THE MAYORAL ELECTION

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5189, 23 November 1895, Page 3

THE MAYORAL ELECTION

MR R.E.HOJINBLOWS ADDRESS TO THE RATEPAYERS.

A meeting convened by Mr R. E, Hornblow in connection with his caiididaturoforthoMnstertoiiMftyorally was held in the People's Auction Room last evening, Mr W. Pragiieß weeing tho chair in the absence of ~lr A, VOemill, who Mc Hornblow stated, wns unable to be present. Mr Hoinblow thanked those present for the reception given him. His appearance as a candidate was distasteful to his opponents. Ho did not depend on any platform utterance for success at the present election, but on his past career as a Councillor, during which time ho had dono his best to servo the ratepayers faithfully and independently, irrespective of any distinction. lie now camo forward believing his past • offorls had met with their approval aud deeming a change in the administration of tho Borough affairs necessary, A rumour had been circulated that he was merely standing to split tho votes, but ho nssnred them he was standing in his own interest and at tho request of a large section of the ratepayers, who bad every confidence iu HIS ENERGY to assist tho advancement and further prosperity of the Borough. «svns absurd cant to try and thrust ■VII tho throats of an intelligent community that tho present Mayor answered all requirements, It was such lukewarmness in municipal I matters that made people wonder , when Masterton was going lo wake up and rid itself of the net-work of , taxation and indifference, which , was slowly but surely hedging them , in and which it would take years to \ unravel. He did not wish to infer , that thoy had no good men in the Council, but they required bringing out. During the past twelve months ( the ratepayers had been called upon to face n largo expenditure in con- ( flection with , THE (US WORKS, I He bad warned them of this when • speaking at the last election, Hoi 1 had beon misrepresented over this j matter by a house to house canvass. He thought the workseouhl be made ' a profitable investment but only ' when tho ratepayers' interests were ' properly looked after,nnd he thought ' by proper management there was no ' to collect even half the gas rate. ! Jfch regard to the Waipoua River ' lie did not think the Council had ' done its duty in allowing a large ' portion of Ihe adjacent properties I ( to become a gravel waste. Had [ Councillors livod in the locality | ! matters would hare been better j 1 looked after, (Applause.) There j' were too many local bodies now, but if A RIVER HOARD , were necessary ho would support it to 1 protect the northern end of the town. ■ He was, he might say, at ouco i against any further taxation, with- I out a corresponding benefit, but it . waß the Borough Council's duty to ] protect its own property and the j Park and Cemetery. He had been asked to leave the Waipoua ques- | tion out of his address, as it was i likely to injure him iu other parts of ( tho Borough. But he would say at onoe that he did not intend to relinquish his independence or to toady to nny section, nor yet become anyone's tool. With regaid to drainage Id&is not in favour of a large loan at present. Ho thought, however, ', there should be a more rigid inspection of public places and privato ' houses, and an effort made to keep ', the Town Creek clean. i THE FIRE-WELLS \ lately sunk were serving their pur- J pose very well, and the Fire Brigado bad done pood service to tho town. J ( The question of a high pressure wator supply could be safely left ' over, as Masterton was exceptionally j well off for fresh wator. The many , springs and the porous nature of the , country were likely to answer all ' requirements for an indefinite period. [ ' While dealing with the water question he would mention that tho Jubileo Fire Engine would, within a c short period, be absolutely paid for, ■! Tho Library and Reading Room wns ! not what it should he,although second ' to none in tho Wairarapa, and he hoped the day was not far distant . , when any person might bo allowed ' the free use of the books within the . building. He was not in favor of , tho Borough Council taking sole ' ■tmvl of the Museum.as be thought J tuff' more a matter for the Town ' Lands Trust. It wasin the interests ' of the town that no opportunity ' should be lost in acquiring frontages ] * for J STREET WIIiEKISO, '' (ho greater portion of the most im- , portant streets being barely wide ( enough to admit the passage of two vehicles abreast, and the longer . the matter was delayed the ( greater the expense ultimately. - Provisions had been made iu the j , Local Government Bill to take over private streets, and lie hoped this , would soon become law and they would , find him a staunch advocate of the , taking over private streets and of street widening. Referring to the , financial position of the Borough, he . said it was ridiculous to say that • thoir position was better than over , before. It was not his intention to ( , make rash statements but to merely give , KiCTS, aud to leavo the ratepayers to judge. The interest paid on overdraft dur.ingihe last three years would give a ' £ afcr.sight into Mr Heron's finan--1894, £7l; and this year £Bl 7s. The overdraft now stood at a little " over £l,lOO, The gas account for three years showed receipts £4,773 5s Id, and expenditure £4,100 4s 3d, which should leave a profit of £673. This bad nothing to do with the £IO,OOO loan and the gas rate. Between £OOO and £7OO bad also been swallowed up from the general account. If a business were run on theso lines the man who did so would soou have to make the acquaintance of Mr Cbennells. Taking the gas ' works; they should be a valuable asset and ho would tell them tliey bad no power to soil them. Ratepayers should demand an alteration or close the Library altogether, aud it was an injustice to ask the ratepayers to pay a UDIIARY HATH. The Charitable Aid tax was gradually increasing and for the past six mjjtfis reached £75145. The efforts ofWo members for Masterton and 'Wairarapa to obtain separation in thisrespect, though unsucessful, were highly commendable. He did not Tyant to give them a lot of padding, but bare facts to think about, and to ;. show that tho financial position of ihe Borough was worso now than it had ever been. He said it without • "'• fear of contradiction. If there were ■■•.■■ any useful works in progress ho •'■'' could find some oxcuso, but thore-i

were nono. Ho was opposod to the taking of 1 Tim BOROUGH OVERSEER awny from bis work to inspect buildings, and thought one Inspector should bo appointed to take control of buildings, nuisances, public health, etc. From the tono of his address ratopnyors would get an idea of bis views. Coining to personal matters, he had no objection to criticism, but was opposod 10 misrepresentation. (Applause.) He bad done his duty honestly in tho past, and worthily upheld his position and done good service to the Borough both na a Committeeman and as a Councillor. The olllco of Mayor should not be lightly estimated and allowed to go by default To do so would be a total disregard of the ratepayers' welfare, The MODEL MAYOR in the eyes of some people, was he who could face a water and drainage problem without coming upon its agitators for tho cost, It would be far more commendable to come out and show the courage of their convictions than to shield themselves behind n sheet of paper. If they thought he had dono his best to serve their interests in the past, he tinstod they-would use their votes and influence to place him at tho head of the poll, to carry out urgent reforms, which would assist the prosperity of the town. (Applause,) QUESTION'S. Mr W. Williams asked if Mr Hornblow was in favor of Hushing the footpaths with tar and sand, where asphalt could not be put down. Mr lloniblow said he was decidedly in favour of this. The Council was doing its duly in this respect, and intended pushing on this work when the weather permitted. Mr P. Murray asked whether Mr Hornblow favoured forming and opening the Ngamntawa Road ? Mr Hornblow said be was glad the question had been asked, lie thought it one of tho grossest jobs ever perpetrated by the Council. He did not blame Mr Perry for taking the money, but the way the matter now stood, Mr Perry got the benefit of the land purchased with I heir money. To form the road, would cost from £6OO to £BOO, and ho was not in favour of spending such a sum to merely benefit a few individuals. • He was not afraid to speak plainly on this matter, and he looked upon the whole business as a crying shame. The money could have been much more profitably employed in other directions. The Chairman, in the course of a speech, said he cordially supported many of Mr Hornblow's views, He bad no doubt that, unless something were done, the Waipoua Hirer would run through the town, as sure as they were living men. He hoped that whosoever was elected, would lookafter that mutter. After expressing other views, ho said he hoped, if they approved of Mr llornblow's views, they would support him and put him in. (Applause.) Mr Hornblow briefly returned i thanks, the meeting terminating with the usual vote of thanks to ihe Chairman.