APIA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Samoa Weekly Herald, Volume 1, Issue 3, 10 December 1892, Page 2

APIA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Municipal Council was held on Thursday last, hut owing to a misunderstanding about the hour at which the meeting was to have been held our reportor was not prosent, but from outside sources we gather the following:— Correspondence.—A letter was received from Mr. Chatfield, wherein he asked that the Council should apologise for having passed a resolution excluding him from attending at the Municipal Council meetings in future. The letter was laid on the table. A letter from the D.H. and P.G. re their mortgage on pilot station property was read. It was decided that Messrs. Grevsmuhl and -Edwards be appointed to negotiate with Mr. Beckniann, the manager of the German Firm, and were also empowered to raiso a loan to meet this liability.

TnE Pilot.—lt was decided that Captain Boebeck be re-appointed Pilot, and that he should retain 75 per cent, of the pilotage fees as his remuneration. The Pilot will have to find his own boat and boat's crew, but if his percentage does not come up to §ISOO a year that amount is to be made up by ?he Municipality. Harbor Lights.—A letter from the French Mission, through Mr. Cooper, requesting payment for the harbor lights, was laid on the table for future consideration. Magistrate's Court Fines.—lt was proposed by Mr. Grevsmuhl that the President be requested to withdraw his action against Mr. Cooper requiring him to hand over the fines ho had received as Municipal Magistrate. This motion was carried, the President and Mr. Leonard voting against. It was agreed that Mr. Cooper be authorised to retain fines, etc., in future, although the Council did not think that his retention of the fines in the past, without tW T .sanction, was legal. This motion wa? oarried by four against one.

Taxes Okdinanci.. T n connection with the enforcement 01 the Taxes Ordinance a written proposition o'f Mr. Orevsmuld's was handed in. Mr. Osenbrueg seconded Mr. Grevsmuhl's motion, which was carriod, and in future the list of defaulters is to he submitted to the Council before action can he taken against them. Accounts.—Messrs. Grovsmuhl and Edwards were appointed to sign accounts for tho month of December. Defaulters' List.—The President exhibited a list of defaulting taxpayers, which tho Council decided to leave over until tho publication of the Taxes Ordinance Enforcement Act.

The Lami>:liqhtek.—Tho lamplighter's bill was passed for payment; Asked to Resign.—Mr. Grevsmuhl proposed (and this was the big feature of the meeting), "That tho President be requested to resign, as it was too big a strain on tho funds of tho Municipality to pay his salary of §SOOO a year." Mr. Leonard said ho thought that if tho Customs duties wero given back to the Municipality it would not bo too much to pay. Tho President, in reply, said that he had alroady asked the Three Powers for permission to resign his appointment, which was refused. The motion was carried by 4 to 1.

Defaulters.—lt was unanimously decided that tho Prosidont bo requested to take action against thoso people who havo not yet paid their taxes. Leave ok Absence.—Mr. Grovsmuhl nskod for leavo of absence till Doc. 31.

Municipal Elections. —lt was agreed that Mr. Cooper bo appointed returning officer for tho forthcoming oloctionß. Tho remuneration was fixed at S2O.

Wo rogrot that we are unable to publish Mr. Chatfield's letter to the Municipality. It will no doubt appear in to-day's Samoa Times, and if it is worth copying wo will publish it next week.