MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3972, 25 November 1891, Page 2

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

Messrs Po-wnal 1 . and Feist Face the MusicAt the invitation of His Worship the Mayor, extended by means of circular, about a hundred and fifty ratepayers assembled in the Temperance Hall last evening, ostensibly to hear an account of his stewardship given by Mr C. A. Pownall. The proceedings did not commence till about 8.30 p.ni, at which hour those assembled displayed visible signs of impatieuee.

Mr Pewnall then rose in his usual modest style and stated, that although he had called the meeting he wished to avoid anything like partizanship. He would therefore request the meeting to select their own chairman. Mr Hogg, M.H.R, in an instant popped up and moved that Mr Renal I, who had frequently filled the position with credit, be appointed Chairman,

Without the proposition being seconded, Mr Ren all stepped forth with manly stride and took charge of the meeting in his accustomed manner. He briefly introduced the speaker by pointing out that he (Mr Kenall) had received no pay for his past services as Chairman. Mr Pownall, who was received wi f ,h cheers, then invited Mr Feist, Ins opponent, to take a seat on the platform. Mr Feist consented, and ascended the stage amidst applause. Mr Pownallproceeded without further delay to relate the various events which had occurred in the Borough during his term of office. The first subject he touched upon was that of charitable aid. A petition, he said, had been sent to Parliament, requesting that the Wairarapa be separated from the Wellington district. This petition had, through some peculiar statesmanship, been hun 3 up. He hoped, however, tha at next session its prayer would be granted. His next reference was to the Municipal Conference, at which he was delegate. One of the principal subjects discussed ffas that of municipal insurance. During the past year the Town Lands Trustees had been deputationised by the Council, and requested to do away with the .Library rate. They had also been asked to do something in the direction of re-building the Town Hall. The Trust had axplained that the whole of its funds had been absorbed in other matters. He trusted if the ballot of the ratepayers was not against him to vigorously prosecute the matter of re-constructing the Town Hall. There was then the gas question. They all knew that the gas had a peculiar knack of going out on a Saturday night when they needed it most, and they were compelled to use matches or something else if they wished to see. This was no fault of the gas manager —the tank was leaky. They had recently purchased a holder from the Wellington Gas Company, which would obviate the difficulty and cost less than to repair the old tank. There had been a considerable increase in the consumption of gas during the year. A number of road works had been undertaken, and others were contemplated. The Ngamatawa road was to be taken under the Public Works Act. Amongst other improvements was the erection of a morgue. This was all lie had to say about the works done. He would now ask, what had he done .that he should be deposed from th 9 mayoral chair ? He had not missed a meeting, and he would like to know where he was deficient as a Chairman. He anticipated that one of the causes of his opposition was the question of Prohibition. He did not think the question of Prohibition should affect a Mayoral election. He had acted as a private individual and as a professional maa, and was unfortunate (?) enough to be retained as counsel for the publicans. He would ask those present to place themselves in his position and say what they would have done. (Applause). His action in the Temperance question was absolutely as a professional man. There was another matter which he had heard argued against him, and that was the question of the Picturesque Atlas. (Laughter). Hi could not seo why this should affect a Mayoral election. He believed, however, that the question of his conduct in the matter had been raised by third persons. He then explained at length what he termed the " English history "of the whole thing. He considered he had been left in the lurch by the subscribers. The firebell here rang out an alarm and there was a scramble for the door, only half a dozen persons being left in the room.

After a few minutes had elapsed, however, the audience returned, and Mr Pownall stated that he was at a loss to know whether the alarm was a hoax or a trick of the opposition. He then proceeded to explain his action with regard to the formation of the Rifle Club. " What with Prohibitionists, firebell, Picturesque Atlas, and Rifle Club," said he, " things are becoming red-hot." He was quite prepared to stand by what he had done in the matter of the Rifle Club, and he considered that to raise such a thing against a Mayoral candidate was an absolute absurdity. He had further heard that he had been accused of acting inconsistently about the Waingawa water supply. He would like to mention that the water supply was quite in embryo. He would like to know why he was being opposed in this election. He had been in the Mayoral chair for twelve months, and had endeavoured to do his best. He was seeking their suffrages again because he hoped to be of some use to the Borough. If elected o not he would not again contest the Mayoral seat, because he did not consider such an office should be perpetual. There 'was no pay attached to the office of Mayor, and he would like to point out that he was giving his professional services free of charge. What had he done that they should biing opposition against him ? He would ask Mr Feist, what were his grounds for contesting the election 1 Did he consider himself a better man than him (the speaker) or what 1 He had a number of other questions -which he would like Mr Feist to explain. What were his reasons for endeavouring to board up the Park Oval 1 He believed that with regard to the " cross-eyed" culvert Mr Feist had acted in a perfectly fair manner. He did not consider, however, that Mr Feist had paid enough for its privileges. This was as much the fault of the Council as of Mr Feist. He could not refer to his past services as could Mr Feist.but if the Town Lands Trustees and the Park Trustees were anything he was rather glad he could not. He would like an explanation from Mr Feist with regard to the Greytown Trust Lands. In conclusion he stated he had gone into matters as fully as possible in order to enable

his opponent to make an explanation. If the past services he had quoted were going to fit him for the Mayoral chair, then he thought the chair was not to be desired. He had been unable to make a house-to-house canvas, and he bad not distributed novels. If people would not vote for hira without his going to their back doors he would rather, they would not vote for him at all. (Hear, hear). During the last twelve months he had managed to get at his back those Councillors who at the last election had opposed him. (Applause). He considered he had made one of the best chairmen they had ever had. He did not say this egotistically. He had be<m nominated by two Councillors, whilst his opponent had gone outside to get nominators, Mr Beetham and a legal gentleman who was greatly opposed to him had Dominated Mr Feist. He had no speakers for him that night, as he could speak well enough forhimself. (Cynical laughter). He was quite willing to go on for the next twelve months and work in their interests. If he was not returned he would be suddenly cut short in | his career. He hoped, however, they [ would reward him for what little service he had done to the town. (Applause).

Mr E. Feist, who was received with applause, thanked Mr Pownall for having invited him to be present. The reason he had not called a meeting was that he did not consider there was anything urgent to discuss. He had come forward at the request of a number of ratepayers. He would not state his special quali - fixations, because he did not consider it proper that he should do such a thing to the disparaging of his opponent. (Applause.) He distinctly denied that he had come forward m the Prohibition interests. He considered it quite unfair that be should be prejudiced on the question of temperance. (Applause.) With regard to the so-called " squinting culvert" he pointed out that it would cost him a considerable sum. Besides, the work would be a standing benefit to the town. (Mr Renal 1 : No !- Laughter and yells.—Mr Renall : I should not have said that. It burst from me.— Laughter.) If Mr Pownall had insinuated that he had done a hpu?e to house canvass it was untrue. (Applause.) He had been credibly informed that Borough officials had been working against him. He did not consider this proper. He was not going to discuss the question of the Greytown Town Lauds Trustees, because that was a matter decided years ago. He was quite prepared to stand by what he h-s I done. The Town Hall money had not been squandered by the Town Lands Trustees, but had bee i usefully spent. With regard to tin Park Oval he was prepared to let it on certain conditions, but he was not prepared to do anything which was not legal. He was gratified that no stronger objections had been raised against him than those raised by the Ma) or. He was not going to declare that Mr Pownall was black and himself white. He would leave the question of qualification with the ratepayers. He did not consider it any presumption on his part as an old resident to contest the seat. (Applause). He believed he had the support in his candidature of a majority of the Councillors. With regard to a water supply he thought the Waing&wa proposal would benefit the town. He then referred to the question of rating, and stated that at Palmerston North they had prospered more than at Master ton, but they had a very heavy race, fie was not going to give reasons why Mr Pownall should not retain his seat. He would leave that to the electors. He then resumed his seat amidst cheers.

The Chairman, in his old quaint style, then invited questions. As no questions were asked, the Chairman stepped forth and said, " If nobody will ask any questions I will ask one and answer it myself." He then proceeded to give a very excited oration about the destruction of the water hole in front of hi 9 mill, coun tenancing it as " scandalous and cruel." He had felt inclined to throw Cr Gapper into the stream when seeing him pass it that day. (Laughter). He afterwards referred to the proposed Waingawa supply. I

Mr Feist: Excuse me, Mr Chairman, but are you asking myself or Mr Pownall a question ? (Laughter). The Chairman took no notice of the interruption, but proceeded to explain that he had cut off the water in consequence of the action brought against him by the Tayler people. He was willing, however, to put it on again in six hours if the ratepayers wished it. (Applause), He denounced the system of pfural voting and exclaimed in excited tones, " if you adept the one_man-one-vote of Sir George Grey then you'll get a water supply " (applause). He referred to the "Borough stinks" caused by the absence of his water supply, and then spoke in favour of the candidature of Mr Pownall, stating that he did not do so as Chairman. He considered he had now vacated the chair (laughter). The Ngamatawa road would have been an accomplished fact had it not been for the obstruction of Mr Perry.

Mr Perry: That's not true, (laughter). The Chairman : Be quiet, will you, I want to hear the voice of my old friend Perry. Mr Perry: Oh, you've got water on the brain ! (laughter). The Chairman: But you'll not suffer from that (roars of laughter). He then continued by suggesting that the Park Oval should be taken over by the Council, and countenanced the handing over of the Park Oval as a " violation of all public principles" (applause). He concluded by thanking the Chairman for what he had done, amidst laughter.

Mr Pownall then asked Mr Feist what he meant by charging Borough officials with working against him. Mr Feist explained the matter, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.