THE BOROUGH ELECTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2091, 10 September 1885, Page 2

THE BOROUGH ELECTION.

A public meeting was held at the Theatre Royal last night to hear addresses from the candidates for seats in the Borough Council. There were about 150 persons present, Mr W. W. McCardle was voted to the chair, and made a few opening remarks. He only saw Mr Cullen present, and called on him to speak.

Mr Cullen said it was rather unfair for him to be called on first. The Chairman explained that he saw no other candidate present.

Mr Renall, as a point of order, asked that the advertisement convening the meeting should be read.

The Chairman said it was not handy. Mr Renall thought that some sf those who had called the meeting Bhould address the meeting first. Mr Cullen first alluded to the gasworks. Colloctively, another lot of men could not have been got together to put the works in a worse place, as every pound of material used had to come up by 'rail. The conveyance of material would also mean extra wear and tear on streets, If they started with a blunder like that, God only knew where it would end (laughter). The neglect of the river amounted to crime. They were waiting for another fresh to come down. They did not want any heavy expenditure. He objected to

Worksop road being formed before many others, They should keep, their streets in proper repair and not wait till they broke up, He should be willing to answer any questions asked (applause), Mr Renall, who rose amidst laughter and applause, said Mr (Men had stated that a • great blunder had _ been made in placing the gas works where they did. Had Mr Cullen made any calculation on the subject ? Mr Cullen said he had made no calculation, but th6ught that if he did the figures would bear him out, If anyone went into the matter they would find him right. If Councillors had to do the thing out of their own pockets they would not have, done it,

Mr Skipper asked what experience Mr Cullen had in road making (Laughter). Mr Cullen said he had made roads in Masterton before Masterton was a borough, and also had experience elsewhere. He should pick Queen Street up to begin with and reform it. A voice—What about Short-street.

Mr Cullen said he would form a foot path along it to the Railway Station. (Hear Hear). His candidature was not a joke, and lie was as capable as any other candidate.

Mr Fielding asked would Mr Cullen be in favor of getting a watering cart. Mr Cullen said that reminded him of the way Mr Kingdon had been treated with regard to £2O promised for getting water in an artesian well. That money should have been paid. They should put down another well and then they could water tho street cheaply. A voice—How about disolving the Borough. Mr Cullen: Yes, that is a good question, If we only allow the river its own way a little longer, the Borough will be dissolved quickly enough. (Laughter). Mr Renall pointed out that they wanted certain information, and the Ors present should explain why the gas works were placed where they were. Or Gapper had expected that Crs Hevon and Perry would have been there to answer questions, at least. As to the gas works site, they had invited offers, and had awaited the arrival of the Engineer. They had put aside two sites as being too central, and likely to cause a nuisance, One of these was a Trust acre, and leased for 21 years, so that had to be abandoned, Mr W, Perry had verbally offeredtwosites, and another was'from Mrs Dixon, in Wellington, Mr Perry withdrew his, because the other offers were at a higher price. They had then only one site left. If the cost of the coal were put against the cost of the mains, Mr Cullen would find that he was wrong.

Mr Cullen maintained tlwt the gasworks should have been near the railway station. Mr Renall said he had expected Or Gapper to givo a business-like answer, Theadvertiaenieiit wasa piece of stupidity. He himself could not tell what sort of land would make a suitable gas site. He had sixty acres near the railway station, and was he to pick out two acres and say that was a suitable site 1 He did not think that the Council had acted with judgment, He was always willing to hand over land for public purposes at a fair valuation, Messrs Heron and Perry had not acted very courteously to the ratepayers, but they would have to elect one or other anyhow.—(Laughter.)—A petition had boen signed to reduce the borough, He himself had taken an active part in fixing the boundaries, and thought they should rem? in where they were. He believed that tl.jy should have boroughs as large as ycssible. Those outlying people paid rates, and why should they cut them off ? It was one of the most stupid things he had heard of, He showed that the landholders proposed to be cut off would save nothing in rating. He had a grievance of his own. Three or four years ago he had given the Council land under covenant to form a footpath, but though they paid rates up there, they never got anything, and the money was to be spent in Worksop road, Mr Renall spoke at some length, and in conclusion said they should call a meeting before the nomination, as they could then nominate candidates who were at least not ashamed to meet them.

Or Gappev said tenders were now being called for the first 40 chains of formation, including footpath, in Renall-strect, and as soon as Mr Renall's tenants could remove their cottages, the remainder would- be undertaken. The time for making the, footpath was not stipulated, Ho thought Mem Heron and Perry should have been present.

Mr Renall again spoke at considerable length, and in conclusion moved that Mr Cullen is a fit and proper , person to represent them in the Council. This was carried by acclamation.

. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings, .