HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 November 1911, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tlie following resolutions were adopted by the Borowhenua County Council on Saturday, in addition to the .report of the meeting which appeared in Saturday's issue:— Rjohftvds-Prouse.— That Cecil Wil§on be appointed ranger for the Wirokino riding and Lovin Borough, at 12s per week and driving foes. Venn-Stcphcnson.—That the j»:esont tenant of the Grant reserve at Shannon bo given six months' notice, and that tenders he called for (1) the purpos<. of the said reserve, and (2)' for lease of same for a term of ton years with right of renewal at valuation, or compensation for approved permanent improvements not oximedni* £150. DTNNER AT THE LEVIN HOTEL. After the meeting of the Horowlienua County Council on Saturday, tho retiring chairman, Councillor Freeman, invited tho councillors, the staff, and the press to dinner at tho Levin Hotel. During the proceedings some interesting speeches wero delivered, and warm and deserved testimony to the- able and self-sacrificing .labours of Cr. J. McLeAvcy and Cr. Tompsitt, who n.re not offering themselves for reelection, were made. Cr. Venn, as the senior councillor, proposed the health of tho chairman. In doing so, he said that during the lasi term the councillors had worked most earnestly and smoothly in the interests of the ratepayers. So far as Cr. Freeman was concerned, he could honestly say that if ever there was one councillor that he had hold in the highest respect during tho Jast eighteen years it was "Cr. Freeman. (Applause). He was not saying that because he was there or boCause he was chairman. Hut ho said it without any hesitation, and he was satisfied that his views were those of his colleagues, (Applause.) He was exceedingly sorry that Or. 'MeLoavoy and Cr. Tompsitt woro not coming hack. They had both worked honestly in the interests of the ratepayers and they had had no axe to grind. Tf at the coming elections Cr. Freeman got defeated he (thespeaker) would be >as much disappointed as if he himself had been defeated.

The chairman. who was cordially received, in reply thanked Cr. Venn for the way in which he had proposed, and the company for the way in which they had drunk, his heaitii. Ho had had some seventeen years on tho Council, anil if- he got defeated this time—(a voice: "Yon won't!)—he would still consider he had «i good innings. Tf he had looked up to anyone on the Council it had hcon Cr. Venn, and anyone who followed in his steps had done good service to tho ratepayers. (Applause*.) Ho (the chairman) had had a very pleasant time in presiding over the deliberar tions of the Council, and had received valuable assistance from the members, and for that assistance he cordially thanked them. "Whatever the composition of the Council might be after the elections, ho only hoped they would work together as amicably as the expiring body. (Applause). Cr. McLeavey gave the toast of Or. Venn, the senior councillor. Tie eulogised C'r. Ven-n's oerJi.v to the county, his integrity, <n:d his business capacity. He hiuist-lf had decided to retire, at all events for the present, from the Council some six 'months ago, but with regard to Cr. Tompsitt he had overlooked his nomination. Cr. Venn was the captain on the bridge when he first joined the ship, and ho hoped that if ho (the speaker) came to interview the Council at any time lie would find Cr. Venn in the chair. (Applause.) Ur. Venn briefly asknowledged the speech in a few briefly selected sentences. Cr. J. Prou.se proposed the toast of "The Staff." He .said that they were very much indebted to the staff, particularly to Mr Malcolm and Mr Lodge for tho capable w-ay in which they had transacted business. Details of work were always ready to hand, so that when any question arose they were at once supplied with the fullest particulars. That helped them very much in the conduct of the business. By their competency they had been relieved from difficulties," and they realised that they had two very competent officers in Mr Malcolm and Mr Lodge. (Applause). Mr Malcolm (the County Engineer), in returning thanks, thanked Cr. Pronso for the kind remarks he ihad made, and the Council for tho cordial way in which they had received those remarks. Both Mr Lodge and himself had done their best. No doubt they had made mstakes, but he did not think any serious mistakes had been made that had cost the ratepayers anything. (Applause). The County Clerk also responded, expressing appreciation of the kind observations of Cr. Prouse. Cr. "Watson gave "The Press." remarking that the Council meetings ■were always fairly and fully reported. The toast was responded to by the representatives of the Horowhenua Chronicle and the Otaki Mail. Cr. Richards proposed the health of the. retiring councillors, and paid a cordial tribute to the services of Messrs McLcavey and Tompsitt. The whole Council regretted their departure. (Hear, hear!) Cr. Tompsitt remarked that it was 23 years since he was first elected to the Council, and pointed out that as a rule at the elections he had gained the highest number of •votes. The last term of office haci been a, very harmonious one. There -had been no party differences at all. That was a fact upon which a.ll could congratulate themselves. (Applause). Cr. MeLeavey thanked them for the way in which they had drunk the toast. He regretted that he would not be with them at the next CoTi'.cil lneetiin.g. but if he wore not with them in bodv he would be pr:-sent in t!:o spirit.—(Hear! hear!) —and he would always wateh the Council's trans: 1 cti'-ns with tlio inter~st. Peihnps at some future date he might -agan meet tr-Pin as a councillor—(loud appbuse)—and if he did he hoped to seo the same councillors sitting -ai-miid. the table as ho saw that 'da , -. (Loud applause). Tbo enjoyable proceedings then nt -dude'l.