RESIGNATION OF THE TOWN CLERK.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 47, 24 January 1902, Page 3

RESIGNATION OF THE TOWN CLERK.

: At the last meeting oi the Motueka Borough Council the following letter from. Mr Hbrat : o Everett, Town Clerk, was lead :

To His Worship the Mayor,

Sir.—lt is with great regret that I tender you my resignation of the office of Town C’erk, as I find I am not able to devote the necessary time to the work, owing to my inability to secure tlif* necessary labor to manage the or< hard in my absence, which will compel me to do it myself. After serving the Motueka people lor so many years I feel the action lam taking very keenly, and only-trust that my successor may give you evety satisfaction. I have fixed no precise date as the date on which I will vaca emy position, as I am desirous of holding on till you are suited, but I hope you will endeavor— onsis'ent with y.mr own convenience--to let me off as soon as possible, in view of hop picking and late fruit picking.—-Yours etc.. Horatio Everett.

His Worship the Mayor said he could .-ay they all regretted the step Mr Everett h; d teen compelled to take. He had always f >un 1 the Tomv Clerk extremely willing and courteous and the duties of,the office had been faithfully performed; in fact, he ha d mot e thu n once wondered how Mr Everett could devote the time and attention lie had done for the salaty given. "When lie Femme aware of Mr Everetts intention, he had made it his business to ascertain if there was any other suitable person to take the position. Be consulted several councillors and had also ascertained that Mr 11. A. Tarrant was willing to take up tluy duties. Mr Tar’ant was a man of large experience and well qualified for the position.

Cr Wratt said lie would like to say a few w< rds, with lefeve i. e t * Mr Everett’s lesignati >n. He was vm-y sorry that gentleman had found it necessary to vacate the position. He had been assoc a ted with him for many years and had always got on well with

him. Cr Rankin endorsed the remarks made by the previous speaker. He felt sure they could not get a bettei officer. The Count*. 1 had uudei estimated Mr Everett’s abilities; lie had everything- at his finger’s ends, and they also .had the use < f his expert knowledge, which was always voluntar-ily-'given-. He moved, that the resignation be accepted with regret : to take effect on the 28th February. Or Moffatt seconded. As one who had Veen instrumental in getting the town created a;Borough; he thoroughly appreciated what Mr Everett had done on their behalf. To remove any impression existing that be was antagonistic to the Town-Clerk, be might say that his idea in tabling the motion at the last meeting was to secure the services of a Town Clerk , and Overseer combined! He did not dream of casting a ny reflection upon' Mr Everett, but fully endorsed wliat had been said

1 y Uis Worship the Mayor, Crs Rankin and Wratt. He recognised the good work by the Town Clerk which was. not adequately paid for, but the Chi noil paid as much as they could afford. He felt sure they all wished him success in his future undertakings. The motion was carried, and on the suggestion of Cr Thorp, it was resolved, That the Council place on record their high appreciation of Mr Everett’s services since the inauguration of the Borough. Mr Everett thanked the Councillors for their kindly expressions. He had been associated with different local bodies since 1887, during which time they'had jogged along very smoothly, and had never had what might be termed a “flare up”. He had always tried to do his best for the Borough, but he would be subjected to heavy losses if he neglected his private affairs to carry on the business of, the Council. Cr Moffatt moved, in accordance with notice That the Council isofopinion that it is desirable to appoint an officer to fill the combined office of Town Clerk and overseer. He referred to the great difficulties in carrying on the work as they had been doing. He had always favored the appointment of an Overseer; it was in the interests of the burgesses and of true economy that the appointment should be made.

Cr Ryder seconded the motion. Cr Simpson moved as an amendment That the Council appoint a Town Clerk only. It would simply be paying away money to a man to do nothing if they appointed an Overseer.

Or Satherley seconded. His Worship the Mayor said he had always been opposed to unnecessary expenditure. They had placed a tax grievous to bear upon the members of the Works Committee and the position was impracticable unless they devoted proper attention to the duties. He hail come to the conclusion not to oppose the motion and as the present Town Clerk had resigned, they could get an ett merit officer, at a reasonable sum, to fill the position. Cr Thorp said he had certainly alte.red his opinion on the question. The Councillors could not give the time necessary to oversee the roads properly, and they would be money in pocket to give effect to the proposal. Besides the men would then know- to whom to look for orders and not., as was the case, receive orders from different memhers.

Cr Tarrant referred to the statement made in the Motueka Star, that the W orks Committee had not been a happy family. The writer must have imagined so. Certainly a member had lost his temper atone meeting and what man will not lose his temper on occasions ;as a rule, they had got on like birds in a nest. Cr Moffatt said tbe Works Committee had given a lot of time to the affairs of the Council, and he for one, on account of pressure .of business, could not afford to do so in future. He was fully persuaded the Council would make a great mistake if they did not vote for the motion. The amendment was put and lost, Crs Simpson and Satherley being the only supporters. Ihe motion was then put andcaa-ried, the ayes being His Worship the Mayor Crs Rankin. Wratt, Thorp, Moffatt, Knapp and Ryder. A motion by Cr Moffatt That applications be called for the combined offices at a salary of £7O a yeai was negatived. • Subsequently it was agreed, upon the motion of Cr Satherley, seconded bv Cr Thorp, That applications be*called for the combined offices of Town Clerk and Overseer at a salary of <£6o a year - to be addressed to the Mayor, and forwarded not latet than five p.m., on Saturday 15th February.