PUBLIC MEETING AT KAIAPOI.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2424, 12 January 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT KAIAPOI.

A public meeting of burgesses to hear the views of the two candidates for an extraordinary vacancy in the Borough Council was held in the Institute Hall on Wednesday evening.

The Mayor (Mr Smith), who occupied the chair, read the requisition, and stated the object of the meeting. He asked for each candidate a fair bearing. Ho called on Mr Wearing, as the senior in point of age, and that gentleman having previously held a position as a councillor. Mr GK H. Wearing said, at the request of many of the ratepayers, he had consented to be nominated for the office of councillor, and he should pledge, if elected, to serve them faithfully and to the beat of his ability. It would be thought, he conceded, that his private interests were so closely allied with the progress of the borough, and that as he was one of the largest taxpayers, that wonld be sufficient guarantee that, if elected, he would see that public works were carried with execution in the most economical and satisfactory {manner. After twelve years in public harness it could never be said of him that he had proved himself careless or dis* interested in any matter appertaining to the advancement of the town. If he gave them a review of bis performances he hoped they would not consider him egotistical. The first work of importance with which he was connected was that for the protection of the town from the river. In face of the strongest opposition that had been brought to a successful issue. When the fear of freshes was somewhat alarming, and floods were of frequent occurrence, and no duubt disastrous to property, he estimated that the cost of the embankments would only equal the injury done by a single inundation, and he therefore used every effort to have the present embankment scheme brought to a successful issue. [Cheers.] The next work of advantage to the borough in which he took part was the framing of the by-laws, which now brought into the funds about £SO or £6O a year. Though he considered, when it was mooted, that the Fire Brigade would be too costly a body to be maintained by the town, when it was agreed to he went in to do all he could to render the same a successful organisation. [Cheers.] Regarding the plantations about the town, he had taken a keen interest in establishing most of them. He then explained how the endowment reserve of 2000 acres came to be set aside. Coming to the question of finance, be said when it was borne in mind that the yearly revenue of the borough was £l2oo—a nice little sum, which would find constant employment for sixteen - men—they only need to economise all their requirements and distribute that sum pretty equally among the working men of the place. Relative to the condition of the bridge, he asked if it was not disgraceful to any public body to allow it to remain in its present scandalous state. He ridiculed the attempts made at patching, and spoke in terms of sarcasm of the machinery and tackle which bad to be put into operation to open it for navigation by persons whose services were too valuable to be retained any longer. [Laughter.] He deplored the fact that many of the footpaths were so badly made, while others were not yet formed, and had he remained in the Council at least half of the footpaths in the town wonld have been properly asphalted. [Cheers.] Going into the question of the clerk’s salary, he would lay down the principle that they ought to pay a fair salary and expect an honest return. The present clerk was an active and energetic officer, who was at his post at all times, and he thought it most improper to goad him on the question of his salary, as the Council did from time to time. At present there was the question of paying him commission on the reserve rents. Now, as a member of the committee which drew up the schedule of the clerk’s duties, he remembered that the clerk was entitled to certain salary and certain commission, and it was carelessness on the part of the Council if it allowed a higher rate of remuneration than it could afford, or did not take the pains from _ time to time to adjust the same. [Cheers.] Relative to the maintenance of the domain near the town, it seemed to him that assistance from the Government was hopeless. The board of management had no power to raise revenue by renting pasturage, and for the want of about £IOO a year the domain was likely to go into disrepair. It was, unfortunately, not within the borough, and the Council was precluded from making any grant of its funds in aid. Last session of Parliament it was proposed to ask for power to permit local bodies to contribute to it, which would have placed them in a better position. Anent the question of rates, he was opposed to any project to increase the rating powers of the Council to 2s, [Hear, hear], contending, as he did, that Is was a fair limit, and by economising they could manage with that sum. He was also thoroughly opposed to raising loans except for works required on an emergency. There was no reason that he saw for selling the county reserves. It was better to hold it, and for the Council to effect the purchase of two or throe acres for a general cemetery. The reserve alluded to could be planted and made a valuable property to the town. [Cheers.] He was in favor of the tramway on the road as benefiting the largest number and being most easily available, and opposed to it on the embankment as tending to damage the rights to river frontage, also inaccessible owing to the high level, and turn-tables at the main bridge would be especially objectionable. He alluded in an amusing way to the Council’s consent being given for the tramway on the embankments mainly by three who were interested, and the same trio, as members of the Harbor Board, further endorsed the action of the Council. He was proud to see a certain industry in the town a success, but he did not feel disposed to worship it—[laughter]—or sacrifice bis interests for those of a private company without compensation, unless it could be shown that the work was to be a public benefit, when he would gladly give way. If his views met theirs he hoped to be elected, and whether in the Council or out of it, should still be prepared to assist in forwarding the progress of Eaiapoi. [Cheers.] In reply to questions from Mr Blackwell, who asked if it was not a fact that the gentleman who did such a wicked thing as to use his original and casting vote on the tramway question was not the same whom Mr Wearing supported for the office of Mayor, bo said, amid roars of laughter, that he looked on the late Mayor as the wickedest of them all. To Mr Blackwell Would not favor the merging of the Domain Board with the Council, as the domain ought to be in the hands of persons who held office for a period of years, in order to complete their plem. A Board might be nominated by the Eyreton and Mandeville Boards and Kaiapoi Council. Mr E. Feldwiok, who was well received, spoke briefly, and said he had not the advantage of experience in municipal matters to refer to, nor could he claim to be a public speaker, and with a promise to fulfil honestly

all the requirements of a councillor ho trusted they would excuse these shortcomings. On the question of finance he was at one with their worthy Mayor, who had told them in that hall of his proposal to borrow for the bridge and public works on the security of the endowment reserves, for the reason that they would not only obtain the desired works, but by pledging the reserve put it out of the power of the Government to alienate the land with other municipal reserves into a common fund from which Kaiapoi would receive only a small proportion. The first work of importance to them was tint of erecting a double bridge|sufficiently wide for two vehicles to pass, with a footway outside the roadway. The traffic of the place was daily increasing, and the delay in waiting for a string of vehicles to cross was at times very serious. To his mind the bridge would no doubt have been gone on with ere this but for the opposition shown to the tramway. Several drainage lines were urgently needed, and sooner or later the side channels of Peraki street must be concreted to remove the possibility of stagnant water continning a nuisance. Better means, he pointed out, were needed for supplying water for the fire engines. After alluding to some minor questions, he said if elected he was prepared to remain his full term in office without resigning in a “huff" 1 or staying away to lessen the quorum. In reply to a question, the speaker said he thought if the reserves were not pledged the town might lose them, and he believed a bridge double the width of the present one could be cheaply built. The Government ought to pay the largest part of its cost. Could not give any estimate of the cost of the Feraki street side channels. Yotes of thanks to the candidates and Mayor concluded the business of the meeting.