PUBLIC MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1354, 11 September 1883, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

Ihe meeting announced for the purpose of the candidates for municipal honors expressing their views on lo -al matters, took place last in McFarlane’s Hall. A large number of ratepayers were present. His Worship the Mayor read the advertisement convening the meeting, and stated that it had heen called by the eandi* dates. Of course they could not all expect to be returned. They were all anxious to express their views separately, and he hoped they would obtain a good Hearing A pro posal hail been put into his hands asking thai Mr (J Smi' h address the meeting flint, as he had before represented them ; but as Mr Smith was not pres nt, he would take each of the candidates in alphabetical order. He w uld, therefore, call on Mr Hall Mr Di- kson wished to know who would pay for Chis meeting. The Chairman replied that the candidates would, a nd called on Mr Hull, being the first on the li.it.

Mr M. Hall said he did not think he would have been the fist called on to address the meeting. He considered that Mr Smith should hr’ive ome forward first as he had bef.,r? represented the ratepayers. The first thing "« would touch on whs the harbor, which t’hny were greatly in need of, but getting it meant a great deal of money, which they had not got, and which they were not likely to have, therefore, that would have to be given up till they could better afford it. With r gard to a breakwater, that also meant money, and would have to be given up for the present. For many years it had bean ta ked of, but nothing had been done nor could anything possibly be done for some time to come. The next thing he would like to see, and the thing which he would use his best endeavors, if returned, to obtain, was a bridge at the foot of Gladstone road. He would endeavor to further the object, as it would advance the Coast road. The Kaiti m etal could be more easily obtained for metallin g the roads, and it would also open up the whole of the Kaiti, which would do much R iads.—As nearly all of the £lO,OOO loan was spent by the former members, there was very little left for the coming members to spend. The old members had overlooked one thing, and that was the streets and by-streets If elected he would try and get Harris street formed and made passable. All the streets should be seen to at once. He was in Palmerston road that day, and found it in a very bad condition. He would no', as the other Councillors had done in the past, start one road, and then leave it half done. Before the roads had been cut about by the Council they could be travelled along, but now they could not With regard to Grey street, a talk was being made about the drains. It had taken a good deal of money to make them, and it would take more to fill them in. He thought it better to leave them as i hey are, not only on account of the expense but because they drained the roads about it He c msidered that Childers road should have been met.tiled before. What the council had done was to try and form the streets all at once, now that was impossibly as to metal roads pro per y, it took years, many years, to do it. The water supply was anot er very important subject, and he would like to see something done in that direct ion. The Borough Council had thought, nothing of b'inging a man from Auckland at the expense of about )) to tell| them something ihey already knew. He considered that an artesian well was much cheaper ano vould answer much better for the present, as it was too expensive to get wa'er laid on for the town, as it was too small. He was of opinion that another fire bell should be erected in the centre of the town. The Common Shelton & Co., claim was a qu-stion which he would not say anything about. This was all he had to say, and if the ratepayers thought him a good man, they would show it on Thursday next. Mr E. P. Joyce the next oa the list addressed the meeting The meeting was first called with the idea of one fool making many. He thought Mr Smith should have come forward and addressed rhe meeting first. He was very glad to see so many candidates in the field. The first thing was the roads. He considered that they had a very good one in the main road. What should be done was to make economical use of the money now in hand for the repairing, &c., of the bye-streets. Cries for Thompson. Contracts. He was of opinion that all contracts should be accepted with partiality, for local men should have the preference, and doing that would prove beneficial to the district. If outside contractors contracted for certain works and were a few pounds lower than the local contractors, the latier should be accepted, lhe formation of a fire brigade was an ill omen. He ihougnt those that had already become members should be paid while they were working, and they should receive their clothes free. Drainage and water supply. These were big questions, and would require an extensive loan, and they were rated at pres .at fai too much. Therefore they would have to stand still. It was the rates that killed every place. Down in the South Island people were being rated it 5s 3d, and the people were crowding iuto Poverty Bay from there on that account. Hospital.—He thought the Borough and County Councils should work together, and push and ask, and push again, to get the Government to pay for it. Government should do so, as outside cities were getting money from them, aud if this could be done it would be a great help to the whole district. He differed from Mr Hall in the opinion that the bridge at the foot of Gladstone road should be gone on with at once. The money could be made better uue of in uher necessary works, such as the roads. The bridge would coine in time. Something should be done with the foreshore. If a long lease could bo given of it, theu something would come of it. He did not like to touch on the Common, Shelton and Co question, as the Council had now written for a deed, and if it arrived he believed it would settle the matter. He was uf opinion that Common, Shelton aud Co should pay w.iarf rates, etc. He had notliiug ehe to say. If elected he would work learlessly und honestly. [Laud Cheers]. Mr Dickson wished to know if Mr Joyce wai e.i cted would he support the old wharf dues as against the present tariff, and if he would allow beer to go over the wharf free. Air Joyce replied that if he kn*w his trying would be of avail, he would do so to g.-t the price of beer reduced per gallon. He scarcely thought the beer should be exported free of wharf charge Mr Rosie ros** and thought it would bo better to let each of the candidates speak, and then to question them. The Chairman said that ho had at the beginning of the meetinga said each speaker should be questioned after his add re«s. Mr Kenny said he could have wished that Mr Thompson bud been heard first ; but as the meeting had ruled otherwise he would willingly conform to iheir wishes. He would now prjiceed 'o expound iiis views with respect to the requiremems of the place. He ■a I grea . diffidence m coming forward, bu' ; laving been strongly requeste’l, he thought ii. Ips duty to comply and come forward. , I >.e quest ions of wuter supply, road forma- ; •io , aud the Comm m-Shelion question, &c, ( tad been too lied upon, and he would deui | with the last question first. He hud looked i fully into the matter, and had assured him- <

self that Common, Shelton and Co had no claim legal or moral, and he would use his utmost endeavors to oppose a claim which had no possible foundation. (Hear, hear, and cheers) If elected he would do all in his power to further the interests of the ratepayers The principles on which he would act would be for the good of the place With respect to the water supply, the well water was totally unfit for consumption, and he could not advocate artesian wells. The rating was now Is 6d in the £, and to obtain water would put another 9d on the rates, aa the water scheme would cost £15,000, ancl the place could not afford that amount, but*v must wait patiently. He thought the difficulty wouid best bn met by landlords providing water tanks for all habitations. Rainwater was the most wholesome, and would suffice for the present. The drain* age question was a doctor's question as well as an engineers. He thought it to leave the question until itcould be dona pr «parly. As to fad metal, ho must say that the present metal was totally unfit for making a good road. The expense of obtaining good metal would repay the outlay in the long run. In tide and all other local matter he would advise economy, prudence restraint in all outlay. (Hear, hear.). He would answer any question put to him, and if they would elect him he would conscientiously perform those duties entrusted to his care (loud and prolonged cheers.) Mr Dickson again put his question re the heap, tarff. (Loud laughter greeted this quei-/ tion.) v Air Kenny thought that all things should tend to foster local industries. He would not advocate protective duties. He could not pledge himself to allow beer to pass out over the wharf quite free as the wharf must be maintained. (Loud cheers and applause) Mr Dickson hoped that any person putting a question should come on to the platform. (Hear, hear,) (Loud cries of Thompson !) 4

The Uhairmaa next called on Mr Mr Nasmi' h said he was not a man of speech but of action (loud cheers ) There had been much said about roads. The money laid out on them at present had been utterly wasted (hear, hear.) The roads had cost nearly £lO,OOO and unless they were kept in good repair and deposits formed along the road they would cost a great deal more. We also wanted w »ter but it would _ lost money. To obtain a supply of water? would necessitate the levying of a heavy ad 4 ditional rate, and he thought they could ill aford this, and should rather wait for some time. With respect to the Common-Shelton question, he thought that firm occupied a very unfair position with respect to other ratepayers, and all he could say was that should he be returned to the Council he would, as far as in him lied, put his foot firmly on thorn, and if possible fence them in—(cheers and applause). Harber improvements required money, and he could not see how that could be got except by endowments. With respect to the election of another Engineer, it could not but be noticed that some of the outgoing members were most anxious to force this question, but he hoped that the other Borough members and His Worship the Mayor would put the question aside until the result of the new elec'ions . were known—(loud cheers). He would, if ' elected oppose all jobbery and do his level best for the good of the place—(cheers). He was ready to answer any question put to him—(loud and prolonged cheers). Mr Dickson again rose amidst cries of “beer, beer,” repeated his former questions re beer tarriff and wharf dues. Mr Nasmith said he would oppose charging more for beer than any other drinks and should go for charging it at per ton, the same as other merchandise. (Cheers and hear hear.) The Chairman next called on Mr C. Smith who said, the last time he had addressed the ratepayers he was returned, and he hoped I the same result would follow again. He would ask them to vote straight, [hear hear] He hoped to see something substantial done towards the formation of a harbor, but in doing so he did not think it was necessary to go to the expense of forming it under the plans of Sir John Coode. It could be done cheaper than that. He had thought that as the Government had been allowing other places money, they might be able to borrow some £50,000, but now it had been seen that ( the Government had no money at 1 present, to give away, but he should urge it if elected. He would ask any gentlemen present, who had lived in the Old Country, was it not possible for men to ride over-<the river Clyde, where now large ships can easily sail up. A voice—No. Cries of yes, yes. Mr Smith continued—The deepening of that river had made Glasgow, and which was done by a powerful dredge. He was of opinion that if the channel at the|bar here was narrowed and a dredge procured, in a few years th«* Rotomahana could be seen steaming up to the foot of Gladstone Road. Nothing could be done which would do so much good to this place as a good harbor. He would also advocate the 1 iiiiution of a Refrigerating Company, a-4 R was one of the best things, aud had been proved so, for the advancement of any place. It would bring vessels to this port as did the export of wool. As t° the water scheme, he had heard it said it was entirely beyond their means, but still it was an important measure, and steps should be taken to secure the same, as the ' lives of many were dependent on it. Something in that way would have to be done, as t the population was daily increasing, and in * the summer months the water would not be fit for use. It would improve the value of property, and it would greatly affect the thickly populated parts of the town, who were paying 3J per cent, on premiums for insurance. This was all ho had to say, they had all seen how he had worked before 1 when he represented them, that he had not worked for any party or clique, and he pledged himself not to do so in the future. Mr Di-kson again rose a»»d wished to know what Mr Bmith would do re the Common Shelton and Co. business, and if he would favor that beer be exported free. Air Smith replied that he did not think it necessary to refer to the Common, Shelton and Co question, as he had before given hie vote against it and would do so. At present they had not established their claims, and if th-y did not soon do so, the Board would soon have to command its rights They had paid heavy harb »r dues. He was against the free exporting of beer. Air Davis wished to know if Air Smith con- , rtidered the earth closet system a good one or 1 not. Air Smith said he would give way to no inan with regard to the subject of beer ; but really thought that it was the b'*st means. Air Tharatt said ho had very little to say, and what he hud to say he could hardly got out as tie hud a sore throat. The previous speakers had taken the wind out of his sails. What, they wanted were roads, water,

supply, Harbor Board, &c., but tiroy want money more than anything. The rates of the Borough would not then allow them to maue many improvements. The only way they couid do anything towards the formation of roads was under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. A grant of money from the Government could be got that way, but they could not do so any other way He knew tnere were persons interested if obtaining metal from the tahi and Ormond qu irries, but a good constant supply could be brought from

Haiti, and it was certain l y the cheapest to get at. In reply to Mr Dickson, he said he aid not think beer should go over the wharf free. He thought there wi uld be difficulty in deepening the channel as Mr Smith said He should urge that a canal be ent from Reads old store, as far as that sheet of water at shingle island. The chief part of the Haiti hill might be nude into cement for the purpose of forming a sea wall to the canal to carry the skour of the bar clean out to sea ; he would not say anything further, he was known by most of the inhabitants of this place, and who also know that he whs not. going in for any private party, but on his Own merits. [Loud Cheers ] The Chairman then called

Mr Thompson—(great uproar and cries of •• Go it, old sport ” —“Who cut your hair” —“ Chair, chair ”) We came here for business—(loud laughter)—Harbor the first thing to consider—(Bravo, bravo) —loads of timber one .above another—(Cries of “Speak out,” and loud laughter)—must take beer by pints—first to look for the entry to the harbor, Should take bearings for the harbor at once—(the remainder of (Mr Thompson’s speech was like the foregoing, to disjointed, and was so interrupted with cries, shouts and yells, that no particular sense could be made of it.) The chairman neZ' called Mr 3. M. Wilson, who said he would not tike much time. (Loud cries of tandem, sir I Where’s the whip, Sam ■ Ac ) If elected he would do his be*t. (Laughter.) A vote of thanks closed the meeting.