TE ARO ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4822, 5 September 1876, Page 2

TE ARO ELECTION.

MR. MOELLEB'S MEETING. Mr. Moeller addressed the ratepayers of Te Aro at the Victoria Hotel yesterday evening at 8 o'clock. There was a large and influential attendance. Mr. I. Plimmer was appointed Chairman on the motion of Mr. McKenzie, seconded by Mr. Gmbtiths, and in introducing Mr. Moeller said that the ratepayers would do well to elect him, for he knew him to be a good sterling man, of good judgment, and above all he was no toady. Mr. Moeller said that Councillor Gillon, in his address to the electors a few nights ago, stated that he (Mr. Moeller) simply contested the election at the instigation oi one or two of his non-admirers, in fact, that he was lending himself to be made a tool of—an assertion which he begged most emphatically to deny. He was not a man to bo made a tool of by anybody or against anybody, and if his own inclinations had not led him *o seek civic honors, no persuasion in the world would have induced him to contest the election. He voluntarily offered them his services to represent the interests of their ward in the City Council. Having so many independent and able men in their own ward, he considered it almost a shame to go outside of it to be represented. His time was his own, and if elected he promised them to devote a great portion of it to the business of the ward and the city .of Wellington. With regard to the gas question, he had stated in his reply to the requisition that he was adverse to the purchase of the works at the exorbitant price agreed upon by the Corporation, but would not object to purchase by arbitration, and then not until the vote of the ratepayers on the question had been taken. The opinion of the ratepayers had been taken, and their voice was dead agaiast the purchase altogether. He would of course respect that decision, and if elected wouldoppose the acquirement of the gasworks by the Corporation. The sphere of usefulness of the Corporation should not go beyond the improvement of the city, both sanitarily and otherwise, in laying out and keeping in repair roads and streets leading to ratepaying properties, in providing the city with a copious and good supply ol water at the lowest possible cost. Drainage, both surface and underground, should also be looked to by them; and all these measures would at al! times receive his heartiest advocacy and support. If the Corporation would confine themselves to these duties, they would find quite enough to do without encumbering their time and energies by having to look after the gasworks, which he maintained was the proprovince of private enterprise only, and should not be interfered with by the Corporation. He did not intend to address the ratepayers again before the election, and he assured them that he would if returned discharge his duties faithfully and disinterestedly. He begged to conclude his address, thanking them for the very kind and indulgent hearing they had given him. At the conclusion of Mr. Moeller's speech, the Chairman stated that the candidate was prepared to answer any questions. Mr. Moody then asked Mr. Moeller if he would support the division of Te Aro Ward, so that they might have adequate representation in the Council ?

Mr. Moblleb replied that he would certainly do so if elected, as the district was not fairly represented. Mr. Hunt asked whether Mr. Moeller thought it advisable that the Corporation should take over the gasworks in any event, even supposing there was an arbitration as to the purchase money ? Mr, Moeller said in reply that he objected to the Corporation dealing with the matter at all, but in any case the opinion of the ratepayers should be respected. A Ratepayer asked if Mr. Moeller would be in favor of the Corporation taking over the numerous small private streets which had lately been formed in the Te Aro district ? and Mr. Moeller expressed an opinion that the Corporation would be far better able to keep these streets in repair than the private owners, and on this ground it was desirable that they should be taken over. He would never be above going to look at any street if asked by a ratepayer. ABatepayer asked if Mr. Moeller had looked into the new Municipal Corporations Act, and if so, did he not think that its provisions as to the consent of one-fourth of the electors in every ward being necessary before a subdivision in any particular ward could be effected would be detrimental to the division of Te Aro Ward ? and Mr. Moelleb replied th.it he was strongly of opinion that the ward should be divided and have two representatives, but as to the effect of these provisions he was ignorant. Mr. Anderson asked Mr. Moeller if when elected he would be prepared to move for a return, showing the amount of rate 3 collected in the outlying districts, and the amount spent in such districts during the last three years, with a view to obtaining a fair share of expenditure in the same? In putting the question, Mr. Anderson said that at present he was residing in a central part of the ward, but at one time he had resided in an outlying district for a long period. During the winter time it was a sore straggle for the settlers who lived on the outskirts of the ward to go home through the mud and the mire, the rain and the wind, with little or no light. He had felt the injustice of having to go, as it were, on their bended knees to ask the Council for that to which they were justly entitled. In his opinion the central portions of the ward were well cared for and the outskirts neglected, and he asked for an answer to this question from Mr. Moeller, more particularly because his interests were certainly with the centre of the ward.

Mr. Moeller, in reply, said he felt strongly that water and gas should be supplied to the out-districts, and that an adequate return should be made to the ratepayers for the money they contributed. Mr. Moody then proposed,—That Mr. Moeller is a fit and proper person to represent Te Aro Ward in the City Council, and this meeting pledges itself to use every endeavor to secure his return. Mr. Edgbb seconded the motibn.

Mr. McKenzie, in supporting the motion, said that Mr. Mueller's views as to the division of Te Aro into two wards had struck him as moat important. In size it was about twice a 3 large as either of the other two wards, and it was not fair that they should have such an inadequate representation. Any one who was about at 5 o'clock covdd see where the working classes wended their way, and in his opinion some provision in the way of lighting and good roads should be made for the working population. They knew Mr. Moellef to be a man of independent views, with plenty of means, and that everything he did he did thoroughly. He was just the sort of man they wanted, and in his opinion the ward was very fortunate in getting him to come forward. He quite agreed in the statement which had been made that it would have been disgraceful if they could not have got a man from their own district to represent them, and he felt confident that all the ratepayers who had been there and heard Mr. Moeller's statement would support him on the polling day.

Mr WalliAce also supported the and said that there had been great neglect as to Te Aro Ward in the Council for a long time, and some provision ought t;o be made for the fonnation.of the itreets proper. By this he meant those streets which had been laid out in the original survey. When the Bill which was now before Parliament as to corporations came into force the control of large sums of money would be in the hands of the Corporation, and a considerable sum ought to be set apart for the benefit of Te Aro Ward.

Mr. Moeller explained that he had expressed exactly the same views as Mr. Wallace, but had not taken half-an-hour to do so. After a few remarks from Mr. McKenzie, the Chairman, in putting the motion, said that newspaper chaps were very fond of talk, and Mr. Gillon had made fully a hundred propositions in the Council, out of which nothing had come. When Mr. Gillon proposed to reduce the rates by 15 per cent., he (the Chairman), although they were not very good friend*,, to say the least of it, said it was a very foolish proposition, and Mr. Gillon had said that it would please the ratepayers. This was an attempt to buy popularity, but a man who depended - on advertisements would toady to anyone, and with a fair tongue would endeavor to persuade them that all he did or attempted was for their interest alone. The motion was carried unanimously. A Ratepayer then addressed the meeting and said that he had supported Mr. Gillon most strongly, and had quite agreed in the proposed reduction of 15 per cent, in* the rates. Instead of a reduction, however, he found that he had to pay is. more than he had done previously. The rates were reduced 15 per cent., but the valuation was increased 20 per cent. He did not want 10s.. put into one pocket and £1 taken out of theother. He would support Mr. Moeller because he believed him to be a straightforward and honorable man. Mr. Gillon had deceived them, and that was another reason why he supported Mr. Moeller. Mr. McKenzie said that it would be necessary to take further action if they meant to do any practical good, and proposed the formation of a committee, to consist of those pre» sent who were willing to give in their names, with power to add to their number. This was seconded by Mr. Edger, and carried unanimously. The meeting concluded by the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman.