COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3026, 26 October 1878, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the County Connoil, for the, purpose of confirming resolutions re the alteration of the boundaries of the ridings and the increase of the number of members from seven to nine, was held yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Present — the Chairman, Crs Bagnall, Mitchell, Spencer, Thorp, Thorburn, and Coutts. *

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and signed after some discussion, Cr Mitchell raising a point as to the legality, alleging that a quorum was not present. The Chairman, however, ruled that all the circumstances attending the meeting were legal. Cr Bagnall moved the confirmation of the resolution No. 1, passed at last meeting, re the alteration of the boundaries of the ridings. He explained the circumstances attending the holding of the last meeting and the throwing oat of the former resolution.

Cr Mitchell said that no notice had been sent to his colleague of the last meeting till a week after it wa* over. He could not be bound to what he had received bo notice of, and questioned the legality of the proceedings at that meeting. The Clerk said the notice had been posted to Cr Thorp in due time. The Chairman assured Cr Mitchell the proceedings were quite regular, and ruled Cr Mitchell's interruption irregular. Cr Bagnall said, having moved the re* solution, he would not take up the time of the Council speaking to it.

Cr Thorburn seconded.

Cr Spencer protested strongly against the change, and regretted the resolution had been brought up at the ere of the election. He considered that the whole of the County should hare been dealt with, and not one or two ridings. The whole County required to be re-adjusted; the Waiotahi Hiding with its two members was over represented. He had always striven to avoid the dismemberment of the County, but the proposed alteration would be the beginning of it. If that resolution were carried his riding would merge into the Borough. Cr Mitchell moved the non-confirmation of the motion, and in doing so said that if it was confirmed the enemies of the County would have good cause to chuckle over them. He did not see the advisability of the new riding—which was called outside the Council JLaihikatea ridingbeing formed. They attempted to carry it through with a hurry scurry at the last moment. There was no unanimity in the Council on the matter either, as it was just four to three or three to four, and if carried it would keep the Council in hot water continually, and was making a palpable injustice worse. He hoped really, as the Council was so nearly divided on the matter, that the resolution would not be confirmed.

Cr Thorp seconded. He regretted that a portion of the Council were determined to pass the resolutions. The members of the town ridings had too much to say in the County matters altogether, and if they had the interest of the County at heart, they would not thus attempt to disfranchise whole ridings.

Cr Thorburn spoke in favor of the motion. The Hastings Biding had always got justice at the hands of the town-riding members. Cr Bagnall said Cr Mitchell had brought forward no facts in support of the amendment.

Cr Mitchell Mid he had done to when

the matter had been under discussion before.

Cr Bagnall: Merely assertions, no facts.

The Chairman regretted the remarks that had fallen from Cr Spencer, especially with reference to Waiotahi riding. Cr Spencer, as a member of the Finance Committee, ought to have known it was the gold from the hills behind us that had kept the County going before they received any Government money. He maintained all the proceedings had been conducted according to law, and the prayer of the petition of the people interested.

Cr Mitchell said he would not sit and hear Cr Spencer rated. He would not let the Chairman go on like that, and speak to them like a lot of schoolboys. The proceedings had been carred on by sharp practice. Cr Bagnall: Hold your tongue and sit down.

Cr Mitchell: Hold yours. I protest against this. If the Chairman persists in going on I shall call on him to vacate fie chair.

Cr Bagnall: Commit him for contempt of court, Mr Chairman, as was done before.

Cr Mitchell: Commit me then. (Cries of order.) : The Chairman continued hit address, but as he was continually interrupted by Cr Mitchell it was impossible to understand what was said. He spoke respecting the petitions that had been received in favor of these changes. Cr Mitchell said these petitions referred to another matter altogether. They had no connection with this resolution at all* and the Councillor who had mored most in the matter knew it well.

The resolution was then put and the following voted for it:-—The Chairman, Crs Bagnall, Thorburn and Coutts. Against: Crs Mitchell, Spencer and Thorp. The resolution was then declared carried.

Cr Bagoall moved and Cr Coutts seconded the confirmation of the No. 2 resolution, which was a* follows:—That at this Special Meeting the Thames County Council do adopt a resolution, th; t the number of Members of this Council should be nine instead of seven, as heretofore, and that the number of Councillors to be elected by the Electors of the Sauaeranga Siding, in the said County, shall be two instead of one, and tbat the electors of the said Totara Biding shall elect to that Council one Member. Cr Mitchell moved that all after the word " heretofore " be left oat and that the word " Kauaeranga " be* 1 altered to " Hastings." Cr Thorp seconded. Cr Thorburn said that he did not approve of an additional member for Hastiugs at the expense of the Kauaeranga, which had four times the population. The formation of Totara Biding had given additional representation to Hasting. Cr Mitchell said he wes sorry to see that Cr Thorburn was not consistent at all in his action in this matter, seeing the under representation of the country ridings. The amendment was then put, and the following voted for it—Crs Mitchell, Thorp, and Spencer. For the motion —The Chairman, Crs BagnaFi, Coutts, and Thorburn voted, and it was declared carried. This was all the business.