The Coming Municipal Election

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3644, 31 August 1880, Page 2

The Coming Municipal Election

A meeting of mine managers and others convened by Mr E. McDonald Scott for the purpose of endeavoring to secure the representation of the mining interest in the Borough Council, was held at the Gresham Hall last evening. Amongst those present we noticed Messrs A. Price, W. McCullough. E. Comer, H. Brodie, J. Osborne, G. McCaul, J. W. Walker, K. McDonald Scott, J. Smith, J. Brown, Kneebone, Bead, Bunlop, Ziegel, J. McGowan, J. Horn, E. A. Heald, G. Symington, C. Comes, D. Cloonan, J. Goldsworthy, C. Wilson, Calder, Hqrsburgh, Connell, Melhose, Mclntyre, Hanlon, and others. "

On the motion of Mr J. Brown, the convenor Mr B. McDonald Scott, was voted to tlie chair.

Tbe Chairman having read the advertisement calling the meeting explained how he came to be the convenor of the meeting. They were all aware that several meetings had recently been held at the Pacific Hotel, of which he had been Chairman, and which had carried out its important objects, first being the acquirement of the Big Pump by a Drainage Association. The second thing that these meetings did was to pass a resolution urging the enactment of legislation legalising the action of the Borough and County Councils in granting aid to the pump. This had been done, and as it would be nonsense to give the Borough Council this power without having men in the Council who would exercise it, he thought he would be carrying but the intention of the meetings to secure the return of gentlemen pledged jo aid the pump. He spoksLoni "tTie^estfafettttf affd'"justice* of local bodies contributing to the Pump, and solicited discussion on the matter.

Mr Brown said he was glad to see the gentlemen present who retired by ! effluiion ef time from the representation of the North Ward. A deputation recently waited on Cr McGowan in reference to hiaviews on the pumping question, and asked him if he was in favor of the Council assisting the Pump. Mr MeGowan, he might say, fenced the question, and altogether his views did not coincide with those of the deputation. He thought their duty that evening was to appoint a committee to see who was nominated to-morrow, and select the best man who would sup* port the mining industry. They could not go further than that tonight. Re believed that the feeling of the meeting and nine*tenths of the burgesses was that the Council should contribute say £30 or £40 per month from the revenue from the area drained by the Pump. The future stability depended on the prospecting of the deep levels, which could not be carried on unless the Pump was maintained. Those who earn the gold duty

are much better fitted to spend it than the Borough Council or the County Council either. If Cr McGowan had giren them a pledge he did not think there would have been the necessity for an election for North Ward. They only wanted a man who would gire a fair and liberal support to the mining industry. After referring to the equal right of the Queen of Beauty or any other pump to aid, he moved the appointment of a committee of seren persons to watch subsequent erents. This was seconded by Mr George McCaul.

Mr McGowan, in response to an invita* tation to the Chairman, said that he had to thank Mr Brown for the very fair statement he had made of what transpired with the exception of the portion in which Mr Brown said he had fenced the question. Many of them, who had known him for many years, would know he was not in the habit of fencing questions. (Hear, hear.) He would eimply now put the meeting in possession of his views on the matter. He was in faror of aiding the Pump, but they must remember that the Borough Council had pledged all their revenue to the Bank for an advance to pay a number of poor men«-r>tone breakers and carters and others —some £1,100 due them by the Council. He reminded them that mining property held under lease, license, or other authority from the Crown could not be rated, so that the whole cost of keeping the roads in repair would fall on the general rate* payer. As honest men the Council were bound to repay the Bank for the advanefT first. He desired to assist the mining industry as on it they all depended, but at the same time he declined to be made a machine to carry out the designs of any particular party. Mr Comer said that the Moanatairi battery paid £21 per annum rates. Mr McGowan said that the property must then be freehold. If it was held under lease or license it would not be rated.

Mr McCullough spoke in support of what Mr McGowan had said. He said in the past the Borough had acted very fairly to the pomp, having given nearly £4000 to it. Cr McGowan was always in. favor of their giving a portion of the gold duty to the pump, and indeed, some eight or nine months ago the Borough had passed a resolution in favor of contributing, which they would-have done had they been able.

Mr Brown pointed out that when the Borough had so liberally given the £4000 they were bound hand and foot by a bargain to do so. It would have been more honest if the Borough had contributed to the Pump, as they had promised to do before they made the arrangement with the bank. He deprecated the remark by Mr McGowan ''to carry out the designs of any party." He was there present to represent John Brown, a large Borough ratepayer, and he assumed that the other gentlemen were also present to represent themselves. - If our present representative will not support the Pump, they must select the next best man. He felt sure if Cr McGowan would give them a guarantee to aid the Pump there would be no need of an election-. '

The motion was then carried, and the following gentlemen were.then elected to constitute the committee:—Messrs Walker, Comer, Symington, A. Price, McCaul, J. H. Smith and ft. McDonald Scott.

After a few remarks by the Chairman, to whom a vote of thanks was accorded, the meeting separated. : ;