The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 1802 The Candidates.

Manawatu Herald, 1 September 1892, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 1802 The Candidates.

The Burgesses of Foxton are fortunate in having the choice of seven candidates to fill the three vacancies on the Borough Council. We do not propose to suggest who should be elected but it is only fair to , point out that the affairs of the Borough have been carefully attended to, and though the old members may not have done much, in the eyes of certain electors, they have at any rate abstained from doing much harm. Negative qualities are at times of much value, and a > drag ' to the council is of as much value as a ' drag ' to a coach, when th« course is downwards.

Mr McMillan'has the advantage of claiming support by having a very good record for the four years he has occupied the position of Councillor. He moved the resolution which empowered the sale of the old county chambers, thus preventing any attempt on the part of the , Council to return to the luxurious ways of that public body. He, in conjunction with the present Mayor, has always been a cosnistent advocate for a good water supply to the town. In February 1890 we find that he moved the following resolution " That on account of the soarcity of water in Foxfcon, the Mayor be. requested to correspond with some suitable person for the purpose of obtaining water by boring artesian wells." This was carried, having been seconded by Mr Jen'is who was then a member of the Council. The result of this correspondence was unfortunate as the prices asked were, beyond the means of the Council. The knowledge that such an attempt had been made was ignored by Mr Startup at the late meeting of the Council when he desired that tenders should be called and though Mr Williams showed that such had been done he remained unconvinced. We notice that Mr McMillan undeterred by the impossibility of getting an artesian supply, (as it appeared then) moved again in June 1891 that a committee be formed to consider the question of a water supply for the town. We all know that he also moved the resolutions that secured the attempt now being made by Messrs Lord and Lewis. In other matters he has also moved tor the general good, such as tree planting and getting the Library open of an afternoon. We have just mentioned the part he took in initiating these proposals, not in any spirit of opposition to the other Councillors, but to show that he took the trouble to keep these matters in the front. Of course had not the other members agreed to them, nothing would have been done.

Mr Robert Austin has not; had such a long innings, having only taken his seat in October 1890. We find him active in seconding resolutions but not in moving them. How,ever a good backer is a very useful man. He is much interested in the sfcaGe of the roads and we have not heard of any action of his being called into question.

Mr Stephen- Startup is rather an erratic member, suddenly appearing"' in the Council and as suddenly disappearing. He was elected a Councillor-; without contest in March 1891 in the room of Mr Jonson, andretired in August 1891. It was rumoured,' at the time he was elected, that he felt he bad a duty, to perform. During the six months tenure of office he moved two resolutions, one directing attention, to what he termed, the dangerous state of the fences in Main street, and the other " That a lamp be placed at the corner of Park street and Robinson street." may mention that Mr Startup's residence, is near this corner. Having retired in August 1891 he again was elected unopposed in the place of Mr Nye when he took the office of Mayor.,

Mr Thomas Wilson has offeredhimself as being more a representative of country interests. £[c has done the Borough some service by having devoted a year to the office of Mayor at the urgent request of the Burgesses. He would therefore be not by any means an untried man. Mr Edmund Osborne, as an old resident, offers his services, and' it is satisfactorary to find such men coming forward to relieve the Borough from the reproach that we leave ou r work to be carried out by, comparatively speaking, new comers. Mr John McPhevfcon is another country representative and claims the advantage of having had a good

deal of experience on road board matfcerg. This is however some years back and we do not know in iHe lewi; what his views are on Borough questions'. Mr Richard Walden who is possessed of some town property; but really lives]at Motoa, ha 3 also thrown himself into the breach to represent Mie cdiintry portion of the Borough. It will be impossible to Mtirfl three outside repressntatives and our country friends though to be commended for their public spirit, can* not be for their tactics, and out of so many candidates may fail to «ecure the return of one. However -vt* hope one will be returned.