-street, and having answered the many questions put to him, Mr Tomlinson moved and Mr Stevenson seconded a vote in favour of Mr. Fish, which was carried without a dissentient voice. MR THONEMAN’S MEETINGS. Mr Thoneman held a large and enthusiastic meeting at the Royal Hotel, Walker street, last evening, when a vote of fi on fide nee, proposed by Mr Watson, was carried unanimously. At a meeting at the Peacock Hotel, the following resolution was adopted : —“That Mr Thoneman is the most lit and proper person of any of the candidates to be elected ”