THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5660, 21 May 1879, Page 2

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Mr. Hunter met the electors of Cook Ward at the Newtown Hotel, Adelaide road, last night. There was a good attendance of the ratepayers, the hall being nearly full, aud Mr. George Bayliss was voted to the chair.

The Chairman introduced Mr. Hunter to the meeting in a few words. Without expressing any opinion, one way or the other, as to the merits of the candidates for the Mayoralty, he (the chairman) hoped the ratepayers would accord to Mr. Hunter and . to Mr. Hutchison, when he met them, a fair hearing. Mr. Hunter would be prepared, after he had addressed them, to answer any fair questions which might be put to him. Mr. Hunter, on coming forward, was received with cheers. He said, —Gentlemen, it is scarcely necessary after what your chairman has said for me to explain the cause of my appearing before you this evening; it is as a candidate for the office of Mayor of the city. Aud here I may say that in common with a great many of those I see here to-night, I regret very much the causes which led to a vacancy in the Mayoral chair. I will not touch more upon that point. The office was filled by a gentleman whom we all respected and esteemed, and as circumstances compelled him to resign that position it was necessary that some person should come forward to supply his place. I was very undecided myself whether I would do so or not, and it was only in deference to the expressed wishes of a very large number of the citizens of Wellington, of all classes, that I did " so.' I ’ would like to say that having been the representative of this ward I thought it only right that I should commence here the series of addresses I intend to deliver during the currency of the contest. I have not been very long a member of the City Council, but you will remember that some time ago there was an alteration in the wards, by which Cook Ward was erected out of part of what was then Te Aro Ward, the result being that while Te Aro Ward still continued to return three members Cook Ward also had the privilege of returning three members. 1 was asked by some friends in Lambton Ward to come forward, but I declined, and I also declined coming forward for Te Aro Ward, because I thought both wards had been so well represented in the past that I did not care to oppose any of the old Councillors ; but as in coming forward for Cook Ward I should clash with no one, as no one had been previously elected for it, I agreed to come forward. Now I wish to refer to another matter. I believe there was a meeting at the Tramway Hotel a short time ago to consider some matters of local interest ; at any rate, I saw by the papers that some comments were made upon the absence of the councillors representing the ward in the Council. Bor myself, then, I would like to say this—that I saw no notice of the intention to hold the meeting, and had no intimation of it until about half-past five on the afternoon of the day on which it was held, and that I had made an engagement for eight o’clock that evening, so that it was quite impossible for me to be present. (Hear, bear.) While I hold office in any capacity if intimation is sent me that my presence would be desired at a meeting I will make a poiut of being present, bat you will, I think, agree that if a person has notice of a meeting to take place at eight o'clock only at five o’clock on the same day, and in ignorance he has made other arrangements, it is impossible that he can attend. That is my sincere apology, and I think it is a reasonable one. (Hear, hear, aud cheers.) I should like to. say, as a preliminary proceeding, that I hope, at any rate as far as I-am concerned; this contest will be carried on without any discreditable personalities. Some' things took place at the last election for a Mayor which would be regretted, and, at any rate as far as I am concerned, I have made up my mind that they shall not be repeated. I may have occasion to mention names, and I may' have to allude to individuals,' but I shall try to do so in as inoffensive a manner as possible, and with this view <X‘think most of the citizens will agree—that if on all such occasions we carried out that principle more generally it would reflect more credit upon us all. (Cheers.) The works which will have to be undertaken in this' city ere long are probably almost" the only subjects on which I can’say very much:Notably, among these is the -expenditure of the £IOO,OOO loan for the making of streets—which I am glad to say received the sanction of - the ratepayers lately,’ 1 Some of yon will remember-that when at a-meeting a month or fi veyweek's ago I spoke strongly in favor of that loan because I thought it was for the advantage of the 1 city ; that the-money should be raised, and more especially for this ward. I need not refer to the state of things at present in your ward. It is quite clear that alarge sum of money will have to be expended before things can be brought to rights here at- anyrate, and that is a question ; which . will necessarily engage, the care and attention of the city authorities for some time to come.’ As far as I am aware at present every,- reasonable care is being taken to ensure that the loan shall,be placed in the London market at the earliest possible time. L have taken.upon myself to make, repeated inquiries, and I have obtained an (assurance from the TownjClerk that, every effort is being made’, '"'all' information—and : all documents ,-are, being- .prepared, and the necessary papers . will • go forward by the mail, which will be despatched from here next Saturday, to‘secure the-floating of the loan at an early, date,—so that I hope in six weeks’ time we will receive ‘telegraphic information that the loan has been raised, and that the money will - be ’ available ■ • for ■ the purpose ‘ of street-making directly. Great vigilance will have to be exercised in the expenditure of that money : it will be : a great thing to have it spent judiciously. There is no donbt in my mindthat for some time past we have been trying to do too much. We have been making large , numbers, of. streets without the necdssary funds ; aniHf y»u look at our revenue, —at the amount that is available from all sources, —you will see it is a question whether it will be sufficient to keep the streets in repair, whether making will not* be altogether out of the question. . That was' one reason,' ! assure yon, why I was 'so anxious to get sanction to this £IOO,OOO loan, (Cheers.) I need not remind you of all that has been done in connection with that work. We have been trying ,to carry it lout for a year or two, but obstacles have come in our way. Last session the city authorities placed in my hands a Bill to introduce into Parliament, aud I was fortunate enough to get-it on the order paper as the first private members’ Bill for the session. But the day before the order was called on : my polleagne presented a petition which was signed by a number of persons—3o or 40—who were- directly interested in that work. Attention was drawn to that petition, and the, question was pat to the Speaker of the House of Representatives as to whether the Biil did not come; under the denomination of-a private .Bill. The- result of that question was that the Bill was referred to what is termed the selection committee—a committee which is composed of three members of the Upper House and three members of the Lower'House. If it had been possible to get .the opposition of .foreshore owners withdrawn, ~X have every reason to believe that the Bill would have been got through. I managed to keep things going for some weeks in the hope that we should be able ’ to accommodate the differences of opinion which existed—that is to, ; Sa>, that we should get the parties to come to some uniform agreement.; But unfortunately I failed. • I toik a great deal; of trouble,, -but some of the 'petitioners were, I think; unreasonable.- It is one of those question's bn, whichI’you 1 ’you must give and take, you cahnqt : expect 'to get all you wish for.' But we could not reconcile differences,, and at last the ’ Bill! was feported’upon as being a 'private Bill, and!

the matter was dismissed for the session. It will need to be revived, and nursed, and taken care of next session, and then we must see if we can come to any arrangement with the foreshore owners; bat I doubt the probability of coming to any such arrangement. In fact, I do not think it possible, and the result will be that Parliament will have to take the matter in hand, and itself deal out even-handed justice to all alike, taking care for the mterest of the city at the same time that private rights are protected. I may say I am personally interested in the matter myself, but when it was endeavored to make an arrangement I simply said whatever others agree to I would fall in with, and 1° signed a document to that effect. I now come to tile much vexed and much talked of drainage scheme. I would say first that I have taken the trouble to read over the reports written by Mr; Climie, the comments thereon by Mr. Napier Bell, and the re-arrauge-raeut as it is termed by Mr. Climie. When I was last in this room, I stated what my opinions were, and they remain unchanged. I then told you that after giving the whole subject my best attention, I had formed a strong % opinion on the subject, and that my belief was that with some slight modifications the plan proposed by Mr, Clark was the best. That is my opinion still. Of course Mr. Clark had advantages which others had not, because he was untrammelled by any couditions. When Mr. Climie undertook the construction of a scheme, there was only to be a certain sum available for the purpose. He was limited to an expenditure of £BO,OOO. Now, in the first place I think it is impossible to do justice to a city like this with an expenditure of £BO,OOO, and that it was impolitic to say to a man you must go thus far and no farther ; and the result of Mr. Cliraie’s scheme proved it, because, if I understand the matter aright, by his proposal there would have been a large area of the city not drained at all. It only took in certain sections, and while there are large portions of the town which are just as much affected by the want of drainage as those included, which ought also to be included, and which it is necessary' to provide for. It must be done ultimately, because all have a right to participate in the benefit of such a work ; therefore it was wrong to make no provision to meet the wants of these parts of the city. All the information is very useful, bat the time has now come for action, and the real question is, Shall we carry out the scheme of Mr. Clark. There 5s one thing to be remembered. Mr. Clark so cannot carry it out, and never wished to do. He was brought here under special circumstances, simply to advise. Mr. Climie drew up a scheme; it was submitted to the Council and discussed, and then referred to Mr. Napier Bell, a gentleman who was connected with the Brogdins at dne time, but subsequently went to Christchurch to superintend seme drainage works, and who many people believed to possess great skill. He took exception to a number of the propositions of Mr. Climie, and hence the City Council with two conflicting professional opinions on their hands were unable to move. What were they to . do ? About this time Mr, Clark was sent for by the City Council of Sydney—a city the bad drainage of which had long been a matter of concern —to come out and advise them. The' Sydney Council desired the highest professional ability, l aud through the Government sent home to the Agent-General to secure it—to select the best possible person ; and after considerable negotiations tMr. Clark agreed to come out for a fee of five thousand guineas, conditionally that ha was not occupied more than six months. The Council accepted these terms, and Mr. Clark came. He also advised a variety of.municipalities in New South Wales on various subjects ; he went to Adelaide, and drew; up a scheme of drainage tor that city, and finally he was sent for by the Christchurch City Council, who also had a little difficulty about a schome:propounded by Mr. Carruthers. In our City Council then the idea occurred whether Mr. Clark could not be brought here. Councillor Logan, : X think, was the author of the suggestion. At anyrate a message was sent to some one in Christchurch to ask if Mr. Clark would ootno to Wellington, and the result was’that Mr. Clark came here. He was for some reason or another—l do not remember what it was—very anxious to get back to England by a certain date, and he did not wish to remain here long to complete the whole scheme. Therefore it was arranged he should prepare a scheme for tho whole city, and then merely give drawings for a section to show what ho intended, leaving >t to Mr. Baird to work out the whole. It tobk some time to lay off on the plans streets not yet known to the public. However, this was all done, and before Mr. Clark left the whole matter was in the bands of tho printers. After that he Went to Auckland, and while waiting there for the mail steamer did some work for the Council of that city. What I wish to show is that Mr. Clark is not personally interested in his scheme or any scheme being carried out. He simply did certain work for a certain fee, just as a solicitor or doctor would do. He gave certain inforination, and left us to act upon it, and that is how the matter now stands. - While Mr. Clark was here Mr. Baird was constantly, with him ; he gave him all information, and saw how he used that information ; therefore there is every reason why the scheme of Mr. Clark should .be' carried out by the. chief ' of our engineering staff ; but that is a question which the City Council would have to determine. I may say at once. I believe that gentleman to be perfectly efficient, aud quite competent to do -all we desire. However, what ,we now require is to make a beginning, and then go on steadily and cautiously. There was, as you are aware, some little difficulty in consequence of Mr. Clark proposing to carry the sewage out to Lyell Bay. There was misapprehension on that point in consequence of Mr. Climie having rather rashly .come to the ,conclusion that he had acquired Mr. Crawford's consent to do that free of cost.' The fact was that when the matter was looked into it was found that to do that -would have,-cost £40,000. so that if the scheme had been adopted right off the . cost of Mr. Climie's drainage.acheme would have been brought up to £40,000 in.excess of the £BO,OOO estimate. Mr. Climie took it for granted there would be nothing to pay, although he at, first expected there would be a payment. 1 happen to knowthat because he applied to me and to a client of mine, Mr. Sutherland, since dead, to know what our terms would be so that he might have an alternative route. Thus you see Mr. Climie’s scheme if carried out would have, been much more expensive than was estimated, and at the same time a large portion of the city would not have participated in the benefit of the drainage system. Looking at both schemes I consider Mr. Clark’s the I most complete ' and best. That has been my, opinion, and it js, my opinion still, whatever may be tho consequences. (Cheers.) The next question I have , to. touch upon, is that of increased water supply a matter that has been kept ini view in connection with the I drain, age scheme, The water supply we have Js not adequate to the present wants of the city, to say nothing of what would be required to make any drainage scheme - effectual. Mr. Clark, when waiting for certain plans, was asked by the City Council to look around at the sources from which an increased water supply could be drawn. In company with Mr, Baird he visited various localities, made enquiries, and threw out suggestions He wanted to take the information Home with him and prepare a report, but the City Council did not consider it necessary he should do that, so there has been' no report from Mr. Clark on the subject, but Mr. Baird was asked to consider the subject, and he put proposals before the Council One was to. cost some £4OOO or £SOOO, but that was not making anj" provision for what people felt necessary, in the ehape of filter beds. : Then the next proposal was to increase the supply from South Makara—a scheme that would cast about £25,000. Then there was a third scheme, which appeared the most desirable to him, land which Mr. Clark approved, that was to go to the Wainuiomata for a supply. No doubt it would be expensive, but then there would be a finality about the matter.— You -would have as large a supply as the city would require for 'some hundred of years. The cost • of this had been variously estimated as between.! £BO,OOO and £IOO,OOO. But taking from that sum the amount which must in any case-be expended, the extra cost of getting - this" unlimited supply would be about £75,000. For that sum, we should get an excellent quality of water, quite superior to what we have at present, and we should have an unlimited supply of it. At the; present time citizens pay a rate for the water in proportion as to whether they use it or .not, so that pur income is in some measure.:regulated by . the supply. If we had a largely increased supply, I need not ■ tell you that the-income wom.il be’ greatly increased. There are-a'very large number of inhabitants at the present time who do not get the water at all, . and who therefore do not pay so high a rate as those who do get it. But if the city were fully supplied, every one could use'- the water, and there would be an increased revenue from that source alone, and there would also be a revenue from persons whoi were desirous of using water as a motive power, bqt wlio could not at present

I do ho ; to nay nothing of the benefits which i would be derived from having a full supply of,water in connection with the system of sewerage,' And here there is a thought strikes me in connection with the sewerage question, which I ought to have referred to a little while ago. Although the carrying out of a drainage scheme would involve taxation, it would not bo sinking so much money in the payment of rates, because you must recollect that at the present time the town is paying a larger sum—individuals paying it according to circumstances for the performance of work which a sewerage system would render unnecessary. That must be taken into consideration. I wish to say further, in regard to the water question, that although the first expense will be very great, it will bo really the only expense. The water is very good indeed, and there is a large watershed, which is free from contamination, and which conld be kept free at little or no cost. In looking at the ficancial aspect of the question, I should like to say this, the citizens have already agreed to a £IOO,OOO loan. If wo provide drainage, make the streets, and increase the.J’Water supply at the same time, a large amount of expenditure will be saved, because if you do these three things on several occasions there will be the cost of breaking up the roads three times, while it would ho easy to perform all the works at once, so that ultimately there will be a great saving. /No doubt this opens up an important question—a very large amount of money would have to he raised at once. Councillor Greenfield has moved that a vote be taken as to the expediency of raising £150,000 for the drainage scheme. This, you will see, leaves out of consideration the water question. ; Now, I as well as others am of opinion that that resolution, of the Council should be rescinded, and instead of your sanction being asked for a loan of £lso,ooo,'you should be asked to sanction the raising of £200,000. I do not think so ranch as £150,000 will be required for drainage, because we have a considerable sum in hand already, and if-we wont the length of borrowing £200,000 for carrying out these two objects —the loan for £IOO,OOO for street making having already been sanctioned —and do the whole of the works judiciously and carefully, ;we should require to borrow no more money for a long period of time, while we should save a considerable sum in borrowing- so much at once, (Applause) Now I must go back here a-little., .With regard to the Te Aro reclamation, no doubt money will be required for the work, but that money will be recouped. I am : not one of those : ;who think ‘that. * posterity should get the benefit of everything we do without at the same time having some respon- ; sibilities cast upon it. We have done a good ; deal for posterity already. I. think some of the ,- To, Arp i reclamation should be sold, arid the rest, kept as an endowment for -the city, in order to lighten rates,for.the future. I do not think it would he fair to ask the city to pay interest on £130,000 or £140,000 more. The plan would be to sell so much land as would recoup the .outlay for reclamation, and;,leave the Test for an endowment. The result of-that would he this--Our liabilities, ate at .present £200,000 ; that is to say, we have borrowed under various Acts the sum of £200,000, which, by an Act of the General Assembly a few sessions ago was made one loan of £200,000, In addition to that we have £IOO,OOO authorised to bo raised for street-making. That yvill make £300,000, If we raise another £200,000 that will make our total indebtedness £500,000. Well, that is a , large sum. But taking into account the extra , rates for water, for drainage, and the increased , income we expect to have from street-making, I.think we should,be able to make both ends , meet ; while .so-far, as indebtedness is con- : crimed, it.must.be remembered that we have dot borrowed bo, much as other municipalities itt.,, the .colony, - Proviricially and municipally we hare been very forbearing. I have not, the figures .by me, but if you look at . them.ypii will find'that the amount of money j borrowed in Auckland and Dunedin—Christchurch has always been well off, and has had no need to borrow—you will see we have Ijaken up very little money in comparison as a ; municipality, and still less ns a province. (Applause.) There is another matter to which I wish to fjirect attention, that is the proposed establishment of a Harbor Board for the port q( Wellington. Some time ago it was felt that it was desirable to have everything in the hands of.,the Corporation, because it was thought' the City Council could manage municipal., and,, .harbor matters very well. That sys.torp, has itshdeantages and its disadvantages.'"Some people agree with it because they ■ ■ say it saves expense, and prevents the employ- ; ment of extra officials ; while others argue i that- trio two things are antagonistic to each i other, ithat, the,port is not done justice to, arid ’ th at there ought ,t,q be, a Harbor Board specially 1 entrusted''with "the management of the port. ■ This latter view, is supported by the action of . ] the. present Government, : because they • seem 1 to think 1 there ought to he a, number of ; i gentlemen giving their , special attention I ■ to the. harbor. -No doubt it is of the ■ utffiost importance' that the harbor should be ;; looked after well, because undoubtedly it .is a great endowment to,us, as, may , easily be .’seen : By the large'nuriaber of vessels that come in and 1 go out daily.. There are. places in England which, I need hardly mention, such as Margate, Brighton, Broadstairs, and so on, which live on the. going'and coming of. strangers ; and Wellington has,a great advantage in this respect.' ‘ Whether travellers are from the north or the south they 'must come to .Wellington, and frequently they stay here,. spending' their creating a demand for labor iri the landing and delivery of their goods. This is, all very- beneficial to the trade of the' ptrice, and wo should take care to foster it. You may probably remember We THorndon re-’ claimed land to the (City Council this harbor , question protruded Itself.. . There was a very, : strong feeling that it was not fair to give the : land' to the citizefis of Wellington. I did not agree,withthat'.yiqwi " Yon remember, the : origin" of 'the reclamation—how' it was done, section by section,, extending. over a long period of jfimb. 1 ’.jTbat' on Which Mr. Waririg Thylotfs arid, Messrs. Barber’s premises. stand aridjall'airing that! 1 street, ] was) reclaimed in the! time of ’ Sir George : Grey’s Governorship, many years' ago. ■ Two or more'sections were reel aimed 1 ' under ‘Dr! 1 Eeatherstori’s Superinteridbridy, arid the last while Mlessrs. Eitzherbert .and Bunny arid 'myself represented the Provincial Government. The money for doing that wa!s J raised from a local institution, and the'whole ;work was done_ without any aid frorii (he General Government;, 1 ", Of course the iribriey’h’ad to be repaid within a certain time, brit’iu the.j interval a'great change took place. Provincial institutions were all abolished, and W'e fell inti) the.' hands of the General Government. The ! General Government took that land . over tia a provincial 1 liability, and promised to carry, out an arrangement for handing the land over to the City Council for. £89,000, the cost bf "the reclamation. That was definitely settled,’and there are letters to prove it. Parliament did’.riot 'ratify the , arrangement, arid, the Bill fell through. It was then understood, I, might remark, that the Government would Teribrip themselves the £89,000 and' no more ; but they have done that, and are now 'advertisingjinore for, sale. But what J was ■going- I ,to say was this ; so far as we could 'the. feeling oi Parliament was that although; it would' not give the land to the ’municipality) It wtraM, as soon as the land had •freed Itself of the liability of £89,000, have 'giverilt.tb a 'Harljqr Board, it being held' that as the whole province had been made respond sible for the reclamation, the land could more fairly handed over to a Harbor ' Board, .whifli would in ;a measure represent the'whole gfrivimee, rather • than to 1 the city. That shows the favor in which harbor hoards are held by. the .Hotise.y Of course the whole "matter will probably come before Parliament next session, and X have only to say this ; if elected ' 1 will gh o , the matter earnest * consideration; 1 ”aS Mayor, and endeavor •to ,;db what is right and fair on ' both ’aides. 1 If is brie of those matters in which a spirit bf. compromise must be shown in the of the 1 citizens as a whole. And : after all this is what it comes to : Some six or •eight gentlemen will be elected by the people to take sole management of harbor affairs. .Iri ithe City' Oburioil wo have twelve or thirteen gentlemen to manage our municipal affairs, ■ and, in, addition ,to these there will be six er; eight gentlemen who will ho elected to-spe-i cially attend, to harbor affairs ; therefore I; take it, if we exercise a little give-and-take: 'feeling, them is nd; reason why a Harbor■‘Hoard and ,a City Council should ho antago-; ' nistic, briVh’y'they should riot work iarmo- ‘ piously for the, good bf, the whole community.; ; Ip toy capacity as City Councillor I argued in' . favor of the formation of a Harbor Board, and. If: T should- 'attain \ a step above a councillor T j ‘shiuld’ still,, feel myself bound to hold the "stride bpiniphs, arid to give effect to'them. I should endeavor toput matters bn a satisfactory as, speedily'aa possible. There is this ‘ point also to. bq considered : the Queen's ’ wharf and the 1 bonded warehouse would have toJSI? gokJ by the .Corporation tO-the‘Harbor “ Board,-and that might prevent us going so fan ; jot p.bobt^as £500,000. ' At any rate) I 'tna i '■ t®, pay'ifsa'iqteresti

There is one point I ought to have mentioned in connection with onr assets and liabilities. As you know, the reclamation beyond Greystreet is let on leases for twenty-one years, subject to a renewal for a second term of twenty-one years, at the end of which time the land and premises thereon fall into the possession of the city. Of course, many of us will bo far away by that time, but still in looking at our financial position wo have a right to take such matters into account. I told you when I commenced that I wished to avoid any disagreeable personalities, but it may be necessary to referto what one’s opponentsays, I notice in Mr. Hutchison's address, which is a fair legitimate subject for comment, one or two expressions which I should like to say a few words about. He says that he hesitated to come forward, “ because the opposition given to me by the ring party is of a character so unscrupulous as to make support of ray candidature rather unpleasant.” Now I would like to know who am the members of tho ring party ? (Hear and laughter.) I should very much like some information on that point. If there is a ring party in the Council I am free to confess that I know nothing of it. Let mo call over the names of tho City Councillors ahd ask if there is any probability of the statement having any foundation. There is Councillor Miller, who sits at tho head of the table, be has not been very long in the Council, but I do not think that any of yon ’ would accuse him of being guilty of improper conduct, or of being a member of a ring. Then I come to Councillor Greenfield, a man I have known for many years, have you any misgiving ;about him? (No, no.) Do you think he

would betray you,, or form one of a ring ; banded together to do the city some serious mischief ? Then I come to Councillor Young. He baa not been long in the Council, but I have never heard a breath of suspicion against him. Of myself I will say nothing, but of Mr. Fisher, who comes next, I will say that wb are all sure he is pure and immaculate—(a laugh)— ho is beyond the suspicion of belonging to a ring. (Renewed laughter.) Councillor Thompson is a man of high commercial position and character, and I do not think that he is a member of a ring. You all know 1 our good humored friend Councillor Maginnity, and I am sure you would not think it reasonable to suppose that he has any dreadful design against the city. Councillor Logan sits next, but I have never heard anything disparaging of him. Councillor Dixon is a good, kind-hearted man, and about the last one to do anything wrong :5n the Council. (Hear, hear.) Councillor .Allen comes next. He is a man who has lived a very longtime in Wellington, and deservedly, ■as I think, is thought well of by every one as ; straightforward, honest Councillor. Connicillor Moss is very much the same; and as to Councillor Diver, the remarks of Mr. Hutchison are certainly not justified there, because Councillor Diver would do nothing derogatory to the character of a gentleman or of a City Councillor. Now, • gentlemen, where is the ring t It has vanished into thin air. I do not believe there is the slightest foundation for any such allegation, because I think you are too discriminating to send members of a ring into the Council. The term unscrupulous is quite unwarranted ; I do object to it. I wish to fight this battle, and I therefore object to such a term being used.- The issue is in your hands, and you will express your opinion as you deem best at the ballot-box. I do not propose to, ask , you for any resolution at the end of this meeting. • I do not want you to 'pledge yourselves. I wish to hear both sides, .and to settle the matter at the ballot-box. Don’t settle it anywhere else; that is the proper place. Mr. Hutchison properly says that: he : wid come forward without fear of slander or intimidation. I do the same. I am not afraid of what any individual likes to say about me. Mr. Hunter then dealt with Mr. Hutchison’s statement that a thorough change was needed , in the present mode of municipal management, : and -said there could be no change unless it was in the direction of putting in one man to manage municipal business irrespective of the wishes of the Council, a: proposal which the i ratepayers would never countenance. Mr. Hutchison came forward as the champion of Mr. Climie’s scheme now when the opinions of the ratepayers were taken. Mr. Hutchison occupied the position of Mayor of Wellington and one would think he could have carried out Cliraio’s scheme then. But the truth is, , as I told you, the City Council themselves got alarmed about it and, sent to Mr. Napier Bell. Then arose the conflict of opinion and the continued difficulties of the business. My main ■ object in speaking of Mr. Hutchison is for the ; purpose of rebutting the accusation that there is any ring in the City Council, or that there has been that neglect of civic affairs which he wished to make out. I am now going to refer to a small'matter personal to myself. In the Chronicle of the 7th there is a little interesting paragraph under theheading of “ Mr Hunter as Others See Him.” l am not going to say much about this. Probably some ol you remember I the purport of it. It is written by some newspaper man here and then sent to a Southern paper, and it is republished here. Now we do not know who this Pressman is. We do not want to know, and probably we have no right to know ; but I wish to just explain, and endeavor to put myself right a little. I have been asked before on three occasions to come forward for the Mayoralty, but I have not done So lip to the present 1 time. In 1871 I ; received a requisition, and with your permission I will read it :—“To George Hunter, Esq., J.P., M.H.R., M.P.O.—Sir,—Parliament having conferred; upon the citizens of Wellington the right of electing the Mayor of the city, We, the:undersigned ratepayers,-feel that we cannot better prove our fitness to exercise this privilege than by inviting you to become a candidate for the office.'• Under existing circumstances it is essential to the welfare of the , city that the civic chair should ha occupied by a gentleman of high character and position, and ; we know of no one more fitted than yourself to fill the office With.credit and advantage to the : city. Earnestly requestingyon to comply with our wishes, and promising you onr support,—We are, sir, your obedient servants.” [Here follow signatures of ratepayers.] That was handed to me, together With another' letter signed by a Pressman in Wellington, and-my object in bringing this forward is that I want to quote the opinion of one Pressman ; against that of another. With that requisition was handed to me a letter in the following terms :—“ Oct. 8, 1874. —Geo. Hunter -Esq.,' M,H;B.—Dear Sir, —I have been requested to forward you the enclosed requisition, inviting you to become a candidate for the. office of Mayor for this city. You will observe that: it is signed by nearly 200 ratepayers, including most of the influential citizens. The signatures must represent nearly 1000 votes, and: from the opinion universally expressed I am confident that if you comply with the request made‘you will take office with the consent’ unanimously expressed of the inhabitants of this city, of which your father was first Mayor, and with which your ownuameis so honorably identified.—l am, sir, your obedient servant (Signed), E. T. Gillon.” It is only four years ago. I declined to come forward, and was obliged to intimate that. I have only quoted this letter, as I said before, to show what opinions one Pressman once entertained of me, whatever may be his opinions now. I leave you yourselves to fill up the rest. I should never have spoken had I not been assailed. It is an unpleasant thing to have to speak of one’s self; but as I have been pitched into, it is just as well that I should say: one: or two words., I never care about newspaper criticisms; but when we find a paper making false statements in one respect, it is only fair to assume that all statements are made with equal caielessness. In the Evening Chronicle of tonight I am accused of this horrible crime, that I have refused the stupendous sum of .£200,000 sterling for a certain property. Will you permit me to say, gentlemen; that I never had such an offer, that I never heard of such a thing, and if the gent'eman who is said to have made the offer can only bo induced to-come forward he will find me most convenient to deal with. I suppose you will admit that I ought to know if I ever had an offer, of £200,000, and when I say that the' statement is untrue you will believe line, and think that , in, all probability the .writer knew it was uutrue when he made the statement. Perhaps, you will also estimate at their - proper worth other statements made, by, the same paper. .Other remarks have been made about-me, and. i I feel constrained to reply to them. I came : out to this colony with my father and mother! : at an early .age, and was one of a family of i ten. A great many in this room have known ; me for a long time, and I think, I may say, do not know much to my discredit. : (Cheers.) : No one here has worked harder than I have done, almost up to the present time, and 1 have done my best as a' good citizen and as a ! good colonist for the welfare of New Zealand. Second to the place of my birth, New Zealand has always been my pride. I have given up my whole soul to it, and to Wellington iff particular. Something was said the other day about; my grey hairs and tottering gait... Well; I have been forty years in Woffington, and • have, neyer, jet been rejeqteff by tffe- qitizens when I have come forward and solicited a place of frpst at their hands. , As longfago ak the .year ’ 1816' I assisted in, forming an ezd-

cutive for tho present Premier of the colony. When I was solicited to come forward for the Provincial Council I was returned at the head of the poll, and continued a member as long as it existed. When Isaac Earl Featherston was selected by the Parliament of Now Zealand for the appointment of AgentGeneral, a vacancy in the representation of this city was caused by his retirement. I was asked to come forward ; I did so. I was returned, and still have the honor of being one of your members, an honor which I prize very highly. When Sir William, then Mr., Eitzherbert succeeded Dr. Eeatherston as Superintendent of this province, I took a prominent part in securing his return, and, as a result, was asked for my assistance in forming an Executive. For seven or eight years Messrs. Eitzherbert and Bunny and myself directed the affairs of this province. The ■ accusation is now brought against me that I was one who wished to maintain-Prd-vincial institutions. I confess I did so, and thatl havesorions misgivings for the future now, seeing that wo have not got an efficient substitute in place of Provincialism. If I erred I erred in good company. The present Premier and others entertained the same views, and we were banded together in the same cause. lam mentioning these matters because of the accusations which are brought against me. • I feel bound to say one or two words in selfdefence, I am not in the least afraid. lam content to leave my case in your hands. It is for you to say whether it is presumption on my part to come forward and aspire to the position of Mayor now. I took some time to consider it-, and in doing so I yielded to the wishes and solicitations of a number of sincere and good friends of mine. ’ Mr. Hunter resumed his seat amidst loud qpplauso,

A Ratepayer asked Mr. Hunter if he had left Ins sea boots behind him (alluding to the state oft the Adelaide-road), and how he bad got to the hall?—Mr. Hunter said he had been brought thither in a cab, and would return in the same way. He sympathised with his questioner as to the state of the road. When the £106,000 loan was available the state, of, things might be remedied. But lie wouldriot advocate working at tho roads in the winter season ; it would be better to wait, for more suitable weather.

In reply to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Hunter said he was not obliged to resign bis seat as a Councillor before he was elected Mayor. In his country they did not let one thing go until they had got another. A question having been asked as to the Folhill Gully road, Mr, Hunter said when the matter was before the Council they did not see their way to grant the compensation which had been demanded. He knew the necessity for the road, and should give the matter bis most conscientious attention, and would support the formation of the road if possible.; ; In reply to the Chairman, , , Mr. Hunter said he would use his best endeavors to get the drainage; loan and; water supply scheme carried out quickly. Every effort should be made to transmit the papers in reference to the loan by the mail on Saturday. He trusted the Council would be unanimous upon some scheme as soon as possible.

The Chairman asked Mr. Hunter, if he would give the City Engineer more assistance to keep the streets in repair ?

Mr. Hunter would of course do so so, far as funds admitted. He (Mr. Hunter) had a very high opinion of Mr. Baird and of the manner in which he did his work. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a conclusion, and the meeting dispersed. ■ ; ;