FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, 10 February 1880, Page 2

FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board was held at tha Athenaeum m Saturday last, at 3 p.m. Thd whole of the Commissioners were present. Mr Gray took the chair, nnd read the minutes of last meeting. He was proceeding to put the question whether the minutes should be confirmed, whim Mr Why to said that previous to the question being pu*. to the meeting, some steps should be taken to ascertain whether Mr Gray had any riirht to Rit there aa Chairman, or whether indeed he had any right to be present at all. Ho us a Commissioner had requested that this meeting might be called, and had signed a requisition to the Clerk to that effect. Thoy were present to consider the question of the legality of Hr Gray's position Therefore, he .thought that question should bo settled first. Mr Gray said he did not intend to discuss that question at present. No meeting could be held without the minutes being signed. Besides, oven if he was disqualified, he held the position of Chairman till his successor was appointed. Mr Whyte— Aro you acting legally in sitting there f Mr Gray — I am. Mr Whyte— l am asking what your position is. That is what we have omo to discuss. I»m not envious of you, but having signed the paper, I think it right the matter should be settled at once. Mr Gray— That will come on after. The minutes must be signed first. Mr Whyte— Oh, wt 11, you know best. The miuutes were then confirmed. Mr Gray theu said a requisition had been forwarded to the Clerk, Mgned by Com tnissioners Loudou, Whyte, aa;l Coley, a-<k ing him to convene v meeting to consider the relation of Mr Gray to the Board. On the Clerk receiving this, uot being em p-mered to call a ineHiug, ho wrote to him (the speaker) enclosing the letter. He had therefore called the present meelinsr. Having put these matters fc fore them, he begged leave to vacate the chair. Air Whyte was voted to the chair pro tein Mr London said lie had taken part in getting the members called together, to lay before them the action taken by the Chairman, who had, he belie v<> I, aoteJ contraiy to the law. Mr Gray had been a most energetic Chairman, uuil a good Commission r, but had got himself into a false position. Tl» • arrangement that was originally made regarding the payment for a roadway was only iiiLunded to be temporary, and ho was surprised to find that a charge had again been made by Mr Gray after having accepted office, lie hail vac«;ed the chair, dnd the business of the Board now wa9 to appoint a returning officer, and get 11 ficsh election. No minute- was needed to declare the seat vacant, us Mr Gray's own act had put him out of the Board. - Mr Gray said that Mr Loudou was wrong. The Chairman was the person to call for a freflh election. The Board had no power to do it. Mr Whyte said they had nothing to do with a fresh election. What was before them was the disqualification of Mr Gray —nothing else. Mr London— That is settled. He has vacated ihe chair. Mi- Wbyte— No. He has only left to get th ; matter settled. Mr J.oudon then read the clause bearing o>i the subject, and urgued that as Mr Gray had received for three years a regular amount of £13, a contract existed, and he therefore was di<qualifi«d. Mr Coley asked how they were to decifle the mutter. No proof had been brought forward, and it was not for the members to determine. '! he Mngi.sirato was the light one to decide the question. .Mr Loudon said there wasnoliuv which enabled them to take tho matter to the Cou't. I .Mr Whyte asked what good would be gained by putting Mr Gray out of office? Me wis the best mm for the Chairmanship. No doubt it was a good subject to bring be f>>re the ratepayers, but in this caao it was an attempt to deprive Mr Gruy of his position. He was aske.l to open the road, and he (Mr Whyte} having proposed the original resolution, was not iroing to cast n stone at him fur doing it. He proposed the resolution, believing it wonld be for the benefit of the ratepayers on N > I Line, and it would tie " deuced unfair" to put him out becau>e ho had received the rent mouey. He would iiave no hand or part in it. There was not a particle of sense in it. Mr Graj' said ho would say a few words. Previous to the last notice Mr Loudon had s.'iit a letter to ho Clerk, asking him to convene ii meeting himself, but ho Mr • fray had daivd th« dork t<\ do it. If Mr Mr Loudou wua not void ho w<>uld know the Clerk could uot call a meeting. Mr Loudon had received money from tho Board himself. Mr Loudon— Quote it. A search w«s made through the books, and it was found that in January 1377 tne sum of HI Is was paid to him. Air Gray continued that "Ir Loudou was not the man to give his land to the public for nothing, nor would Air (Jr;iy. Ljg .Mr Loudon go aud read up tho law, of which ho was ignorant. Where was it paid h : was disqualified ? If he could find it in the Act, ie was moie than his bettors cuuid. Mr Whyte — My opinion is that Mr Gray ii not "tit. Mr Louudon said that it appeared he had received £1, which was only a small sum, uud certainly not a fair shurc of the loares and fishes, compared with what others had enjoyed. What he had received was for 4?oi>ds supplied, and ho could uot drive persons from his shop, even if Ihey bought for the Board. He again quote i the Act, and >uid the question whs not what they thought, but what the Act said. It was not in iheir power to reinstate Mr Gray. He would allow another tribunal to try the else, l.ut asserted Mr Gray was not now » Commissioner. [.Mr Gray— l'll let you see th-t] He would refer them to the minute of the original resolution. Mr Why to — That's uot formal. It can't be taken as evidence. It never was confirmed. Mr Loudon — I'm glad to hear you say it's not formal. Mr Gray — It's quite formal. It does not matter not being confirmed. Mr Whyte — I say it can't be taken as evidence. Mr Loulon— W»-11, it's evident that if there is any defect in the contract, there lius been none in the payment, for it is a fact that £46 10s h<is bee<i paid to Mr Gray ; mid it is also a fact that the present state of "ffairs is n<>t according to the Act. The Boird were there, he said, either to g^t what they could for themselves, or to do the work of the ratepayers. He thought there was more of the former going on than of the latter. He had himself received no benefit from the Hoard. He challenged anyone to say he bad, and he demanded an appeal to tho ratepayers over this matter. The £4B already paid would have cut the road. If it was tbo feeling of the Board that Mr Gray should receive a life endowment of £13 each year, he d d notsha ein it. They aUo seemed willing to give tho same gentle men £200 iv the form of a corner section t>n the Avenue, as compensation for the one for which, they had paid him £46 as rent. It seemed very nice to bp a member of the

Local Board. Yt if the ratepaye • found fault they were told to mind their own business. An offer had beeu received to rent the section on the Avenue it was proposed to give Mr Gray, but the Board refused to entertain it, and thus some £20 per annum was lost to the ratepayers. He would not stnnd by and sec these things done without exposing them. Mr Whyte replied very strongly to Mr Loudon's remarks. He sa<d he had listened very attentively, but could not agree with what he had said, as ho frequently drew ihe " long Irow." When the-section-was obtained, it was necessary us an outlet to the settlers in that part of the town. Mr Gray was asked to let his section, and he did so at five shillings, .a-week... The.. Local Board then had no money, and were glad to hire tho land. Were they now to turn round and put him out bocause he did what they wanted? , , # ' Mv Coley suggested they should give up this section. That would settle it. Why did not Mr Loudon bring it up before f Mr Easton said it would have been better if Mr Loudon had objected when the account was passed. He (Mr Easton) said then that the expenditure ought not to bo continued. His idea was they ehould Wait till the Council made. the road through Johnston's land. .Mr Whyte— Well, I'll ask all round about the road. Air Coley. do you think Mr Gray should receive notice to close bis section ? Mr Gray — Oh, that's not a part of the business. You can't put that to the meetill S- ♦ . Mr Whyte — Well, I vacate the choir, and j propose that Mr Gray be our Chairman. Mr Gray — That's not necessary, I never ceased to be the Chairman. The proceedings then terminated.