PORT CHALMERS TOWN COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2022, 28 October 1869, Page 2

PORT CHALMERS TOWN COUNCIL.

To the Editor of the Evening Star.

Sir, —Some time during the last municipal year an action was brought by the trustees in Mr Millar’s estate for a ainn of money supposed to be due to Mr Millar. Had the Council been possessed of sense they would have settled the same by arbitration—and, being men of business, one would have supposed they would have done so ; but no, as i hey had the ratepayers’ money to spend, they determined to go to law. Of course, they employed a solicitor, and we gained the cause. The whole sum in dispute amounted to thirty five pounds. Had we lost the cause, LBOO would not have covered the expenses. However, we gained, and as our lawyer said when he sent m his bill, we ought

to be very glad it was no worse. The verdict was for L 25, and the lawyer’s bill amounted only to L 275 17» 2d ! Now the gentleman on our side did not provide for the taxing of his bill, and on its being presented to the Council the Finance Committee recommended it to be paid, and it would have been paid only wo happened to have a Councillor Miller—one of those obstinate, troublesome men, who will not see with other people’s eyes ; but ho would have this bill taxed, and the result was that Mr Mausford’s original bill of L 228 17s 8d was reduced by the taxing officer to LB3 13s 6d : thus we have to pay out of the rates the sum of LISS 8s 6d for the pleasure of going to law.

And then we have another little item of L 8 6s 8d for the draft of a lease that you could buy in any law stationer’s for one shilling, and yet we had plenty of time to send to England, for we had no power to lease the ground until now, and it was one year ago this form of lease was drawn. Now, sir, is it safe to let these councillors borrow L2,0')0, I ask? and will they not squander it away ! Some restriction should be placed on them. Councillor Miller is entitled to the thanks of the ratepayers for the stand he made againstT the proposal of the Finance Com-mittee.-—Yours, &c., A Ratbpatbr. Poit Chalmers, Oct. 27.