PUBLIC MEETING AT LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1736, 12 September 1879, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT LYTTELTON.

A meeting was held on Wednesday night, in the Colonists' Hall, Lyttelton, to hear the views of the candidates for borough honors upon local matters. The Mayor presided, and the hall was crowded. Mr J. Grubb waß first called on to address the meeting, and in coming forward said he supposed the ratepayers were not yet tired of attending candidates' meetings, and wanted a little more of the fun. He was a candidate tor the honor of representing them in the Council, and if supported would do so to the best of his ability. His long residence in the place, his interests, and his previous experience of the modus operandi of conducting the business of the Council, he thought proved his fitness for the honors he sought. If elected he would be in favor of Buch public works as wore in hand being carried to completion, both as respects drains and streets. No private streets should be made by the Council, none but public ones. He would not detain them, as other candidates were to address them. Mr B. B. Webb was received with cheers, and after adverting to the circumstances which led to his nomination, said h» would, if elected, do his bett for the town. He was of opinion that public drinking fountains should be erected here and there in the town, so that a thirsty teetotaller might have a chance, and he thought that they would mitigate the evils of intemperance. Watering troughs for the benefit of the dumb animals were much needed, and in this connection Mr Holmes, one of the candidates for the Council, deserved the congratulations of at least the owners of horses for his services some time ago in providing a water

trough for them. Mrs Beverloy also deserved the thanks of the public for the one on Norwich Quay. As to the drainage scheme, he thought it should be extended to the upper parts of the towD. To do this money must be borrowed, and it could bo done very well by a loan on the water-works. Posterity had a right to bear a share in paying back the money, as they would reap a share of the benefits, and he saw no hardship in that. Tn Salt's Gully particularly there was much need of proper sewers being made. He waß in favor of a new Council building for the town, or at least in improved accommodation. There was not room in the Council chamber at present for such of the burgesses as might wish to atttnd the Council meetings as spectators, the room being barely large enough for the members of the Council themßelveß. He should have that altered if it could be done. Then about certain sections of land here and there in town, unimproved sections. Many such had greatly enhanced in value, simply by the growth of the place, and the owners were thus enriched without contributing correspondingly to the value of the property or to the rates. Such owners, in many cases, did not live in the town, and he thought that a special rate should bo paid by them. There was a piece of land near the Wesleyan Church for instance, which the owner, a resident of Christchurch, held at a high figure, something like £IOOO, and that land couldn't be bought by anyone desiring to locate in the town, because the owner of it found it was improving in value every year in proportion as the adjoining improvements wore made. About the town purchasing the gasworks property, he wished to explain that some time ago he had opposed the proposal very determinedly because he, like many others, thought they saw something like a little job in it. It so happened that the Council at the time was composed partly of directors of the gas company, and the transaction didn't quite look favorable for the ratepayers. That was why he had set his face against it. If a movement were started now, however, he would be inclined to support it, as he believed that the borough should make its own gas. The gas company made them pay pretty smartly for light, and didn't furnish very much for the money, nor of very good quality. The light was miserable sometimes. A few nights ago he was passing round a corner, and he overheard a man asking for a match to see whether there was any light in the gas lamp closo by. It was giving such a poor light he couldn't see it. A question had been handed to him to answer. It was, whether he was in favor of everyone liable to pay rates being made to pay. In reply he thought there were certain instances, such as persons in indigent circumstances, being exempted. If elected he would certainly see that no one able to pay should escape, and he would do his utmost for the general weal of the borough. Mr Higgs, another candidate, then stepped on the platform and apologised that so short a notice had been given, he had had no time to prepare himself to address them. [There were audible symptoms of a desire to squelch the candidate [manifested by the audionco about this time, and for a few minutes Mr Higgs could not be heard.] He said he would do his best, if elected, to have better drainage on the outside of the town. There were good sewers, good side channels, good streets and side walks, and good enough light for those in the heart of the town, and he thought the back part ought to have a share. A fountain in London street should |be put up for the Good Templars. [The interruptions here beoame so frequent that Mr Higgs stopped.] Mr Lee asked whether Mr Higgs was for having the freeholder or the lessee pay for putting the water on the premises. The candidate said the freeholder should pay it. No other questions being asked, Mr Higgs stepped down. Mr J. Holmes was the next speaker, and his appearance on the platform occasioned considerable uproar with shouts of " three cheers for Brickey." Mr Holme3 said all he wanted was a fair hearing, and when they had done laughing he would commence to talk. The first thing he would ask them to do was to " put Old Brickey in at the head of the poll." This was the thirteenth or fourteenth time he had asked them to elect him, and he had served thorn in the Council, and it was for them to say whether he would again. He was in their hands. The first time he stood on that platform before them they hissed him down. That was the time he wanted the town to buy the gasworks when they could have got it cheap. They wouldn't listen then, and now if they wanted to buy the works they would have to pay a fine price. If they had. any questions to ask him he was there to answer. In reply to questions he said he might think it advisable to vote a small sum towards the Colonists' Hall. [A Voice—" You won't be elected then."] He didn't know how much money would have to be borrowed to complete the drains and sewers. Was not much of a borrower himself, but if it was necessary for the town they Bhould borrow all the money they could, and if they could'nt pay the interest they should .borrow sufficient to do that. [Laughter.]

A vote of confidence in Mr Holmes was moved by Mr Ayers, and seconded by someone whom Mr Holmes described aB being a non-voter, and he (Mr Holmes) declined to accept his seconding. The motion was not put, though, from the cheering and confusion prevailing in the hall at the time, the impreseion seemed to be that a vote of confidence was under discussion by the audience. Mr Holmes, in reply to a question, thought the Council had not the power to make a cart road round the Gladstone Pier. He then sat down, no further questions being asked. Mr Smith, on coming forward, said that when he came to the meeting he did not expect that so many local matters would have been so much and bo minutely gone into. Had he thought so he should have prepared himself to make a speech. As it was, he had not, and could only say that, if elected, he would do his best to promote the best interests of the town. He might say he had no private purposes to serve in going to the Council. It was true he had considerable at stake in Lyttelton, but, as far as his private residence was concerned, he had to thank the Council for doing all that was necessary in the way of making a footpath and good street to it, so it would not be said of him that he put up for the _ Council just to get his own property improved. He thought the drainage system as at present was defective. The exhalations from the sewers were abominable all the summer, and already complaints were being made. He should go in for an improvement there. In answer to questions put, he said he was quite in favor of the Mayor wearing a gold chain in the Council as the insignia of office, provided the links wero donated by former Mayors of the town. He thought he would oppose subsidising the Colonists' Hall. It ought to be sufficiently supported by the Lyttelton people without such aid. Thsre being no further questions, Mr Smith left the platform. There were calls for Mr Weyburn, the other candidate, but as he did not answer a vote of thanks to the chairman was moved by Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Webb, and ca-ried. The meeting then broke up.