BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1337, 2 August 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday night last. Present—His Worship (E. K. Brown) in the chair; Crs. Hepburn, Tutchen, Brown, Smith, Whinray, Chrisp, Townley, and Tucker. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Outgoing Correspondence. J. Barnes re timber; R. Moore and Smail confirming appointments ; order for D. M. Orr’s advance. Incoming Correspondence. From Department of Justice ; Walter Black asking to be allowed to convey section to his wife.—Application granted, D. M. Orr for advance of £2OO on buildings, Granted. From Clerk, Wellington, offering pipes for water supply at £7 14s per ton.— Offer declined. Singer Company for leave to make a crossing.—Granted. Mr Bull asking permission to plant trees.-—Granted. Mr Quinlan, staling that ho had paid all charges in the action by himself against Mr Cannon (poundkeeper). Mr Cannon who was present, explained tho matter to the Council, and stated that the plaintiff had certainly paid expenses, which only allowed one guinea for counsel, whereas he had paid £4 4s, thus leaving him a loser of £3 3s, which he asked the Council as a right to return to him as he had acted in the interest of the Council, notwithstanding that Mr Tutchen had expressed an adverse opinion. Cr. Tucthen here explained that Mr Steggall had told him that the cattle should nut be detained when the pound fees had been tendered,

Cr. Whinray proposed, and Cr. Hepburn seconded, that Mr Cannon be allowed the three guineas. Cr. Tucker here wished to ask whether this was to be a precedent to pay all legal expenses in like cases, No doubt Mr Cannon was perfectly right, but the question here arose as to whether the Council was liable in such cases. It was the principle he wished to ventilate, and not object to the payment. He would vote for the payment providing the case was discussed and settled or good. Or Tutchen thought that anyone wanting legal advice should come to the Council, and not employ who they liked and pay them what they liked. On the motion being put, it was carried that the money be paid to Mr Cannon. Cr Tucker gave notice that ho would table a notice uf motion on this subject. Finance Committer. The Financial Committee’s report was here read and adopted. Library Committee’s Report. Cr Townley explained that the Library Committee proposed to leave the Council to erect their own strong-room, and tho Library Committee would t ike it over and pay fur it at valuation at the end of the lease. Cr Tutchen thought it advisable to erect their own strong-room. It was proposed by Cr Townley, and seconded by Cr Tutchen, That the Council erect their own si rung-room, and that the Library Committee take it over at u valuation at the end of the lease. Carried. Resolved, that the Engineer be instructed to prepare plans for the tame, and submit them tu the next meets.‘ g. Engineer’o Report. His Worship enquired if there was any Engineer’s Report, and was answered in tho negative. He then asked the Chairman of tho Public Works Committee if he had any report lo make on the fire engine shed. Cr Smith said lie did not consider it his place to take the initiative. His Worship here remarked that ho thought some notice snould be taken vf the absence of the Engineer who had promised some explanation of his conduct in laying the pipes to the well. He uiideiifieod that the pipes had been lowered, but were still of no possible use,

Payments, ; Lamp-lighter, L 6 2e 6d, for the month of July; foreman’s sultry, LlO 8s ; rent of , (ifllees, L 8 15s ; lire brigade (Croll and Ingle) [LI 17s ; Wattle and Co., LI 10s j Henry i Lewis. Order or the Day, ! There was no Engineer’s report as to ; Read’s Quay. Cr Whinray moved, that in the absence of the Engineer, the Public Works Committee : see to this mutter, They would soon bo in a fix as to what they should do with the remainder of tho metal, Cr Townley thought they need not be un> ! easy about the metal. Ho thought they hud better see the Engineer and arrange about ! things, and ask him what be purposed 1 doing, Cr Whinray was opposed to this, He thought that it was high time that a period was put to this toadying to the engineer. He seemed to think himself master of the situation. He thought it time to put a stop to this, Carried. Private Roads. Cr Tutchen said that ho had arranged that Cook-street should bo a chain wide right through. The Council accordingly agreed to take over the street. Old Engine Shed. A discussion here arose as to the advisability of selling the old engine shed, or of utilising it as a dwelling-house for the engine custodian. Cr Whinray moved, “That the shed be moved down to the reserve, and made use of as a dwelling for the custodian.” Cr Townley seconded this proposition, as it wouid bo much cheaper. On it being pointed out that a resolution existed on the minutes for selling the shed in question, Cr Whinray met the difficulty by moving, “That the previous motion be rescinded.

Extraordinary Business. Cr Smith wished to make some remarks as to a letter which the Engineer had thought fit to write to the papers. He cared little about tho contents, but it was the principle concerned that he most strongly objected to. Instead of writing to the papers, the Engineer should have come to the Council. He must repeat that the engineer was utterly incompetent. He must say that if Mr Drummond continued in the service of that Council, he would certainly resign his position at the board, as ho would not see public money wasted in the disgraceful manner it had been during the last few years. He would not move the dismissal of the Engineer himself, as it might be thought that he had some personal interest in the matter. It was every councillors duty to prevent the squandering of public money. If Mr Drummond remained Engineer he would resign. Cr Tucker said he felt in the position of a poor old woman. He wished to say that he had often defended the Engineer at ths expense of his own conscience. He considered that writing the letter was an act of gross insubordination. The time had arrived when some steps should be taken to stop i this. If no other councillor was prepared, he would move a motion. Cr Brown entirely agreed with Cr Smith' ■ Ho considered that tho fire-engine shed con- , tract had been, carried out in a most ! disgraceful manner. He himself had proved |

that the well was utterly useless, Tho pipes most certainly were not level. He had voted for tho extras because the engineer had passed them, but he considered that this particular contract had been carried out in a most disgraceful manner. Cr. Tutchen said he was in that Council to do his duty to his fellow ratepayers. He was the oldest friend of the engineer's, but he could not say a word for him. The engineer had cost the Council dear. tho last five years they had been in constant trouble with him. All the gravelling cou- W tracts had been a source of trouble. The engine shed had been shamefully constructed. The iron had been only half-lapped so as to save one sheet in about eleven. The bricks were totally unfit fur use. The very map on the wall had cost tho Council £3O, Cr. Smith said the bricks used were as good bricks as could be obtained in Poverty Bay. He said this on account of a state* ment made in a letter in the Standard. Cr. Whinray said he thoroughly concurred in what had been said. He thought it high time a change was made. Cr Hepburn said that considering the engine shed job he considered it time for a change to be made. Cr. Townley said that Mr Drummond was treating the Council with marked disdain. There were so many Tutchen stories in the papers that they left little to say. He certainly thought it high time to make change. ■ Cr. Tucker moved the following motion “ That this Council is of opinion that its connection with the engineer to the Council cease,” Cr. Hepburn seconded this motion, Carried unanimously. The question here arose as to the amount of notice to be given. Cr. Whinray moved and Cr, seconded, “ That the present receive a month’s notice.—Carried, Cr. Whinray could not see any immediate necessity for an engineer.

Statement in Newspaper. Cr Smith wished to bring to the notice of the Council an article which appeared in a paper calling itself a leading journal. He knew that he was about to bring down on his devoted head the thunders of the Preas. but he should nevertheless say it. He held in his hand a paper wherein appeared a most disgraceful article reflecting strongly and falsely on that Council. They were accused of squandering and throwing away the public money by putting “congealed clay ” on the roads, and stated further that the “so-called metal ” would in the course of a week or two “ sink beneath the sand.” This statement, as well as the whole article, was false and scandalous, inasmuch as it held that Council up to the derision and contempt of all, and was calculated to give the impression that the councillors were utterly incompetent and unfitted to perform their duty. He had no wish or desire to gag the Press, but he thought it high time to put a stop to such false and misleading articles as those printed in the paper before him (the Evening Herald). He knew the paper's object, and knew that it had been written for an object, and was what was known amongst newspaper men as an “inspired article,” or one written for | money. [He then read the article, which | was characterised generally as false and misleading.] Cr Whinray said ho did not think it worth noticing, or any other thing that appeared in the Herald, Cr Townley was of the same opinion, No one cared for tho opinions of that paper, ItH character was too well knjwn in “ Botany] Bay.” After general expressions of disapproval, the matter was allowed to drop, Extras to Engine Sheds, Cr Tutchen moved that all the extras incurred in the construction of the engine shod, beyond the contract price, be stated, with a view that the same be made public, At the request of the Chairman, the ques* j tion was left over until the conclusion of ' the job, j The Chairman stated that any Councillor ' who wished to sec the balance-sheet of the Governor’s Reception accounts could do ao, ' ! There had been a balance of £2 12s Od i I saved by discount, and he proposed to pay the same over to the Hospital. Carried ! unanimously, Cr Townley said he thought it nearly ; time that tho engine shed woe finished. 1 Cr Smith said as the work now stood the engine was entirely useless. He thought some one should be employed at once to finish the work properly, Cr Brown agreed with this. Contracts. 4 Cr Tucker said he would not take up the time of tho Council for long. If a contract or wished to go away could he not allow* another equally responsible person to take the contract over. Suppose again a con* tractor die. He thouglit it advisable that contracts should be transferrable for the sake of the Council. Cr Whinray said he thought it was not desirable that contracts should be transferrable. The “Herald” had stated it to l be as common as paying tho clerk’s salary. A member had thought it right to transfer a contract on purpose to take a seat at that board, a proceeding he considered very reprehensible. As to a contractor dying, ho thought provision was always made for that. He had been connected with many large ! contracts at home, and never knew one transferred. Cr Tutchen thought it necessary that the permission of the Council be obtained before a contract be transferred. Cr Townley thought it dangerous to fix a ! hard and fast line. Cr Tucker said that tho printing contract ! had just been alluded to. Had not the con- ■ tract been faithfully carried out ? He wished a contractor to ,be left free in this matter. Ho would move, “ That the Council see no impropriety in the transfer of contracts.” Cr Smith did not see the necesity of making a hard and fast line. Cr Brown seconded the motion, which was carried. Notice of motion, Cr Tucker gave notice of the following motion :—“That this Council shall consider and decide whether the expense of legal proceedings for the pound keepers and other lessors and servants of this Council shall in future be borne by them or provided by the Council.”