WEDNESDAY’S ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 985, 29 April 1911, Page 3

WEDNESDAY’S ELECTION.

Alter the declaration of the poll at about 10 p.m., a call was made for speeches by the candidates. All caudidaled present mounted the “slump” and all received good receptions.

Cr. Colev bri-Tly returned thanks for the honourable position in which the electors had placed him. It was a position to be proud ot aud proved to him that the electors appreciated his efforts on ‘the Council during his term. He assured them that, as in the past, he would always support auy movement that bad for its object the advancement of Foxton. Cr. Adams after returning thanks said that by being placed second on the list he achieved something he never expected. It was indeed very gratifying to him to get within two votes of the top of the poll. He assured those present that he would, to the best of his ability, further the interests of the borough iu every way possible, and expressed the hope that at the eud ot the coming term the electors would be satisfied that the confidence they had reposed in him that day had not been misplaced. His platform was Progress and an Advanced Foxton, and in this connection he would do all in bis power. He referred to the absolute necessity of the installation of a water supply and drainage system for the borough aud said that the ratepayers would have an opportunity of voting on this question during the life of the newly-elected Council. There were a number ot other questions in connection with the advancement of the town that would also receive his attention. He concluded by expressing the hope that the coming term would, Irom au advancement point of view, be as successful as the one just closed.

Cr. Gibus heartily thanked those who had supported him and placed him in the splendid position ot third on the poll. He was proud of the tact that they had such confidence in him and during the coming term he would do his best to merit it. The support accorded him that day, showed that his efforts on the Council had been appreciated. When he returned thanks after the declaration of the poll two years previously, he had stated be would do his best to safeguard the expenditure of rates, and he thought this promise had been kept, as during the past year practically the whole of the rates collected had been spent on the roads and footpaths. All movements ior the advancement of the town had received his hearty support. During the past two years the gas works had been purchased and a Municipal Hall was now in the course of erection. Both these, he contended, would be self-supporting. He had supported the formation and metalling of a road to the Beach. When completed this road will materially assist to increase the prestige of aud the business done in Foxton, and there will be a good road to one of the most popular watering places on this coast. He concluded with the assurauce that any schemes for the advancement of the town would receive his very hearty support, but they could rest assured that he would not support any scheme that might become an undue burden on the ratepayers or any section of them. Mr Grkig thanked the electors for placing him in the enviable position of fourth on the list. As he had only resided in Foxton for two years he said he did not expect to be among the first six, and it was very pleasing indeed to him to think that the electors had such confidence in him. He would, during his term of office, endeavour to merit the confidence they had reposed in him. In offering his services as one of their representatives on the Council he had not done so to gain notoriety, but recognised that there was work to do and as a citizen he should take his fair share. He bad not had a great deal of experience in the affairs of Borough Councils, but under the tuition of the Mayor and with the assistance of the other Councillors he hoped to do what was possible for the advancement of the town and thus merit the confidence the electors had reposed in him that day. Cr. Speihs thanked the electors for supporting him so well that day, aud assured them he would always do his best in the interests of Foxton. All his interests were centred in Foxton and as anything that would benefit the ratepayers would also benefit him, they could rest assured that he would also do his best for the town and its people.

Mr Chrystall said he was very proud of the confidence the ratepayers had reposed in him, and during his term as one of their representatives on the Council he would do his best to merit it. Wheu he previously contested a seat he had been defeated, but he had not been discouraged aud on this, the first opportunity, he had again offered his services. The measure of support he had received that day was all the more pleasing to him on account of the fact that he had not asked for a single vote. His policy during his term of office would be Progress. He referred to the necessity of a water supply aud drainage system for the borough. In the interests of the health of the community these should be installed at the very earliest opportunity.

MrWoodroofe

thanked the electors for the support accorded him at the poll. He said the Council that had been elected was a ret' good one and one that would work for the good of the borough as a whole. One thing that Foxton was badly in need of was an efficient water supply and he hoped the newlyelected Council would give this matter their attention, at the very earliest opportunity. The roads also needed attention as they were in a very bad state at the present time. Mr Littlejohn thanked the electors for the support accorded him. Although defeated he was not disheartened and would again offer his services at the first opportunity, when he hoped to be honoured with their confidence.

HARBOUR BOARD. The result of the Harbour Board election was announced by tbe Returning Officer at 10.35 p.m., and immediately afterwards Mr Hennessy made his appearance in the ring. He thanked the electors for returning him at the top of the poll with such a thumping majority. It was indeed very gratifying to him to know that he had the confidence of the electors. His return at the head of the poll he took as a mark of appreciation of his efforts iu the past lor the welfare of the port, and he assured those present that he would continue to do all iu his power in this connection. He referred to the overlapping ot the Wellington aud Foxton Harbour Board districts. This should not be. Foxton was not interested iu the Wellington Harbour Board. He also referred to the lack of interest in Foxton Harbour Board matters iu the other ceuties whicu had tbe right to return members. In Palmerston aud Feilding there were no elections for a member of the Foxtou Harbour Board, and both these places took more interest iu the Wellington Harbour Board than they did iu the Foxton Board. In Levin also there had been no election. Notwithstanding all that was said to the contrary he still maintained that practically no progress could be made in Foxton until the whart was obtained. Although a Committee of the House had recommended the sale of this structure to the Board at a price to be fixed by arbitration, nothing whatever had been beard from the Government since. For the Board to be of auy material value to the district it must get possession of the wharf. A report on the bar aud river had been received from a competent engineer, but as it had not yet been before the Board he could not make known the contents of same. He could say, however, that provided a rating area was brought into existence aud a rate struck as security, the report clearly showed that there would be sufficient finance, taking present revenues including whariages, to maintain a depth of 12 feet at high water springs all the year round. He wished it to be clearly understood that although it would be necessary to strike the rate as security, it would not be necessary to collect it. He concluded with the assurance that he would continue to do all in his power to push the port ahead.

Mr Gibbs returned thanks for being returned as one of Foxtou’s representatives on the Board. He thoroughly endorsed Mr Hennessy’s remarks regarding the acquisition of the wharf and the improvement of the river and bar, and anything that Mr Hennessy brought forward for the betterment of the port would have his whole-hearted support. He regarded the river as one of Foxton’s best assets. We had not got the farming country around us that was found in neighbouring towns —Marton and Woodville — and consequently depended almost entirely on the flax industry. He looked upon the river as an asset that would enhance Foxtou’s prosperity more than anything else, but it would be necessary to first have control of the wharf, and the acquisition of this structure was going to be his objective. Foxton was undoubtedly the best situated port to serve the district. He complimented the electors on the intelligent manner in which they had recorded their votes. Considering the number of voting papers the number ol informal papers, was very small indeed. He concluded by again thanking the electors for the confidence placed in him and promised to do his best to merit it.

Mr PERREAU also returned thanks for the support accorded him. He said that considering it was his first effort to enter public lite, he thought he had polled remarkably well. Although he was defeated he was not discouraged and intended again offering his services to the electors, when he hoped to be honoured with their confidence.