MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 645, 28 August 1874, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, CROMWELL.

—o— The usual fortnightly meeting took place on Friday last, at which there was an unusually large attendance of the ratepayers. Present, the Mayor, in the chair, and Councillors Grant, Taylor, Shanley, Hayes, Whetter, and Wright. The Town Clerk read the minutes of the last ordinary, and the minutes of special meeting, which were duly confirmed. The correspondence was real, received, and adopted. Among the inward was a letter from the under- Provincial Secretary, (A. D. Willis) informing the Council that a communication from Mr John Marsh » f Cromwell had reached the Government, complaining of the illegal occupation of Block IX in the Town of Cromwell. The letter from the Government pointed out that this Block was originally sot apart as a Recreation Ground, and that it was distinctly stipulate 1 that no buildings were to be erected thereon. The Council were also required to take steps to have the buildings forthwith removed, failing which, the Provincial Government would do so at the cost of the ratepayers located thereon. The Mayor could not help expressing hj a surprise at the tone of the letter, as it was a well known fact that the present C amcil had never had an opportunity of (lealii g with this vexed and long-standing question. He could hardly trust himself to speak respecting the unseemly conduct of one of the Citizens in addressing such a letfer to the Provincial Government, the more so as no memorial or anything of that nature had ever been before this Council. It was time enough far this deeply injured citizen, if injured at all, to write to the Government after he hail tried the Council, and

he could not, though he regretted to say it, view the whole transaction other than an insultto them. He had carefully no over all the documents, which, when read, would be found to be very important. He should like to hear an expression of opinion from Councillors.—(Hear, bear.) Cr Grant would like to know whether the Council were dealing with Block IX, or the letter from the Provincial Government.

The Mayor : The letter first ; but it is almost unscparahle from Block IX.

The Mayor suggested that the Council should leave Block IX. an ojeu question, and consider what reply should he scut to the Under-Secretary’s letter.

Cr Wright thought no rep'y was needed, as it was a positive command.

Cr Taylor fully concurred with the observations of tho May o'\ Tho action of the citizen who forwarded the complaint to Dunedin was nothing short of a direct insult to the Council, and ho must for himself say that he was surpiised to receive such unceremonious treatment : t the hands of tho Government. He would therefore move—“ That the Under-Secretary’s letter be sent back ; and the citizen who wrote to the Government bo asked to communicate through the proper channel, \iz., tlie Council.”—(Applause.) The Mayor : The Council has been treated most discourteously by the Government ; but tho letter ought to be received. Cr Sfianly did not think it would be prudent to send the letter back. Cr Taylor saw no reason to alter the motion. The Council had been treated with scant courtesy. Cr Wliettcr fully agreed with the last speaker. They were there as the representatives of the ratepayers, and if the Government were disposed to act in this sort of way the sooner they were sent about their business the better. He would second and support the motion. Cr Grant agreed with the preceding speakers in nearly every respect, hut ho had prepared an amendment which lie thought would meet the ease. It was to this effect—“ That the Under-Secretary’s letter be acknowledged, and that his Honor the Superintendent bo requested to furnish tho Council with tho grievance complained of as tho Council had received no intimation thereof.” Ho was surprised that Marsh, of all other individuals, should have a lopted such a line of conduct. It was well-known that he was an cx-Conncillor, and knew, or ought to have known full well the ordinary course that was followed in such cases. The Council and the citizens knew that lie had been a transgressor for the last seven or eight years, and still continued to be one. They knew he ran foul of the Bridge Reserve, and subsequently became proprietor thereof. When he first lodged his application there was a valuation placed by the Government of L 3 per foot frontage, and when ho discovered this, he wriggled about the particular section until he got it tailed on to Block XXVII., and eventually became the purchaser of the whole section, for L 5, under rather questionable circumstances. Ho would not say much more, as it was no source of pleasure to him to follow Mr Marsh's conduct, and it was nothing but the circumstances that surrounded this business that caused him to speak in this manner ; and well might ho say that it was “ man’s inhumanity to man made countless thousands mourn.—(Applause.)

Cr Hayes hail much pleasure in seconding the amendment. The Mayor then put the amendment, which was carried by the casting vote of the Mayor. Public Works and Finance Committee's report-, and the passing of accounts, amounting to Lo!) Kis, closed the business, and the Council then adjourned.