ELECTION OF COUNCELLORS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 218, 14 September 1877, Page 2

ELECTION OF COUNCELLORS.

The Returning Officer having Announced that he would officially declare the poll at 8 o'clock last night, a number of ratepayeni assembled at the Council Chamber at that hour, but Jwere then informed that tha ballot papers would take longer to arrange than had been expected, and that tha declaration could not be made before nine. Punctually - at that hour the door was opened, and, in the presence of nearly 100 people, Mr Greenfield declared the result of the polling to fee as follows .--Everett 347, Gray 337, Levien 331. Little 326, Hooper 299, Webb 274, Bethwaita 273, Tutty 261, Pickering 229, Harley 207, The nine first named were. therefore elected. Mr Everett said that he. wished to return his sincere thanks for-tae position in which he had been plaeedTon th> polli The ratepayers niight rest assured- that, whatever questions t might come before Gha Council would receive his best attention, and that he should vote upon them, ..as ! ha always had done, in a fair, honest, and independent manner. There were some important queations that must necessarily force themselves upon the Council. One of these was that of the drainage of the town, which it would be impossible and manifestly unfair to provide for by the ordinary rates, but would have to be met by special taxation. Some little in the way of drainaga had lately been done to do away with existing nuisances, but that was not what ' was required. A proper system would have to be carried out, and that would entail considerable cost, especially in its initiation, as carefully prepared plans would be necessary, and these could only be procured from experienced J professional men. Another question was ' that of taking over the Gas and Water Works. A certain portion of the cost of these had been paid, but there was still a large balance for which they were answerable. He believed that all would agree with him that works of this kind should be in the hands of the local bodies, ;but perhaps they were not all aware that the Act provided that no money could be raised without the sauction of. the ratepayers being obtained by means of a poll, so that they could not be taxed for these objects without their own consent. Messrs Gray, Little, Webb, and Bethwaite returned their thanks to the ratepayers. Mr Everett said that he had been asked by Mr Hooper to apologise for his absence. Mr J. Harley returned thanks on behalf of Mr Tutty who, he was sure, would make a zealous, conscientious, and good member of the Council. He had been thirfcy-flve years in the colony, had fought for their walfare from beginuing to end, and still remained amongst them. With regard to himself he (Mr Harley) wished to say a few words, especially as he had not been represented in j a trustworthy or truthful manner by the | public press. He had served the ratepayers respectably and well, and th« Mayor and ' Council would not deny it, but, unfortunately, j on two occasions he had somewhat miscon- I dacted himself, and for this he desired to j offer his very humble apologies to the rate- \ payers. Having informed thos« present for whom he had voted, Mr Harley went on to say that he had been mainly instrumental m bringing forward Mr Tutty, as he thought it desirable to have new blood in the Coun- | cil, but, at the same time, he was extremely sorry to see oae of the old members rejected. The proceedings terminated with a vote of I thanks to the Returning Officer, proposed by Mr Everett and seconded by Mr Burn.