KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2714, 20 December 1882, Page 3

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ANOTHER BEAR GARDEN SCENE.

The proceedings of the Council on Tuesday evening were of a more lively description than at the former meeting. All the Councillors wore present; Mr Smith (Mayor) presiding. Copies of letters to the auditors wore road, asking them to fix a date for re-auditing the hooks. Mr J. Matthews replied that he declined, as no reason was assigned why he should re-open the audit, and he knew of none. The accounts had been examined strictly in accordance with) the Act, and consequently as the accounts were adopted and passed by the Council, he would not put the town to the expense of a further audit. Ou this letter Mr G. P. Hewlings, the second auditor, had attached a memo, that he saw no reason to differ with the decision come to by Mr Matthews. Sundry letters were then road from the Collector of Customs advising payment of a whole 5s to the Council’s account, which the chairman of finance committee said had, however, never come to hand; from the Lyttelton Harbor Board, asking the pleasure of the Conneil’s company at the opening of the dock. The clerk reported on concrete culvert in progress at corner of Akaroa street, which it was now decided to lengthen another 20ft Cr. Pinching moved,Cr. Peldwick seconded, a motion for consideration of the auditor’s letter in ordinary business.” Cr. Fraser desired to know why it could not now bo considered. Cr. Woodford, referring to the matter as a deal of fuss about nothing, seconded Cr. Fraser’s amendment. The Mayor requested the clerk to exercise every care in recording the amendment, which provoked a laugh at Cr. Fraser’s expense. The amendment was lost, the motion carried, two protesting. Cr. Parnham, cnairman works committee, obtained an extension of time to report on drainage and general public works, and invited the councillors to meet him at lunch next day. An offer was handed in for the office of ranger, but remained unopened. The finance committee reported receipts, including reserve rent .£SB 18s, and the present overdraft, to be £lls 3s. Accounts £0 4s lid were passed. Cr. Fraser, for the lighting committee, obtained an extension of time to report. It was resolved on motion of Cr. Fraser, seconded by Cr. May —“ That the Council adopt its own valuation for the assessment.” The Mayor reported result of the interview with lion. W. Johnston respecting the bridge and tramway. The lion, gentleman saw the necessity for the former, b"t would give no promise of assistance. Respecting the tram, Mr Blair had suggested the amount necessary should be voted to the town, and the Council might make it now. He (Mr Smith) warned them against incurring any liabilities in this respect, as it was doubtful how far the power of the Council extends and the responsibilities might prove a serious hindrance to the progress of the borough. The Rangiora Road Board had objected to the tramway passing into its district. Owing to Mr Johnston’s hurried visit there wore some matters which he had forgotten to biing forward, one being the question of occupation by the railway of the ends of certain streets. Cr. Fraser moved—“ That the clerk obtain the plans and specifications for the bridge, and make application, in terms of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, for £1000.” The Mayor—The cost is £-1500. Cr. Fraser—Very well, then, insert £SOOO. After a pause, Cr. Champion seconded the motion pro forma, j The Mayor requested the clerk to carefully j note Cr. Fraser’s motion. This motion

was negatived. The Clerk said Hr Pecz had promised to have the plans and specifications ready by the 21st* Cr. Pinching moved, Cr. Woodford seconded —“ That should the plans not arrive in time the clerk go and fetch them.” This was agreed to. Cr. Pinching moved, Cr. Woodford seconded—- “ That on receipt of the plans the bridge committee be asked to forward them with all information necessary to the Council, and apply for a grant towards same.” Cr. Fraser said ho had already proposed this. His contention was that the Council should make the applications without leaving it to the committee. If the latter applied, the Government might turn round and plead the informality of the application on the ground the committee was not the local body. The motion was however agreed to. Replying to Cr. Parnham, the Mayor said no offers had been received of land for a cemetery. On motion of Cr. Pinching it was decided that a public meeting be called to consider the cemetery question. Coming to the question of the audit, Cr. Champion, in a lengthy speech, said he regretted that the resolution of the Council and the clerk’s letter did not go further in giving the auditors the reason assigned for a new audit. However, that did not matter, and it was clear to him the auditors had never considered their position. He referred to sections 128 to 131 of the Act, explanatory of the audit in which it was shown, that the half-yearly audit was one of receipts and expenditure, while the annual audit provided for a consideration of all assets and liabilities. Now, he contended that in the first-named audit the balance of rates ought to have formed a matter for audit as being strictly cash belonging to the borough. The courses open to the Council to obtain the audit were to revoke its former resolution adopting the accounts and passing the fees to the auditors, which could be done on an unanimous vote of the Council. A mandamus of the Supreme Court would accomplish a similar result, or the Council could take steps to obtain a special aufiit. He contended that on the statement of the auditors that they had not seen the rate books for four years they were not fit to hold office. The matter reflected a terrible scandal on all concerned. Ho moved the cancellation of the minutes of November 21st and December Sth passing the half-yearly accounts and the auditor’s fees. Cr. Pinching seconded pro forma to allow discussion, though the motion did not meet his views. Cr. Fraser contended no reason had been assigned for the audit, and contended the Mayor was quite out of order at last meeting in putting a motion for the re-audit, seeing the accounts at the previous meeting had been adopted and the motion for adoption still remained on the minutes. He moved —“ That the auditors be asked to attend and explain if the rate book had been inspected by them during the past four years.” Cr. Pinching seconded. This was the best way out of the difficulty. The Council was now bound to see this matter through, and ho trusted there would be no need to resort to a special audit. Cr. Parnham hoped the matter would be soon settled, for the Council had been dragged a good deal into the papers of late. He was satisfied that Mr Matthews, as an auditor, could be relied on, but in justice to the clerk and the Council the statements said to have been made by Mr Hewlings ought to be cleared up. Cr. Mathews opposed this. Cr. Champion pointed out he opposed the passing of the balance-sheet, and his objection was removed by a statement made by the clerk. When one of the auditors had said “ the rate book had not been inspected for four years, and that the audit was not worth that (snapping his finger),” then it was time for the Council to take action. So far as Mr Matthews was concerned, he believed he had audited the accounts to the best of his ability, but still they were not done properly. If he (Cr. Champion) could get no redress, he should place the question before the ratepayers. He had no wish to lead anyone to believe there were serious defalcations. All he wanted to see was the accounts and books put in proper order. Cr. Woodford was disgusted with the way the question had been dealt with. When the balance-sheet was on the table then Cr. Champion ought to have protested. The Mayor—He did so. Cr. Fraser—We were unanimous in adopting them. The Mayor—That may be, but it was after a statement had been made which we accepted. Cr. Woodford said it was anything but gentlemanly to bring up the matter in this way. The Mayor—You must withdraw that expression. Cr. Woodford continued to speak. The Mayor —Will you withdraw that expression P Cr. "Woodford—Well, if it pleases the Council I may do so. The remarks made about the accounts in the first instance were when the fclerk was not present to defend himself, and it was asserted the books were in a disgraceful state. It subsequently turned out that the books were quite correct. They were audited, and not satisfied with that, they were brought on to the table for inspection, and unanimously passed. Ho could not understand all this bother, and would object to Cr. Champion’s remarks, even if he were King of the Cannibal Islands. The Mayor said he had allowed Cr. Woodford, on account of his ago, a great deal of latitude, but Cr. Champion appeared to be quite right in directing attention to the matter. Cr. Woodford—That’s as you think. Cr. Pinching said, had it not been for the Mayor, Cr. Champion and himself, there would have been a very unpleasant state of affairs, and he considered that Cr. Champion was now acting in the best interests of all concerned. Cr. Fraser was pointing out, that Cr. Champion had been allowed to speak too often. The Mayor hoped Cr. Fraser would observe the progress of the business, and not interrupt. Cr. Fraser accused the Mayor of having insulted him two or three times during the evening. The Mayor— I bog your pardon ; I have not done so. Cr. Fraser —You have; you have been doing so for some time. The Mayor proceeded to say he had no wish to insult any Councillor. Cr. Champion had spoken quite in order, and Cr. Fraser’s remarks were out of order and uncalled for. The auditors, ho went on to say, or rather one of them, was now trying to shield himself from the folly of his remarks anent the audit. He had repeated that the rate book had never been audited, and that a memo, attached to the accounts four years ago, pointing this out, had been unheeded. Had ho (Mr Smith) really done his duty at one time, he ought to have taken the keys of the office and suspended the; clerk, as the books were not made up. The clerk was away ill at the time, and at the request of his medical attendant he deferred saying anything to him for some time. Regarding the proceedings that evening he said Cr. Woodford ought to know better than make the remarks he did. Cr. Fraser had not been insulted, but it took a great deal to keep him in order. If ho had erred at all in the debate, it was on the side of laxity. One or two councillors had don-3 their best to make the office of Mayor an unpleasant one for him, but he should shortly be free from them. If the auditors in this accounts question had met the Council in a friendly way, the matter might have been settled, but if they meant to fight the Council, the Council was prepared to fight them. At this stage the motion for requesting the attendance of the auditors was agreed to. The clerk was appointed returning officer under the Licensing Act. It was proposed that the auditors’ fees bo withheld. The clerk said, on the instructions of the finance committee, he had destroyed the cheques. Another passage of arms occurred between the Mayor and Cr. May over the question of putting a motion which the latter asserted had been already carried. On the motion of Cr. Parnham, seconded by Cr. Pinching, a vote of thanks to Mr Smith for the way in which ho had filled the office of Mayor, was ordered to be inserted on the minutes, and the Council adjourned.