THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4204, 10 September 1874, Page 3

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

THORN DON WARD. Last night a meeting of the ratepayers of this Ward was held at the Royal Hotel, Thorndon Quay. It was called by a number of ratepayers to give the rival candidates an opportunity of explaining their views on local matters before the poll. Thero is but one vacancy, and Councillor Burrett seeks reelection, while Mr. J. M. Cleland aspires to be elected. The room—which is not a large one —was crowded. Mr. Marks (of Picton), a ratepayer of the Ward, was called to the chair, and read the advertisement convening the meeting. Mr. Cleland, as the youngest aspirant for election, was called upon to address the meeting first, and did so at Borne length. He justified his candidature on the interest he had always taken in the affairs of the City and Thonulon Ward in particular, and on the fact that he had now his whole time at command, and was willing to give it up to the service of the ratepayers, while his opponent had numerous irons in the fire which required time and attention. He regarded water as the first consideration. That they had now got. The drainage and sewerage of the City was the next, and to that he would give his utmost attention. The state of the City, as regarded roads and footpaths, he considered to be most disgraceful—roads, in fact, they had none. He promised, if elected, to visit the Ward frequently —once a week or once a fortnight—to inquire into its wants, meet the citizens, receive their suggestions, and once having placed before the Council a matter which he considered necessary to be done, to persevere with it time after time until he had obtained what ho wished. In reply to a question, he. said that if returned he would endeavor to put an end to these unseemly scenes that were now of such constant occurrence at the Council board. He was thoroughly independent of men and party, and would see that the money of the citizens was properly expended. Councillor Burrett reminded the ratepayers present that when he first went into the Council he did so on this very question of drainage and sewerage, which he had ever since endeavored to bring about. It was through his exertions that much or all of what had been done for the Ward had been done. He had obtained the lighting of the the streets, the kerbing and channelling that had been done, and to some extent the improvement of- the roads. As to the manner in which business was conducted at the Board, he had endeavored to prevent the scenes which were of so frequent occurrence of late, and it was to him they owed the fact, that for the future the Mayor of the City would be elected by the votes of the whole of the ratepayers. As to what had been said as to having many irons in the fire. He had many irons in the fire; but he had always been able to attend to them, and to the business of the Corporation as well. That attention he would still be able to give public matters, while he had always been able to manage his private business with at least as much liberality as his opponent —to whom he did not yield in independence—had done. It was all very well to talk about public works of improvement, but where was the money to come from ? They wanted some £7OOO or £BOOO a-year, and they had only between £4OOO and £SOOO. After some remarks in which the position and works of the City Surveyor were unfavorably commented upon, and care was taken to impress upon both the candidates the belief that the community was already taxed as highly as -it could bear, the chairman took the opportunity to remind the candidates that as certain political changes were likely to take place that would throw a greater responsibility upon the Corporation, it would be well for the gentleman who was elected to consider whether it would not be possible to obtain from the Government a subsidy in proportion to local contributions for such works as road improvements, &c. Both gentlemen assented to this view, and Mr. Cleland took the opportunity to say that he was certain the country would be found entirely in favor of the abolition of Provincial institutions. It was proposed that the meeting should form itself into a committee to support the candidature of Mr. Cleland next day. This was objected to by the chairman, anil a resolution was then moved and agreed to, that both candidates be thanked for their attendance, and for the lucid manner in which they had addressed the ratepayers. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.

TE ARO WARD.

Mr. Moody, candidate for a seat in the City Council for Te Aro Ward, met a number of ratepayers on Wednesday evening, in the commercial room of the New Zealander Hotel. There was a good attendance at the appointed hour, and Mr. Heywood was called to the chair. The meeting was for the purpose of forming a working committee to secure the return, o this day, of the candidate ; but before going into committee several questions were asked of the candidate by the gentlemen present. In reply to these he stated that the ratepayers should be furnished with an annual statement of the expenditure in each ward, that the sewage should bs pumped from a reservoir into Lyell's Bay to there feed the fishes, but that first a main sewer should be commenced—which could be done without expensive surveys being taken—to bring the sewerage to this reservoir near to the gas works ; the iron pipe 3in which it should be discharged would cost much money, but the payment might be stretched over a series of years ; that all tho streets wanted was good metal to be put upon them, instead of the rotten mud now used ; that there should be a Street Committee appointed, consisting of one Councillor for each ward, and that each should instruct the Surveyor n"t to put mud on the streets, or to resign, if he persisted in doing so ; and that each Councillor should inspect the streets in each ward, and order the contractors who carted metal in to cart mud out. Here the chairman suggested that the Councillors should inspect the streets by night, sitting on the bottoms of the carts, without springs to them, employed ; and the candidate said he should suggest that Councillor Greenfield should bo charged with this labor in Te Aro Ward. He continued to say that it was totally wrong for tho Council to have night soil discharged at Clyde Quay, as at Tjresent, but before he could decide what was the proper site he should need to ride round the 'Town Belt. [Here it was explained, to the satisfaction of the meeting, that the candidate was but a "new chum."] He remarked that to float the night soil in and around the baths had been found objectionable. The meeting then resolved itself into a working committee to secure the return of Mr. Moody.

Mr. C4eorge met a large number of the ratepayers again last night, at the Panama Hotel. The only fresh subject introduced-by the candidate was the pi-oposed abolition of Provinces. Many persons, he said, would probably fail to see in what form this subject related to municipal matters ; it concerned them very considerably, and should engage the attention of candidates ; for, consequent on the abolition of Provincial Government, the money derived from publicans' and other licenses, would come into the revenue of the City Council. The speaker referred again to matters brought forward at the meeting on the previous evening. The only question put was—Would Mr. George, if returned, approve of or allow Courtney Place being made a depot.for night soil ? The reply was decidedly not ; such a proceeding was most disgraceful, and he, Mr.. George, couldnotunderstand the conductof the Inspector of Nuisances in allowing it. A unanimous vote of confidence in the candidate was passed, and most of those present were added to the committee formed to secure his return.