AUCKLAND MUNICIPAL COUNCIL. Saturday, Jan 10, 1852.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 600, 14 January 1852, Page 2

AUCKLAND MUNICIPAL COUNCIL. Saturday, Jan 10, 1852.

Present : — The Worshipful the Mayor ; Aldermen Dignan, O'Neill, Powditch, and Mason , Councillors Davy, Abraham, Hickson, Newman, Norman, and Taylor. Mr. Merriman, Acting Town Clerk The Minutes of last meeting were read, amended, and confirmed. The Mayor stated that he had received several letters, of which only two required to be read. The first read by the Acting Town Clerk was in reply to an inquiry whether the Colonial Surgeon considered the intended Site of the Lunatic Asylum a proper one in reference to its proximity to the Hospital and Domain. The reply was that the site had been selected "with the full consent and concurrence of the subscribers.' 1 It was added that Ilis Excellency had directed the Colonial Secretary to state that it appeared to him that communications should come through the Mayor, "to whom alone the Government, properly speaking, can furnish replies." Mr. Abraham animadverted on the latter part of the letter, complaining that atfiisfc the Government had directed communications io be sent through the Town Clerk, while now it was required that they should be sent through the' Mayor. He thought this conduct was not respectful to the Council. Mr. Merriman said that if the Mayor was to communicate with the Government, he must have a Private Secretary, an oflice which he must beg to decline. It would bo a blight on his profession, the dignity of which he was not willing to lower. The Mayor thought it a very trifling thing. If they v.eie lo come into collision with the Government, it should at least be on s>omelhing of importance. Alderman Powditch would bring the matter to a point by proposing that the Town Clerk should be the channel of communication between the

Council and the Go\ eminent, and then Jet the Government do as (hey pleaded. j\lr. Norman seconded the motion. Alderman Dignan su£j»e4ed that the objection of the (To\evnnu'nt might be on legal gi'ounds, as there was only an ''Acting 1 Town Clerk. The Mayor again observed that it was not worth entering into a. dispute about. ...Motion carried. A loiter was then read staling that as the Lieutenant-Governor was about to proceed to Wellington on a t.mr of Military Inspection, the public works — except the Wharf and the Lunatic Asylum — -would be suspended. Ihe Ma^or stated that he had had an interview with His lixcellencj, from which lie inferred that the works Mould not be suspended provided the Council would not, on taking charge of them, require more of the funds for- their support than might then lemain unexpended. Alderman Powditch laid on the table a, copy of proposed by laws to prevent the trespassing by cattle on the streets and suburban roads, and gave notice that he would mo\c their adoption at the next meeting of Council. Alderman O'Neili moved the adoption of his Petition against the New Zealand Company's claim. Alderman Dignan would second the motion, but that he believed the Petition if adopted must bear the Common Seal of the Borough, which had not been obtained. Alderman Powditch thought the Memorial was not explicit enough. Moreo\<?r the opportunity it would present for stating the value of the Province ought not to be lost. After stating a number of facts illustrate c of the rich capabilities and resources of New Ulster, he nio\ed "That the Memorial be submitted to a Select Committee, to amend, niter, and stiengthen the said Petition, setting forth the capabilities and commercial importance of the Province, and praj ing that no part of the said claim of the New Zealand Company be placed on the Land Revenue, or any other resotu ees of this Province." Mr. Newman seconded the amendment, which was carried. The Committee Mas then appointed, to consist of the Mayor, Aldermen O'Neill and Powditch, Councillors Haultaiu, Newman, and Abraham. Alderman O'Neill brought forward a series of regulations for the prevention of fire, which, after some conversation, were referred to the Sanitary Committee. I AJderman Mason moved that Mr. Merriman be appointed Town Clerk nt a salary of £100 per annum, (thus altering his original motion that that gentleman bo appointed Town Clerk and Treasurer at a salary of .£150.) Alderman O'Neill thought Mr. Merriman fully qualified for the office, but could not see what means they had of paying his salary without taxation, to which he was opposed. Ilis appointment might entail on themselves a personal responsibility. The Mayor deemed it very necessary that a Committee" should be appointed to define the Town Clerk's duties, as he had himself already two or three times come into collision with Mi 1 . Merriman. lie did not consider the proposed salary too mucl , but it would be a bad principle to make themselves personally responsible. Alderman Dignan thought it would be treating Mr. Merriman indifferently not to adopt the motion, after the inducements they had held out to him. They would secure his labours and the benefit of his professional knowledge. Mr. Newman observed that there were now the same inducements ps at first. If Mr. Merriman had faith to believe that the Council -would appoint him, let him act on that faith. The Land Fund should not be pledged ; and he hoped Mr. Merriman would not put himself in the unenviable position of taking money from a Fund sacredly set apart for other purposes. Mr. Abraham said that in Mr. Merriman's absence [that gentleman having withdrawn at the commencement of this discussion], he Mould state that the motion had not emanated from him (Mr. M.). The Mayor remarked on the greater necessity of appointing a Treasurer than a Town Clerk .^ But it was especially urgent that the Reports ot' the Committees should be brought up. The Con - mittees oiight to work night and day until they were ready. After some further discussion, it was moved by Mr. Abraham that the whole subject of the appointment be referred tp the Public Works Committee. Alderman Dignan reminded the Council that, the Charter required that their proceedings should be public, and this was a subject which ouo-ht not to be taken from under the public view. Mr. Abraham's amendment was then agreed to. Alderman O'Neill gave notice that at the next meeting he would move an address to Sir George Grey, praying that a sum of £6000 from the last Parliamentary Grant may be appropriated towards building a stone or brick Government House in Auckland. Mr. Newman gave notice of a motion for imposing a tax of ten shillings per annum on dogs. The Council then adjourned.

The following is one of the letters laid on the table. It sufficiently explains itself : — Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 2!) th December, 1 851. Sir, I have bad the honor to receive and lay before His Excell-ncy the Lieutenant-Governor a letter of the 22nd instant, fiom F. W. JMerriman, Esq., as Acting Town Cleik, stating' that he had bepn instiucted to jequest information as to whether there are any, and if auy, what charges on the Fund to be raised by the sale of Crown Lands, within the Borough, and if there are any such charges, or whether the Government intend placing at the disposal of the Corporation one third of the gross receipts from the sale of Crown Land within the Borough. In leply, I am nistiucted to state that His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor is not at present in possession, of any information on these subjects, beyond what has been communicated in the despatch of the Goveriior-iu Chief accompany ing the Charter, but His Excellency will take the earliest opportunity of submitting your application for the consideration of the Govemor-in-Chief. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient seivant, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. Plis Worship the Mayor of Auckland, &c, &c, &c.

The Band of the 58th Regiment "will pevfoYm in the Grounds m front of the old Government House, to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon, from 4 till 6 o'clock. PROGRAMME. Overture— Op. . . *' Montenegris" . . Liinnander. Melange— Op. . ." Robert le Duble" Meyerbeer. Quadullp—" The Great Exhibition" Julhen. Seienata— "The Sleeper Awakened" Macfairen. Ballad—" f I he F,ures,t Flowei " Ralfe Waltz—" Songs of the Thames" Kulmer. Schottisch— " Fnedricb'b" Kulmer. Polka— " The Very Last" Bernard.