Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4026, 23 November 1881, Page 3

Municipal MAYOKALTY ELECTION. TTT WILKINSON, Esq., being the only Candidate Nominated for the Office of Mayor, Borough of Thames, THIS DAY, I, therefore, in accordance with " The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876," do hereby declare the said War. Wilkinson, Esq., duly elected Mayor of the Borough of Than.es for the ensuing twelve months. W. DAVIES, Returning Officer, j Borough of Thames. ! 1 Thames, Nov. 22nd, 1881. 3158 TO THE BURGESSES OF THE BOROUGH OF THAMES. f HAVE to THANK the Burgeßses for my unopposed Return to the Offioe of Mayor this Borough for another term. I accept it as an evidence of confidence, and will do my best to show that it has not been misplaced during the second year of office upon which I am about to enter. I am, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant, WM. WILKINSON. Thames, Nov. 22, 1881. Electoral TO THE ELECTORS. OF THE THAMES. p ENTLEMEN,— In asking your Support and Interest for the honour of representing you in the Parliament of New Zealand, I would shortly and respectfully state my views upon some of the questions of importance to this district, with my reasons for seeking the ahove at "your hands. Being one of yourselves, my interest is identical with your own. The progress of this district is my earnest desire, and believing in a prosperous future, I am anxious to share in the honour of bringing it to pass. I am a Liberal from conviction, and not from political motives. lam a firm adherent of the policy of Sir George Grey with reference to the lands of New Zealand. I endorse the action of the present Government as carried out by Mr Bryce towards the natives, and am only sorry the same course was not adopted years ago. I disapprove of the present Railways Constructioa Bill, and am opposed to handing over large tracts of land to a railway or any other company. I do not agree with the policy of abandoning the purchase of native lands by Government. In a country like this I hold it to be the function of the Government alone to purchase native laud and allocate it for settlement. I am in favour of a Property and Land Tax, increasing in porportion to the quantity of land held uncultivated. I am in favour of reviving the operations of Road Boards and increasing their powers. I am in favour of all offices of Local Bodies being elective, thereby securing attention to the ratepayers'interest instead of, as often happens, their own. I will encourage and strengthen every attempt to introduce manhood suffrage. I am in favour of a continuation of trunk lines of railway, and would use my best efforts towards their construction, especially the Thames Valley line connecting with Katikati, Tauranga, and Napier, thereby forming a main line for the. East Coast, having its natural terminus at the Thames. I believe our stability and importance as a shipping port depends greatly upon this being accomplished. I am opposed to the present mining laws by which companies can hold large areas of ground and charge the working miner from 15 to 35 per cent, for the privilege of endeavoring to earn a livelihood therein. I am in favour of holding judges responsible for their decisions, allowing them to defend their judgments in case of appeal. I believe miners and others who have paid for residence sites for ten years or over should be entitled to the fee simple of their holdings. Questions affecting our interest and an improvement in the Land and Mining Laws of New Zealand would have my attention more than'mere questions of party government. Upon other matters of moment to this community, I will have an opportunity of making my views more fully known. Therefore Vote for Your obedient servant, JAMES MoGOWAN. 31SS