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Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 41, 17 January 1879, Page 2

Wednesday, Jaxuaky 15. The Council met at two p.m. Present — Messrs Macarthur (Chairman), Halcombfi, Kobbell, Carr, Sinsou, Gower, Liuton, and Dr Ucekatrow. The minutes of the previous mcethtg wero road nud confirmed} ,fc'oUitltsl*oxnEN v cE r.EAJ). From tfa Hntana&aiuiuna, of Awapuni, requesting the Council to make some recompense for the outlet drain at Awapuni, ranning through his land. ! Prom Bowe, Birchley, & Go-., dom^laining | that the Ferryman neglects to k&ep tho | VOW Id tho btiacm from tho f'evry ia proper order. From the Secretary to fche Treasury, in rnply to a letter from the Cimirman regarding tho Wangamii Harbjr Eudowmcnt. From Mr Francis London, regretting his absence from the Council meeting* and referring lengthily to his oasei From Mr Cook, Returning Officer foiwarding account fi'om Mr Hedges, doputy roturuiug officer for Ihe K-iwli Kawa Ridi»ff. From Messrs J. Beale, of Pdlmerston, and A. Piummer of Feilding, applying for slaughter licenses. liHmwAfs HoAut). A letter was read front tho Manawaiu ' Highways Hoard, regarding tho . payment of inonej-s upon the cetifieate of tho engineer. Tho Board wished progess payments to bo made, instead of tho money being held in hand until the work is finished, n« contractors would thus be kept without their money for a lengthened period. The Chairman said he Understood a f . the time the previous resolutiou was passpj, that progress payments would bo made. He thought, however, the Hoard should sss euro that the payments it m:ido at once wont to the contractors; otherwisoj tho Council might *>o paying 7 pef cent interest on an overdraft, whilst the Highways Bo.ttd miyht bo making 5£ par cent ou a credit balance including tho money paid. I Home plight discussion teak placo upon the relative powers of tho Board and the Council, and it eventually Was resolved, upon the motion of ilr Hulcoinhe, that tho Council adheres to the terms of its resolution, re payment of subsidies to Highway Board.", but is willing to meet their convenience by making progress payments in cases of largo cwitnicta being undertaken. HOSPITAL. Letter read from the Town Clevk of Wanganui, forwarding copy of resolutions passed at the meetia.^ of deleg -ifces re the Hospital management. Tho resolutions were to the effect that tho cost of main*, taining tho Hospital staff should be provided for by the Borough of Wanganui Spaying £HO, and tho counties of Wangauui, llungitilei, and Itlauawatu, nud the Borough of Palmerston, the sum of £iii each for tho ensuing year ; also, that in the event of tho resolutions for th'> maintenance of the Hospital staff being adopted by the Boroughs and Counties named therein, patients be admitted at a charge of Is Gd per diem. Tho resolutions wore accepted, on the motion of Mr Sanson. HASTWEIX AND MACAIU. Letter read from the Government, enclosing copy of a letter from Hart and Buckley, solicitors to Hastwell nnd Macaia, pointing out tho •' hardships they uudenro in consequence of the enormous tolls they are compelled to pay at tho ferries " along tha line, and asking the Council to express its opinion whether it bo advisable to carry into effect Messrs Hart and Muckley's suggestion that tho Public Works Act should be amended to meet the case. In Messrs Hart and Buckley's letter, it is stated that the tolls paid by tho coaches amount to " about £200 per annum " ; nnd that "at this season of tho year there is little or no passenger traffic." The letter from Meusri Hart & Buckley was dated last July. Mr linlcombe said the proposal was a most unfair oue. If Harwell and Co, cirried mails only, no ferry charges could bo made ; but through taking passengurs, the charges were made. Mr Kebbell said no charges were made at either (.Hum, Ctaki, or Waikanae. Mr Liuton said when the tolls were raado the contractors charged 2s 6d to mak-.« up for the tolls, but now tho passcnges had to pay their own toils, tho coach proprietor., sti'l charged tho 2s 6d. Judgiug from Mr Young's success, instead of the contractors suffering hardships, they were making handsome fortunes. Ho was willing to pass a resolution to protect the travelling public, but not to put money in the pockets of the coach proprietors. Ho proposed the following resolution, which w».s seconded by Mr Halcouibe, and carried :—" That it is not desirablo to mako any alteration in tho ferry charges." The Chairman promised to put the facts before the Government, in forwarding the resolution. OTAKI ROAD. Letter read from Eoera Hukiki and others offering land for a road from Otaki to Foxton. Dr Kockstrow asked what value was the document introduced by Mr Kebbell. Mr Halooinbo said when the natives had once consented to a road, they would not aftorwards intoiiere, Several members expressed tho inconvenionce of not calling for tondors for the work, but as tho natives had made it a condition it was determined to arrange with thorn. Mr Kobboll proposed the following resolution, which wa§ seconded by Mr Halcombo and carried :— " That the inland road from Otaki to Foxton bo surveyed by tho County Enginoer at once, commencing ut Otakl, and from thence to •* point ou the Bouth bank of the Hauawatu Hirer at or near Oturoa : that tho road bo taken across tho Ohau Itivor at Iho place most suitable for throwing a bridgo across it hereafter ; and that the Engineer is hereby authorised to obtain professional assistanco if uocjssaiy to carry out tho said Burvey." Mil LOUDON'S CASE. Dr Rockatrow had given notico of motion to rescind Mr Ualcombe's resolution. A letter waß also road from Mr Loudon. The two things wore discussed together. Mr Loudon 'a letter is as follows :— Wklunoto.v, l'Jth January, 1879. To tho Chairman of tho Maiuwatu County Council — Deah Mk — I regret that important bnainass hero will prevent inn attending tho Council meeting on the loth inst, especially as Councillor Halcombe's resolution, which reflects on niyseif and tho electors of tho Awahou Biding, will be under discussion. I mutt therefore content myself with a few remarks on the subject, viz. : — In August I wrote to tho Council acknowledging that I added certain words to tho resolutions which I had previomly moved, the words being, " And forward to the Government." I expected that tho Council would then have either accepted or rejected my apology, but no notico was takon of it beyond reading it and tho Chairman's reply, and whose reply expressed satisfaction with my note, and which was sent on the same dato he received mine. Since then, the matter has been discussed from nearly every possible point of view,

both by tho Pre.*9 and certain of the 8 Council, 1 lie elector* of the Awahou Uid* n ing object to Councillor Halcombo's resolution on the ground that it reflects on them, F and consequently they held a meeting on the r 11th Decomber, and passed the resolutions 1 contained in tho petition now before you J Fop my own pm't; 1 haVo nd objcctbii What' 1 * e"voi' td uiiy resolution tho Council may pass c that will reflect on myself only. Indeed, I l would bo inoit happy to second and Vote for j such a resolution, and by doing so would • only be consuteufc with ray letter to the * Council of tho sth August, and with the T position I took at various public meetings ' since; I can assure Councillors Halcombe ] and Macarthur, and any others that may j agree with them, that I am not dependent ! o-isiirh for a character. My constituency i lias ulivady returned its vcr.lict throo times. i First, by returning mo at the lieid o( the poll, Bivond at a public mooting on tho I ltli j j December! and thinllj by tin? (K'tiiijn now ! | before voii ! and I liiU'e" no doubt they would ifo it a fourth time if if. we're neees- ( sary. T am therefore quite contented to loave tho decision of the matter in the ] hands of tho Council. Even Councillors , Halcombo and Macarthur, I think, will see " thai the passing of such resolutions are in i no way a benefit to the County, or any individual therein. Tlien what is the object f , Is it for my bertenfc alono "t or is it to bring about tho separation of the County by indirect means ? If the former, and he (Councillor If dlcoinbo) is sincere, I should thank ; him for his kindness \ and if the litter, I ! for one would bo glad to ae<? it effected any | day, and if it has the approval of my Hiding ! would vote for it. If Councillor Halcombe , had a good end in view, 1 hopo he will accomplish it. If he had a bad end in vi.'w, . I hopa he'll fail j and if !.c had no oal at all in view, tuon his action was simplo folly, i and this I cannot think he would be guilty > of. And nowj gentlemen, having said all I * \ wish Id siy, I leava tho remainder to you. ■ If, however, the Council w.is of opinion ! that I was returned without the full knowi ledge of tho electors of the Awahou Hiding j regarding the addition of tho Words above quoted, I am quite agi'eeable t> resign, and ; appeal to them again, an.l bear nty oWn ex- , p0n363 df tho next election to prevent it : be>n«i a cbargo on tho County funds j pro-« i vided Councillor Halcombe will vcni-»n on ; similar conditions, and test tho feeling of ; the electors in his own Riding with reference Ito this question. — I am, Sir, ! Your obedient servant, ; F. Locdom. ; Dr "Rockatrow said ho wished to withI draw his notice of motion, as ho accepted Mr Halcombo's assurance, that his resolui tion did not reflect on the ratepayers. Mr Sanson said he would not apologise 1 for Mr London's conduct, but he would 1 point out that when a man was elected to that coun?il, whother tho members liked it or not, they must accept him. So far as i inflictiug punishment upon Mr Loudon, nothing thoy could do would be too severe for such roprehensible conduct. But the I consequences of tho resolution would fall ; on Mr Loudon's children, and his childrcu's children. Therefore ho would like to sco I the resolution struck out: also, because j they had no right to doit. All tlso punish- | meat possible had been inflicted upon him. but judging from tho tone of his letter, Mr Loudon was iinporviou3. His action was mean and contemptible in the extreme, and if a horsewhipping or a ducking iv the • river were proper, he would have given his i voice for it, but for the sake of his posterity I ho would lteo to soc it rescinded. | Mr Linton said he had considered the j subject fully, and his opinions were similar itt Mr Sanson's. Tho letter just read was a barefaced insult to the Council, a greater one could not be offered. The resolution, i howevor, was curried by a majority, and I would not be rescinded. If any man could be disgraced, Mr Loudon had been ; but, judging from his letter, it had done Mm no [ good. Ho would like to see the question gono into and settled once for all : either ' let Mr Halcombo's resolution be ro-affirroed j strongly, or el»3 rescinded. So long as it was ou the books he (Mr Lin ton 1 ), would not feel at home in Council. Ho thought Dr Hockstrow sho yed weakness in desiring ' to withdraw the mo'ion. Dr liockstrow pointed out the two last speakers were not present at the previous meeting. Air Kebbell asked where was tho petition to which reference had been mude. Dr I'.ockstrjw explained he had baen ; asked to present it, but had declined to do so, as he felt upon Mr Halcombc's explana- i 1 tion no reflection was intended upon the \ ratepayers. He would move, " That Coun- ■ cillor Kockstrow have leave to withdraw his notice of motion." 1 Mr Carr seconded. Mr Halcombe said he had agreed, if the motion to rescind were withdrawn, to send 1 a note to Dr Roukstrow, as representative of Awahou, assuring him no reflection was intended upon the electors. He had hoped the resolution would force Mr Loudon to resign, but it had not done so. At the time it was passed there was no dissent with either the terms or spirit of the resolation. He had no wish to punish Mr Loudon. His own confession, read at a public meeting, was sufficient to punish any man. His wish was to guard tho honor of the Council. It was unfortunate that Mr Loudon'a posterity would be affected. It would be monstrous to sit sub silmtio, whilst a man who had so acted ondoavored to find ia tho votes of electors a condonation of his offenco. The true issues of the question had not boon stated by tho Wellington papers or tho Manawutu Times. An absurd and unfounded charge had boon mado that ho was a partisan of Mr Thynne'a, whoroas they were directly antagonistic. He held distinctly that in every case where the law does not take hold of a man for a wrong action, tho Council had a porfect right to express its opinion. Mr Linton said at'eor reading tho letter through carefully his objections to Mr Halcombe's resolution had gono. Mr Lou ton said, " For n»y own part, I have no objoc. tiou whatever to any resolution tho Council may pas* (hat wi'l reflet on myself only." Tho assurance was given, and accepted by Dr Hockst'rOw, that it did reflect 'only on Mr Loudon, and ho would take him at his word, and let tho resolution stand. Ho would poiut out oue thing. No other Council in the Colony bid been placed in the saint, position— probably none such would 6ocur for the next hundred years. (Hoary hoar). Members had to sacrifice thoir private feelings to their public duty. Mr (iower said ho had not changed hi* view of the mutter. He had voted for the resolution when it passed, and ho adhered to it still. Influence had been brought to bear, to .get him to take a moro lenient view, but he could not. At the first meeting he had doubted the legality of the resolution, but was in full sympathy with its purport. Mr Hanson said ho spoke on tho broad question. Ho felt the resolution was not legal. The Chairman at the time was a sworn political cnoray to Air Loudon. He wished to soo it rescinded only on one ground, and that was, beoauso he held it to be out of order. Mr Kebbell considered the Council had a perfeot right to express its 'opinion on snch a matter. He thought Mr Thy nne was in a perfectly legal position in the chair, and would also say that tho Covnoit was tho some Council all through. Mr Carr weuld vote for the resolution to

stand, and was prepared, if necessary, to move tha*- it be reaffirmed. The Chairman replied to Mr Sanson, pointing that in his first Bpeech, his obj ection I referred to prosterity; in the second to the | legality of the resolution. As regard* the latter » vfh.it was not forbidden by law was legal. There wcro, no dotlbfc, men of bad character in Parliament, but Mr Loudon'fl offence was both against and in the Counoil. , He did not want a precedent for their action. I They had their conscience and moral sense, und were able to judge between right and wrongi He felt there might be a feeling of uneasiness whilst Mr Loudon remained in the Council, but that feeling should be on his parr, not theirs. la any case it was better to undergo an inconvenience, than feel they had slunk away from performing a public duty. Dr It >ek?trow said he had sent for the pjtiti.>ii, u.iil \vo:ill ask advice, whether he i .should present it,and have the whole matter j finished oaoe for all j The .Council thought it would bo better to have the aff lir settled at ouue. The patition, signed by 87 electors and residents of the Awahau Riding, w.w pr osontod aud received.. It embodied the resolutions passed at the meoting ou DeeomberlJ. Dr RooUatrotf replied, briefly. He said tlio Council should have dealt with Mr Loudon at the time. The Chairnvin— What do you mean ? Dr Xtockstrow — You should have expelled htm, or have recorded the roason of his resignation. Mr lialcorabo said the fact was members were so utterly thunderstruck, that for the credit of the Council, und out of charity to Mr Loudon, they kept it as quiet as possible. The motion was then put, that Di Rockstrow have loavo to withdraw his motion, and was carried, Mr Sauson baiug the only dissentient. Tho Council thon adjourned.