LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE WAVERLEY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, CHAMBERS. - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 5 Jun 1861 (original) (raw)

Wed 5 Jun 1861 - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)
Page 8 - LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE WAVERLEY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, CHAMBERS.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE

WAVERLEY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, CHAM-

The foundation stone of the Waverley Municipal Council

Chambers -the first building erected specially for municipal

purposes in the colony - was laid yesterday, at noon, by the

Hon. Charles Cowper. The weather was unfortunately

rather inclement, a succession of heavy showers preventing

the attendance of many who would otherwise have been

present, and casting a damper upon the official ceremony.

The Colonial Secretary was accompanied by the Colonial

Treasurer and the Secretary for Lands, and amongst the

other gentlemen present were the Mayor of Sydney, Mr.

Allen, M.L.A., and several members of the metropolitan

and of the adjoining municipalities. A number of flags

were suspended over the site, and at a short distance a tent

was erected, the interior of which was gaily decorated with

The new building is to be erected in Waverley-street,

upon land given for the purpose by Mr. F. O'Brien. The

structure is to be in the Gothic style, with offices on either

side of the entrance, each fifteen foot by twelve; the

Council chamber above is to be thirty-five foot by fifteen,

and to hold 160 adults. The cost of the building will be

about £700, and it is to be finished in October next. The

mallet used at the ceremony was of honeysuckle wood,

turned by Mr. Buckland; and the trowel was furnished by

Mr. Gillam, of George-street: the box was made by Mr.

Daniel Walsh of Waverley.

Soon after twelve o'clock (the rain falling heavily at the

time), the Chairman of the municipality of Waverley (Mr.

C. St. Julian), after a few introductory remarks, read the

following inscription, which together with copies of news-

papers, and a collection of coins, was afterwards inserted

in a bottle deposited under the foundation stone. - "The

foundation-stoneo of this building, the Waverley Municipal

Council Chamber, was laid on Tuesday, the 4th of June, in

the year of our Lord 1861, and in the twenty-fifth year of

the reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria, Queen of Great

Britain and Ireland, of India, and of Australia, &c., &c,

&c., by the Hon. Charles Cowper, Esq., M.L.A., Chief

Secretary and Premier of New South Wales, &c, &c.

Governor of the Colony - the Right Hon. Sir John. Young,

K.C.B., G.C.M.G., &c., ,&c. Members of the Municipal

Council of Waverley - Councillors John Birrell, Charles

Browne, Charles Simmons, James Vickery, Richard Wat-

kins, Walter Smith, Charles St. Julian, Hercules Watt,

and Stephen Dickson. Chairman of the Municipality -

Councillor St. Julian. Treasurer -- Councillor Simmons.

Surveyer - William Mortimer, Esq. Architect of this

building - Thomas Rowe. Contractors for masons' work -

Mr. Philip James Newland ; for carpenters' work, &c., Mr.

Mr. Cowper then performed the customary ceremonies

of smoothing the mortar and tapping the stone, and proceeded

to address the assemblage. Ho said that, notwithstanding

tlio unfavourable state of tho weather, ho did not think ii

right to conclude tho ceremony they had mot to vvitnoss,

before making a fow observations. Ho rogi-ottod extremely

tin« tho weather would compel him to be very short iu his

remarks, as it might bo considered exclusivo if ho confined

what ho lind to snv to tho few who were favoured with in-

vitations under tho roof. The present ceremonial was,

perhaps, in itself not of very great importance, but there

wore circumstances about it which iuvosted it with peculiar

significance It was in this particular neighbourhood that

the first municipality in tho colony was established-ho

alluded to that of Randwick. (Cheer».) The Act under

. which tlieso municipalities had sprung- into existence had

been, ho contended, eminently successful in ita operation. A

great number of municipal corporations had under it boon

established throughout tho colony, but jit was left to Wuvci loy

to commence tho first municipal building. For, notwith-

standing that a municipality had existed in Sydney fora

great many years, no steps had yet been taken towards

electing a'building in the city for municipal purposes. That

tlio municipality of Waverley vrwi taking tho lend in such a

proceeding as this, showed thnt tho inhabitants wore in

earnest hi the establishment of tho principio of self-govom

ment. It was only necessary to look at other countries to

«how of what vast ¡mportanco municipal institutions wore,

' in promoting tho well-being of those com-

munities. They hail, in establishing a munici-

pality .hero, introduced a valuablo spirit of self

reliance; thoy had begun to do for themselves

what pooplo hail always been looking to the Government to

do, but which the Government had tiovcv wally done.

(Hear, hear.) Ho regretted that municipal institutions had

' not been established thirty or forty years earlier, for he

believed that if they had boon, the condition of New South

Wales would have boen much moro healthy*' than it now

" was.- However, there wero many of thom now tu

operation and performing benefits of the most import mt

' character. That district, as well as thoso of Randwick and

"Woolahra, could bear witness to tlio usefulness of those

' gentlemen who had given np their time to tho performance

of the important duties of councillor». (Cheers.) And tho

' cxamplo thoy had sot had boen very widely followed, so,

that now municipal institutions existed in noarly every

large town in the interior. Ho was verv glad to find that

an Act which had boen passed within tho last throo yours

and a-half had already dono so much good. No doubt,'

homb objections had been mailo to its 0]>orntion, but ho

«mid only state that the Government had endeavoured to

carry out the principles of tho Act with impartiality', and

' vritn a viwv to dlffuso most widely tho bonoiits which it was

' intended to confer. He could only give a distinct denial to

tho charges against tlio Government that thoy had acted

with pul tiality in carrying out its provisions. It must be

bome m mind that municipalities were not intended for fho i

. benefit of the largo owners of properly, but for tho advance-

ment of the wholo of the various districts by tho formation

of tlio roads and by other improvements. It was in that ,

spirit that the Government had endeavoured to carry out tho ,

Act; and it was a curious fact, that most of thoso

who had complained of the conduct of tho Government, in '

that matter, had shown themselves desirous of giving to tho

Act an interpretation which it would not boar. As tho

'weather was so untoward ho would not detain thom

' any longer, but would concludo by congratulating thom on '

'tho progress thoy lind already nindo in self-government, and

trusted that thoy would continuo to carry on tho good (

work in tho same spirit in which they 'had bogun it.

Cheers were then successively called, mid lionrtily given,

for tlio Queen, for tho Govci-nor-in-Chiof, for Mr. Cowper,

and for Mr. O'Brien, tlio donor of tho land. Considerable

merriment was caused by ono of Mr Oftwper's zealous

friends calling foi- " threo choors for tho Government-may

they bo ns finn as tho stono Mr. Cowper has contented and

Tho formal proceedings having been concluded, the com

liauy, numbering about fifty, adjourned ts tho font, where «

luncheon, supplied by Mr. Póohhimii, was ¡riven by the

Municipality. Ampio justice having been dono to tho viands,

(ho Chairman ol' the lmuiicipnliry, after tho customary loyal

and patriotic toasts lind been drunk, proposed tho healths

ol' tho members of tho Govormnont present, not only as

Ministers, but also ns private individuals, and coupling that

tonst with hearty wishes for their welfare and prosperity.

Tho toast having boen reccivbdjwith tho usual honours

Mr. Cowr-nii rose to respond. lie could nssuro thom

that no class of men enjoyed a holiday moro than the

Ministiy did; therefore, apart from nil other con-

siderations, he lind very great pleasure and satisfaction in

being present. He nnd'his colleagues had como to perform

what was, in the first instance n very pleasant duty; mid

he only regretted that the sun did not shiuc on tho-pio

cecdings. Tho building would, it was stated, be finished

by tho end of Soptembor ; this, would, no doubt be rapid

work, and ho trusted that their other public works might

bo earned out with equal celerity. Ho was quito sure that

his colleaguos, as well as himsolf, had witnossod, with

gratification, tho establishment ol'municipal institutions,

carried out, as thoy wore, under tho law which vye intro-

duced in tho yenr 1858. That law had been found

fault with in somo places, but ita goncrnl operation (for no

law, ho apprehended, was perfect) had been bene-

ficial to the colony. (Cheers.) Wo hail laid tho

foundation of institutions that must bo productive of groat

advantages ; and if it had conferred no other benefits it had

{riven you some knovvlcdgo of tho difficulties of government,

and had induced you to íako Inore interest in the progress of

Siiblic works flinn you othorwiso could havo done (Hear,

ear.) You havo begun to act upon tho principle-never

before recognised in this colony-flint as far as you holped

yourselves, the Govormnont would help you. Ho thought

ho would ascertain how far Iho operation of tho Municipali-

ties Act had been beneficial, and ho had referred foi' figures

to his bon. colleaguowho kept Um money. Ho had found the

.result to bo most gratifying ; and as what ho now said

would possibly meet other eyes and other cars than wore at

that table, ho would make thom public, in order tliat others

might bo induced to toko advantage of the Act as i ho

Waverley municipality had done Tho following were the

sums that had been paid by the Government to tho respec-

tivo municipalities :-Grafton, £388 17s. 7d. ; Waveriov,

£755 3s. Id. ; Wollongong, £U0S Ms. 3d.* ;

Newcastle .C2917 8s. 5d. ; Kiama, .£1801 18s, 3d. ;

Shellharbour, i'59o Id's. 7d ; Shoalhaven, £175 7s. 4d. ;

Randwick, £002 5s. 4d. ; Redfern, £12S 3s. 4d. ; Illawarra,

£1367 3s. Cd. ; Goulburn, £048 17s. 8d. ; Globo, £1620 19s.

, lOd. ; Albury, £845 6s. lid. ; Oronge, £2C5 12s. 7d. ;

Cudgegong (doublo), £307 17s. 8d. ; Paddington, £439 .is

lid, ; Wooh'hm-ti, £C0ô 14s. ; Wnteiloo, £188;ils. 8<l. ;

Mudgeo, £590 3s. 2d.; and Balmain, £993 18s. lid.;

making altogether a total ol' £17,895 Gs. 8d. This money

was claimed by- Inw, without having to go cap in hand to

the Government, as some peoplo said ; it was indeed de-

manded of his friend the Colonial Treasurer, and ho lind to

give it-and no thanks to him. (Laughter.) Tho 'prin-

cipio, of independence and self-reliance would, if extended

throughout tlio colony, bo productive of the greatest advan-

tages. In every district tho want of good roads, mid other

improvements, had long been felt. > Thoso, which the central

Government would never havo attended to, could now bo

deteimined on nt friendly meetings of the councillor«.

According to tho list he had just road, there were twenty

two corporations established under the Municipalities

Act, irrespective of that of, the city of Sydney.

That was a gratifying result. If you lind obtained untiling

else from the present Government* you had obtained that ;

and he behoved that no real injustice had been dono under

that Act ; althowrh it was alleged tho measure liad boen

carried out in some cases harshly mid cruelly, tho facts when

enquired into had proved tho contrai y. Ho believed thnt

had municipal institutions been commenced some years ngo,

wp should novcr havo been asked for sopanitio'n of tho

northern colony ; ii might nt all events have been put off

for many years. If the Govornmcnt mot the requirements

of the various districts in respect to their reads and other

public improvements, there would not be room for much

discontent. It wns persenally gratifying to him to bo re-

ceived with so much hospitality; so far as ho and his'col-

leagues could, tlicy would always be ready to meet the de-

mands of the munieipalitiea ; and the attention of his friend

the Attorney-General wo» icing directed to somo proposed

tiii.cndiuents in the Act, which would niiku it work moro

efficiently. Although tho erection of; tho new buileling

was insignilii'imt to for n-s its cost vvivs

corecmtel, yet as tho beginning of tho cxlension of an im-

portant principle throughout tho c'jiiy, itwasofgrcit

cimi-equeiice. Ho could only hupe that other municip.ili

ticK would .-ooii follow thoir exiuiiple. (Cheers.)

Mv. O'BiiiiN proposed llv ."\t toast, " Tho Piuiininent

of New South AVutes," i -uortlmt eulogistic speech.

Tho toiiht was e nthusiastivuliy rocoiveel, and Mr, Cowper,

Mr. Sutherland, and Mr. Allen rose in acknowledgment,

but Mr. Robertson retained his scat, níUrining that ho was

not n Member of Parliament.

Mr. Aiii.K.s was called on to respond, and in doing so

dwelt ->n tho advantages ihul had attended tho establish-

ment of municipal institutions, contending that tho law, ol'

which Mr. Cowper might bo said to hnvo beun tho father,

was conceived in wisdom, and hail been carried out judi

ciously, But for that mciisuro, tho improvements that

they could i-co luound the>m would not hnvo been carried

out in their day. On behalf of the Parliament of Now

South AVales ho begged to return them hiä thanks,

The A'uü-Cii.uhh.v.v (Mr. Councillor Alckory) next

proposed ''The Prosperity of tho Colony.''

Tho tonst having boon drunk,

Mr. RoiiKitTSO-V rose to respond. He remarked that tho

manner in which tho company lind drunk " tho prosperity

of the colony," »bowed that they at. all events wero not

tinged with tiioso doleful forebodings which they woro ac-

customed to hear in como directions-that tho colony was

falling oil" in prosperity; it was an indication that they did

not believe in that kind of thing. (Laughter.) AVhon ho

came to tho piuco where they wero now assembled and saw

the good roads und tho signs of general prosperity, ho lookcel

biu-k to what tho samo placo was fivo-and-tliirty yoars ago,

and for many years after, when ho used to como out hero

" five-cornering." (Laughter.) AVhon he romanibonpl

(ho'sandhills that used lo extend hereabouts, and now saw

them converted into fertile grounds, nnd occupied by tho

"happy honie.s of intelligent and reputable citizens ;-vvhon

'ho saw lill" this ho l'.oulel notbelievo that wo had much to

fear. (Cheers.) Thoy ' would bo aware, no doubt, that it

lind been stated that tim colony was going bick.

It lind beim urged that people wore going away

norn this colony, on tim ono sido tú A'ictoria, miel on tho

other to Queensland. He confessed that ho luid uovcr felt that

the colony Iom much when those, places wero soparatml.

lie always thought that the principio of salf-govorn

inent was as much their right as it was ours-(hoar, hoar)

-and when wo asked the Imperial Parliament, to givo iib

tho entire control over our own affairs, ho felt that if wo

refused tho same privileges lo A'ieloiia on the ono limul,

and t» Queensland on tho other, wo should not bo carrying

out with regard to others that which wo dosirod for "our;

selves. II« did not boliovo that tho soveiiuico of A'ictoria

had been a elumiigo to this colony ; much ¡ess did ho bolicvo

that, the sovomuco of Queensland had done us any harm.

On the contrary, bo beliovod Unit if wo could havo not only

a large and prosperous colony in Queensland, but. also

another large and prosperous colony to tho north or

Queensland, the city of Sydney would then be moro than it

now was-a mctropeilitnn capital. . AVo should then

find that instead ol' Port Phillip rising into tho most

impeii tant colony,-our magnificent harbour, our possession

of coal, and our central situation, would givo us n moro

metropolitan and commanding position than any other

colony. (Cheers.) He had never boon ablo to look upon

the sèverniico of Queensland us any damago to this country ;

and vvhon he henni, as ho often did, of million) of capital

going over to Queensland - vvhon ho hoard tiloso

wretched forebodings, ho confcssexl ho lookeel upon thom

with utter contempt. (Cheers.) It was tho practico,

generally to pride ourselves upon our largo exports. AVo'

lind a large export trade by water, and also by land, with'

A'ictoria ; that had been admitted, ovon by the croakers, to,

be advantageous ; but now that we had opened a now trado

-now flint wo had n now customer for our stock, and lind

found ii new source. of profit-wo had tlicso wrotehoel fore-

bodings. (Cheers awl laughter.) If our oxports wero

to bo calculated, it would be found thnt this

withdrawal of stock towards Queensland w.is

only furnishing another market for our stock. As n pro-

prietor of sheep and cattle, ho looked upon Queensland as a

piuco where we could send our spare stock that wo could

l-cnr on our nins. So long^ ns wo lind the saino amount of

grass feed for roaring our live stock, so long wo could con-

tinuo to ronv it, and wo woro tho better off if wo got n botter

market ; and the more Queenslands wo had to which to

send our Mock the hotter it would be for us. (Cheers.)

Hu was nut one of thoso who entertained any iitiscmlilo,

feeling of jealousy at the prosperity of Queensland. His '

hcartvwas largo enough fo see them all prosper ; and if our >

neighbours pros]>ercd, dopond upon it wo should '

.not bo damaged. But it was not only in tho

matter of material wealth, - thoso of us who

weio old colonists would admit that wo lind very much

to bo thankful for. When wo fetncmhcreil that we lnd )

now tho freest Government in tho world-that wo had a

constitution which gnvo to tim people n largor amount of

power, and of salt-government, than was to bo found iu

nuy other country,--it must bo cotisidorod n very

gi cat thing, indeed. And, coming back to this matter

of tho municipalities, was it not an admirable

institution that our citizens should bo enabled within ¡my

area that thoy might please to form tbomsolvos into a

coi polution, to elect for councillors tho most able of their

j body, that thoy should bo nblo to miso money for tho pur

Iiose of improving- their own localities, und that thoy should

>e ablo lo claim from tho Government an eqnal oniouut to

Hint which thoy lind collected ? (Choors.) Ho thought that it

was an admirable institution. Wo could sec tho improve*

ment s flint were going on in all directions; and ho would

say tbnt even where municipalities did Hot exist, there was

much to bo grateful for in tho prosont state of prospority.

Ho had spoken of the ditferenco there was in this piuco from

tlio timo of his boyhood. Thore was then no such thing as

liberty, no such thing as people having any control over

the Government ; but what was our present state ? Why

the people elected tho Parliament, and tho Parliament by

its voice choso tho men who ndmiuistorcd public

«flairs. Yet it lind been, alleged that things

had not prospered hero since tho introduction

of responsible Government. Now, ho knew of

nothing of so much importance to a civilised community,

nothing so valuablo to peoplo engaged in tho production of

mutual wealth as means of internal communication. And

what was (he vote of tho Parliament tho year prccodiug

tlio intiodnction of responsible Government, for putting tlio

roads in repair? Some thirty thousand pounds. And

what was the amount voted for that servico last year r

Why fifteen limes as much. (Cheers.) And whon ho

heard these misoiiiblo, these wretched croakers-(laughter)

-pointing back ns thoy were continually doing,to what

was the state of things in tho old reign of despotism before

tho peoplo bud nny control over tho Govcrnmont, ho would

point to tho fact Hint whilo before tho introduction of

responsible government, only £30,000 a-year was spout on

the roads-the sum spent last year amounted to £200,000.

(Cheers,) And where did this money como from ? Was it

a fuel that tlio people were more taxed now than thoy were

before ? That could not be alleged It was quito truo that

his lion, colleague, Mr. Cowper, and the genflemou who had

worked willi him, had managed to insist on tho gentlemen

who held valuable pastoral lands paying a fair amount for

the use of thoso lands ; so that wo had now £250,000 a year

moro from the lands than wo did boforo tho introduction of

responsible Government. But could nny ono say that

injustico had been dono him in that matter ? If we had

taken the money out of the pockets of thoso people, had wo

not made roads on which to bring down their produce ?

(Cheers.) It must bo remembered that whon wo brought

In tho Assessment Bill thoso wretched croakers allogod

that wo wera going to ruin tho colony-that wo should bo

destroying the groat producing interest. But tho moment

thnt that bill was passed and put undorvvay in the voar

1858, up went fho vnluo of all pastoral properties. That

was a fact. (¡Cheers.) And now wo were going to ruin

tho country with tho Land Bill ! (Laughter.) It would

bo found in tlio long run that wo should not ruin

tho colony, or any interest in it by tho conrso

wo were pursuing in tho administration of tho

public lands. Ho bolioved that by facilitating tho occupa-

tion of thoso lands whether by free selection, by deferred

' payment, or by nny other modo, wo should bo doing moro

good to tho colony than wo could accomplish by nny other

course (Cheers.) Ho remembered that when, à fovv years

ngo, gold was discovered, it was said that; that was going

to min tho colony. (Lnughtor.) Many owners of pastoral

properties then gave thom away almost for nothing,

because thoy were porfectly alarmed lost all thoir shephorus

should run away, and the sheep would cither go to the

nativo dogs or be ol' no value, and that tho country would

'go to poidition. However, nil went on right, and theso

peoplo, instead of losing their wealth, gained a hundred

thousand pounds or two by tho gold discovery. That was

what happened nt tho time of tlio gold discovery. And

now there was a lot of croakers about tho municipalities.

(Laughter.) Somo gentlemen who, having far more land

(ban brains enough to monago it, or spirit to cul-

tivate it, were grumbling bocauso mador tho

Municipalities Act wo mado.thcm pay for making roads to

their propei tv. This was -another of tho modes in which

itho present Government had managed to ruin tho country

(Laughter,) As ho boforo remarked, wo wore always

mining tho country. ("Laughter.) And whon you looked

at tho next statement of his friend, the Colonial Treasurer,

you would find it was all right; you would find'that,

notwithstanding tho soveraneo of Queensland, tho revenue

this year would bo nearly equal to. what it was before.

(Cheers.) And so long as ho found the population increasing,

the roads improving, and fho people prosperous, ho did not

mind about those doleful dospouding individuals who were

always complaining about' the slate of tlio country.

Mr. Ai.i.r.x gnvo "the next toast, " Tho health of Mr.

Weekes, who raises tho money," which was drunk-with

Mr. Wr.EKES, in responding, said ho scarcely know in

what position ho could .venture lo address tho company,

because according to some people, who professed to know

all about it, he was the treasurer of a chest that had nothing

in it. (Loiiphter.) If ho were to say tho samo thing of tlio

head of Hie gentleman who put forward that statement he

should say that there was nothing in it. (Cheers and

laughter.J Ile need only say that there was enough in

the Treasury to meet every legitimate demand ; and not

withstnndin*g the false'iissortions and tho malignant insinu-

ations of.Romc porsons, our credit stood n9 high as over in

the market of tho world, composed as it was of

iiiejn who were most jealous nnd critical of

rho credit of thoso to whom thoy lent

money. Notwithstanding the crios of thoso ill birds who

fouled their own nests-notwithstanding tho statements Hint

tho Government of the country was handed over to n set ol'

men who had no'interest in the country, and who wanted to

bring cverytlupg down to their own love), notwiuKtaading

that-tho colony was financially and in every olher rospoct ,

in a« sound a condition as it was beforo tho introduction of

responsible government. (Cheers.)

Mr. D iwson then proposed "The Sydney Corp-.ration." I

The tonst having boen di mik,

Tho M.ivoit or Sydney rotitrnod thanks, briefly cuni

plmienling the Waverley Corpoiation on having in somo

things outstripped the Sydney Coriwration,

Mr. Am.en gavo tho next toast. "Tho Suburban ami

Cniintiy Municipalities," which having boon duly druukj

Mr. Tuomi*m>n (chairman of tho Woollliam niuiiici

pnhty), responded, as did also Mr. Dawson and Mr. Sim

-mons, on behalf severally of the Randwick and tho Waver-

Jlr. Cow-vim again roso and proposed-"Tho progress

of Waverley." Referring to tim condition of tho colony,

ho declined"that ho could seo no symptom of declino, lío

believed that, go far fiom rctrognuting, tho colony was

Kiemlily progrcwiing. Ho thought that when tho resnlt ol'

tho census just taken cunio to bo known, tho population

of the colony would lio found to bo not less

than 360,000. Tho amiomn-eiiiont would, ho" thought,

surprise somo people. Our roveimo had, too, boon increas-

ing from about n million to a million and ii-half, which, ho

believed, it would bo this year. At tho samo timo, our

public expenditure had gune'on docroiisinir, it boing now

not much moro than a pound per hoad. "Tho land sales,

too, had not fallen oil". Whoro, therefore, woro tho proofs

of tin's dtelino? (Cheers.)

Tho toast having been drunk,

The Chaihman l-otiirned thanks for tho good wishos that

had been expressed towards tho municipality of Wavorlov,

and desired, in doing so, to oller n fou- observations in

reference to tho occasion on which thoy wcro mot, Tho

building, tho foundation stone of which liad just boon laid

hero, would bo a Billilli one,-un wort hy of being commoneeel

by tho hands of a rroinfor but for tlio fact of ita possessing

a peculiar interest. It would, ho behoved, bo tho first that

had been erected in Now South Wales for tho uso exclu-

sively and iiGiniaiiently of a municipal council. . Ero long,

ho hope-d, tho land wonld bo thickly studded with such

buildiiiirs. (Cheors.) Whntovor differences of opinion

(hero might bo «pou «Hier questions of social policy thero

could bo none, ouie/ng thinking and observant mon,

as to tho ndviintngcs of municipal institutions.

They lind boon ono of the groatost bless-

ings to our parent land. Thoy would' . assuredly

prove an equal boon to Australia. Thoro were some,

doubtlcs*», who railed at such institutions. Mori could bo

found to rail at anything, howovor'good and usoful., (Mr.

Rohortson-" At tho Lund Bill, for instance.") (Litughtor.)

But they had no argument worthy of tho nimio to sustain

thoir animadversions. Tho popular verdict upon tho

Munitipitlities Act of 18-jS lind boen longsinco pixmounceeli

Around tho metropolis there was scarcely a suburb which

was not incorporated. In tho interior nearly ovcry town of

ini] orliiuco had its mayor and nlilcrnion ; and thcro wera

few rural districts, except such as wero nearly unpeopled,

which had not availed thuinselvcsof this statute and taken

clmigo of their ovni affairs. Tho Act might bo, and

doubtless was," defectivo in somo rospocts, Fow

legislativo measures wero mado pcrtect in tho

first instance. But oxperieneo would have shown

what amendment« wero neoeloel, and when thoy

should hnvo boon submitted to tho long promised senatorial

révision we should doubtless have as practical a systoin of

municipal organisation as the human -wisdom of (ho present

day could ¿oviso. (Hear, hear.) Its imperfections, how-

ever, woro by no moans so great as many affected to

bollcvo, and in somo instances, no doubt, did bctiovo. Ho

could poin 1 confidently to thoir own cxjHjrioncos in

Waverley as a proof that, even as it now stood, tho

Municipalities Act might bo worked, and that well.

(Cheers.) The Municipal Council of Waverley-one of the

earliest established-met for tho first timo on the- 23nl of J lily,

185!'. Since then noarlv a hundred mooting« lind been held.

As in all such bodies, tuero had been occasional différences

of opinion-sometimos, perhaps, a littlo warmth; but

never for an instant had (ho material interests of tho muni-

cipality been neglected. Our revenue, from all bourccs,

had been sim cwlint less than £1730, but over £1800 hud

been spent on roads. .Resides this thoro had been an o.x

} endituro for "piont,"' furniture, vont, salar)-, und olher

incidentals of over £500. On first glancing at theso figures

it would seem that, having spent sovoral hundreds more

thnn wc. had «received, wo must bo considerably in debt.

.But it was not really so. ,'fnio it was, that by way of

working capital wo had a cash credit-at tho Cominorcial

»Bank for «wliich the councillors were personally responsible,

- and that our > balances in that bank might bo

. at tho present limo on the wrong sido of the ledger-(a

. laugh) j but we were just stnrting with tho collection of an-

other year's mtt-s, and at tho ond of next month should bo

in receipt of tho Government endowment. The balance

Will then bo on tho right side. (Cheors.) And now lot us

ico what had been dono. 4327 running yards-nearly 2.

miles-of now* streots had boen mado; in many oases with

coop cuttings, high embankments, and niassivo culvort-.

Properties hcretofoio iuaccossiblo lind now good ronds to

them. AVavciioy-strcot, which lay in front of us, and

Botnny-streo - wliich wo could see from hence

running to tho vary heart of tho township,

woro formerly almost iinpaisablo sand tracks.

Beside these, Vickery - street. Church - street.

Lower Birroll-strcct, Leichluinlt-sti-eot, Ardon;Stroet, nnd

Nelson Bond had been completed, as well as a portion' of

Trafalgar Road. Tho ln-st-nainoel road ran no-u-ly to tho

sea on tho south sido of tho municipality. Upper Birroll

strcer, which also ran nearly to the sen in the conti- of the

township, was now being completed, and Wnvorloy-sti-eot,

?which run nearly to tho South Head of Bondi Bay, would,

ho had no doubt, be completed tho most of Unit distance ero

tho year was out. Theso wero improvomonta which, but

for tho incori oration of the district, would probably not luivo

bein mado for the next quarter of a century. Ho would

say nothing of repairs, which occasionally, especially after

bad weather, entailed a considomblo outlay, but which

had always boon promptly executed. Wo had tried both

tho contract mid day labour systom for our municipal

works, and, contrary to what had been hold olsowhoro, lind

found day labour not onlv tho most oUectivo. but tho

cheapest. Wo had a most efficient superintendent, and wo

had nu "Improvement Committee," who-tlio chairman

of that committee, especially-watched ovor tho expenditure

of public money with ns much erne as tho most prudent

man could bestow upon his own affairs. (Cheers.) " Our

labouring mon, too, were all ratepayers, and worked con

anioic. Tlio "Corporation stroko" was unknown iu

Waverley. We had a Finance Cominittee, ulsoj who

watched carefully over ovory farthing of expenditure.

(Cheers.) Tho average cost last year of making such roads

as you saw around you-cuttings, embankments, culverts,

nnd all-had boen but about 5s. 6d. per running

ynrd, or £4S4 per mile But tho attention of

the Municipal Council had not boon confined

to tho construction and repair of roads. A codo

of by-laws-it was hoped a tolerably complote one-for tlio

good government of tlio municipality had boon onncted. In

itho making of these by-laws tlio cxistiuc general statutes

such, lor instance as tho Country Towns Polico Act-lind

lieen followed so jar ns it was deemed expedient. Manv of

' fho more stringent provisions lind boen omitted as uusuitcd

i to our circumstances. In other cases there had boon msili

fieations suited to local requirements. It might bo said

that our business was of a vory potty character; our incomo

and expenditure wore certainly both small. But did not

this nflord nn additional argument in favour of local solf

govonmient ? ' Who so likoly to mako tho most of small

means ns the chosen representatives of those bv whom these

. menus mo provided*" (Cheers.) And did not tho

habit of looking closely into small things-if so

they could leaitimatcly bo called-train tho peoplo

to a due appreciation of thoir lu'ghor political rights and

functions. (Hoar, hear.) If our revenues woro small, it

might bo naturally concludod thnt tho individual contribu-

tions to thisrovenuow.ro small also. For tho most part

they were so. There were some, however, whoso ratos

were conipaiativ ely heavy, and on whom tho payment of

theto rates confi rred no present advantage Somo of tho

ratepayers of Bondi Ward, especially, wore in this position.

But with such a revmuo as ours everybody could not bo

served at once Yet a littlo whilo and wo should havo

roads everywhere; at lca-t in all reasouablo places.

(Cheers.) " Speaking generally, the amount of taxes

paid boro but a small proportion to tho advantages

obtained. And nono-sj caking generally also-derived a

greater ndvnntago than tho proprietors of unimproved

lands. Tho cons ti uction of loads through, to, or near such

hinds always added materially to their vtiluo. There

weie lands" around hero which had, porhaps,

been nearly doubled iu value by euch > means.

The holder of (by far) tlio greatest quantity

of unimproved land in this municipality-tlio gontlomau

who gave us tho soil ou which this building was to bo

elected-always j aid his rates cheerfully aua promptly.

(Cheers.) If "every ono did tho samo our income and morns

of usefulness would be much greater. Wo were initiating

measures to compel a payment of arrears by non-

resident landholders. It was but hist to those who paid

willingly that thoso who ii ado wilful default

should lo coerced into bearing thoir share of tho Roiior.il

expenses. It happened too, in our case as, perhaps, in that

of othor niunicipallfios, that many of thoso who wore thu.-,

in default, were gentlpinon whoso properties had been mo»t

greatly enhanced in" value by tho lnboiu-s of tho corpora-

tion. Upon tho whole, however, there was littlo eiuso of

complaint against tho ratepayers of Waverley. Tho resi-

dents, almost to a man, and vory many of tlio non-ro»idcnts,

piu'd promptly and willingly. Thoso who woro rated

benvifv. more promptly and more willingly, iu many case«,

Ulan 'those who were rated lightly. Soma gwitta

men-mauy of whom were non-ro.sidonts-not

content willi paving their rates, had subscribed

money towards the construction of now reads.

on condition of nu equal oiiumnt being paid from municipal

funds, aitd of tho work being carried out under tho super-

intendence of tho Council and it» officers-conditions which

had been gladly complied with. It was with aid of this

kind flint Botnny-street, Aidcn-Mrcot, and parts of A olson

, and Trafalgar Roads woro made. That tho powers con-

ferred by tho Municipalities Act of 1858 might be abused

no one could doubt. Every good gift might bo abused or

perverted. It was probable that somo lcgitlntivo amend-

ments might bo needed upon thi» ground. Wo had

nil heard complaints <>f excessivo taxation. It

would be found, ho thought, in most cases, that

the complainants were men who, relying upon the false

hope that tho municipal coimcils could not compel payment,

had not nvnilcd themselves of the right of appeal given by

tho Act-who, in fact, had ignored tho assessment

altogether. Such had been tho caso with somo of "tho

assessed " of our own municipality, and he must candidly

confess that there had been, on the part of the Council, n

little inclination to keep tho assessments up in such cases;

casting upon the parties concerned tho alternativo of

going to tho Appeal Court, or of accumulating heavy

ai rears. Could they reiwonably complain when

tlitf íeinedy was is their cwtt hands} (Chcew.)

Those who luid mot tis in a proper .spirit had boon motin

liku manner. In cases where wo had ditlbred in opinion

(bo Justices at tho Amical Court had decidcel fairly between

na. The councillors nail no personal intprost in maintain-

ing; n high scnlo ol' assessment-quite (ho ro verco. Tho

higher this seale the higher must bo their own contribu-

tions to tho municipal treasury. They bv no moans favoured

euch oUior, bul wore rather disposed to ''luv it on," rely-

ing upon tho improbability of a councillor becoming an

appellant. ((Cheers.) Not ono shilling of emolument,

direct or indirect, was derived by any mombor ol' tho Muni-

cipal Council. On tho contrary, a soat in that Council

besides entailing a heavy tax upon tho member's timo, en-

tailed no inconsidcrnblo tnx upon his pockitt. His solo

roward lies iu tho oonsciousnoss that ho was doing good,

mid that ho had b<?on ehosen fur this purpose by his fellow

electors. (Cheers ) Tho building which wo wore nbout to

erect will also bo usoful for other purposes than tho strict

business of tho Council. Its principal apartment would

bo available-freo from charge-for lectures," concoris, or

any other public pnrposo for which it could bo fairly useel.

(Cheers.) Ho would conclude by again returning thanks

for the handsome manner in which tho toast, " The progress

of AVaverloy" had been received. (Cheers.)

The following toasts wero subsequently proposed, duly

received, and appropriately acknowledged ".-" Tho Liberty

of tho Pross; "Our Guests;" "Tho Ladies;" "Tho

Chairman and Vico-Chairman ;" and " Tho Stewards."

The convivial proceedings terminated soon after four