THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 3512, 26 May 1874, Page 2

THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION.

ME HARROP3 MEETING. Mr Harrop, in addressing a meeting at the Caledonia Hotel last night, referred to the purchase of the Water- • works as the leading question at present before the citizens. He Had been given to understand that day by one of the Councillors that that question was just settled. The Corporation had arranged matters with the Waterworks Company to the advantage, he believed, of the citizens. He would be very glad to see the Waterworks in the hands of tho citizens, but he would not like to see the citizens made losers by tho bargain. If tho citizens purchased, it should be at such a price that the rates would pay interest on the money to be borrowed for the purchase of the works. Daring the next twelve months the Corporation would be borrowing a large amount of money. If returned, he would make it his duty to see that Leith Ward got a fair share ‘of the money. He would like to see all the City well drained. With regard to ,tho proposed * ow & Hall, his impression was that it should be built in the Octagon, which being the most central part of Dunedin, would benefit the citizens most, and improve the appearance of the City. The question of gas works was already settled. He would not be in favor of the erection of new works by the Corporation so long as the present company supplied the Town at the reasonable rate of 12s 6d per thousand. The carriage dri/e now being made through tho o>Vl * for a distance of some four miles, - would be very beneficial to the citizsns ; but it would have been more conducive to the health of ths citizens to have paved all the streets and gravelled the footpaths prior to making carriage drives.—(Hear, hear.) TR* Corporation were about to carry some very " large drains right along King street and George street. He had measured the distance, and found it was something like ninety chains. To carry a sewer along George street would take the same amount of money as to put a sewer down Howe street, another down Frederiek street, and another down Duudas street, just about the same dis tance. It would be better to-construot drains down these cross streets, for the reason that all the water that came down from the Hill into George street could get into the branch sewers at the intersection of edch street, and C T l6d lnto tbe Leifc H or into the Bay. he Oorporatiou appointments, he did not believe m anyone getting an appointment before his testimonials were in otW Had challenged several Councillors with reference. to a yery

recent appointment, and the reason they gars for advertising for applications was that they were obliged »o do so.. It was well known to many citizens' that tho appointment of Inspector was made a month prior to the advertisement for applications appearing in the papers. He would not be in favor of having the newly-appointed Inspector’* work done by an Inspector subordinate to him. On tha motion of Mr W. Kbid, a vote of confidence in the candidate was carried.

MB GIBSON’S MEETING,

Mr P. Gibson,' the second eandidato for the seat lately held by Mr Barnos, addressed a meeting at the North Dunedin Hotel. Ho said that if elected he would see, that the requirements of the Ward should receive ample attention. A great deal of injury had been inflicted upon the ratepayers in consequence of their being unable so ascertain the proper level of the atreqts before they proceed to build. t A proposition was made to the Canned that an assistant surveyor should bo appointed to look after this matter, so that those who contemplated building might be in a position to know the permanent level of the street. If elected, he would see that due consideration was given to this imporiant matter, and that no delay take place. 1 n many outlying parts of the Ward it was not possible to kerb and channel the streets until they were brought to theirproper level. The footpaths in those places should be partly asphalted, and crosfiags should be formed. The Corporation would thus save money, as a large sum was now spent in endeavoring to keep those footpaths in repair by gravelling them now and again. The drainage of the City should be carried out to the utmost extent. One or two drains were now in course of construction in the Ward, and when they were completed the . residents in the vicinity would derive incalculable bench ts. He would like to see drainage work carried out through the length and breadth of the City. In order to carry out these no doubt the Corporation would have t© borrow money ; but they would be amply repaid with the revenue derived by the large » blocks of buildings that would be erected when the drainage works were carried out. Independently pf that consideration,, the health of the City rendered -it necessary to have proper drainage. A proof of the good effects which arose from a proper system of drainage, he . referred to the change effected in certain property by , the erection of the culvert at Regent-road, With reference to the Waterworks questiob: if the Company were disposed to sell for Ll6 a share, and even, if he found that the Corporation would be unable, when they got the Works into their hands, to reduce the rate at present charged, yet he would still be in favor of buying the Work?. He would be very well pleased to find it was true that the Corporation had already concluded arrangements for the purchase of the Waterworks, provided that the interest of the citiZ3UB had been attended to. He would see that Leith Ward got a fair proportion of the LIOO,COO .proposed to be bo" rowed ; and, in fact, he would go a little farther. Leith Ward was the largest Ward in the City, and was peculiarly situated. 'J here was so much .drainage required, so much was required, to keep up the footpaths, there was such a la ge amount of building going on, and such a great amount of land available f r building purposes in Leith, Ward that he thought the Corporation . should grant them even a little more than their fair share 5 of expenditure. He did not think the representatives of other Wards could object to that proposal. At this time of year, owing to the state of the roads and footpath?, the ratepayers of the Ward wero unable to go to ths City to make their purchases, so he believed that if proper repre sentatiqns were made the other Councillors would agree to an axtra expenditure for Leith Ward. He did not think it advisable to build now waterworks at present, as he feared that in consequence of the powers possessed by the Water Company the money W°uld be wasted. From a conversation ho had bad with some of the shareholders, he believed, however, that the company would sell. ■ A ratepayer ought to bo allowed the full period' of twelve months before being disfranchised for not paying his rates. While opposed to everything that would press heavily on the poor man, yet he thought on the ground of economy that it was best to collect the rates yearly, instead of halfyearly. The usual vote of confidence in the candidate was proposed by Mr Simpson, and carried.