(COMMUNICATED.)

Dunstan Times, Issue 261, 26 April 1867, Page 2

(COMMUNICATED.)

At a recent meeting of the Municipal Council held in thi« town, it was resolved that a vote of censure be passed upon the Mayor, Mr W. J, Barry, for detaining a letter received by him from Hw Monor the Superintendent, relative to the formation of a rosd from Cromwell to Messrs Douglas and Aldersou's station ou the Nevis route. It appears that Mr Tarry had to go to tow» on private business, end that instead of giving the letter in question to the Town Clerk, who lives live miles from Cromwell, he committed the grave offence of handing the document to Councillor Whetter's son, to lay before the Council in bin, the Mayor's absence. The public were not awaie of the Vote of Censure being recorded, until they saw it in the columns of your Journal, when they were loud in their expressions of disapprobation at the steps taken by the Council, in the Mayor's absence, co on last Monday evening, immediately after the adjournment of the Council meeting, a public meeting of the Inhabitants was called in the School-room, to show air Barry, that alihough his .Councillors censured him, he had still the confidence of the inhabitants of the Town and District. Mr Patiick Kelly proposed the first resolution " That in the opinion of this meeting, The Town Council arc highly censurable for their cowardly, and unjust treatment of the Mayor, during his al>sence; and that the vote of censure lately passed upon him was both unjust and uncalled for, and inconsistent with that spirit of justice and fair-play which forbids any person being condemned -without; giving him the means of defending himself. The resolution was seconded by Mr William Shanley and carried unanimously. Mr Thomas Shanley then rose and said, —Mr Chairman and gentlemen, 1 consider that, instead of the Mayor deserving the censure of the Couucil, he is deserving of public gratitude for the manner in-which i he has conducted the business of thcMunicipality since hi« election to office—l may mention that I was thoroughly opposed to him on that occasion, und watched him naffrowly for a considerable time afterwards and I confess 1 have seen more in him to

be praised than censured. It is all very well now for the Council to turn on him, but at the time of his e'ection they were lub 'quondum friends.' The Mayor has met every public man that has come amongst us as became the first citizen of the people; and I consider, that the manner in which he received His Excellency the Governor, on the occasion of his late visit to romwell, did great credit both to him (the Mayor) aud to the Inhabitants of the town and district; at all events, none of his Council could make such a turn-out. I believe also, that the Mayor did more good for the district when lately in Dunedin than if he had sent the Superintendent's letter by a mounted orderly, instead of a •i.'oramon Council Man's Son.' I have therefore much pleasure in proposing a ■warm vote of confidence t m our worthy Mayor, Mr W. J. Barry, and which I am sure will meet with a hearty response, from not only every person in this large meeting, hut from every one in the town, saving the councillors. The proposition was ably seconded by Dr Corse, and carried by accla mat ion. Three ihearty cheers for the Mayor terminated the proceedings.