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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1318, 19 June 1883, Page 2

At the last meeting of the Harbor Board the adjourned mo'ion of Mr Ciirisp, seconded by Mr Cahlaw Smith, “that Mr Nolan be appointed Solicitor to the Board,” again came on for discussion. The motion was not at all favorably received. Messrs Whinbay, Lewis, and Tutchen spoke against the appointment, but it remained with Mr I ownley, in his usual clear and lucid manner, to advance such facts in support of his argument as to convince the majority of the Board that the appointment was not only unnecessary, but would prove absolutely mischievous were it made at present. We warmly approve of the views expressed by Mr Townley. He stated that the Borough Council had managed to get through all their work—far more complicated than that which the Harbor Board has to deal with at pre-ent—for five years and upwards, and to obtain the £10,01)0 loan, and to go on for an other year, without any legal advice or assistance whatever; and it was only when, in raising a sinking fund to meet the above loan, and the necessity arose for legal examination of the title and mortgage deeds, that a solicitor was found necessary. Even then the necessity presented itself more as an economical measure than otherwise. Borrowers were drawing up their own mortgage deeds, and the Counei had to pay two guineas to counsel for simply reading each deed. They saw that it would be far cheaper to engage a permanent solicitor who could both draw up and certify the deeds at once. By this arrangement the Borough Council were the gainers When the necessity arose it was met in a business-like manner. At present there it* not the slightest necessi’y for retaining a solicitor at a cost of £lO per annum to the Board. Should the want arise we have little doubt as to how it will be tnet, whilst we have tnen in the Council who will—in the future as in the past—honestly and faithfully perform those duties imposed upon them by their acceptation of the honorable and responsible position of Borough Councillors and members of tee Harbor Board.