BOROUGH BYE-LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 136, 10 June 1903, Page 2

BOROUGH BYE-LAWS.

IMPJSHIaL HOTEL CASE. TO BE TESTED AT lAW. A.Tth9 Borough Council meeting on Monday night Or. Brookiog, pursuant to notice, moved to re-open the question of taking action a#aioss the owner of the Imperial Hotel for a breach of the building by a-laws. He said that ha had no knowledge of any of the committee having given any information thaS would prejudice the case. Or. Collia said he would second the motion so a3 to allow Or. Brooking and others to clear themselves. A long letter from Mr Samuel was read. The Engineer wrote stating he had never m:t Mr Raynes, and he fhtly denied stating to him that the bye-laws would not be enforced. He had, with the chairman of the works committee, met Messrs Horrccks and Watts, and he denied tint at sueh meeting anything was siid or doae by the chairman or him?e!f implying acquiescence in >vhtt Mr Rayn-s hid doae. He dera<hd what; hid tiken place between hirns'lf and Mr Simuel, and asked if his conduct and record would load the Oouacil to suppose he was guilty of such folly as was imputed to him, If the U'uocil bilievtd that he had acted in the manner imputed then he begged to tender his resignation. Or, Alexander considered the Council should keep in view the fact that two legal opinions hid been given adverse to taking action. Yet in the face of these two op'nions thsy wer<s askei to re-opeu the matter and con'.est the cane. Oi, Oocne't siid Or. Alexander had missed th-» point. Mr Roy had given an opinion in a most oxtriordinary manner. He contended that the late Mayor and Or, Brooking were trying all along to bring the matter into court, and it was absnrd to suppose they had v;iven the show away. He would rather subscribe towards the expenses of taking proceedings than let the matter rest as it w..s.

Or. Mmunds poin'ed out tha 1 ; notice after notice was given to Mr Rayne?, while no second notice was given to poor struggling m«n like Sparks and Jury, who were jumped on and fined heavily. He could not help feeling thit the Borough recognised there was afliw in the c»s?. For tha third time he urged the Council to drop the mat'er, as Or. Brooking had cleared himself. Or, Bellringar csnsidered it was only an act of bare justice to Or. Brooking and tli9 Engineer to have the cise pro-j pirly vsntilatod in a court of law. Or. Alexander: Thpre is no imputation on the Engineer. Or. Bellringar considered there was an imputation on the Engineer. I The Mayor suggested that the refer- j ence to the Engineer might indicate Mr Skinner. Or. Brooking said he aid not know who was meant. He could siy that he had not seen Mr Roy on the matter, and did no 1 , know how that gentleman [ got his information. Or. Smith opposed the mition. Or. Tiaeh said that after hearing Mr Simuel'd latter, ho should vote for the motion. Oa it division the motion was carried, :Ors, Wood, t'raitb, Edmuai's, and Alexander vo!el with the "joes." Or, Brooking moved that Messrs Waatoo and Weston be appointed solicitors to cociduct the case. Or. Alcxinder proposed that Mr Barron be employed. The amendment was lest. Or. Edmunds moved that Mr Kerr be employed.—Lost The mo lion to appoint Messrs Weston and Weston wis th^ncirriad.