CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 29, 3 February 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The Council met last night ; Cr Dodson in the chair. The Town Clerk read a letter from Mr J. H. Levien, ihe chairman of the late meeting of the ratepayers, enclosing a resolution requesting the members of the Council to resign. Cr Thompson did not intend to resign upon any such resolution. Cr Haddow moved " That tbe members of the Council tender their resignations in accordance with the resolution." Cr Wright said that it appeared that they had lost the confidence and respect of the burgesses, and therefore the best thing they could do would be Ito resign. He would second the resolution. Cr Thompson thought it would be cowardice ou their part to resign just as their credit was stopped at the Bank. Cr TftmNS would have resigned immediatel/^iad there been a requisition to that effect signed by a majority of the ratepayers^ Cr Hoopee saitfcu waa an understood thing that public nmn should resign their positions on reciting a requißi^ tion to that effect signeakby a majority of their constituents, but^fae jras not going to do so on a resolurKro passed at a public meeting. He thought thoae who had gone so far would have taken the trouble to get up such a requisition but they had not done so. He thought, too, that it would be cowardly of them repudiate their responsibilities at the present juncture. Crs Dodson and Burns understood that eighteen hands only had been held up for the resolution. < Cr Burn had come alraoßt prepared to tender his resignation, but they had incurred grave responsibilities which they could not shirk. Arrangemenls had beeu made with the Bank for au overdraft up to the 31st January, when it was to be paid off or sensibly reduced The Bunk had kept faith, but they had not. The Council had completely ignored the fact that they had an overdraft of £1700, which ought to be reduced. Some £200 or £300 of rates had been collected, but no effort whatever had heen made to reduce the overdraft. Until by economy they hnd accomplished some alteration in their account it would be cowardice \o resign. He would ooly do so on receiving a requisition from the ratepayers. In reply to v question, the Town Clerk said that he had presented a cheque for his salary that morning, aud it had been dishonored. Cr Hooper said that the Finance 'Tk>ihmittee hud undertaken do make arrangements wiih the Bank, and until they bad been made he could not understand why they had drawn cheques. Cr. Fell suid that as far as Cr. Haddow's resolution was concerned, he should pay no attentiou to it except out of respect to tha mover and seconder./ It was a matter for the private diacre/ tion of each individual member, whether he would obey the dictates of a public meeting. He had heard there haul been a meeting at which some 300 or 400 were present, and they had jbeen almost unanimous in resolving that the Council had lost their confidence and respect. These were strong words to use, and he was sorry to think that he bad lost the respect of any man. How-/ ever the resolution had passed, none' saying a word in favor of the Council, aud he looked npon it that those who were not for him were against him.. If the ratepayers who were for the' Council had not chosen to attend the meeting or to express their opinion l^e must look upon it ac a proof tbat they were against bim. He should, then, pay respect to the wishes of those who did attend, and ignore those who did not as they had apparently ignored him. In resigning, as he should do, he had one regret. It was not on account of losing the honor of being a Councillor, for that, it appeared, did not entitle anyone to the 5 respect of his fellow-citizens, but it was on account of the matter that had been alluded to by Cr. Burn. They had undertaken certain liabilities and now were about to get out of them. However, it appeared that he could do no good where he was and therefore he would make room for someone who could. He had endeavoured to do his best > and at the time of discussing the loan resolution had expressed his/ opinion that it would be utterly useless to attempt to reduce thi overdraft; by instalments, and so t o Bhufl/e out ojr their^greement with the Bans. The conduct pursued by the Council dn that occasion bad produced its effect oV the banker, who had seen that thtjy^ deliberately and intentioually meant to break faith with him He wished once more to enter his protest against the uction they hnd taken. They had, lost/ confidence aud credit, and lie vw'pul.J defy them in their present shameiiy position ttf shift their account to anp other Bank. He would be no party t o a line of policy that placed them in to degrading a position. , A Cr Dodson agreed wi'tli all that hail fallen from Cr Fell. He intended to re si an, but uot on account of the resolution passed at tbe public meeting, ns bo had had his resignation in his pocket fors orae time to hand in, as sooo as the\ Mayor was elected. He should hot I come forward again for the Council, nor would he accept the offloe of Mayor

unless a Council was elected with whom he could see sortie cbnnee of being able to work. Cr Haddow said lhat he had accomplished all he had expected from the introduction of his resolution. Tbe Council Wduld recollect that they had been unable to select a Mayor, and had therefore referred the matter to the ratepayers, who had met with equally bad success, for none was willing to accept an office that had got into such bad odour. The meeting which had been adjourned had to be hurriedly called together, on account of the hall being engaged foi a faucy ball, to which, it appeared, they had to give way, aud it became evident thon that they could not find a Mayor, and also that the ratepayers had no confidence in the Council. He, for his part, intended to resign that evening. As to what had been said about the overdraft, if the old\Einance Committee had chosen to make an illegal arraugement, the Council were not to bo bound by it. They were evidently doubtful about thoir position at the time of moving for the loan, and yet they had not consulted their (For continuation see fourth page.}

solicitor, as thoy ehould hare done. In moving ifc they were merely throwing dost iv the eyes of tbeir banker. He would not be a party to an illegal action as a means of getting out of a difficulty whioh had arisen out of the action of" the Board of Works. In resigning he had no idea of shirking his responsibilities, but he did not wish to have his time wasted by personal epites, and petty jealousies, which had recently been the cause of three halfdays of the Public Works Committee being loet. Cr Dodson : The same old spirit, I see, as in the Board of Works. Cr Haddow % Yes, the same spirit thatjpermitted one to sit for two years as chairman who had not paid his rates. He should have liked to sea a requisition calling upon them to resign, but the apathy that prevailed was against it. He would like to see a Dictator, an Oliver Cromwell, or a Napoleon, who should be vested with full powers. The question of resignation was then postponed until tbe end of the meeting. The Town Clerk read a letter from Alfred Carter, a stoker at the gaswors, stating that he believed he had always given satisfaction, but, owiug to the change in the management, he was fearful of his life, as an incompetent person was now in charge. The management had been left entirely to him, and, as he was only a subordinate, he did not consider it his duty to give instructions. Cr Dodson (looking at the letter) : Why, this is in Mr Joseph Harley's handwriting. A Councillor : It doesn't matter wbose handwriting it is so long as the man has signed it. . Cr Burn suggested that the letter be referred to the TojyjClerk. Mr Younger*: Itmfoi^thnt this is in my department, and it lsNfor me to say whether I shall discharge vhe man or not. I meant to do so, bnt ne certainly has got tbe first hold. I have had dealings with him before and know his character. Cr Haddow: There are some grave charges contained in that letter, and we may depend upon it that the Government will exercise their right to take the gasworks back if we do not manage tbem properly. There was something wrong or the town would not have been eclipsed on Saturday night, I should lika to ask Mr Younger a question or two. Have you, Mr Youbger, ever been in cbarge of gasworks before. Mr Younger: I have built many, but never had the management of one. Cr Haddow: Are you prepared to undergo an examination as to your competence to manage? Mr Youngbr: Certainly I am. Cr Burn; It should be remembered that Mr Mir lin had said that owing to the faulty condition of the retortrf the supply might run short at any time. Mr Younger: If you will only leave the responsibility with me, I will undertake that the works shall be mauaged properly. At the request of a Councillor, the Town Clerk then read Mr Mir fin's letter, and Messrs Moutray and Brown's report, which were as lollows: —

To the Town Clerk, Nelson. >. Sir — I beg to inform »ou that I sent an answer to Mr Danks' leiier informing him about the size of the rsorts. Mr Danks says in his letter that he has retorts alirppe 1, and h^^H forward them as soon as they arrive HrMelflonrne, which I hope he will. ]f anything should happen to tho ship bo that we could not get them, we should be at a complete standstill, as I am given to understand that no order his been sent to England for any, as requested by me. When I recommended the Council to send' for these retorts I told you that I could not hold myself responsible if the supply of gas should fall short of the demand, a 9 I could not depend on the iron ones to last any time, and which I find to be the case, as two out of the three are already defective, and will not last more than two or three weeks at the outside, therefore, if we receive no new ones before that time, I should advise the Council to give the consumers timely notice not to depend upon gas for flight, as it will be a'mostim^ possible to ritake any with the present retorts. As.it has been stated already by one member of the Council thafc the works have been greatly mismanaged, I would most respectfully request that the Council will appoint some competent person to examine the works before I give up charge. I have, &c , W. C. Mirfin, Manager Gas & Water Works.

To John Wigzeix, Esq.__ _. Sir— ln accordanoe with instructions received, ye bave examined tho working plant of the Nelßon Gas Works*",- and forward you the following report-— No. 1 lurnace, at south end of retort house, containing three fireclay retorts, which are all very badly cracked, and are quite unfit for use, as one half the gas must escape into the flues and he consumed. Ko. 2 furnace, con taining 3 cast iron retorts; the two bottom ones are burned out, having holes about 4 or 5 inches in diameter in the bottom of each The third, or topj one is not so bad, and might last three or four weeks yet, but we would recommend when replacing, to have all new retorts set. The mouth piece of this top one is broken, and will have to be replaced. These are tbe three retorts in use, and it is our opinion that there must be a great loss in the manufacture of gas through their defect. No. 3 furnace, containing three fire clay retorts, which are similar to No. 1, and are badly cracked, two of which are totally unfit for making gas. The third ia not so bad, but it is so defective tbat ye would not recom* mend it for use again, bb there must be a good percentage of gas escape through the cracks into the flue?. The remainder of the works, namely, the saddle pipes, hydraulic main, condensers, purifiers, gas holder, etc , are in very good working order, and free from leakage, or escape. We would recommend a good coat of hematite paint on the gas-holder, as it will j prevent corrosion and preserve the iron. Yoa will please place this report before the Chairman and City Councillors. We are, &c, Jno. Moutray, A. Brown. Nelson, Jan. 25, 1875. Mr. Moutray's tender for (bree retorts

at 80s per cwt. was then read and accepted. Cr. Stkihgeb said it was reported that Mr. Watts had in his possession a oheque given by the late Chairmsa of the Board of Works for his rates which two years ago had been presented and dishonored. If that was the case he thought tbe cheque should be obtained from Mr. Watts or the amount deducted from bis salary. The Town Clerk said Mr. Watts had not given up the cheque, and had received his salary. After some conversation Crs. Dodson, Fell, Wright, Haddow, Stringer, and Hooper handed in their resignations to the Town Clerk. The meeting then broke up.

The effotts of the South Australian agent in England to promote emigration' to that colony have been remarkably unsuccessful, although 4000 left for New Zealand during tbe same month.