THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5140, 13 September 1877, Page 2

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

MESSES. HUNTER, GREENFIELD. AND GEORGE AT. COOK WARD. Last evening Messrs. Hunter, Greenfield, and George met the ratepayers of Cook Ward at the Albion Hotel. Mr. C. Taylor (builder) was voted to the chair, and explained the object of the meeting, observing that it was of the highest importance just now to return the best men possible to the City Council, and he trusted that the result of the poll would be to place the three candidates now present in the Council. He called on Mr. Greenfield, as the oldest Councillor present, to address the meeting. Mr. Greenfield said he was not going to make a long speech. The ratepayers had elected him twice for Te Aro Ward, now divided, and he thanked them for the coufiddence they had placed in him. He now came forward as a candidate for the newly-formed Cook Ward, in which he had an interest; and in looking after his own interest he should be promoting that of the electors generally. He placed himself entirely in the hands of the ratepayers. They knew what he had done in the past, and if he was again returned he should do all he could for the benefit of the ward ar-fi for the city generally. There was a great deal of work to be done’in Cook Ward, where most of the streets were newly formed; and of larger works there was the drainage scheme and tin. reclamation of the Te Aro foreshore. He referred to complaints that had been made as to the management of the departmental business of the Corporation, and said he had not supported the motion made lately as to appointing a solicitor Town Clerk. Again thanking the ratepayers for the confidence reposed in him hitherto, he assm-ed them that if returned he should do his best to represent them faithfully. Mr. George said he had not come prepared with a long speech, and should follow the example of Mr. Greenfield and make it short. He and his fellow-candidates deemed it right to be present, so that they might answer any question or give any information that might be required. He might almost apologise himself for addressing them at all, as he had made up his mind not to come forward on this occasion, and said so frequently; but being strongly urged he had altered his mind, and consented to stand, and if elected he would do all he could to promote the interests of his constituents. There was one important matter to which he would refer, viz., the action of the Mayor in reference to the conduct of the business of the Council, which was bringing discredit upon the town. Up to the time of the last election, things went on smoothly, and the Mayor worked in harmony with the City SoEcitor ; but lately the Mayor bad taken upon himself to set up his idea of law against that of Mr. Travers, and when these conflicts of opinion on matters of law arose, the Council felt bound to be guided by Mr. Travers’ advice rather than by that of one who, however much he might know, was not a trained lawyer. After the election referred to, the Mayor began to interfere too much in departmental affairs, and a resolution was passed that all business should emanate from the Town Clerk, and since then the Mayor had offered all sorts of obstructions. The Council were of opinion thatthe Mayor was not a departmental head, butrMr. Hutchison thought that he was. ' So long as Mr. Hutchison was Mayor, as he had plenty of time to spare, it did not so much matter 5 but if a Mayor were elected who had not so much time at his own disposal, the result might be different. It was to avoid unpleasantness that the resolution was carried, and he considered that the Mayor should have felt himself bound to acquiesce in the ruling of the majority ; but he did nothing of the sort, and had given notices of motion to rescind nearly everything that had been done by the Council for some months past. In reference to the important subject of drainage, he (Mr. George) was a supporter of Mr. Climie’s scheme. There might be some hitches in it, but on the whole he beEeved it to be a good and workable scheme. The Te Aro reclamation was a most important work, and in connection with this subject he would point out that they were indebted to Mr. Drausfield for this and other valuable endowments. He assured them that

if elected he would do all ho could to promote the interests of the city. Mr. Hunter then addressed the meeting, saying that up to within a few days ago he had no idea of interfering in this election. He considered he did his fair share of work in another place, and should not have come forward but for the pressure which had been brought to bear upon him in the matter, and which had induced to go a little further. A largely signed requisition had been presented to him by the ratepayers around Lambtonquay, where he had property, and he had also property adjacent to this ward, and by standing for Cook Ward he was not putting himself into competition with other old Councillors of the ward, because it was a newly-created ward, and no one had as yet sat tor it. Therefore he had made up his mind that if he came forward at all on this occasion it wou.d be for Cook Ward, and not for any of the others. Another reason which had induced him to offer himself to the electors was that ho had been'assured that Mr. Greenfield and Mr. George would be bis fellow candidates, they having reconsidered a previous decision not to stand, and resolved to come forward with him to represent this ward, and if elected he would endeavor to assist them in bringing about what was felt generally to be much wanted, a better state of things in the City Council than there appeared ’ to be at present. Wellington was in a somewhat peculiar position. The Corporation had a large amount of money to expend, and if it were judiciously laid out the outlay would be amply recouped in the increased - value of the city properties, and it should be the object of the ratepayers to return those who they believed would assist in promoting this object, and in having a Council which would do credit to the place. He was not going to reflect on anybody, but still it was evident that there ou<*ht to be a great change in the management of the business of the municipality, and that there must her a more efficient system of administration. He agreed with what Mr. George had said in reference to the Mayor. In borough councils in England one man was elected Mayor for one year, and generally another person was chosen next year, and so on,but everyone felt sure tbattbebusiness would go on just the same under the control of a responsible officer of the Corporation. If a man went in as Mayor to d© all the work here that Mr. Hutchison did, it would be found he could not do it—at least very few could afford to do it—without being paid a large salary, because he could not attend to his private business. Some years ago when he was a Councillor forTe Aro he hadnot feltsatisfied with the way in which the business was being conducted, and suggested alterations; but no attention was paiTto what he said, and therefore he determined not to stay as part and parcel of a .body of whose actions he did not approve. Hut it was not much use harking back to the past, it was the future they had most to look to. There was a great deal to be done. Large loans had been raised, and on very favorable terms, and more would have to be raised; but the works were necessary, and if the money was properly laid out they would be reproductive. £200,000 or £300,000 might be laid out judiciously on the Te Aro foreshore and other ; works. Some time ago he had suggested—and he had been laughed at at the time—that£2s,ooo • should be expended on making new streets, an( l if that had been done the value of the ] property would have been so increased that ■ the additional rates would have paid interest * on the outlay. He considered that the old 1 Corporation had made a great mistake in not 1 acquiring the land known as the Thorndon reclamation. An agreement had been entered 1 into that the Corporation should purchase it * for £30,000, and a Bill passed through the 1 Lower House to give it effect; but through 1 influence brought to bear on the Upper House it was thrown out, and the laud was now : handed over as an asset of the General Govern- : ment, who had a lien on it for advances made 1 to the Provincial Government. This matter would have yet to be dealt with between the Corporation and the Government. If they elected him he should endeavor to serve them faithfully as , their representative in the Council. There would be a great deal of work to be done, and no doubt much unpleasant work. If returned he should endeavor ; - to work in harmony with hia colleagues and for the best interests of the city. • Several questions were then put to the can- 1 didates. : Mr. Moody asked Mr. Hunter, if elected, would he support a vote for the purchase of 1 two or three portable fire escapes ? ! Mr. Hunter replied that such would be a very proper expenditure. The-fire brigades 1 now received their subsidies through the muni- 1 cipality, and he presumed such appliances 1 as Mr. Moody referred to were provided, but 1 if not, he should, certainly support a vote for 1 the purpose. ■ Mr. Moody : I am quite satisfied. • Mr. Boyd asked whether Mr. Hunter was 1 in favor of municipalities bearing the cost of ‘ making and repairing private streets ? Mr. Hunter said he considered where the ‘ landowners made their streets of the proper I width to be public streets, that a large portion • of the expense at all events should be borne by 1 the Corporation; but whatever his or anybody 1 else’s opinion might be regarding private 1 streets, they could only deal with them accord- ; ing to the Act. Mr. Qurs asked Mr. Greenfield and Mr. George if thi#y would do anything to keep in 1 repair old thoroughfares like the one in which he Jived, whieh he had kept in repair for thirty years himself, and never received a farthing of ’ - his rates, although their amount had been lately increased ? 1 Mr. Greenfield said after the road was made, he considered the Corporation should ' keep it in repair. Mr. George said as to private streets they •were usually made by speculators in building allotments, who cut up town blocks into smaller sections with a view to increase the value of their frontages, and simply marked out the roads. He was of opinion that these speculators ought to make the roads. He agreed with what Mr. Hunter said as to the Thorndon reclamation. But the ratepayers bad to thank themselves for it in electing Mr. Moorhouse mayor instead of Mr. Dransfleld. Mr. Moorhouse unfortunately held the opinion that it was no use to pay money for this land as the Government would he sure to hand it over, and the result was that the town lust it. Mr. Kay Collins complained very much of the large engineering staff of the City Council, and said there were more cats kept than could catch rats. If a little job like putting up a lamp-post were wanted to be done, an engineer and an overseer were employed to superintend the man who put it up, and he said he would like to see a reform in this direction. Mr. McKibdt asked Mr. George and Mr. Greenfield to state what the cost of the engineering staff was ? Mr. Geokge said he had not the returns before him, hut any ratepayer could see them at the Town Clerk’s office. He enumerated the names of the officials, with their pay, so far as he remembered, but recommended any ratepayer desiring information on this head to consult the returns. Mr. O’Neill, he understood, was inspector of buildings. Mr. MoKirdt inquired if any plan of the Te Aro foreshore reclamation bad been adopted by the Corporation 1 Mr. S. Brown said no. Mr. McKibdy said he was asking the candi-

didates a question, and he did not want Mr. Brown to give them the “ straight tip ” (laughter). M>. Green-field said no plan had been decided upon. Some further remarks were made on the Te Aro foreshore question, during which Mr. Hunter said he thought a reclamation to the depth of from four to six feet would be very serviceable. It was all a question of expense, and it was obvious that it would cost very much less to reclaim to that depth than to from fifteen to twenty feet. Probably the leaser scheme might be first adopted, and afterwards the larger one. On the motion of Mr. S. Browh, seconded by Mr. J. Holmes, a vote of confidence in Messrs. Hunter, Greenfield, and George was passed unanimously. Mr. Hdntee moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was seconded, carried, and suitably acknowledged. . This brought the proceedings to a termination.

The meeting' throughout, although not a very large one, was orderly and well conducted, and composed almost wholly of ratepayers in the ward.

MESSES. GILLON, MAGINITY, AND ALLEN AT THORNDON. Messrs. Gillon, Maginity, and Allen, candidates for the representation of Thorndon Ward in the Wellington City Council, addressed a number of ratepayers at Gillespie’s Hotel last evening. Mr. Greig occupied the chair, and bespoke a patient hearing for the candidates. Mr. Gillon said he desired to address them in Tinakori-road because he had been told that he would be going into the enemy’s camp. There had been a deal of misrepresentation going on, Mr. Fisher, a rival candidate, having spread reports about them in a published statement that they (Messrs. Gillon and Maginity) were playing into the hands_ of certain contractors. Mr. Fisher had’ withdrawn those libels at a meeting on Friday night, and said he did not mean what he had stated. He had since met that gentleman, who, after making false and scandalous charges entirely without foundation, had wished to cover them over as being given under misapprehension. He reminded him of one of those indiarubber dolls which looked very solid, but collapsed as soon as they were squeezed. He explained that one charge made against him was that he had accepted an offer from certain gentlemen to stand as a candidate on their promising to pay his expenses. He felt proud of that, and instanced several cases of a similar kind which had taken place in Wellington. Mr. Fisher implied some fearful underhand agreement, and spoke about some nefarious proceedings in connection with the City Council. He was woefully out in his figures and facts; and he had, moreover, taken credit for having exposed a disgraceful arrangement about, the town hall plans, when in point of fact it was he (Mr. Gillon) who had made or instigated the exposure. His object evidently was to get returned to pay off grudges against Messrs. Hutchison and Kennedy Macdonald. He (Mr. Gillon) did not go into the Council to gratify any personal feel-. ings. Mr. Fisher was a Government servant, and while the Act might not prevent his undertaking the office, still it would interfere with his doing justice to the Thorndon Flat constituency for four months in each year; Mr. Fisher would be unable to attend a single meeting of the Council. There were a variety of reasons why he should not he returned. It was also probable that the Government and Corporation would be at loggerheads before long, and he asked, was a man dependent upon the Government for his living to maintain his position independently in the City Council if such a rupture was to occur ? He had heard that Mr. Cleland had spoken against him at a meeting on the previous evening, but he was at a loss to understand his reason for so doing, as Mr. Cleland was one of his staunchest supporters at the last Te Aro election. He referred to the Glenbervie contract and the part he had assumed in regard to that. He had little doubt that ultimately communication would be opened up by way of Syduey-street. During his term of office he had reduced the water rate from 7 per cent, to 4 per cent., after a very hard fight, had also been the means of getting rates received half-yearly, and he got the Public Works Committee established in the Council. If again returned, he would promise the same independent course as before. (Applause.) Air. Anderson having asked Mr. Gillon if he would support Mr. Cleland to divert the traffic from Tinakori-road to Poilhill Gully, heaaid he would not support such a scheme, because he did not think it practicable.

Mr. Trueman asked if he was in favor of monthly tenants being disqualified from voting according to the interpretation of the 9th clause of the Eating Act? Mr. Gillon did not at all agree with the principle of, the clause, the principle he agreed with being that the persons who paid the rates should have the votes. An Elector complained that he had paid rates for two years and six months, but had no vote, and was told his name could not appear' on the bnrgess rhll unless he took a six months’ lease, which hie'considsred a great injustice. In reply to Mr. Anderson, the candidate explained that the House of Parliament was responsible for the Act. The operation of the Eating Bill had debarred nearly 2000 people from having votes, but he anticipated amendment in the Bill this session. Mr. Maginity said the election was an important one, inasmuch as the Abolition Act had now come in force. The ratepayers should consider the people whom they chose as their representatives, especially when they regarded the large amount of money which was trusted to them for expenditure. He explained that Mr. Cleland had stated that he (Mr. Maginity) had not the time to devote to Council business, and did not understaod local wants. He knew best about the time at his disposal ; moreover, he had the advantage of Mr. Cleland, who was going to reside outside the city bounds. As to Mr. Fisher, his statements had been refuted by Mr. Gillon, and his printed address Avas a fallacious blunder. He would not say more than that Mr. Fisher had expressed himself since as feeling aggrieved that he had published it. He was not going to say one word in disparagement of any of the candidates, but simply asked them if they considered he was worthy of their.support; he trusted to their discretion. He had not taken an active part in local matters of public import, but to quote Shakspere, would ask them to “ nothing extenuate, nor aught set down in malice.” It was here he intended to bring up his family, and if they had confidence in him he would ask them to support him. Air. Gillespie said a rumor had gained currency that Messrs. Maginity, Gillon and Clelaud were working as a clique, and he would like them to state whether there was any truth in it. Both candidates denied that they had agreed upon a common platform. Mr. Maginity, in reply to a question put to him, said the increased water rate required reconsideration, and he was in favor of a reduction being made. In answer to further questions, he expressed his opinion that Corporation work should be done by day labor. If elected he would use his best endeavors to have the name of every ratepayer who had paid his rates placed on the roll. Mr. Allen explained his opinion regarding the reclamation in connection with the shipping, that the work should be gone on with. He replied to some remarks made by Mr. Cleland regarding his (Mr. Allen’s) action as one of their representatives. He flatly contradicted the report that he was opposed to anything being done for the good of the ward ; he had always done his best to suit their interests. He had never once been absent from a single committee of the Council of which he was a member during his term of office. If again returned he would act as before. He defined the action taken by him in regard to the proposed drainage scheme, and maintained that his course of action had been proved to be a judicious one by subsequent events. He had no personal motives, and if returned would work con amove with the rest of the members for the good of his ward. He had been thirty-six years a resident of Wellington, and might therefore be allowed to have the good of the city at heart. He considered it a mistake that so many ratepayers should be struck off the roll. Certain street improvements were urgently required, but he regarded their accomplishment as a matter of finance. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. MESSES. CLEG AND AND K AIN IE AT THOENDON. There was a very fair attendance of the ratepayers of Thorndon Ward, convened by these gentlemen at the Thistle Hotel, Murphystreet, last evening. Mr. Dimant having been voted to the chair read the advertisement calling _the meeting, and having asked a fair hearing for the candidates, called on’Mr. Eainie to address the electors. Mr. Eainie said ho had seen much done in the ward in the last twelve months. Although ho and Mr. Cleland had been found fault with, the only reason he could see for this was that 1 they had done too much for their ward.

i Councillor Moss especially had said that the , Thorndon Ward got too much done for it, and the Mayor had repeatedly asserted that it was the persistency of the Councillors for Thorndon which had effected so many improvements in it. He considered it was very “green ” of a certain well-known contractor to say that if it cost him so much he would have so-and-so elected; and he thought it “ fishy and smelling of corruption ” for certain candidates to come forward and openly avow their expenses would be paid for them—they should have kept this quiet. He would acorn such a thing himself, .and was going to pay his own expenses. Glen-bervie-terrace cutting would certainly have been carried but for the “ contracting interest” which had opposed it, A town hall was badly wanted, but they must wait for it until they got funds. It was injudicious of the Mayor to quarrel with the Government as he had done; this had been the means of their having to pay £SOOO or £6OOO more for the drainage system ; however the Mayor would ride his hobbyhorse. There were six members now for the other end of the town, and therefore they must not expect to get so much done for them in the future as they had got in the past. Air. Cleland then addressed those present. He said he and Air. Eainie were placed in a peculiar position ; they could not agree that they done too much for their ward. They had certainly done their best for it, as any of the ratepayers could find out who would only take the trouble to inspect the minutes of the Council. For the last three or four months (ever since a certain resolution had been passed to the effect that all correspondence should emanate from the Town Clerk) the Mayor had ignored all committee meetings, as he had imagined he was unfairly treated, and that his powers were curtailed. During the last two years an enormous quantity of work had been done for Thorndon-flat, and whatever ratepayers had brought under his notice as being necessary he had got carried out. He had been misrepresented by the Evening Post, which had on more than one point made him say exactly the opposite to what he had really said. He believed that Alessrs. Gillon and Maginity would not have been brought forward but for his action relative to contracts. Before his election to the Council not more than one or two parties had ever sent in tenders, but now every job was tendered for by ten or twelve. This they could see for themselves by inspecting the minute book of the Council. As regarded the nightsoil contract, Air. Saunders had obtained it simply through Air. Gillon, who had advocated his cause through thick and thin. He was sure the ratepayers would know what they were doing, and would vote for those who would serve them best, and if they thought those gentlemen who had plainly declared their expenses were to be paid for them would best look after their interests, they should elect them, pile should like to see some other gentleman than Air. Allen elected for Thorndon Ward/ ’’Air. Allen was too cautious, and he would rather see Air. Fisher a member of the Council than that gentleman. He had tried “to; JaSjVe the whole Council staff reorganised, hnfHpbaonly one who was under notice was Air. Alarfi’hant, the most able of the lot, though he lacked system and detail. He considered the Town Clerk should be a solicitor, as by uniting the two offices the work would be done with less expense and more effectively. If he and his colleague were elected, they would do their best for the ward in the future as they had done in the past. No questions were asked of either candidate, though both announced their willingness to answer any that might be put to them. Air. Alurdoch moved, and Mr. Diamond seconded, a vote of confidence in Alessrs. Cleland and Eainie, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.