PALMERSTON NORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 6, 7 November 1877, Page 3

PALMERSTON NORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held on Friday the 2nd. inst. to confirm the resolution passed on the sth of October re bye-laws. Cr. Linton moved that the resolution re by-laws, be confirmed. Carried. OBDINAEY MEETING. PBEBENT. . His Worship the Mayor, Crs.-Gilbert, Manson,Jenssen, Marsh, Owen, Walton, Suinmerhays, and Linton. The, minutes of the previous meeting were read and on the motion of Cr. Svmmekhats seconded by Cr. Gilbert, , confirmed.- ' ■ ; PBKCIS OF LETTEBS. Prom, W. L. Travers Esqr., M.H. "JR.. forwarding report of Hutt Wai- , kanae liailway Committe. " From agent of Bank N. Z. acknowlodging receipt of letter, accepting the Bank's, tender for the Borough account. From, the Chairman of the County Council regretting that a little delay would occur m forwarding statements of accounts, as. the books and papers were at,.presen,t jri Wellington. From Commissioner of Crown Lands forwarding copy of Bill dealing with the Palmerston Public Reserve. i n From Commissioner Armed Con- ' ' sfabulary informing, the Council that a second Constable wbulctnot be granted 'I at present. Telegram from Treasury re amount of subsidy and reply read. Beport of working overseer for the past month, with accounts for .labour . . attached. Besolved that the overseer be instructed to amend, the portion chargeable to Terrace End work by charging a fair proportion of his. time ' to this work. Nuisances Beport shewed a consider- *' able improvement generally. The chief complaint being the filthy state of Mr T._ Nelson's bark premises arising chiefly through the presence of a mem-- • I'erof the pig tribe. - Resqlved that the Public Works Committee be .appointed to accept tenders for' work now advertised. Jplfroposed byr Cr. Linton and 1 rieepnded by Cr. Summebhays, That a ...leiter- be --written to'-=the Chief Pos£ -master requesting 4hat letters may be' i delivered throughout the town, and , that a postal pillar be erected at Terrace; i End for the convenience of the public > m that locality. Proprose'dbyCr. Gilbert and seconded by Cr. Walton, that an application be forwarded to the proper, authorities rei attesting, increased accommodation m the lock-up, and .further that a house be ■ erected, for the residence of, the Con- , stable on the 1 same section. Besolved that the* footpath m front of the Public school be repaired. . His Worship drewthe attention of the Council to the dangerous state of the road opposite the school, and pointed out that m all probability some accident would happen to • some of the children attending school, through the Bailway not being fenced. -After considerable discussion tne-Coun- , oil allowed the matter to drop for the , -present. Cr. Linton asked leave to bring an important matter before the meeting- , .with a view to discuss it and remove a ._ doubt from the minds of several of the Councillors. ..He, .pointed out that according to Clause 73 of the Municipal Corporations Act, and No. 11 of the Council's Standing orders, all questions shall be decided by open voting. In his opinion open voting meant a show of _ hands, or a division, and that the present system of passing papers along the table for members to write their decision on and hand back to the Mayor for the purpose of enabling him to report the result of the voting, was secret voting, and m his. opinion opposed to the clause referred to. His Worship was of opinion* that the system complained of by Cr. Linton - wag m accordance with the spirit of the clause, and quoted the usages of the County Council and the Wellington Corporation. He would not say it was - open voting, but was quite sure it was ' not secret vpting.

pr. GritBKBT was of opinion that the System at present m use was the best, as it . was not always Brudent for the public to know which side a Councillor took m any important matter, such as the changing of the Borbtigh account from the Bank of Australasia to the Bank of New Zealand. "•..... ...."■... Cr. Linton, while contending that ,the public should know' which way the Councillors voted on all important matters, was called to r order by His Worship. ,-■■•' Cr. G^lbebt went on to say that he would support the present system m preference to. that of a show of hands on important matters. " • Cr. Owen was of the same opinion, andquite. .concurred vx the opinjoa ex- , pressed by his Worship, and would support the present system. * Cr. Linton thought that further discussion was not. likely to : bringJ matters 4q a satisfactory issue and requested his Worship to put the question ito the meeting; which was accordingly done and resulted m two voices for and two against the present system. A division then l took place with the following result:— ' ; "■■'''■■■■■ ■ ; ; : ;.:-.;■ •'-•: : :: ■- For the present systein of paper voting with name attached,— Crs.Gilberti Gwen^ Walton, Marsh and Jensen. I ''::' For voting by show of hands,— prsl Mansbn, Summerhay s, and Linton. Cr. Owen then nioyed and Cr..Gitbebt? seconded, -That this Council do adjourn Vuntil/Friday the 16th. inst. Carried.-.,. " : l -:-i- ; - ;--U: : .J. .'/'."':: '- ■ .