COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1601, 14 November 1881, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

MR. J. F. BYRNE TO THE ELECTORS AT DILLMAN'S TOWN. There were probably over 200 people at Reynolds' Empire Hotel on Friday evening last, to hear Mr J. F. Byrne, of Stafford, and Mr James Holmes, of Kumara, address the electors of this district in reference to their fitness as members of the Westland County Council for the Arahura Riding. Mr S. Agnew was voted to the chair, and, in introducing Mr Byrne, said that although he was comparatively a stranger to Dillman's, he was an old resident in Westland, and one well acquainted with the district he proposed to represent. He was sure he would command the respect of'any body of councillors. Mr J. Byrne, who was suffering from a severe cold, said he would do his best under the circumstances ; they were not to blame him, but the weather. He had an honorable ambition to represent his fellow-men in the councils of the colony, and he believed he could do it with advantage to them and credit to himself. His experiences in public works extended over a quarter of a century. . He arrived in 18GG ; with his family he was resident in the district, and he held that his interests were bound up together with theirs. He was more acquainted with the wants of the. district than if he were actually working as a miner. He proposed to adopt the principle of retrenchment in the official management of county affairs. All work should be done by contract. He would advocate the construction of tracks into the interior of the country, to open up the auriferous deposits ; and he would carry out those principles regardless of any man's favor. Retrenchment in the official management of .the Council was a matter that required prompt and immediate attention. He was prepared with figures, showing the present cost of administration of the Council, and the estimate he had made out. The salary of the chairman he would put down at £2OO, with £SO for travelling expenses, the chairman was the machine that gave the motive power ; a good man was worth his pay. He proposed to break in upon the overseers (of whom thc-.re were three at £3OO each), and make one do the work of three at £3oo—[applause]—with allowance for travelling expenses. Thors were any quantity of men looking at him that moment who were capable of doing this work. By his estimate, he calculated on a saving of £570, without impairing the efficiency of the Council. In reference to public works, the system now carried fin was corrupt in the extreme. Twenty per cent, could be saved by contract work if that were adopted instead of day labor. If they did him the honor to make him one of their representatives, this system should be at once stamped out, finally and for ever. The question of taxation comes not very much with the Council to deal with. The Council had no power to deal with miners' rights. But the action of the Council did upset your chance of the gold duty being reduced. Government would find a remedy if ever a motion were carried in the County Council causing a reduction of the gold duty. He held it was a class-tax, and the miners had no right to pay it. It was the same with miners' rights, and he would have them made £1 for four years. Now as to the question of rating miners' huts, he believed it was passed in the legislature that no mining property should be taxed other than so far as used for purposes other than mining. Should he have the honor to represent them in the Council, no such rate should be called for. In the matter of prospecting, there was any quantity of magnificent country yet unexplored, and fine gold was washed out to the ocean. He would be in favor of opening 3ft. tracks, so that the miner could get anywhere.—[Applause.] With regard to the hospitals and charitable aid : here the hospital is the sick miner's home. He should be in favor of liberally aiding the hospitals and charitable institutions of the country. It was high time that all local governments were knocked on the head. He should endeavour to strengthen the hands of members who would support local government.—[Applause.] As regards the distribution of representation, we were 5000 in the Arahura Riding, as against 1000 in the southern district. He would go in for dividing this riding, and make Stafford and Goldsborough one riding. We have to go begging for our own. Mr Byrne said he had one other matter to refer to, and that was a personal one. It had been reported that he had been brought out. He would say that in offering himself, lie was entirely independent of any candidate : your interests was his only care. He thanked them kindly for the hearing they had accorded him. He would answer any questions they may wish to ask him. Mr O'Flahep.ty moved that Mr Byrne was a fit and proper person to represent them in the Westland County Council. This was seconded by Mr Smith, and carried unanimously. MR. JAMES HOLMES TO THE ELECTORS AT DILLMAN'S. After Mr Bj-nm's meeting was concluded, it was proposed that Mr Agnew retain the chair whilst Mr Holmes' addressed the present electors. On being introduced by the Chairman, Mr James Holmes, addressing the chairman and gentlemen, said that after the able address of Mr Bvrne, he felt as if ho had very little left 'to say. He was in favor of the reduction of the gold duty and the tax on miners' rights, the letting of all works by contract, retrenchment in administration, and the economising the pt■•(!'■-■- x the Council where pos-

sible. If they returned him, he would do all in his power to serve them faithfully. He could not boast of past experience, but if they returned him, he would leave nothing undone for the advancement of the district. Ho had been connected with mining interests for the last fourteen years. Fourteen years ago he brought in the Leviathan Water-race, being one of its first promoters ; this was at a cost of £14,000. He had the second battery of stampers in the Reef ton district. lie had been largely interested in the Kumara Water-race and the Deep-sinking Company at Ross ; he had a tenth share in the Erin-go-bragh Water-race Company ; and, as they all knew, he was owner of the Okuku Water-race ; and he held a very large interest in the Mount Rangitoto silver mine. He had made money, and he had brought money and invested it in the place.—-[Hear, hear, and applause.] By this they would know and see that his interests were largely bound up with theirs. If now they returned him to the Council, whatever he could do to advance the interests of the miners, he would do.—[Applause.] Mr Beattie proposed and Mr Reid seconded " That Mr Holmes is a fit and proper person to represent this riding in the Westland County Council." The motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair proposed by Mr Byrne, and seconded by Mr Holmes, was then put and carried by acclamation. MR. F. BARROWMAN at STAFFORD AND GOLDSBOROUGH. On Friday evening last Mr F. Barrowman addressed the electors at Stafford and Goldsborough. At Stafford Mr Williams took the chair, and in a brief but lucid speech introduced the candidate. Mr Barrowman explained his views on all the different subjects that exercised the public mind, and answered many questions. When he had concluded, Mr James proposed Mr F. Barrowman as a fit and proper person to represent the Arahura Riding in the County Council of Westland. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. Half an hour afterwards, the same gentleman addressed a large meeting in Goldsborough. Mr William Murdoch took the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate. Judging by the appiaitse which followed, Mr Barrowman's address and his replies to the various questions asked, the meeting was highly pleased with the candidate and his views. Mr John Liverie moved and Mr Cook seconded a vote of confidence, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting. MR P. DUNGAN TO THE ELECTORS AT CALLAGHANS. Mr Dungan met the ratepayers of Callaghan's on Friday evening. There was a good attendance, and the candidate had an excellent reception. After his address a number of questions were put and answered, apparently to the satisfaction of the meeting. On the motion of Mr Hart, seconded by Mr Steele, a vote of confidence in Mr Dungan was carried unanimously. MR. M'WHIRTER TO THE ELECTORS AT DILLMAN'S TOWN. A very large meeting assembled at Reynolds' Hotel, Dillman's Town, on Saturday evening, to hear Mr John M'Whirter, a candidate for re-election to represent the Arahura Riding in the County Council of Westland. Mr James Richmond was called upon to take the chair. He was sorry to say he was not in form. However, he would proceed to the business at once. Mr M'Whirter had represented this riding in the County Council for the last three years; and he would now explain his views. Mr M'Whirter, addressing the Chairman and gentlemen, said he was very glad to see such a large number to-night to hear one who had been their representative in the past. He had been in the Council for a period of five years, being one of the first after the Counties Act was brought into force. • He had always done his utmost to advance the interests of this district to the best of his ability. It was true he had not always pleased, but he had always done his best. As yon are all aWare there were difficulties to contend with—the members for the Arahura Riding were not in a majority ; still the southern members acted fairly towards us ; they had relieved us of the liabilities of the Arahura Road Board, whereby debts incurred to the amount of £llOO were taken over.—[Hear, hear.] He was not one who wished to grab all though for our own district, although it had been said that the Arahura Ridin" had had its fair share. They must re° member there was a large tract of country south to open up ; it would not be right that all should be spent here. If a certain amount of money had gone south, it was for the benefit of them and you also. It might be as well to notice the prominent features of the Council for the next three years. And first of ail comes the gold duty. He might say that he was opposed to the gold duty. It was a standing disgrace that two shillings an ounce should be imposed on the miner, or that the Government should tax the produce of the country.—[Applause.] Would it be justice to tax grain or wool ? Nothing tended to develop the countrv more than the gold, and it was not right that one community should be taxed more than ruiother. The gokifields revenue amounted to two-thirds of the County revenue. It was no compliment to the Government to return to you what you have already con-

tribnted, to make ro.ids. If returned, again he should do all in his power to have it abolished. He was aware that it had been attempted to put obstacles in the way of your member to prevent the \bolition of Gold Duty Bill being passed. He would read t<> them what transnired at the meeting of the County Council oii the 10th August in reference to the gold duty, so that they might know what he really did say. [Mr M'Whirter here produced a copy of the West Coast Timed of the 10th August, and read as follows :-—] "Mr Hirter moved, 'That Messrs Rdid, Seddon, and Gisborne, be requested to provide some other means of revenue for the County of Westland, before the proposed reduction of duty on gold id finally dealt with.' " Mr M'Goldrick secdnded. "Several Councillors contended that the abolition of the gold duty was a -mere election cry, and that the miners really did not care much about it one way or the other; What they did want was a reduction Of the miner's right fee to 10s. "Mr M'Whirter said it was all very well to contend that the miners did not ask for the abolition of the gold duty. But would anyone who said he would not vote for the abolition of the gold duty; have the most remote chance of bdirig returned. That was was the way to test the matter. They knew that no one who ever supported the duty would ever see" the floor the House. "The resolution was carried unanimously." He thought his hearers would agree with him that he did all that he could to prevent the resolution being carried.—[Applause.] In reference to Mr Dale's motion" opposing the Abolition of Gold Duty Biil, telegraphed to Wellington, Mr M'Whirter stated that the notice of motion was not on the order paper. He left before the Council sitting was over, and knew no more about the resolution until he saw it in the paper next day. No blame, could be attached to him on that matter. It was not in the power of the Council to tax mining property, but it was in their" power to recommend such taxation. He thought every man should be asked to contribute, and he proposed to give the County Council power to strike a rate for every man to pay. The County should also have the power to rate the borough for road-making. Another way revenue should be obtained. They Were aware there were roads which go through Crowii lands, and it was only fair that Government should be asked to maintain such roads. At the present time there was a road making through to Otago.- Government should be asked to allow us to strike a rate for the maintenance of roads. If not, another government might come to the rescue, and give us other mean's of maintaining our roads.—[Applause.] The miner's right tax was a great injustice. If the miner's right were reduced to 10s, he believed the revenue would not because more miners would take them out; Referring again to the question of maintenance of roads, a great deal had been said about the day-labor system.Mr O'Connor, G.E., said this was the most economical way of maintaining the roads: . But he (Mr M'Whirter) differed from Mr O'Connor, aud so did most of his colleagues. He had-done good service" in the Council. He defied any man to point a finger at him and say he had worked the dead horse ; he would forfeit £lO to the Hospital to-morrow if any man could prove it. His flag was honesty. If they thought he had been honest in the past, he would ask them to return hint—[Applause.] There had been a mistake made in the Council, as they were aware, in the matter of some tenders recently. He took his share of the blame for i% and was censurable. But it was the duty of an honest man to rectify a mistake.—[Hear, hear, and applause.] Mr M'Whirter next; referred to the action taken on the Bill to amend the Counties Act. He thought it was an injudicious step to amend the" Counties Act. You are well aware that the Waimea water-race was abemt to"- be handed over to a syndicate of teri men. Whether it was the case or not, I took action at once. It would be the greatest mistake that could happen if the Waimea-. water-race parted from the General Government.—[Hear, hear, and applause.] Raise your voices against such a trans-, action taking place. The Government would look after your interests with less partiality than any local body would do. He considered it a very great injustice to tax miuers' huts ; but he must inform them the County Council was not to blame for this. One Government for Westland was quite enough. He did not think the administrative charges, £1378 very much in the disbursement of £13,000. He wa3 not wedded to the day-labor system. Now that the roads were in good repair, all the district roads should be let by tender. Mr M'Whirter concluded an able address by asking his hearers to consider his past actions. He was ambitious to represent them again. His interests were identical with theirs, and, if elected, he would carry" them out to the best of his ability. He would be happy to answer any questions they might put to him. Mr Morris would" like to. ask if Mr M'Whirter was in favor of reducing the County Chairman's salary ? Mr M'Whirteu replied that the Chairman was entitled to a fair salary. He would pay for horse hire, but no expenses. £2OO was quite sufficient. . [A Voice: "He is the best man we could put in."] Mr John White said it would be unreasonable to expect that we should send three men from this end of the riding to represent us in the Council; and the best man for this district is Mr M'Whirter 5 he had done most for us. —[Applause.] They had the privilege this time of voting for three members. He should vote for

two members in this district and one out of it, and Mr M'Whirter is the man. He liked him, because he had never attempted "to cast a slur on anyone.—[Loud applause.] He moved that Mr M'Whirter was a fit 'and proper person to represent the Aralmra Riding in the County Council. The motion was seconded by Mr John M'Auley, and carried unanimously. Mr M'Whirter thanked them heartily ;and with a vote of thanks to the chair, the meeting, at which about 230 were present, broke up. MR. W. H. LINNELL TO THE ELECTORS AT STAFFORD. Mr W. H. Linnell addressed a large and crowded meeting at the Oddfellows' Hall, Stafford, on Saturday evening. The chair was taken by. Mr R. Stewart. After the candidate had explained his views, amidst loud applause and roars of laughter, it was moved by Mr J. Williams, and seconded by Mr Thomas'Gallagher, that he was a fit and proper person to be their representative, which motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks having been given to the Chairman, the meeting 'closed.