MASTERTON BOROUGH ELECTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3809, 13 May 1891, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH ELECTION.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS,

ANOTHER LIVELY SCENE,

About two hundred ratepayers, including a number of ladies, assembled in the Theatre Royal last evening to hear the addresses of candidates for municipal honours. Mr A, W.Hogg, M.H.R., was voted to the chair, and after a brief speech called upon Mr Renall.

j Mr Renall, who was received with cheers, said he did not know where to begin, and he supposed they did not care when he knocked off. (Hear! hear!) He could not explain the position better than he had done in the past. If he had his own way he would not be a candidate. He thought the time had come when he should retire. (Hear 1 hear!) It was at the wish ot his friends he had come forward. The great question was that of water, which appealed to be the only stumbling-block to the progress of the town. The introduction of personal matters had robbed the town of what little good he might have done. They had excluded him from the Works Committee, and he would point out that he was as good as the lot of them put together. (Laughter.) The roads at present were uoulderbanks, and the water tables disgraceful. If he had been on the Works Committee he would have prevented this. In Miriam-street there was a depression of two feet. He had been opposed in everything he had done, and might as well retire. (Hear! hear!) His friend the Daily had said the dam put across the river might be pulled down. He would like to be shown the fool who had constructed a dam. If he had not taken action and stopped the encroachment of the water en his property the river would have come down to .the Akura road. He was not sure, however, his dam would stand. If it did not the Borough would have to protect the Akura road. He had stood almost helpless and defenceless in the matter. He could not get anybody to go with him. If his defence works were destroyed Ross' buildings would be swept away iu tweuty*four hours. He had a right to defend his own property with his own means. If he could not it would be like a man having his house on fire and prevented from throwing a bucket ot water on it. If anybody came on his property to touch the works he would have them before the twelve good men and true. (Laughter.) If his works went it would cost the Borough hundreds of pounds to protect the road. (A voice: Go along !) Regarding the present supply of water, h*> stated that if he bad his own will he would have cut it off long ago. It was only at the request of the Mayor he had turned it en. He did not want a seat on the Borough Council any longer. The Council had made all sorts of complaints so that he could not bring in the water. If they approved of the conduct of his opponents, let them vote for them, but if they rejected him not a drop of water would come into the town again, j (Hear, hear.) This was the position of affairs. Mr Caselberg had come to him and asked him for a supply, and he said he would give it. Well, on a certaiu meeting of the council, when Cr T. Chamberlain's horse had bolted and he could not attend, Cr Capper was away in Nelson, and Cr Dixon had more important business to attend to, Mr Caselberg had waited upon them and asked for permission to take water to his residence. This permission was granted and the work started. When the absent councillors saw what was done they tried to upset it, but they ; could not. If tLey did they would have to pay Mr Caselberg compensa- ; tion, that was all. (Laughter). The water was «a great pleading to the town. For what he had 4 0n e he had : met with the foulest and most i ungentlemanly opposition from certain quarters. If other persons had brought in the water he would have been just as well pleased. His old friend Wrjgliey raised all sorts of complaints, and the " 6nob Gardner" (laughter) had said the water injured his garden. This was not so. Messrs Wrigley and Gardner were wet behind (laughter). They should be honest, and not tell falsehoods. After the election of the present | Mayor a resolution had been carried ' that the metal be taken out of the chanuels and the water turned on. This had been done by the Council. As far as he was concerned he would not tarn a pint more on (hear, hear), Regarding noisy meetings, he knew of no single instance where anything more extraordinary had ocenrred at their meetings than at those of other Councils. The proceedings had been grossly exaggerated by the Daily. He challenged Cr Gapper with reference to his waterworks, and appealed to the ratepayers for their vote 3, so that the personal animosity to which he had been subjected for years might be done away with. As far as he was concerned he would stand it no longer (cheers). Councillors professed they were in favor of a water supply for the Borough, but they would not bring forward a scheme. As a surface supply his water could be carried all over the town. As soon as he could see the Mayoc properly supported he would retire from the Council. He was fioo old for such work now. He then referred to his action in the Hutt in 1843, but was interrupted by cries of "cut it short." In conclusion he pointed out that if they gave the Mayor a majority in the Council he would retain his seat and have the boulder banks done away with. (Cheeps). The Chairman: Would anyone like to question Mr Renall ? Cr Dixon : Does Mr Renall (cries of "platform") consider he has made a practical job of the supply to Mr Caselberg? Mr Renall replied that he did not. He had met with too many obstacles. A difficulty had arisen with Mr Caselbeig. Mr Caselberg had stated that he (the speaker) was to supply the water to the approval of the Works Committee. This was not so He would have made 1 good job of it had it not been for the bungling of the Council

The Chairman then called on Cr Eton. Mr Eton rose amidst cheers and stated the action he had taken in municipal matters was perfectly understood. He supported tbe water scheme of Mr Renall. He would in the future go on tbe same lines as in the past, and if his ideas had suited the electors he asked for their support on Thursday. The Chairman called for addresses from other candidates, and in doing said there were some who were not bashful in the Council chambers and should not be afraid to come forward POTV.

After a slight pause Or Dixon mounted the stage and referred to the explanation given by Mr Renall. Mr Renall had complained that the culverts were not large enough to carry off the water. He would point out that prior to the present supply being obtained the culverts were quite large enough. Great damage had been done by Mr Renall's supply. (Mr Renall: Where ?) In Lincoln road much damage had been done. The Borough Council objected to Mr Renall's dam, andnotto his protective works. It was this which would cause the river to come down on the to vn. Mr Renall had estimated the cost of taking the water into his mill lead at £25, but an engineer had said it would cost £BO. If Mr Renall had foregone the return of the water to his mill lead a satisfactory arrangement would have been arrived at (hear, hear). A far better supply than the present could be obtained. (The Mayor : From where ?) The water could be procured from behind Mr Cole's house. (Mr Renall: Bah ! You cannot do that; Mr Bunny and myself have a say in it.) They could take the water under the He asked anybody with a practical knowledge of such works to inspect the water tables in Miriam-street, and see if they were not a disgrace to the town. Mr Renall had refused to undertake the improvements suggested by the Works Committee before passing the work. He asked if this was a right action. Personally he was in favour of a water supply, but not one such as Mr Renall's. He would suggest the procuring of water from behind Mr Cole's. This work would have to be undertaken under the Municipal Act ond done in a proper manner. This was all he had to say at present (cheers). Cr Renall explained that he had not interfered with the waiier-tables in Miviam-street,

Cr Dixon: The public can judge for themselves. The Chairman called for addresses from other candidates stating that there were representatives of beef, bread, grain, chaff etc., present, but as there was no response, he invited the Mayor to air his eloquence. The Major, who was received with cheers, stated he considered other candidates should have come forward. He pointed out that it was practically impossible to do anything in the Council whilst the present parties existed. Nothing for the good of the town could be passed. (Cr Dixon : We only differ on water matters.) He agreed on this po'nt. It seemed to be only a matter of water. He did not think the telegrams sent all over the Colony with refarence to their rowcly meetings were justified. He did not consider the present! water question was one of RenaUites | v Anti-Reuallites. The Council had been blocked, but he admitted that it had been blocked only on the question of water supply. But he thought a change in their representation was desirable, because any matters brought forward by himself or Mr Renall might be blocked in a like manner. (Voices : No.) Notwithstanding all that had been said, nobody had brought forward a practical water supply scheme, during the past four years, excepting Mr Eeuall. (Cheers). There may be many defects in the scheme, but it had the effect of reducing the insur- j ance premiums. (Cheers). The supply from Mr Cole's would cost £SOO, and there were other expensive schemes. They would undoubtedly require a high pressure supply for fire prevention purposes and for drainage. But this oould not be obtained for some years. In the meantime he considered Mr Renali's the only feasible one. He referred tc the objections raised against the scheme, and stated his beilef that all difficulties had been surmounted. He believed the footpath to the station should be kerbed and asphalted. Mr Renall had proposed that the levels be taken and the footpath asphalted, but for some reason or other his re- j solutien had been negatived, whilst at the very next meeting the person who most strongly opposed the work came forward and moved that it be done. (A voice : No !) All that had been done in the matter of water had been done by Mr Renall himself. If it was properly carried out it would soon assume a different appearance. The work, to be done thoroughly, would cost £250, and it was a question whether the expense was j ustified, He was of opinion that they might join together Mr Cole's scheme with that of Mr Renall, Many had thought they had incurred a liability to the owners below where Mr Renall had taken his water. This was not so. It was a question between Mr Renall and the owners. He took an impartial view of municipal matters, including the water supply. He weighed the whole circumstances and considered what was the best thing to do. If they could secure a better water supply than Mr Renali's he would have it, but if they had no better than this they should take what they could get. They should return men ol independent views and wauld work the tiling through in spite of all opposition. The discussions on the present supply had lasted four years and was not ended. If they had a high pressure supply which would cost £20,000, the discussion would probably last for several generations. Only those interested would contribute to the supply of water. The Outer Ward was excluded. He urged them to return men who would remove the objections instead of raise then}. They had to decide whether they would return men who would put their noses to to the stone and overcome difficulties, or men who would carry on the Rip Van Winkle things of before and cause others to resign- (Cheers.)

' MrSenall then made a lengthy ; explanation regarding bis mill lead. He pointed out that no one could take the water from Cole's. Mr Cole himself could not do it. Of Dixon ; But the Council can! Cr Gapper rose, amidst cbears, and said he bad not come there that evening to speak, hut to hear from tbe young Candida'es. The idtas of the old councillors were well kuown. The water supply question bail been rendered t'lvead bare, and be considered it to be Cr Eenall's " fad," The Mayor in his remarks bad stated that he bad voted against making the /ootpr.t'i in Lincoln Road at one meeting, and at the nest bad proposed a motion in the same direction, This was not true. He bad voted against tbe footpath being made up only where it bad been washed away, as he considered the footpath should be propo.ly graded, kerbed and gravelled. There were portions of the footpath that had been under water for weeks. Cr Penall had said this was in consequence of the culverts being blocked up. (Mr Darley: So it is ! ) ft was not so. He considered i the Council should not expend tbe

Borough funds in maintaining a supply between Cr Renall and private individuals. Cr Renall had repudi ated »he leyel as made by Mr Di'uramonrl, which was the correct one. The Council wanted a water supply done in a workmanlike manner but Mr. Renall's as now constituted wus a disgrace to the Borough The stench arising from culverts in Queen Street was enough to kill a rat, let alone human beings, (heal, hear !) In reference to Archer Street, he would say that the work had been passed by the Mayor and Cr Eton, and be considered it should never have been passed, as it was not according to plans and specifications. In Miriam Street the road had never been properly made. Where Cr Renall had got filth out of the gutters, it had never beea du<? previously. He asked why the Council snould support pri* vate enterprise. They were now assisting to take the water into Cr Renuli's mill-lead, and they should stand out against it. (Hear, hear). The protective works at Renall's dam were wholly a failure. The Mayor in a private conversation had compared Musterton unfavorably to Palinerston. (Mr Pownall: I did nothing of the sort.) There were some who would speak their minds in private, hut who were ashamed to do it in public (cheers). He did not think the ratepayers would suffer rates to the amount of 4s 6d in the £, as was the cape in Palmerston. He was ashamed to state that in his opinion the roads in the borough at the present time were in a worse state than tli2y hud been for seven years. Cr Eton had ridiculed the idea of forming Renall Street, because there were other-works more urgent. This had been done under agreement with Cr Renall. (Cr Renall interrupted, and challenged Cr Gapper amidst deafening applause.) Cr Renall bad been paid for land. (Cr Renall: It is a falsehood). He knew the money had been given. He had always acted straightforward, and would continue to do so if elected. He was iu favor of a water supply, but wonld like to see a good one. (Cr Rcnail; Then why don't you do it—uproar.) He wanted plana and specification.*, and the wo:k done out of a special rate, and not the general rate. Cr Renall had promised to supply the water on conditions that it was returned through the channel's to bis mill lead. (Cr Renill ajfam interrupted, and Cr Gapper left the stage.)

Cr Renall: You have stated that I am going to supply water to Mr Oaselberg at the expense of the rate* payors. Come up here and juati y your lie ? (Uproar, and cries of "chair.")

Cr Gapper again mounted the platform, amidst cheers : ani stated that he had moved that the water should be cut off until equitable arrangements were made. Cr Renall was in the chair and refused to put the motion. The ratepayers suffered by the Works Committee having to put the channels in order.

Cr Renall remarked thai whit Cr Gapper had said had a great many loophole! to it. (Cr Gapper :So haye you.) (laughter). He bad made no arrangements to supply Mr Caselberg with water to the satisfaction of the Works Committee. He considered the Borough wouid be the gainevs and not losers. They were reaping the benefit at the expense of Mr Caselberg. Either some of the councillors or other larrikins had repeatedly smashed up his floodgc ten, and he was determined to put up no more, What Cr Gapper had said about the footpath being sub* merged for weeks wp.s an utter false • hood. v No ! and upro ir.) He would bet £3O that he could let more water down, and keep it off the footpaths in a few hours, (cheers.)

Or Eton addressed the audience and explained his action in passing the formation of Archer Street, and asked if he was to blame for the bad job. (Yes.) He stated that theoriginil cost of aaking Reriall Sireet was £BO but it had now increased soniei.ow or other to £250. He would leave ihem to belieye either Gr Gapperor himself Cr Gapper: Cr Eton is altogether wrong. The engineer's estimatn of a portion of the road was £BO, but i»f the whole of it £250, and they had decided to finish the lot.

Cr Benall . It's a put up job. I tell you it is a smuggled thing between the Town Clerk and Cr Gapper, (Roars and "chair.") Cr Gapper : That's on a par with the resolution of mine to kerb Lincoln road, which Cr Benall opposed.

Cr Renall : It's a falsehood, (Groans and cries of " order.") Cr Hessey said he had not come there prepared to make a speech, as he did not know ot the meeting till late in the afternoon. He thought the cons venersshould at least have given everyone 24 hours' notice.

Or Renall : Then why did you noi convene it ?

Cr Hessey ; I did not intend to give an address, as everyone knows my creed. 1 may say, however, that I did not propose an advance on the contract money for the formation of Renall-street. Cr Renall :No ! It was done privately between Cr Gipper and Mr Brown.

Cr Hessey : It is not true. I will appeal to the Mayor. I'll not have a lie forced down my moutb. The Mayor, on being appealed to, said it was not carried in Council to his knowledge. Cr Hessey : As the Mayor took the initiatory stop in Com rait tee to inci ease the price of the contract, he is now speal'ing m a very strange manner. Cr Hessey proceeded to refer to Archer Street, but was severe'y interrupted by crocs-questions of Cr Renall, admidst yells, and cries of j •' chair" and " order." He stated the culverts were never intended for a water scheme sucb asCr Renali's, but were made to carry off surface water. He considered there was any amount to pay for, without throwing money away on " fads." He would always oppose the water supply under the pieseit control, but would support a good supply that could be depended upon all the year votind. (Hear! hear). Cr Renall got up to again explain matteis, but t)>e audience rose, and started for the door, Mr Pownall hastily apologised for the non-appearance of Messrs Hooper and Cullen, who wore on Masonic duties at Carterton.

The Chairman in thanking those present for the" patient hearing, said the criminals bad been on trial that night, and the jury would have to pronounce their verdict at the poll on Thursday. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.