SCENE IN THE COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 444, 22 December 1908, Page 2

SCENE IN THE COUNCIL.

Some strong Remarks.

last night’s meeting o f Borough Council when that portion of ' Messrs Moore and Barnard’s advice referring to the £SO deposited by Mr Butcher Who obtained the right to light the town with coal gas, was being discussed, Cr Coley said that he understood the. JSgpncil intended to retain the deposit lodged by Mr Butcher and wanted to know if that was so.

On being'answered by the Mayor in the affirmative,Cr Coley said thev might as well put their hands in a man’s . pocket and take his money out. The deposit should be returned to Mr Butcher. “It was simply thieving to - retain it,” added Cr Coley. He hoped that if there was a law suit that the / Council would be defeated and have to “ pay up.” He then went on to refer : w to an amount of £7O withheld by the Jfl Council in reference to the purchase pfJHj the gas works site, and said the Cojdncil would promise to do a thing/but when it cam? to doing it, they were not the men to kdep their word. f At this stage the Mayor informed Cr > Coley that he was out of order. Cr Coley retorted ; “ If I am out of order, the Council are purloining this man’s X 50." ‘

This was too much tor Cr Hennessy, who sprang to his feet, and punctuating his words with his clenched fist on the table, objected to Cr Coley speaking in the way’fae had done. He said ; “How dare Cr Coley call us robbers. Every man at this table is a long way belter man than Cr Coley.” He concluded {‘Everyone present had a better claim to honesty thenCr Coley.’’ He considered| Cr Coley ought to be in a pigsty and not sitting at a Council table. After this delivery Cr Hennessy resumed his seat. The Council then resumed the discussion on Messra'Moore and Barnard’s letter when, Cr Hennessy again rose and said he would like to move to adjourn the question as he did not feel in the humour to discuss the matter in harmony. The other councillors present did not appear to be anxious to adjourn and the business proceeded as 1 published elsewhere.