MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2062, 24 April 1907, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

ADDRESS BY MR. TOWNLEY. There was a crowded audience at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening when Mr. Townley addressed the ratepayers in connection with the Borough election. The Rev. H. Williams presided, and briefly introduced the speaker, who was received with enthusiasm. Mr. Townley said that he had been accused of not supporting a progressive policy; but the means at the Council’s disposal were very limited. He detailed the circumstances in connection with the first loans got by the Council. When they raised the loans they had great trouble in securing the money, and it was only when he wrote to the Agent-General that tliey secured the money. lie spoke of the works that the Council had in hand at the present time, and staled that those who said they had not introduced money into the district could not know the position of affairs. Mr. Townlev replied to statements made by Sir. Lysnar in regard to the Victoria Domain, and the Abattoir. The recent investigation proved that the Abattoirs were working satisfactorily. The question of road metal had given them much trouble. The Wailiirere reserve would supply metal for the side streets. The Patutahi metal was the best obtain able for roads, and he received great opposition when be endeavored to have supplies brought in for the Borough. Tlie question of the railwn v route bad also given rise to considerable discussion. Majiy wanted it to come through from Napier, in which case it would have been commenced from the southern side .and they would not have seen it here during their lifetimes. He fought hard for the railway going Inland and opening up the country. But for the late Premier they would, not have the rail wav to-day. He promised to put a hill through at the end of the session, and kept his word. They luul heard a lot about the

WATER, SUPPLY. It was stated that" tho sanitation was so bad that when the trenches wendug there would be a fever epidemic. All the trenches in old Gisborne, had now been opened up and there was not a single case amongst those working in the trenches. He compared the early reports of Messrs. Hay and Reynolds. The latter had considered the Waimata source, but had passed tlie To. Arai source on the ground of expense. He defended the Council's actions in permitting the alterations ill the size of the pipes. The cast iron mains cost about £G9.000 and the steel main £38,000. so there was a saving to the Council of £31,000. Similar pipes were used at AVangaimi and were recommended for the su-

burbs of Wellington. Considering the large number of crossings on the Arai River he thought that cost iron mains would be, useless, and they would he unable to get tliqir water down without using steel pipes. Tlio route certainly was a rough one. ’there being fifty, crossings to the river, but the mains were encased in concrete, and he was informed that a capita] job had been made of the work. Ho next dealt with HAROR MATTERS.

A lot had been made of the fast that the position of Mayor carried a seat on the Harbor Board ; but bo did not see why they could not have their Mayor apart from the Harbor. Ho wished them to understand that be

was only one amongst nine. It was the majority who ruled. It was only when it came to the question of the Chairman’s casting vote that be held things completely in bis own hands. The scheme proposed by. the late Sir John Code was for a harbor just outside the present breakwater, in 20ft of water, and with limited wharfage. They could never have had large ocean - going boats there. Mr. Thompson was asked to report, and propounded their present river scheme. He knew no more than any of the other members where the harbor was to be until the plan was I/face cl on the table. He was against the plans being forwarded to Wellington for approval. When this work had been carried to a certain point Government stepped in and stopped tho work. He strongly supported Mr. C. Y. O’Connor’s proposal for running a groyne out from Oust,mil House street, to tra p tlie waves'and break the range, but lie was in the minority and it was lost. The present groyne was then run .out. Tho Trouble Hi the river was caused by the shallow entrance, and not by the formation of tho channel. After tlie

last,flood had scoured the channel there had not been a murmur since. Nature had done more for them than all their engineers. The machinery f~o;n the crane had been used on tlie s.Tp, and had saved them over £I.OOO. Phcv had heard a lot about the. heavy freights they had to pay. The total amount lightered for a period of ten months was 27,002 tons, almost half the. tonnage being brought in without lighterage, by vessels like the Toroa ami Squall. This could not have been done bad they not expended what they had done on deepening the channel. . The sand pump had given them trouble, and would continue to do so awhile. It would not [be of much use to them until they had got tho training wall, but as they had only paid Mr. Nelson for it they had lost nothing on it yet. The question of making Gisborne a main port for home steamers had engrossed their attention. Mr. W. 8.. Common, who was a considerable exporter had clone bis best in this direction, but the steamship companies would not make this a main port unless Gis-

borne could ship SUO tons of cargo. Mr. Common canvassed tho town but could not get the amount promised. Mr. Lysnar said his (the speaker’s) heart was in the liver, so he would speak from there. The amount spent on river improvemnt last year was £8,192, but, of course, they would

not require to expend that amount each year. The expenditure would bo reduced to about £3OOO annually,

which amount would keep the river navigable. The Board had instructed Air. Ala reliant to report on an outer harbor, and Air. Wilson, who

was reporting on important works at Christchurch was asked to report on the plan. His report was on the wav out f,rom England now, and if he was at the head of the Board when it arrived he would call a meeting and have it considered immediately. So the Board could not be accused of delaying the question of an outer harbor, As far as their liabilities were jqoasiderod they were a§ well off as

tlio majority n fifth of Diem. Tlio reomit improvommits that luul taken place in the Borough showed tliov liad progressed. He hud been accused of being IN THU COUNCIL TOO LONG. He had enjoyed splendid health, ami had'scarcely missed a meeting. He wished for no sentiment nor sympathy. Tliov bad I)ie matter in their hands, and he earnestly asked them to pick the best they could, both for Mayor and Councillors. Tliov would require them. He thanked them for the patient hearing they had accorded him, and resumed his sent amidst applause. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Townley answered a number of questions on a variety of matters. Mr. ,T. IV. Bright moved the following resolution : That this meeting desires to express its best thanks In Mr. Townley for the able, manner in jwhich he had carried out the duties of ‘Mayor for the past years, and for his untiring dovotion to the best interests of Die Borough.”- Mr. W. Morgan seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously with applause.

limy harbor in the colony. II min bo remembered llml when they rail od tlio lust lonn llioir county extern cd from tho Muhin to (hiulCnst Clip* Tli’ov wore a much more restrict** district now, mid the rates ivould h extended--over the district in ivliic it was raised...-d'ho shipping of th port had almost- doubled. liefor the extension to .the, itluixf. vessel were lying tliroo abreast, an berthage could not ho obtained, great improvement bad taken place ami fairly large vessels could no* come up and lie alongside their wlinr He wished them to understand tlm lie was only responsible for a nintl if the blunders that had taken plan ill the Harbor Hoard; or if t.liev to