BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 352, 2 December 1879, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail.

Sir, —As one of the ratepayers present at the meeting of the Borough Council on Wednesday last, the report of which appears in your colums of Friday last, I cannot but regret the painful exhibition then made by those whose business it is to conduct in an orderly and proper manner the business of the borough. Making all allowances for any excitement consequent upon a contested election, I still think with many others, that the head of the Council on the occasion referred to was wanting in firmness and tact, and generally in a want of grasp of the business in hand. Of course, in a hamlet like ours, we do not set up a high standard in our Mayor, and look for that calm and judicial dignity that is only begotten of the daily intercourse with cultivated men of the world. But what the residents expect, and have a right to expect, of being able to rear amongst them men who, if they do not adorn, will at least efficiently discharge the duties of the civic chair. It is no doubt extremely annoying to Councillors to find meeting after meeting that their deliberate" resolutions have been ignored in the most off-hand manner, but I scarcely think that the Mayor is, whatever his short comings may be, to be altogether blamed for this. The Council employ and pay for, at the cost of the ratepayers, a clerk, whose business it is to carry out the instructions of the Council, even in opposition to the wishen of the Mayor. So far as £am aware by law, the Mayor has no functions other than that of simply being chairman of the Council, and as such, in the case of an equality of votes, having a casting vote. His position as a J.P. is merely an accident, and may or may not be conferred, as the Government of the day think fit. If the resolutions of the Council are not carried out, the Council themselves are primarily to blame, as they should insist that they are strictly complied with. And if a paid officer whose plain duty it is to do so does not do so, why, do the same as every other employer of labor would do under the circumstances. For this and other reasons, I think the motion of Cr Bridge was slightly ill-timed. Mr Waeckerle has now clearly beaten all comers in the Mayoral race, and I am sure not only the Council, but the burgesses generally would look upon it as a most graceful act if that gentleman would now quietly resign with his blushing honors full upon him, and seek that quiet retirement to which his advanced age and long services so well entitle him. The hour of victory is the time for the conqueior to do graceful acts, and the present Mayor's retirement at present would no doubt save himself and the borough mauy a scene of wrangling for the coming twelve months. That he'has done his duty satisfactorily in the past the verdict of the electors on Wednesday last proves ; that he is indefatigable in his efforts to keep the clerical work of the Council up to the work, every one knows. His efforts to get into shape the long-delayed balance-sheet was thirty days of constant worry. His Worship, I am sure, will pardon me throwing out the above suggestion to him, which is done in good taith. and the Council will further pardon me, I trust, if I make a few suggestions to them in the present state of the Borough finance. In the first place, I think the rates can be now efficiently got in ; by employing a collector, and a responsible person can be got to do this at five per cent. The street lighting should be done away with ; people in the old days used to find their way about after dark without street lamps, when the roads were much worse than they are now. Tho keeping of tlie minutes of the proceedings of the Council, writing a few official letters, and keeping the office open, say two hours for three evenings in the week can bo done for £25 per annum. The office is practically not open so long at present, and as to the remuneration, the 1 Library Committee, for instance, get twice the work for the same money. Hoping these remarks will be taken by those concerned in the spirit in which they are written, namely, in that of peace, and in the hope that the winter of our discontent will be a season of short duration. I am, &c, PAX.