THE MAYORAL CONTEST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2177, 29 April 1908, Page 3

THE MAYORAL CONTEST.

the nicht before the battle. Tho keen interest that has been manifested in the municipal election, which is to bo held to-day, was shown last evening, when largo crowds of electors availed themselves of tho opportunity to hear the final addresses of both Dr. J. W, Williams and Mr. W. D. Lysnar, who aro contesting tho offico of Mayor. DR. WILLIAMS’ ADuRESS, Dr. Williams had a good attondanco in His Majesty’s Theatre, and tho remnrks of the candidate wero frequently punctuated with applause. His Worship .tho Mayor (Mr. John Townley) nreskied, and In a dliort speech Introduced the candidate. Ho also referred to tho statements that had been made by Mr. Lysnar regarding the insufficient water pressure on WTiataupoko and Kniti. Ho most emphatically contradicted tho ■assertions, and stated that ho had put a gauge on tho previous day, and it had registered within lib of the ,uressuro obtained in town; Tho cliairmau went on to oulogiso tho supply, and stated that tho Firo Brigade had been .practising dn tho districts mentioned, .and had 'been ablo to throw the water 80ft high. They wero prepared to givo a demonstration at any time. Dr. Williams, on rising, was greeted with prolonged applauso. Ho said that if anything wero needed to make him roaliso the responsibilities of tho position of Mu'Vor it was shown in the career of Mr. Townley, whose actions during tho term of his office had boon characterised by honor and straightforwardness. In asking the burgesses to elect 'him to tho position, ho had tho ideal before him that ho might be as straightforward and honorable. In any criticism of Mr. Lysnar which ho would make, hc|. would like it understood that ho was only criticising him in this capacity as a public man.

ROADS. Referring to tho _ matter of 'the roads of tho district, Dr. Williams said that Mr. Lysnar had stated that ho was in favor of constructing roads out of loan (money. There was nothing now in this, the sneaker contended, as .tho matter had 'been threshed out in the Council over 12 months ago. It was pointed out then that tho .prevailing methods of work : iug on the roads were piecemeal ones, and in viow of this the Council had instructed their Engineer io report as to the cost of putting all.the roads in an efficient state of repair. The report was received, and dhowed that 76,000 cubic yards of metal would be required at a cost of .£36,451. (Tho Council thereupon decided that a sum of £15,000 to £20,000 bo expended on immediately,urgent repairs. This was not, however, done, and two reasons were given why the proposal was not gone on with. One was that it was considered (Unwise to put the drainage proposals and street metalling proposals forward at the same time, and another was that the amount could not have been expended, because the metal was not available, and out of 5000 yards urgently required only 3800 yards could be ob tained. It was also pointed out that when the way to Waihirere was open. cheaper metal could be obtained, and thus he (the speaker) thought that the Council had been wise in postponing tho matter. He did not believe Mr. Lysnar’6 statement that money could be borrowed at 4 per cent., and was quite prepared to leave the decision of that question to any financiei or business man in the town. Mr. Lysnar had stated that when he went out of the Council they had discontinued! getting stone from Waihirere. This was undoubtedly true, butjt was not because Air. Lysnar had left tin ■Council, but because they were threatened' by Mr. W. L. Rees with an ac tiori if they continued doing 60. The} had, consequently, on the advice o; their own solicitor, ceased operation: at Waihirere, and the present clea: title which the Council, had was complete justification of tho actio? of the Council at the time. 'He de dared that if elected he would use bibest endeavors to get tihe Waihiren quarry onened and to have all tin streets metalled that urgently requir ed it. The speaker went on to refe? to several roads which were .in,« par ticularly lb-ad state, and especiall; mentioned Wi Pere Street and Craw ford Road. If elected he pledged him self to have these matters attendee to at once. . v DRAINAGE. ‘ Speaking on the question of Sanita tion, Dr. Williams pronounced him self as strongly in favor of Air- Mes tayer’s scheme. It was ,he said, ex pensive, but it Was good, thorough and efficient. Air. Lysnar had com. forward with a cheap drama g. ‘ “cheme,” but like many cheap thingit Was extremely nasty. He referred at length to Air. Lysnar’s scheme and quoted the opinions of a leadin; member of the Palmerston Council who was also a competent plumbe. and engineer, to disprove the state ments made by ”Ir. Lysnar as to th system prevailing in that town, air Lyshhr’s informant might be a ver; good man, but he challenged any pel son to report favorably, or otherwis on a drainage scheme for Gisboarn. unless he were supplied with the* no ceseary detiails. G-iveii 1/116 fact tba Air. Lysnar was .able to collect all tin sewage into one pipe, what was happen when it readied the wbarl. What could be more abominable thai to have it emptied into the irivcr: Could anything bo moro disgusting. Air. Lysnar had brought forward All Gibbons’ letter in support of bn scheme, but Mr. Cribboiis had altoge tber eliminated nightsbil, which Mr Lysnar had not, and therefore lu claimed that Air. Lysnar could no; brine forward such a letter in sup his scheme,, which was' 'undoubtedly crude, impracticable, anc. obnoxious to the last degree. It wa: not even an original idea, and ban previously been ■ condemned by ex perts. Some confusion bad arisen n the .minds of some people as to tin “Shone” system and the septic tanJ. system, and the speaker clearly snow,: ed the difference between the two, di« daring that they were not on a pav at all. Ho (the speaker) was most emphatically against any tinkerm?. with the important question of drainage, and if the ratepayers though, that the time had not arrived wliei they could adopt a system of dram a ere, let them wait, and m the meantime use the sealed pan system. 1 ersonally he was of the opinion tnat tli; time "was now ripe for a commencement of an efficient system of .drainage. Keen as he was, however, lie would rather have no system tha? one which would bo unsatistactor} and unreliable. Ho would .p.edgi jiiiiiself,’ if elected, to go on with till question of drainage at. once, and to •have the'matter placed before tni ratepayers in the clearest possibr. manner. All the .present councillor! were in earnest and working for the best interests of tho town. utterly opposed to a- waste of LIU,000, but if they did act ill the matter, let it be with a view to a permanent., complete, and satisfactory scheme for the drainago of Gisborne. (Applause.) WATER SUPPLY. Regarding the water -supply, Dr. Williams drew a vivid picture of All. Lysnar, as Jeremiah, prophesying evil, and he contradicted tbo statement which had been made by Mr. Lysnar when ho claimed the credit of having discovered the source or the ie Aiai supply and pointed it on, to All. Leslie .Reynolds. 'J he credit, T'areally duo to Mr. Townley and Air. 0. J. -Parker, the former of whom bad, at the suggestion of Mr. 1 ark , o /; walked a. number of miles up the crook owi very rough track aid discovered the. source of .lie suppb which was 'Ultimately adopted. A • r i ho know, Mr. Reynolds -had never’b' l o n in tho stream. As well as'the exes He lit supply, ;the Couned had a magnificent asset in the 2oOC ac ca of -virgin bush surrounding the soui-cii It'.-fcrring to the matter of spiral stool wipes as against cast iron pipes, tho speaker pointed out that m connection with the damage to the works during tihe recent -floods, the spiral piper, had. proved then su poriority, and the cast iron . .p*P°could not possibly have stood the amount of bumpMig to which tho puns ■had been subjected. Apart from that tho lowest tonder for cast iron pipes fend Icon £69,000, while the accepted

tcuder for tho steel spiral pipes had been £38,000, a saving of £31,000. If cast iron pipes had been required ho was prepared to say that they would still be without.a water supply,as tho cost would have been prohibitive. ABATTOIRS. Touching on tho matter of tho abattoirs, tho spenker claimed .that they were working very;satisfactorily, and no complaints‘woro 'being received. Tlioro was a profit pu tho yonr’s wor : king of £2OO,■ and tho only’ unsatisfactory thing was tlio road leading to tho abattoirs, and which was in a bad condition. A contract had been let to gravel .this road, hut it was impossible to obtain the necessary .gravel. Ho advocated that tho surplus on the year’s working should-bo, devoted to tho improvement of tho road. OUTER HARBOR.

-‘ On tho question of tho outor harbor the candidate declared/himself to bo in favor of it, and promisod, if elected, to obtain tho fullest information on tho subjoct and plnco it boforo tho ratepayers.; Air. Lysnar had claimed that lie lind been tho moans of preventing a harbor rate from being struck, bpt tho fact was that it had boon absolutely impossible and illegal for the Board to lovy any rate, as they had sufficient funds in hand to pay interest on the loan. Mr Lysnar, howovor, had claimed tho credit on t-feo ground that tho increased dues on shipping had rendered a rato unnecessary. Theso increased dues wero put on to recompenso tho. Board for tho remissions of tariff on exports and imports.. Tho amount remitted on the tariff was £261 6,, while tho amount gained in compensation by tho increased dues was £2378, a loss of £238. How could this affect the striking of a rato? Air. Lysnar had also stated that ho hail gono down to Wellington and spent a lot of money in' order to got tho Harbor Enabling Bill passed, but ns far as he (the speaker) could gather, it seemed as though the Bill would havo boon passed quicker if Mr. Lysnar had 'remained at homo. Ho (the speaker) had been twitted with tho fact,that lie and his relatives opposed tlie harbor. As a matter; of fact two of his relatives had been .deputed to protest against the inclusion of "Waiapu in tho rating area, and thoy undoubtedly did ego, but they did not consult him in the matter, ho added humorously, and ho had nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact, the excluSIOU °. f .Waiapu would bo of advantage to tin's district, as they could now' make the Waiapu people pay for using the port. On tho question of rating, it had been stated by his opponent that it was tho law of tho country that tho town should pay twice the rate that the country paid. Ho (the speaker) contended that this was unfair, and on enquiries he had fjmnd that Napier was about tho only place where such a system was in vogue. . ■ ■ ■

CONCLUSION. In conclusion, Dr. Williams claimed that lie had shown that he was strongly progressive. His opponent had said that if they wanted a progressive man, and not one who would hold on to the hands of tho clock, they must vote for him (Mr. Lysnar), but he (tho speaker) claimed that he was just as progressive. He was in favor of sanitation, good roads, and reasonable shipping facilities, and would like to see Gisborne hold up its head amongst its sister cities, having nothing to bo ashamed of, and not to be pointed out as a fever bed. If honored by election lie would do his best to further these matters. He was pleased to say that during the whole campaign no allegation hail been made against his character, the worst thing that had been stated about him being that ho was a member of his own family. He thanked •ill those present for the patient manner in winch they had listened to him, and expresesd his firm conviction that he would be returned at the head of the poll by a triumphant majority. (Loud and prolonged applause).

In reply to a question, as to which profession he would follow, Doctor or Mayor, if elected, Dr. Williams replied that he had as yet to learn that the position of Alayor could be called a profession. If he had not been prepared to give sufficient time to die duties of the office he sought, he would not be standing where he was. He referred to the fact that both the Lord Mayors of Liverpool anil Sydney were medical men, and had been ible to satisfactorily fill the position. Should a doctor have less timo at his disposal than a lawyer? ' A hearty vote of thanks to the candidate was proposed by Air. J. W. Bright, and, seconded ljy jVIr. W. Morgan, and carried with "acclamation.

On tlio motion of Dr. Williams, a vote of thanks wa3 passed to Air. Townley for presiding, and the meeting terminated.

MR. LYSNAR’S ADDRESS. Air. W. D. Lysnar addressed a crowd of about 1000 peoiilc from the balcony of tho “Herald” office. Air. W. F. Crawford, wlio was the first Mayor of Gisborne,occupied the chair,and briefly asked for a careful hearing for the candidate. Mr. Lysnar, on rising to speak, was greeted with applause, and was at once aslced whether, if elected, he would take up the mantle of Air. Crawford. Air. Lysnar said he would willingly take up the mantle of the first Alayor of Gisborne, because that mantle meant progress. Proceeding with his address, Mr. Lysnar said he had pleasure in being able to put before the ratepayers questions that would give them food for reflection before they went to the poll. He thanked all who gave him support, for when he looked around and saw so many grey heads, it made him hopeful and told him he was doing his duty. He had, on former occasions, asked the ratepayers for their confidence, and though ho had opposed Air. Townley, the contest was conducted upon municipal questions, and personalities did not enter. He was sorry an attempt had been made by tho morning press and its correspondents to throw mud. He regretted such tactics had been adopted, for they showed signs of the weakness of tbo" other side. When a man got into a hole, li© spluttered and threw mud all over the place. (Laughter.) lie blamed liis opponent’s committee and, to a certain extent, the candidate for tho “mud slinging” letters that had apeared. He (Mr. Lysnar) had a committee, but not one member ol bis committee would send a letter to the press without consulting him, and ho could not altogether excuse Dr. Williams for what, had been written by his supporters. Some of the “Times” corresnonilents, and one in particular, thought they had the control’of tho morals of tho town. (Cheers.) He (tho speaker) came to Gisborne when he was threo or four years of age. He had been here all his life; ho had his all here, and he wished to keep It here, and the prosperity of Gisborne meant tho prosperity of himself. Gisborno was not progressing as it should do, and lie felt that the ratepayers could obtain better advantages without increasing the rates. Dr. Williams had given a definition of the office, ol Alayor. He had nothing to say against Dr. Williams except that he was inoxponenccd in municipal affairs, and was being used as a tool in the hands of others. He asked them, ‘‘What had Dr. AVilliarus donp for the town. and who had done most for Gisborne, Dr. Williams or himself? L thoy thought Dr Williams then hi would say—give lnm a vote. Tho supporters of his opponent had °PJ ,obed him (Air. Lysnar) before. They opposed him when lie stood for a seat on the Harbor Board but ho got in over them, and he hoped the ratepayers would follow the example the ratepayers of tlio county by returning liim at the top of the poll. The supporters of Dr. Williams wer not for progress, and would do a o to stop it. That could bo seen if the ratepayers followed the pres 6 reports of the Harbor Board, in which thero was a certain element wio wanted to waste money on blasting tho river go that they could weaken the finances and so prevent the ratopayors from (roiii" in for a better and more reproductive scheme of harbor improvement.- Ho deprecated any largo sums of money being spent upon the river. It would be -always necessary to keep a tifeannol cfesar fov cetiaiu boats,

but it was useless to attempt to got nil artificial dopth of water by blasting out tho rocks. Tho dredges could give thorn a natural depth of water to 12 or 14 feet. Ho liad boon twitted that whou tho tariff was being considered iby tho Board, ho advocated a reduction of wharfiigo on meat‘because lie was a diroctoroi tho Gisborno Slioopfarmers’ Freezing Co. His interests in tho company did not affect him to any degree in tho action ho took, and his opponents woro al together wrong Avlion . they ; tho charge., Aleatliadboen. granted tho lenst reduction of'all export produce, and the wkarfago at Gisborno was the highest of any port in tho Dominion. , , , “Tho Harbor Board had spout £-101,000, including interest, oil river works, and what havo wo got for, it?’ asked tho sponkef. - I ‘Nothing excepta less dopth of’water than wo had 16 yoars ago.” Tho Board had spent £12,600 last year on the river, whicli; with £3150, would pay .the interest on £400,000 t-o build an outor harbor, that would provide hotter shipping facilities than, any pont.in Now Zealand. Tho extra money.need not bo taken from tho, ratepayers, but from tho shipping companies. A voice: “What about tho brick area?” 1 , Air. Lysnar: “I’ll tell you -about that at tho timo for questions.”

ROADS AND DRAINAGE. Tho candidate then went on to discuss tho question of road formation, and stated that tho principlo of making roads out of Borough revenue was a wrong ono, 'but that if a loan of £36,000 for tho purpose was raisod a saving of £2OOO a year could be made. With that saving ho could give tlio town a drainago system t-liat would servo for tho' next , twenty years, and not dnoroaso tho rates. Dr. Williams had -advocated the “Shone” drainago system because it had proved successful in Wellington, but Wellington had a popnlataon of 80,jo0; against 6000 in'Gisborno. To Mind a suitable drainage system for Gisborno they must look to other towns of a similar size. Many woro using septic tanks, and such a system would .act perfectly for the Borough, and could be carried out at a cost of £30,000 at the outsido.

He .would never bo willing to pass sewage into tho river without' first treating it in .a septic tank', or if septic tanks ■ woro not -agreed to, ho would say carry a sewer pipo out to sea. .

WATER SUPPLY. Continuing, -.Air. Lysnar said he had always opposed the use of the spiral steel pipes for the Borough waterworks, and said the ratepayers would find the contract a- costly one before it was done with. The fault was not avith the pipes, but with the soil upon wihicli they wero laid. The country at To A-rai was not -solid enough to carry their weight; they would ho found to break two or three times a year, and the only means of securing a high pressure for fire purposes was a reservoir. A reservoir hail been included in the original scheme, but tlie money had been spent and none provided. OTHER QUESTIONS.

Air. Lysnar said he was in favor of the municipalization of the gasworks, or in the alternative the Borough undertaking a scheme for electrical supply. Ho would' support a proposal -to obtain recreation reserves for Whataupoko and Haiti, and favored tho principle of rating on unimproved values.

ROEBUCK ROAD BRIDGE. lie had been challenged by a Borough Councillor in voting against the Roebuck Road bridge, and had been told that the minutes of the Council would be published io prove that lie had voted against the bridge, but had not done so. He (Air. Lysnar) had obtained a copy of the minutes from tho Town Clerk, and published them, and they showed he had -advocated the building of the Roebuck Road anil Whatannoko-Kaiti bridges. He had been called an obstructionist, but it was harder to oppose than kail, and whatever onposition lie had raked in defence of his opinions, he had never been guilty of unseemly conduct. A voice: “Sing us a song.” Air. Lysnar: I have been told I try to do. a good many things, but I can’t sing. CONCLUSION. In conclusion, tho candidate said he had started from scratch: he had always looked after his own business, and would carry tho same precept into public affairs. If he was. honored with the ratepayers’ confidence, ho would -promise to givo them better advantages, and not increase the rates. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, -Air, Lysnar said that he did not think thero was any truth in the rumor that Captain Tucker had given the Ivaiti hill to the Borough as a recreation ground, and he would like to see the deed of gift before ho would believe, it. If tlie hill was given by Captain Tucker it would only -bo a graceful act, but tho Borough could take it by proclamation -and pay -for it. Asked if be would"support Air. TV. L. Clayton in his candidature for the representation of Waiapu in Parliament, Mr. Lysnar said he would -be sorry to seo tho representation reduced to such a level as the man that had been mentioned. Air. Clayton could not keep his seat when on the County Council, and when his term of office had expired Was beaten by threo votes to one.

He did not think that -with -tho present population of "Gisborne any by-law should be passed to prevent -ladies wheeling perambulators on the footpaths on Saturday evenings, and thought some scheme could be considered by the Council to provide cycling tracks along the roadside. In answer to -a question as to whether lie 'would support the candidature pf Air. Darton, Mr. Lysnair said he did not like Air. Darton’s pledge to support the “Shone” system of drainage, and ho-ped he would not get into the Council. VOTE OF THANKS. Air. G. Alatthewson moved, and Mr. J. B. Leydon seconded, a vote of thanks to and confidence in the candidate. . The motion was carried with cheers. Air. Lysnar -briefly returned thanks, and the crowd dispersed.