Patea Borough Council.

Patea Mail, 4 January 1882, Page 3

Patea Borough Council.

The monthly meeting of this body was held last evening, at Mr Harris’s office. All the Councillors were present, th« Mayor in the chair. FINANCES. The clerk’s statement of accounts from December 6th to end of year showed balance in hand and receipts £217 12s 9d, and expenditure £43 9s 6d ; leaving a credit balance of £173 6s 7d. TRANSFERS. Leaseholds held by W. Williams’s trustee were transferred on application to the purchaser of Williams’s estate, namely J. J. Patterson. MAINTENANCE OF BRIDGE. The Patea bridge having come under the management of the Borough Council, in accordance with statute, the County Council sent an intimation to that effect. Agreed that the Mayor and Councillors Aitchison and Milroy be a committee to wait on the County Council re the maintenance of the bridge, and such other matters as may be necessaiy. RUBBISH DEPOT. The Mayor reported that he had selected a rubbish depdt near the sea, towards the south end of Egmont-slreet, about a mile from the town. It might require a track cut through the flax. Agreed to refer the question of a track to the Works Committee. WORKS COMMITTEE.

This committeee reported in favor of calling tenders for gravel for one year ; also that the permanent levels of Bedford street, Cambridge, Leicester, and Stafford streets, and the intersecting streets between Bedford, Stafford, and Bgmont streets from Essex street to the northern boundary of borough, be completed. A temporary footpath was being levelled on one side of the main road up to Cemetery road. The committee recommended that a map of the town be prepared. Councillor Gibson suggested that gravel should be screened before being carted for the streets. The main street is at present dusty to excess in a high wind, and he urged that broken metal should be put on from Taplin’s corner to the coach factory, and screened gravel should be put on the footpaths within the same street. Councillor Milroy said good gravel is difficult to find. The gravel at the heads makes a good cement if put on six or eight inches thick. Councillor Howitt said superior gravel might be got up the river, and punted down.

Councillor Taplin thought the thin gravel mixed with scoria would put the main road into first-rate condition.

Councillor Dixon thought screened gravel’shonld be tried, the dust blown off the fine gravel being destructive to goods in, shops. The Mayor said a local resident had waited on him to suggest that good gravel can be got from the bed of the river, and brought down in punts. The resident seemed disposed to try the experiment. The report was adopted, after discussion, WORKS WANTED. Councillor Black moved u That the , Works Committee ascertain what works are most necessary in the borough, and report at the next ordinary meeting.” He urged that some works might be gone on with at once, such as macadamising the main road through the borough, and continuing it to the cricket ground ; and the street given by Mr Wray through his property should be opened up to connect with Derby-street. Valuable time is being wasted in the fine weather ; and some works could be done without a loan. The Mayor seconded, and said he was anxious that the Works Committee should not fee! hampered in going on with ordinary works. These would not interfere with the scheme of improvements he intended to bring forward. Councillor Milroy : I must vote against this. It will be impossible for the Works Committee to recommend work until they get a detailed plan of that work. Councillor Gibson : We should be working in the dark until we get levels taken. Councillor Aitchison : I agree with macadamising the main street at once if the material can be got. A number of laboring men in the place would be willing to work at a cheap rate, to enable them to remain in the place. The motion was carried, on division. I’UBLIC! POUND. The Mayor said, in reply to Councillor Milroy, that he had obtained a legal

opinion showing that before the Borough can have a public pound, it must pass a bye-law in the usual way. The County Council have a scale of charges at present, and the Borough might adopt the same fees, and so agree to have the same pound.

TENDERS FOR PRINTING. CHARGES AGAINST THE MAYOR. Report of Bye-laws Committee was received. Councillor Milroy said : I think this ia the first time that I have found myself compelled to resign from an appointment which, under ordinary circumstances. I would have continued to fulfil. After the committee called for tenders to print and publish the bye-laws, without fixing a proper hour to receive them, or yet appointing any one to accept tenders, and finding that tenders had been accepted and knowing that tho Act provided that a quorum of the committee must act in matters of public expenditure, I considered that under those circumstances I was not justified in retaining my office as a member of that committee. Therefore I thought I should resign. Councillor Black said : Councillor Milstatement seems to be very unsatisfactory. He would lead us to believe that tenders were called for, and without any one of the committee being present. Clause 85 of the Act states that no business shall be transacted at an} r meeting unless a quorum be present. What docs that mean ?

Mayor : It means every meeting of the committee.

Councillor Black : This refers speciall} 7 to proceedings of committees. Mayor ; Yes, at any meeting. Councillor Black : If any business is transacted, there must be a quorum present. I maintain that the opening of tenders is very important business, and I have never seen it done yet without special powers were given. I should like to have some explanation on this point. Councillor Taplin : I am at a loss to know what Councillor Milroy means in being compelled to resign from this committee, as business had been transacted in that committee which he thought was not justifiable. It was on Friday night we met, and we were given to understand that the bye-laws—to come into force on a certain date —must be published on the Monday following. It was resolved that the chairman should invite tenders from the local newspapers ; and it was certainly understood, so far as I am concerned, when we left that meeting, that the business was to be left to the chairman. There was no mention made of another meeting. The chairman entreated councillors to stay and assist him in dictating a letter to the papers, in order, as I thought, that everything should be done in a proper manner. No meeting was mentioned to receive these tenders. It was, as I understood, to be left in the hands of the chairman to get these byelaws published. I am not speaking here as champion for anybody, but am simply speaking to a matter of fact. I cannot help thinking that Councillor Milroy’s resignation on that point is a slur on the rest of the committee. If I thought for a moment that jobbery was connected with this, I would be the very first to condemn the chairman or whoever did accept a tender, and I should not be worthy of your confidence if I did not take that course. Councillor Gibson : As one of the committee, we met on a Thursday, and Mr Taplin moved that a letter be written calling fer tenders, I then left. On Saturnay morning the Mayor told me there would be no meeting of the committee, as it was impossible to get tenders in, as the work could not be done in the time, and there would have to be a special meeting.

Mayor ; The meeting I alluded to was not a meeting of the committee ; it was the special meeting of the Council. I was under the impression then that the printing could not be done in time for the special meeting already fixed, and that the special meeting would have to be put off. Councillor Taplin : When we left the room, the meeting was over. It had broken up. Councillor Aitchison : It seems to me the whole thing has occurred in a very simple way ; and that even so, I scarcely see there is any serious wrong committed. I think the meeting broke up without making any definite arrangement as to opening tenders. The members were all in a hurry to get away, and I for one quite overlooked the matter of opening

tenders. I remained and looked over the letter which the chairman prepared for inviting tenders. 1 thought it a perfectly fair letter, and I have no doubt it was forwarded without alterations. On the Saturday I was under the impression that the matter of opening tenders was left in the hands of the chairman, as I have seen similar business done before. I cannot see that the fact of a quorum not being present to open tenders can affect the legality ; nor is it an unusual way of transacting business. For instance, the same kind of thing has just been done in the Works Committee. 1 think it was taken for granted that the Mayor as chairman was to open the tenders, as the members of committee left without making definite arrangements. If a mistake has been committed, every member of the committee is certainly to blame equally with the chairman.

Councillor Milroy : What answer did you (Aitchison) give me on the Saturday morning, when I asked whan wo were going to open tenders ? Councillor Aitchison : As far as X remember, I explained that the chairman of committee had explained to me that it was doubtful whether the printing could be done in the space of time, and that it was possible it would have to be postponed for a day or two.

Mayor ; I think that after a statement I am about to make you will hardly ask me to enter into a lengthy explanation, as the matter is likely to be one for judicial inquiry. Owing to the action taken by an evening paper, I considered it necessary to submit the matter for a legal opinion. Having got it, I was content for the time being. I did not think I need take any further action, but might treat the matter with the contempt I thought it deserved. But the registered proprietor of that paper has aggravated what in my opinion was a crime, by making statements (of which I have proof) aggravating the case. Therefore I felt bound to place the whole matter in the hands of a solicitor. Now that the holidays are over, I expect to have full communication from my solicitor, I have only this to say, that from the first to the present moment, I have not in the slightest degree done one single thing bnt what was right. If there has been any error, it has been an error of judgment, though I do not admit that there has been an error. I conceived it to be my clear executive duty to carry out the business of the committee. It was appointed for the purpose of revising the bye-laws, and had nothing whatever to do with the printing ; but I wished that the committee should see that everything was done carefully and fairly, and therefore I asked them to remain and see the letter written for inviting tenders. If any one of those members wished to know anything, he could have asked me as easily as he could go about talking to other councillors on this matter.

Councillor Milroy : Did I not call on you ? Mayor : Presisely so, but it was not till afternoon, about two o’clock. The whole of the documents connected with this matter are here, the property of the Council ; and if an investigation takes place, it will be found that I have been very much injured and maligned. As to any feeling for the local papers, I have not one bit of feeling to one more than to another. My duty was to ascertain which of these papers would do this work the cheapest, and it was given to the paper which tendered to do it the cheapest. The allegation that information was communicated has got to be substantiated. Proof to the contrary lies in my hands. I am entirely in the hands of ray solicitor at present ; and I think you will accord to me the right to have a strict investigation into this matter. I am conscious of having done nothing but what is perfectly fair and straightforward. I have felt more grievously hurt at this than I have at anything that has taken place. And I felt specially hurt at the resignation of one member of the committee. It seems that very little mercy will be held ont to me if I do make a mistake ; and if I do not make a mistake, it seems that a mistake will bo manufactured for me. Councillor Milroy said : Mr Taplin stated that I had treated my colleagues in this with scorn and contempt. Mayor : I don’t think the word “ scorn” was used. Councillor Milroy ; It was a slur. I tendered my resignation, and did no more. If the Council is satisfied, so am I. 1 will vote for that expenditure because what-

ever tlic Mayor undertakes we are bound to pay. Mayor : I don’t think the Council are bound to pay whatever the Mayor chooses to incur. The matter dropped. Appointment of Nuisance Inspector. Eight tenders for the combined office of nuisance inspector, collector of dog tax, &c., were received, two or three being slightly informal, «Thc tenders were : E. Hills £BO a year, C. Benjamin £75, J. Lett £SO, W. Colson £SO, R. Baldwin £SO, R. Jacomb £SO, J. Gabriel £3O, G. Beamish, £26. The final vote lay between Jacomb and Beamish, a majority being for Jacomb, and he was appointed at £SO. Appointment of Clerk. The salary for Town Clerk had been fixed at £l2O a year, and the following applications were received :—T, Farrah (Wanganui), J. Black, C. Orchard, H. Adams, T. Eyton, and D, M. Harris (previous clerk). Agreed before inspecting tenders that any tender not containing the required guarantee should be excluded as informal. J. Black’s tender was excluded on this gronnd. The final vote lay between Harris and Eyton, the latter being appointed. The voting took place in committee, and \ve can only report the result. The Council afterwards granted £lO to Mr Harris for extra work in inaugurating the borough. DOG TAX. Agreed to fix the dog-tax in the Borough at 10s for each dog, and a committee is to select collars and call for tenders. The Council adjourned at 11 p.m. till Monday next.