PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3063, 24 November 1888, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

The Mayoral Contest'

, A public meeting convened by tlio Mayor was hold in tlio Theatre Eoyal last night, Mr 0. P. Skipper in the chair. There were about 200 persons present., , Tlio chanman said the mdotmg had boon called by Mi Henall' in ( view of tlio prosent contest,' to givegrii an account of liis f stewardship. :and ap® eltetch of his viows of i the future. • lib.' , would say nothing for or against Mr = •; Benall," who was perfectly abld to speak 011 his own behalf, and take care of himself, "Mf Feist would be welcome on thatplatform ' any & $ other Councillor or gontleman would - be. equally welcome > who hid- any--thing to say. Ho would, only ask they would give a fair and impartial bearing and a good humoured one to .tlio convenor of the .meetings and; fit&nd the same to tlio other speakers. (Cheers.) • ..:..-.V:-; - Mr A. W. Benall stated his reason,: • for calling Hliem'togothoiv He re- - ferred to the want of courago on the " part' of candidates at tlie late oloction !'M in not calling a public ilieoti% Biuce . 1 his last election there had not been much stirring. .His attempt to bring . ; in a water supply, had >met with :»•/■ -u decided "No'-' from the :Ooun«l;jW--! The burgesses had an opportunity oMy sending liiin half a dozen supporters* but did not do so, at tlio recent gonoral oloction. That' was their loss. Ho referred to tho linpcQuiriouß position of tho Borough when ha;. ■ took office, also to «, v, ; .

HIE I'ROI'OSAL OP OR CAIMAN to. raise a loan for the purpose of consolidating tbo, loans of the. Borough and - making roads.' Ho saw a difficulty in tlio way of that ' proposal boing brought to a successful • issue, Tbcy would first have to got *, tlio consent of the ratepayers, -then arrange for tlio purchase of tlio' gas:, and other debontures, for which they : would probably havo to pay a premium, Thorc was 110 power to Vftli- • dato such a atop as Or Carman pro-: posed without a special Act, which '' would be another cost to calculate. . Be was in favor of Or Caiman's pro- ; posal. If it could bo achieved some groat good would onsuo if-tho annus/V: cost, which Mr Carman claim would be the caso, did not exceed tlio amount they wero now paying for interest. ; Or Carman: It would not bo so ' much. Mr Eonall continued, tlio maftor ' would come beforo next meeting of the Council, when it would be discussed. He saw a diflicalty in ro- . sped to dealing with the. overdraft, and instanced tlio caso of Wellington •; in tlio timo of Mr Watorhouso. He . i pointed out the penal clause of tbo Act which provided than any sum spout ovor and abovo that allowed by law might bo recovered from tlio pockets of -tlio offending parties—' ! which ho termed a very healthy doso and'ono that ho would never have to swallow. (Hear, Hear). The speaker remarked, as be referred to his notes, that his memory was getting like the paper he held in his band, rata watery, (taughtor.) It was the first timo in his life that ho had found it' ■' necessary to make notes, He done so on the present occasion thalig, 'ho might not lose sight of anything.^p TIIE GASWORKS.

Ho was not going to blame the Council for tho state of that beaiitiful structure they lmd in tho gas ■ tank. (Lflughtcr). Or Fitton had: undertaken to put' tho gas tank in v I'epair at tv coat of.. 80. Ho, (tho ; speaker), thought thby would be - lucky if it did not exceed £SO. lie did not intend claiming the credit of ' tho present undertakiug. That was duo to Or Fitton, and ho knew no j better ' man they could entrust the work to,': 1 till lie failed, (laughter). The tank was in a disgraceful state and full 0/ leaks. When ho wont and iuspectoil; it lie found he could poke his stick . through anywhere where the mortar . ought to be. That was probably not tho fault of tho Council, but he could I only say, that he did not think, had ■ - he beon in tho Council at that timo,' that such a-work would have passed, 5 " Ho did not intend' to interfere ■ with ' | r : tho conduct of the present undcrtiik-' ; . ing further than to protect the inter-. ests of. his follow-townsmen andbuiv gessos, ;

THE JUBILEE ENGINE. ; ■'■,' "f>i • had beet) turned out twice'of late on iho-occasion f of Jiro alarms, onco at l Mi/ Honry Jones' on the Upper Plain,

'"and previously to Mr.Wrigley's, On f both occasions there was no wntor ■ when they got ti> the scene of "the firo. Ho did not hiow what thoy to do with an ougino without 1') Apitcr at a tire, unless tlioy moant to ■ it. (Laughter)., It coat the Council in each case 10s, and-those expenses would go on accumulating. In regard to Wrigley's lire there might liavo been plonty of water thero if his fellow councillors had . not,interfered with him, the spcakor, He had spent £IOO in demonstrating to them tlio feasibility of running a ■ siillicient supply of water through the town for all Ordinary requirements. ' Ho had taken the water aa far as Mr Redman's, too far in fact, and had to stop for fear of Hooding out Ilia friond Mr McEwon. In conse- -, ' tjltencc of the lay of tho land the water ran away at Deilison House, hut if at tlult.p,oiuU lluniing were constructed to carry it over as far aa Mr Perry's. Ho saw his fnond Porry. present, who was, no doubt, prepared to put his hand in his pockot to tho extent of £5 to pay for Jfe cost, (Laughter), that would TOe the water past tile point whero it ran away to tlio Scotch Church, and from thoro it could run oft without inconveniencing anyone. As that would benefit his friond Perry, no-doubt he would, pay tho cost. Mr W.Perry: What about tlio tjifl you were going to mako of this water supply to tho town ? Mr Honal'l: You should not lookthat gift horse so hard in the mouth, l'ou'vo hocked tlio last tooth out of that old horse's head. (Itoars of ' laughter.) It would benefit my friend Perry, and keep his meatfool. (Laughter.) It would prevent those things coming l in tlio meat that housewives shudder at when they

see them drop out, (Boars.) tthink I sliall so operate on tlio feelings of my m friend Pert)', as through good nature arshamo lie will bo induced to" dab ready." (Yells.) Mr Perry: If, like you, I had said I would, I'd complete tlio work at my own cost—l would have done it. (Cries of "Platform," ''He's shy," etc.) Mr Rcnall: There's many h shy colt that when it gctsbroko in, makes a rattling good horse. (Hear, hear.) Mr Renall then referred to tlio great outlay he had already made in getting water into the centre of tlio town, and the opposition he had met with in the Council. They liart brought a candidate- forward in opposition to him last year. His friend Feist, ho remarked, was a very good man behind the counter, but he had nover seon him any good in trout of it. (Laughter.) His fellow-coun-cillors had brought him (Mr Foist) out. It was the samo" old sarpint" as last year, only with his. skin changed. (Cheers and laughter.) "as last year, oi'ly he comes up with a fresh skin. (Laughter.) Ho didn't . succeed last year, and I don't think /inia going to do any better this." -jpfteers.) What thoy wanted, he contended, was tho best man they could get at tho head of affairs, i Friend Huron's PonmiT. \ * Mr Benall said he had promised to take his friend Herons portrait, and he must not disappoint him. (Laugh- ■ ter). Hosaw Heron and Feist together as he was coming up to get nominated for tlio present election, and ho thought'it a good opportunity to secure two proposers, 111' Heron said "Yes, I'll sign your nomination paper, but will vote against you." Ho should require Mr Heron to state his objections to him (hoar hoar). Mr Horon endeavored to speak, but .his voico was drowned in- cries of "platform." Mr Eonall said ho would give Mr Iloron an opportunity to speak from tho platform later • on. Mr Heron was a vcr/good man, and with tho ■_ Ar i exception of tho wator questiou, had .'ikays given a most intelligent voto 'Pi'Heron; Hoar hear), As far as tho Councillors wero concerned as a • whole, it was the samo, tho wator ox. copted. Mr Heron "includod," you mean." (Cheers and yells). Mr Benall said thoy would find their troubles begin when the people compelled them to open tho floodgatos on the town stream, Tlio Inspector of Nuisances and tho Doctor waS against them, and if an action was brought against them thoy would siu'oly find thoy had not a leg to stand on, They would not bo allowed to let the stream become a nuisance, which it would without Hushing. Ho had offered them tho wator to do it with, and had met with nothing but opposition, It was for Mr Feist to say wherohe was going to get water if his scliomo to rejected i A Bid vor Omen. K< Rcnall said lie was on rather ticklish ground when ho spekc on tho water question. He was not going to bid for votes, but he must state what his position was. If by the result of the olection they said they had 110 confidence in him, ho should not help them to get a wator supply. Mr Herou; That's a bid. Mr Reuall: Woll, perhaps it is, ■ and I will put it in anothorway.thajl shall feel myself exonerated. Is thai fair? (Applause), Ho went on to say that he had spent £IOO already ■ on the wator supply. Mr Caselberg, to whom ho had spoken, had said the only way out of tho wood was to subscribe the sum wantod, and offered to head tho list. Ho himself thought it tho fairest, way as tho Act would not allow of a special rate over a • special area for water or gas. There was no other way than his to get a wator supply unless than by an eight or ton thousand pound loau, and that the peoplo would not stand. He was-qtiite willing to meet tlio Coun--jiillois and their candidate, at the booth, and if they could beat liim, he was.qnito willing to stand aside, but he did not think thoy were able to (hear hear), If tho burgesaos told him to go, he would inako a very polite bow and express his regret that they had not dono so sooner, ' (Laughter).

• ■ TOWN J/ANDS TRUST. ~ Mr Eenall then criticised the aiministration of Mr Feist as Chairman of the Town Lands Trust with a view to show his incapacity to take tho head of affairs in tho Council. He <wont through the old affair of selling tho Greytown reserves and the investment of the proceeds. Ho alluded to the grant by tho Council to the Park, and said tho question would come before the Council again in a fow days when thoy would tiud lio was correct in his opinion tbut lb.) grant was an illegal one. He Said Mr Feist was an honest, upright • man (cheers), but as weak.as lie was honest (Laughter)., They had to diooso between tho two/and ho had put matters beforo them togaidp tlieui _jn their choice. He would asL* no •jgfvte from friend or foe,' but lei them vote according to their conscience. (Clioers.) Beforo resuming his seat lie invited MK f£lbT ' . to adding the meeting.

Mv Feist, who was received with chcors, explaiuoil that lie had consulted with Mr ltonallas to jointly calling a meeting, through some : miaundorstanding .Mr Kenall hurt called the meeting earlior tluui he anticipated, or it would have boen called jointly. Ho thanked Mr Rennll' for the courtesy ho had extended to him in giving him tlio platform. Mr Ronall had been kind enough to givo him a somewhat ijovoro castigntion. Ho did not propose to criticiso his remarks but would leave his actions on the Trust and Council to the decision of the burgesses. (Hear, hear.) Mr Henall's roforenco to tlio Town Lands Trust was besido tlio question before them that night, lie did not propose to occupy linicii of their timo on such a cold, wet night, hut would endeavor to convey his views in a few concise words. At tlio urgent request of a numbor of ratepayer whoso opinion ho valued, lie had come forward as a candidate for tlio Mayoralty, It was the duty of a burgess who had time, and was somewhat qualified to como forward. It had been said that people seeking office should at an early (Into stato their views, That might apply to a large population, but not in Masturton, where there was but a limited expenditure of monoy. Ho was not in ?. position to lay before thorn an account of works accomplished recently, but would rofer to future requirements.

UIK WATER SVPPI.Y.

He would lirst treat of this much talked about water supply. If it was necessary for the benefit of tlio Borough, having regard to tho health and cleanliness of the town and firo purposes let it be done economically, but let it be done legally. (Hear, hear), Councillors on taking office had to givo assent to a declaration binding them to certain courses and thoy could not conscientiously deviate from that. Anyono dealing with public! works should do the same as they would in dealing with matters for themselves. In order to properly carry out a water supply scheme, advice of a competent engineer should be obtained. (A voice: Oct Mr Gcorgo of Wellington).. (Mr Rcnall: Gas tank), (Laughter), Mr Foist, continued: Ho apprehended that was the position'taken by Councillors,who were evidently not averse to Mr Renall's water supply so long as it' was approved by a competent person. ■ G'n Cabman's Pkoposkd Loan,

He had some doubts as to the wisdom of Or Carman's scheme. Thoy would probably have to pay a heavy premium to ro-purchaso the gas debentures. Tho sum sought to be saved would by that means be moro tlian swallowed up. 110 had not gone into tho matter fully, but by some who had, ho had been given to understand that it' would involve increased taxation. (Cr Carman: No,) If it could bo shown that it would not increase the bunions of tho ratepayers ho* might alter his own views, but it was certain the ratepayers would not consent to pay an increase.

Ha hold tho opinion tjiat tho gas should have been undertaken by a private Company and not by tlio Borough Council. He was opposed to its being undertaken by the Council. 'The question for them to consider at thu present time was how it was to bo managed so as not to prove a. losing concern. The most acceptable suggestion was to reduce tho price and increase the consumption. There might bo some littlo difficulty in carrying it out, but they would liavo to adopt some such plau in ordor to inako it a success. (Hear, hoar).

miMNAUE.

They wero not able to approach the question of drainage with any idea of carrying it out at present. It would be a great boon to the.Borough but it could not bo undertaken without they wCro prepared to rniso a loan, That, ho believed, they would not look at as times woro. ESTIMATES. He would not trouble them with liguros, The sum available for now works was £IOO and that was not very large. Tho main pomt was its caroful and judicious expenditure. There was a great difference between a DIIIVKU AND A LEADEB.

When a man fancies his own opinions and says unless alibis associates consent to fall in with his views ho won't yield; that was taking the position of a driver, (hear hear). Such a ono was Mr Rcnall. On the other hand, ono is qualified to load, who is competent to give a _ commonsense view on any question under discussion, and has capacity to inllu'once,his co-workers. Ho _ was _ quite prepared to leavo the decision in the hands of the burgesses (Cheers). . Mr Bonall replied to tho remarks of Mr Feist at some length. Referring to his remarks on tho necessity of employing an Engineer to carry out tho water scheme, ho said they had an engineor to inspect tho " Soup tank" (laughter) at tlio gas.works recently. Hecamoupon tho Lord's day, and charged 80 guineas, which tho Council paid and then rejected his scheme, (roars), When ho spent his own money in bring down water, he had aright to do so his own fashion, If ho failed— Mr Horon: Yoit did fail. (Cries of platform).. Mr Benall: Never 1 Novor! Mr Heron: Yes, Yes.

Amidst a scone of great oxcitcmont Mi' Hci'ou mounted tho platform anil said : I don't want to mako a speech. (A voico: You can't). The Chairman horo found it necossary to riso and call the mooting to order, which, being restored to some oxtent Mr Heron wont on to show that Mr Ronall had Btatod that lip would take the water along to the mill stream and had failed in doing so, Mr lionall followed and showed how ho liad. boon prevented by the Council. He caused great laughter by offering to back himself against Mr Heron for J!o0 in reference to his scheme. Ho said if llioy voted tho sum ho would undertako to do the WOl'k, • i Mr Hessey: Havent you told us over and over again wo could not legally doit. Mr Kenall : When the water is once brought down you might legally doit. (To Mr Hessey): Tf you knew as much about tho Municipal Acts as you do about farming, you would never make such blunders. [Yells.] . Mr Chamberlain: Did'nt several Councillors oftcv to subscribe tho monoy out of their own ' pockets, rather than risk voting tho money illegally, but you would't take it ? Mr lionall: No 11 don't tliink so. Mr Chamberlain; I say you did 1 Sir Heron: 1 nover said I'd give anything. (Laughter,)' Mr ltonall: No 11 don't thinkyon did. (Cheers.) Mr Heron: Chamberlain,- Maoara and others offered to. subscribe, but

you wanted tlio Council- to commit itself to a vote. . - . " .

Mr Hossoy, in ans.wor to. cries .oftlio people, ascended tho'platform and said-Mr licnall tried this dodge (J can call it nothing elso). He told us 'if wo broko the law ho would go for us, and did all he could to get us to vote first £25, then another sum, and then he cauio down to £.lO. Wo offered to subscribe the' £10 ; but ho would not liavo it. There was something behind it, He wanted to get the thin end of the wedge in and force the Council to bis terms. . We liavo got to thank Mr Benall for being burdened with the gas -works. He backed up the agitators or it would never liavo been carried. '

Mr Hessoy referred to several othor matters and Mr.lienallreplied, After a gonoral discussion Mr Hessay asked " have you not repeatedly said if you did not get six councillors returned to work with you that you would not sit again?" Mr Ronall; No. Who did I say so to ?

Mr Ilossoy: To me privately. Mr Kenall (with' a jeor), Privately. That's nothing. Mr Hossoy: Yes, and at the Council meeting too. . . Mr KenaH: 1 lmow nothing about what you are referring to. When tho half-a-dozen men wero-coining forward at the time of tho election I said soinothing about it, but thoy cliangod their minds at the last moment.

After sonic further discussion Mr Gapper ascended tlio platform amulet vociforous cheers, He went fully into tho position of tho Council in relation to Mb Benall's wator scheme and vindicated the former, His lucid explanation was listened-to with attention throughout and seemed to carry conviction. After somo furthor desultory talk of a conversational character the meeting terminated with «■ vote of tliauks to tho Chair.