MR. HUTCHISON AT TE ARO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4595, 11 December 1875, Page 3

MR. HUTCHISON AT TE ARO.

Mr. Hutchison, a candidate for the Mayoralty of Wellington, met the ratepayers of Te Aro, at Valentine’s Foresters’ Arms Hotel, lost night. There were over fifty ratepayers present. Mr. Taylor occupied the chair, and introduced Mr. Hutchison, who was received with applause, and explained that he had no desire to force himself upon the notice of the ratepayers. His candidature had been brought about by the fact that a number of the ratepayers who objected to the candidature of Mr. Gisborne had requested him to come forward. Those gentlemen thought that the ways and manners of the civil service did not fit a man to represent the ways and manners of the commercial city of Wellington. The chief objection against Mr. Gisborne, however, was that recent circumstances had made plain that he was the nominee of a particular sect, and Wellington wanted a Mayor not to represent a sect but the community. When first asked to come forward, he (Mr, Hutchison) had strongly declined to do so; but at last when it was placed before him, he refused to accede to the request until such a requisition was presented to him as would guarantee him that a large number of the ratepayers wanted him. His requisition was signed by twice as many as Mr. Gisborne’s. His requisitionists certainly might not be of the upper ten ; but he had yet to learn that one ratepayer was not as good as another. Therefore, he might fairly say he had not thrust himself forward—and he might say even now, that general expression of discontent from the ratepayers would cause him to withdraw. He deprecated the illnatured manner in which the contest was being conducted by certain literary advocates of Mr. Gisborne. He did not see why, in a free country, a contest should not be fought out in good temper. Mr. Hutchison then entered at length into his views on municipal affairs, laying down as a principle that the expenditure should be kept within the limits of revenue, and that the rates should be equitably expended, according to the districts in which it was raised. With regard to the overdraft, whilst he did not blame past Councils, he thought something should be done. An effort should be made to have it wiped off, so that the city should not be paying a heavy interest. After payment of interest and sinking fund, there should be no endeavor to make a profit out of the waterrate. Pure water was a necessity, and should be provided as such. He thought that better management would provide better wharf accommodation, sufficient until the erection of the General Government wharf, which would ease the traffic. Holding these views, he was not inclined to blame the rejection of the Bill to enable the City Council to borrow £50,000 for wharf extension. He thought that the City Council ought to be capable to manage the wharf affairs without the necessity of creating a harbor board. It was impossible to exaggerate the importance of the necessity for having Wellington properly drained, and this should be confronted at once and gone into thoroughly. A loan could he sought for no purpose more legitimately than for this. Some practical plan and an estimate of the cost for carrying it out should be got. The assent of the ratepayers to this should then be obtained, and after that Parliament might be asked to give power to borrow the money. Mr. Hutchison, in conclusion, referred to a disgraceful newspaper attack which had been made upon him, more especially with regard to his connection with journalism. He would just say in reference to this that he had lived by journalism for years, had brought up his family and paid his debts -with the money earned as a journalist, and (he wished to say it with all delicacy) would be now a richer man but for his acquaintance with the writer of the article which professed to give his career as a journalist. Amid considerable applause Mr. Hutchison referred to his connection with municipal affairs in Wanganui, and with the public affairs of the province. Mr. Hutchison having answered several questions, a vote of thanks to him was proposed and unanimously carried. The proposer said that though after having heard Mr, Hutchison he intended to support him, yet he would not propose a vote of confidence, as he did not think such a fair mode of procedure.