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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3193, 22 September 1881, Page 2

lln tbe absence of a quorum the usual meeting of the Municipal Council did not take place last night. A majority of the members preferred "Quilp" to public business. Pour Councillors, who deserve to have their names honorably mentioned, Messrs McKay, Monteith, McDougall, and Ellis, however, resisted temptation, turned their backs on the Theatre, and presented themselves to do, and, if need be, to die. The sacrifice of their time, their acceptance of duty in preference to pleasure, served no good purpose. The parable of the Virgins was reversed in their case; for those who preferred to seep had all the fun, while those who kept awake met with disappointment and vexation of spirit. After all there was not very much to be done in tbe Council. The consideration of the reports of Messrs Lamb and Stewart on the extension of the water works was the most important business, and from past experience we can guess pretty well how much consideration would have been given to the subject. In all probability some one would have moved that the reports be referred to the Public Works Committee, and the motion would have been carried without a dissentient voice. These two reports can be considered in committee without a resolution of the Council, so the ratepayers have not lost much on that point. Neither was there any notice of motion before the Council, so there was no new question to be discussed. It is true that tenders had been invited for the No. 7 drainage contract, the result of which would hive been made known it a quorum had been got together; but no one will pretend to say tbat No. 7 contract is» of vital importance. If a poll were taken of the ratepayers the chances are that a large majority would record their votes against any further expenditure on what very many are of opinion is a useless scheme for the sake of spending money. Finally, had there been a quorum, it is just possible Cr. M'Dougall would have taken the opportunity of airing his eloquence on tbe " outrageously absurd order " by which Carlyle-street is closed to traffic during the progress of No. 6 contract. But as the Council gave the contract out, and as the contractor has the right to demand facilities for the performance of his work, Mr M'Dougall's speech would have only amounted to a waste of time. As long as the whole of the business of the borough is transacted in secret committee—as long as the Council is only a dummy to satisfy the provisions of the law, we fail to see that the loss of a Council meeting is the public calamity some of the Councillors would have the rateoayers to believe.