MAYORAL CONTEST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2061, 23 April 1907, Page 3

MAYORAL CONTEST.

Mil LYSNAR’S ADDRESS. _ There was a full house at llis Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when Ml' W. D. Lysnar addressed the electors and advanced his claims for tho Mayoralty. Air. G. Matthowson presided, and in introducing the candidate referred to matters, which, ho stated, Mr Lysnar would be too modest to mention. Ho spoko of tho extension of the Borough boundaries, wholly duo to Air. Lysnar’s perseverance, and to his defeat of tho preposterous AYaihirero water scheme, enabling them to select the To Aral source. Ho paid a high tribute to their present Mayor, but held that in his long term of office Air Townley had fallen into the ruts and grooves of habit and precedent, in regard to civic affairs, which meant stagnation and public apathy. He referred to harbor matters, and concluded that- when they went to the poll on Wednesday they would let their votes be guided by their judgment and not by their sympathies. (Applause.) Air Lysnar stated that there was no personal feeling between himself and Air. Townley; it was in regard to his manipulation o'f civic affairs that he crossed swords with their . present Alayor. Smaller towns were more advanced in municipal and parochial matters than they. They had a harbor in a ditch (applause); a town clock, that would not have had chimes if Air. Townley had had his way. Then there was the river t bank, the only breathing spot in the town; but had it not been for himself and others (Cr Miller included) the river bank would be built upon, and tho beauty of the place destroyed. If he were returned, and the official opening of the water supply , 1 occurred in his office, he would consider it his duty to allow Air. Town- | ley to perform that office. He refer- j red to the local tramways which had ( < been torn up and given away. They : were now clammering for tramways. He blamed the electors for the state ] of affairs, for when Mr. Townley | • offered himself for re-election, and • asked the electors were they satisfied with his administration, they con- I firmed his actions by returning him. > He referred at length to tho oft-threshed-out question of tho present - water works scheme, defending his • actions in supporting Mr Leslie Rey- • n old s’ report on the question. Ho > dotailed the history of the challenge 1 to the Mayor and Councillors in regard to the saving by adopting smaller pipes, and repeating the - challenge amidst loud applause. Tho : pipes which were condemned by ; Alessrs Alostayer, Hay , and Roy- < nolds wore still used ,so that they could come within the four corners of the ratepayers’ resolution. Air Townley said they were not to have a reservoir, but tho numerous crossings on the river made it imperative that they should have a reservoir. His advice to the ratepayers when they had the water supply was to hold on to their tanks (long applause). He dealt with the drainage question, and asked would they have the same person carry out their drainage system that carried out their water supply. (Voices: No.) - Before leaving the water question he would point out that' the house connections were lead, which meant danger from poisoning. There was a costly scheme of drainage by Air Alestayer before the Councillors at present; a pumping scheme. He contended that a better system could be adopted. He urged the securing of a site 'in the centre oi the town for the erection of municipal buildings, which should have been done many years ago, not then. The question of lighting had . to be faced. They must have either gas or electricity. He contended that the appointment of the Borough Engineer was inopportune. The vital question was undoubtedly the harbor. Air Townley’s heart was in the river, and that was where his energies would be spent. Mr Lysnar had never missed an opportunity of bringing up the question of an outer harbor, and Mr Townley had never missed an oj>portunity of sitting on him. The speaker quoted a lot of figures in regard to port charges. In regard to river improvement he stated that the expenditure on. 25th June, 1885, was £76,298, loan £204,107, interest 1885-1906 £216,172, balance £8,192, total £500,669. Allowing for amount of sinking fund and balance in hand on 31st December, 1906, there was £112,000, making a total of £388,689 of their money, and what had they for it? Air. Rees: A ditch. ]VIr. Lysnar : Yes a ditch which had cost them £57,779 more than tin proposed outer harbor, which the largest boats could conic up to. According to Air. Napier Bell’s report after all their expenditure on the river they had lost three feet in depth. They had to find £16,000 for interest and sinking fund for the •loan. This would be made up by a saving of £BOOO a year on expenditure in river improvements, £3,500 extra on shipping charges. AVlien they had their outer harbor they would gai nanotlier £3,500 by doubling their charges, and then be one of the cheapest ports in the colony. In four years time the Tauwharcparae lease would run out, and they would have another £3OOO revenue , cr year, which would give them a surplus. He blamed the ratepayers ' not Air. Townley, for the mismanagement of civic and harbor affairs. Me blamed them for returning Air. Town- ‘ ley and confirming bis actions. There was not one work that they coule point out that had not beer messeel up, and they woule continue to be so if they returned Air. Townley. He tolc. them two years ago that they would have trouble with their water, and they bad trouble. If returned he would go to serve, and not to please: that was the difference between hiir and Air. Townley. He felt he liac 1 done his duty to them, with whom the balance rested. Air. Lysnar wa: greeted with applause upon resuming his scat. A number of questions were askec and answered. Air. AV. L. Rees moved that “Tlii: meeting is of opinion, that in view of the present position of the liarboi and of the public requirements o! Gisborne, it is expedient that more energy, greater economy, and o sneedicr accomplishment of public works than has hitherto prevailed should obtain here; and that having these requirements in view, it is the duty of the ratepayers to make a change in the administration of civic affairs, and to elect Air. W. D. Lysnar as being a gentleman of a wide, view regarding the public and of more advanced, ideas than the present occupant of the position. “And that while having the greates. csteeem and respect for Air. I oyi n < > it is of opinion that a change, is u< - gontly required in tho public >•' tcrest,”. ... ..

Mr. A. F. Mat thews socomlod the motion which on being put was carried unanimously. A voto of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. MR. r. MAKER'S VIEWS. Mr. P. Maher, who has been nominated. for a soat on the Borough Council, addressed tho men engaged at tho Kaiti Freezing Works during tho dinner-hour yesterday. Ho chiefly emphasised that he was a worker, eager to represent workers, and that ho was a “roads, culverts, and footpaths man.” He said he was not in favor of the Borough buying the gas-works at present—there were other works which should bo done first. All footpaths should bo tarred where tho population warranted it, the owners of property to pay half the cost of tarring their frontages. Ho thought there should be a sprinkling of working men in the Council. He was in favor of an up-to-date drainage scheme.' If elected ho would . see that a dry footpath, however narrow, should be put up Crawford road. If he were elected lie would like to have some other working man’s representatives with him on the Council. Itinerant dealers who cut into the legitimate trade of the town should be taxed more through their licensefees. Tho permanent levels should be gone on with —the Borough Engineer had been specially engaged for the work, and so far bad done very little. If returned he would see that the Sanitary Inspector did his work thoroughly. He-WTis in favor if the water-supply being extended all over the Borough where necessary. He knew they were not satisfied with the present Council, and that was why he had decided to contest the election. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks to Mr. Maher was passed, and three cheers were given for him.