AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 209, 19 July 1878, Page 2

AKAROA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the above was held on Tuesday evening last.

Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Waeckerle, Meech, Sunckell. Billens, Cullen, and O'Reilly. The Mayor stated the object of the meeting, which was to consider the report of a committee appointed at the last ordinary meeting. The minutes of the last special meeting were not before them. The Clerk had not entered them up. The rough minutes had been searched for, and could not be found. Under the circumstances, he thought they should proceed with the business of the meeting. . Cr Sunckell, before doing so, would dike to have some explanation from his Worship about locking the door on Friday. But for that there would have been no delay. The Mayor explained that when the Committee had finished their business, the Town Clerk had tendered his resignation, and left the place. They had not thought it right to leave the office open, and had accordingly locked it.' Cr O'Reilly was surprised that no member of the Committee, except his Worship, was present. He thought they ought to adjourn till the next day, to enable the Clerk and the members of the Committee to be present. Cr Cullen would like to hear the report read. The Mayor thought this should be done. The Council could then take what action they thought fit in the matter. Cr Waeckerle questioned the legality of the whole proceedings in the absence of the minutes. The Mayor could not see that the whole business of the Council was to be brought to a stand-still for the want of these minutes. If necessary, they could hold a special meeting some time immediately before their ordinary one, aud confirm them then. On the motion of Cr Meech, seconded by Cr Cullen, it was resolved that the report be read. The Mayor accordingly read the report 1 as follows, together with copies of correspondence :— "July 12. " Committee meeting, held in the Council Chamber, to consider Correspondence re By-laws. " Present —Messrs Annand, Bridge, Penlington, and H. Watkins, Mayor. "Moved by Mr Penlington, that his Worship take the chair. Seconded by Mr Bridge.—Carried. " The Chairman read two telegrams sent to the Colonial Secretary, and stated that no reply had been received. " A letter was received from A. I. McGregor, Town Clerk, taking the whole blame on himself, and tendering his resignation. *' The Committee recommend that his resignation be accepted, and that he be paid up to date, and also suggest that all accounts be audited to date. "The Committee recommended the Council to inform the Government of the result of the present inquiry. •• In reference to Colonial Secretary's letter of July 4th, No. 250 " "The Committee recommend that copies of correspondence ordered to be sent by authority of the Council of the 23rd February, two letters, description and tracing, also letter of 29th June re boundaries, be forwarded to Colonial Secretary's office. " The Committee suggest the appointment of a clerk temporarily. "Henry G. Watkins, " Chairman. "July 12, 1878." Cr Meech asked if the Committee had found any correspondence purporting to have been sent away from time to time ? In reply the Mayor read the following letter of resignation from the Clerk :—

" Akaroa 12th July, 1878. " The Chairman and Members of By-laws Correspondence Investigation Committee.

" Gentlemen,--I feel that it is quite useless to prolong your labors in reference to By-laws inquiry, as I have been no doubt to blame in the matter, and wish to take the whole onus on myself. I beg to place in your Worship's hands my resignation of the office of Town Clerk, and will be prepared to hold office until my successor is appointed.

" I am, Gentlemen, " Your obedient servent A. I. McGregor. He said that, with that letter before them, the committee had thought it unnecessary to make any further investigation.

At this stage of the proceedings, Cr Meech suggested that the services of some one should be procured to take minutes of the proceedings. |A gentleman present, on the request of the Mayor consented to do so.

Cr Waeckerle proposed that the report of tho committee be adopted.

Cr O'Reilly thought it would be going too far to condemn a man unheard. He considered they should adjourn till the next evening to allow the Cierk an opportunity of being heard. Cr Billens dissented. If the clerk were here ' they could not adopt any other course. Cr Meech seconded the resolution, and in doing so expressed surprise at the absence of the members of tho committee. The resolution adopting the report was then put and carried.

Cr Meech—moved " That the Clerk be written to, informing him that his resignation was accepted, and requesting him to hand over any keys or documents in his possession to the Council." The motion was seconded by Cr Sunckell, and carried.

It was then resolved that the keys, which were in the possession of the Mayor sealed up, be opened, and the contents of the safe examined. This was accordingly done, certain documents, of a private nature belonging to the Clerk being sealed up for delivery to him. An advertisement was ordered to be inserted in the Akaroa Mail for a Town Clerk, his Worship being empowered to employ temporary clerical assistance pending such appointment. On the motion of Cr Meech, seconded by Cr Billens, it was resolved that an apology be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary. The meeting then adjourned.