CITY BOARD.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1718, 27 August 1862, Page 3

CITY BOARD.

MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1862.

Present —Messrs. Beveridge, Cadman, Darby, Finlay, and Macready. Mr. Beveridge having been moved into the chair, and the minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and confirmed, a letter, received from the Superintendent, was read, enclosing another from the Deputy-Registrar, stating that every assistance in that office would be afforded to the Board, Mr. Mackeady’s notice of motion, which was on the paper, was moved by Mr. Macready, and seconded by Mr. Finlay, namely, “ That the Board do proceed to the election of a chairman,” Mr. Macready remarking that he would have pleasure in nominating Mr. Beveridge for that office, a motion which Mr. Finlay declared he should have great pleasure in seconding when brought before the meeting. Mr. Cadman admitted that the Board possessed the power to elect a permanent chairman; but ho did not, for reasons which it would not be prudent to state, think that it was advisable to do so until the full number of the Board had been filled up. It was better far for them to go on as they had done —elect a chairman every meeting ; such a plan had worked well, and it would, he knew, be dangerous to change it at present, he should, therefore, suggest to Mr. Macready the advisability of withdrawing the motion. Mr. Finlay would wish to know Mr. Cadman’s motives for caution. He trusted the motion would bo pressed. The Chairman expressed a doubt as to the legality of the power of a temporary chairman to act in many capacities, such, for instance, as that of signing the assessment roll.

Mr. Cadman drew attention to the 20th clause of the Act, which gives power to a chairman elected from time to time to perform all the functions of a permanently appointed chairman; and again urged upon tho Board tho inadvisability of departing from tho course which had been proved to work well. Mr. Darky said that he entirely concurred with tho remarks made by Mr. Cadman, as to the inadvisability and imprudence of permanently filling up the office of chairman until such time as the Board itself had been brought to its full number; and he should advise that no alteration bo made in their proceedings in this report. Tho motion was then put. Ayes 2: Messrs. Finlay and Macrcady. flues % i (flftpnn ftU(|

The Chairman gave his casting vote with the “ ayes,” and the motion was consequently earned. Mr. Finlay then proposed “ that Mr. Beveridge bf the permanent chairman of the Board.’* Mr. Macreadt seconded the motion, Mr. Cabman could not refrain from pointing out the very unenviable position in which the present chairman (Mr. Beveridge) had been placed, that of giving a vote either for or against his own election. The question was then put. Ayes: Messrs. Finlay and Macready. Noes: Messrs. Cadman and Darby. The Chairman declined giving a casting vote, and so this matter dropped. A tender, received for supplyiag carting to the Board, having been read, was ordered to lie on the table, and some private arrangements between this Board and their engineer having been settled, the Board then adjourned till Wednesday.