NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 25 September 1906, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. Dockrill) presided over the usual fortnightly meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday night. There were also present: Crs. Monteath, Bollringer, Wi'son, Brooking, Coll is, llutchen and Browne.

MR. SAMUEL'S RESIGNATION. Mr Oliver Samuel wrote "I beg to resign my office of counsel to the borough, as from the end of the current year of my retainer, 30th inst., when'l shall have held office for a period of upwards of 24 years."

The Mayi.r moved that the resignation of Mr Oliver Samuel as counsel I to the borough be accepted with regret, and that the thanks of the Council be tendered to him for the able way in which he has .attended to the business of the Council. The Mavor expressed his regret that the Council was losing Mr Samuel's services. Cr. llutchen said it was due to the councillors to say something of the matters which had brought this position about. He was not in Mr Samuel's confidence, but it was fairly apparent on the face of it that the resignation was due to some remarks made by the town clerk at last meeting in connection with Mr Samuel's opinion on the extension of the electric lighting outside the borough. It was due to the councillors to state that the statements made at last meeting, and the enquiries made by the town clerk whilst in Wellington, were without the Council's authority, and were a most unwarranted canvassing and belittling of Mr Samuel's opinion. It was not necessary to dicuss the soundness of counsel's opinion, but Cr. Huilicn considered himself better able to speak on such a matter than any number of Audit Department clerks; the opinion was absolutely correct. What he, and other councillors, objected to was that the town clerk should have considered it his duty to have gone out of his way to canvass opinions, and 10 have got the opinions of other people with the effect of befitting Mr Samuel's opinion. When counsel's opinion had once been obtained, the town clerk should have loyally submitted to it, and thus have carried out the intentions of the Council. The result of this action was a lamentab'c loss to the borough. If they lost the town clerk, it would not be difficult to obtain another experienced officer to take his place, but tlicy would never be able to replace Mr Samuel with another gentleman having his wide experience and acknowledged ability. Cr. Monteath supposed it was of no use to cry over spi't milk; there was no chance of getting Mr Samuel back again. He be'ievcd Cr. llutchen had struck the right note, and that Mr Samuel had resigned for the reason st.ilq cl. Ceuncer's opinion's had not been treated with the respect they were entitled to, and when they had been obtained the Council had no right to be flaunting this Mr Martin before Mr Samuel. He (Cr. Monteath) didn't know Mr Martin. The fact that Mr Samuel had resigned this position, while retaining *he post of counsel for other bodies, showed that there was something wrong with the Council's treatment of him. Cr. Coliis strong'y deprecated dragging in Mr Samuel s reasons, on the grounds that if he had wanted them ventilated he would have included hem in his letter. Cr. Monteath objected that no one had given Mr Samuel's reasons. Cr. Coliis differed, and slightly misquoted some of the previous speakers' remarks, on which Cr. Monteath asked Cr. Coliis to "stick a little closer to the truth."

The Mayor did not think Mr Samuel should be offended at the Council getting the opinion of the Municipal Association's solicitor, nor at the fact that Mr Martin differed from his opinion. There was no offence in that, for lawyers were differing every day. Had Mr Samuel been offended he would have said so distinctly. Cr. Monteath considered it a very serious reflection on a man to obtain his advice and pay him for it, and then turn round and get another opinion on the one furnished.

Tlie Town C>rk (and borough solicitor) remarked that on only one occasion had Mr Martin been asked for an opinion after Mr Samuel hacT advised on a matter, and that instance was in regard to the electric light extension. Cr. Bellringer thought too much had been said. No one in the town, he thought, would take greater offence at this discussion than Mr Samuel himself. It was a case of "save me from my friends" when they dragged such a matter on to the floor of the Council chamber. It was a great pity that Cr. Hulchcn had brought it up, and the speaker predicted that Mr Samuel, on reading the report of the discussion, would regret that his friends had been so foolish as to bring the mattter before the Council at all. The motion was carried. THE CARNKGIE GRANT. After discussion, the solicitor's opinion concerning suggested sites for lite Carnegie library was referred to the Carnegie committee for its report at next meeting. Cr. Bellringer, chairman of the committee, stated that Mr Brcoking's sections in Powdcrham-streel j were no longer avai'ab'e. It might lie advisable to include in the proposed loan a scheme for the purchase "1 the necessarv land. THE ABATTOIRS.

The Abattoirs committeee recommended an increase of ,£2O per annum to the abattoir manager's salary. The Mayor explained the local butchers' increased crade warranted this increase, even apart from the export trade managed by Mr Murtagh. The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. On the recommendation of the Works Committee, it was decided to allow Mr Govett to dispense with brick wall on other parts of the additions to his offices, provided a brick wall is erected on the western side. The engineer will prepare a plan showing the levels of Leach-street between Gover and Liardet streets, and of Cover-street from Lemon street to Courtenav-street. WATER MAIN EXTENSION.

The engineer estimated that t'nc cost of laying a 4-inch main from the Mill-road, via Victoria-mad and Shortland-sir.-et. to t'lo old Cair'ng-ton-road at £l7O. The actual ex pendiiurc would be £46, as the CO.lll- - had pipes and lead in stock. The iota' cost of connecting' the main at the Mill-road with the old ma'.n in Victoria toad' near the borough boun : darv wcu'd be £l3O, or, less p'pes and load in stock, £B4. He recommmended the second scheme. Cr. Browne moved that the second scheme be proceeded with. After discussion, it was decided, upon the motion of Crs. Wilson and Brooking, that no action be taken until the engineer had furnished a re!urn showing' what streets in the borough had not been reticulated. Mr C. 11. Footc and several other Fitzroy residents applied to have the water ma'.n extended .from Aroa's. .lore down Saokti le-slroct.—Consi.l-cration deferred, pending the engineer's report' on the borough reticulation. TUT*. LOAN PROPOSALS. The Finance Committee recommended that steps be taken to raise a 'nan of £II,OOO for the followingpurposes :—Amount authorised for "lectric lighting, £10,000; water works completion, £500; first year's interest, £SOO. In moving the adoption of the report the Mayor said he was sure the waterworks account coti'd do with £6OO, not £SOO, in repairing- the roads damaged during the progress of the works, and so forth. Cr. Brooking' seconded, and imiii'issed on the Council the no'-cssitv for extending- the electric lightingservice before next winter. He suggested calling for tenders now for the plant, so that there would be no delay. Cr. IMlrinffor asked for a fort night's delay, to enable the Carnegie e >mmittoe to report on the question ! of a site.

The amount was altered to £II,OOO, and the report adopted. It_ was decided, on Cr. Brooking's motion, to ca'l tenders for the generator, turbines, and switchboard for the extension of electrical plant,