THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1382, 7 March 1881, Page 2

THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

[to the editor.]

blR—I attended the Council Hall on Thursday night, before the usual hour for the transaction of business, viz. 8 o'clock, but found all the lights out and doors locked. I was subsequently infoimed that the Council meeting was adjourned on account of there beino- no quorum. I then, in company with another Councillor, went and looked at several timepieces and found the following result: J. Home's clock, 11 minutes to 8 ; W. Hanna's, 4 minutes to and H. Burger's, four minutes to 8 o'clock. It has been made to appear that the Conncil meeting was adjourned or lapsed for want of a quorum, and that I was one of the absentees on' that occasion. I have a right to defend myself against any false report. Some time ago the question of retrenchment was brought before the Council for consideration. At a subsequent meeting,

several councillors who hid previouslygiven unmistakeable proof of then* objection to and determination not to" support such a step being taken, used every means in theif frustrate such a resolution being carried, absented themselves from several meetings consecutively j Consequently, from want of a quorum meetings were adjourned and their point so far gained. ' The object of adjourning the meeting on Thursday night last before 8 o'clock (for such was a fact one of 1 the Conn- " cillors present on that occasion having a few hours before adjusted his watch by the Telegraph office clock, declares it was adjourned before 8 o'clock) is so palpable and barefaced that anyone \ whose blood had not become congealed would blush at being connected with such an atiempt at pointing. The question of retrenchment is again before the Council, and accounts for the lock ou6 by the Town, Clerk.—l am, &c, George SiMMonS.

March sth, 1881. [His Worship the Mayor was present at S o'clock punctually, and at that hour the meeting was allowed to lapsed as there was no quorum, one or two Councillors, as Mr Simmons admits, being absent on a expedition.—Ed. K. T.]