MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 22, 14 October 1842, Page 3

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

(From the New Zealand Gazette)

Tuesday, October 11, 1842

The Members of the Municipal Council, for the Borough of Wellington, New Zealand, met this day at 10 o’clock, a.m., and after a short address from his Worship the Mayor, proceeded to business. After the Members had been sworn in, the Chairman remarked, that upon an occasion of so much importance and public interest as that of the first meeting (for the disr patch of business) of the Town Council, a, fewobservations would not be misplaced. The present address would hot, he pledged himself, occupy much of their time ; he had a dislike to long speeches under any circumstances. It had been reinarked by the Bishop on Sunday last, that there was a noble career now before the parties called upon by their fellow-citizens to conduct the affairs of the Borough. ,He (the Chairman) trusted that the acts of the first Council, would prove at least beneficial, and that they would leave a memorial to their successors in office, which would in after times cause them no discredit. Unanimity in all their future proceedings would be the great desideratum ; without such unanimity and. kindly feeling of forbearance, their proceedings would not be attended with that general'benefit to the community which it was so desirable to obtain. The movements and whole‘proceedings of the Council would, he felt confident, be watched with the deepest care and anxiety by their fellow Colonists, and he most sincerely hoped that all the, Members of Council would, in their deliberations, exert themselves to the utmost of their power and ability in promoting the common good, preferring the interest and benefit of

the community at large to all private , considerations. He trusted that their deliberations in Council would be marked and conducted with systematic; regularity. That' the. Chair would be supported with firmness, and that, in short, every thing like party spirit and temper would on all occasions be suppressed, lie admitted freely that his own temperament was warrifr and perhaps occasionally hasty ; but on ; the other hand, he felt ' confident that no one at that Council board would more readily submit to rebuke and Correction when led astray by warmth iri debate. The time of the Members, in Council, Was valuable, and ought not be trifled with, and it was most desirable that' every thing in the shape of long should be avoided; he considered five minutes a very fair allowance on most occasions, and when fifteen minutes were occupied, then tlie subject matter would require to be one of no small importance.

After the Members had been sworn in—Mr. Hort rose/and proposed Mr. White as Town Clerk; Mr. Guyton seconded him. Mr. Wade, as an amendment, proposed Mr. Brandon; seconded by Dr. Dorset. Mr. Wade’e amendment having been' read, the amendment was put to the' Council, and thereafter the original resolution, when the following result appeared : • For the amendment 2 For the original resolution 9 Majority for the original resolution

The election of Mr. White was thus carried by a majority of seven votes ; one Member declined voting. It was then proposed by Mr. Hort,' and seconded by Mr. Fitzherbert, that the Council do meet on Saturday, the 15th instant, at half-past 9 o’clock, a.m., to take into consideration the election of the additional necessary officers of the Corporation. This motion, upon being put to the vote, was carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr. Molesworth, and seconded by Dr. Dorset, that this meeting do now adjourn until Saturday, the 15th instant, at halfpast nine o’clock, a.m. Considerable discussion, took place at the meeting, on various subjects, such as the appointment of Town-surveyor; Treasurer; Byelaws ; mode of voting, more especially in the case of small committees; exact limits' of the Borough; the erection of a Court House and County Jail; formation of the beach road; opening up the country by roads; and last, though not least, the procuring a Common Seal and Corporation Arms. No final arrangements’ were come to, or, in fact, contemplated by the Council, with regard to any of these subjects ; and they might consequently be considered as merely broached. A few Burgesses attended the meeting, and the Chairman very politely took occasion to remark, that the Council would always be most happy to see their fellow colonists in that room,, the doors of which would be at all times open and patent; and more—that the Council would thankfully receive any suggestions, or notices (in writing,) pledging themselves to give at all times their most careful consideration to such suggestions. *