THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2690, 21 December 1909, Page 5

THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

CARRIED BY LARGE MAJORITY.

Polling in connection with the borough loan proposals to borrow £175,000 for various works proceeded all day yesterday. In the morning voting was slow, and the indications were that the poll "would be a small one. In the afternoon, however, th© stream of voters increased in strength, and when the poll closed and the ngures were made up, it was ascertained that 1154 ratepayers had recorded their votes, and that the proposals had' been carried by a majority of 582. The following are the detaiis .> ijthe voting at the different booths For. Agnstk InfL Borough Council ... 353 116 7 Lowe Street ... 340 100 2 Morell’s Store ... 72 29. 3 Old Men’s Home ... 96 34 2 Totals ... 861 279 14 A large staff of clerks, under the direction of Mr, H. M. Porter, Returning Officer, handled the returns with dispatch, and the result of the poll was available about 6.30 Shortly before 7 p.m. t’.-e Mavor, accompanied by a number of Councillors and other gentlemen, made his appearance on the balcony o- the “Herald” office in Gladstone Road. Addressing a fairly large crowd in Gladstone Road, he said that he extended his heartiest congratulations to th© borough rav:payers upon the prudent and sound step they had taken. It was the beginning of great things in the community, and the stepping-stone to a ladder that would carry them up until they were on a level with other, towns. He did not think they would have any occasion to regret having entrusted the great works to the Council. The work would be proceeded with with caution, and he assured them that the majority on the Council would not abuse their power. The road works would be "carried out under the supervision of a competent engineer, and the money would be carefully expended. The ratepayers could be perfectly satisfied that there would be no increase in the rates, but on the other .hand, that the rates would decrease, ■ and many years would elapse before they would be called upon to pay the same rate as that existing at present.The rate would be kept up for next year to -wipe off the Council’s overdraft, but after that the rate would" be greatly reduced. He wa s under a. deep debt of gratitude to all those who had helped, and was glad to think: that the proposals had been carried by such a large majority of the ratepayers. They were now out of the rut in which they had been for many years, and the /progressive party was determined to see that Gisborne was lifted still .’higher. The Mayor concluded by calling for three cheers for the success: of the loan proposals. These were heartily given, and a similar compliment was payed to the Mayor. Short speeches were also delivered by Messrs T. E. Toneyeliffe, W. F. Crawford, and Crs. Darton, Kirk, Smith, Collins, Maynard, and Harris. Later in the evening the Citizens Committee met at the Albion Hotel, when a pleasant social evening was indulged in. Mr. W. F. Crawford presided, and a number of toasts were enthusiastically honored, while songs and recitations were also given.