THE DUST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 260, 23 January 1873, Page 6

THE DUST.

Us the accouiit for wvttoiing Ibe streets being •oujii^ uutler notice ut the meeting of the : . jw:i Cjui>cil on Monday night, a discussion >| a:eii yomised to lie interestingly fcciiauuious >'.ts begun, but fortunately for the n-vutatiou of our .-iivic rutera it had not quite assumed the olsuracter its e-ar'.y stages threatened when it vsna most unceremoniously cut short. Oi*. H»y opened tiie bull by irquiiing by whose authority j iuljor was employed to water the streets, stating thai he, Although a member of the Public Works Committee, knew nothing whatever of the mutwr. Cr. Walker, another member of the Fi'.l'Uc Works Oomuiittee, followed in the same stiai.i. Cr liiU saul that during the recent hot weather, ike laborer employed by the Corporation attempted to water the streets, but only siloes ie.l mm o. ing the incapability of doing so, itud nearly liro'ce the hydraut. Seeing this, and the necessity ;h<it existed for laying the duiO, be t ue-.-.oni'.l'y, waited upon Messrs. Wulker and H<iy «tud UoUed then to sanction, us members of the Public Works Committee, to em;>loy & man competent to the do work. This sanction, Cr. Hill continued, w.is unhesitatingly given. Crs. Walker nud Hay hereupon sue* ccesii'ely arose and impugned Cr. Hill's veiacity by d«i>yi:ig his statements in telo. Cr. Ctiveriid iiere took a h.ind, awl condemned iv strong tor.ns such iuegular proceedings as had baen meutioaed, ujore than Muting that their occurieuce was not infrequent, and concluded his obsorvations by remarking that the individuals who entered into contracts without be:-5 properly authored, should «uv the sums uas '.hereupon out of their own private purses. Cr. Hayes opined that as the work had been ■dom and Lad besu Useful, oughu to be paid for witboac demur by the Council. Besides, lie oonsi.lered it infra dij for th<J Council to dispute such a fcti vial uocouut. Cr. Hay agceed v.'y,h Cr. Hayes, and moved that the account be referred to the Finance Committee. Cr. Hayes seconded the motion-. A subdued murmur that it tos better for the Councillors to pay the nso&ey out of their uwn pockets, pervaded tbe Cousiil table for a few momeatj, aad apparently uedt-r its subtle influt;:ice, Cr. Coverlid ino>ed ab -t-j ainaudsaent tiuc tha accouus bo not re- j co-.tvd. Cr. Walker stconded the aineadmeuc, r».:s ating his denial of what iiad fallen from C .-..i11, and echoing the protest made by Ih-i -_ ".ous speaker regarding irregular proceedings :;. '.z. .c tl.e sacred piecinc:s of the Council Hall. -lv* >fayor incidentally mentioned thai he was ■_c".v tit the time the labor waa emj/loyed to - _t<:/ rhe streets. Cr. Hili advised the Council vc ztjoat; the acsou jt, iutmiaticg thao ho would :-•=•: .; paid privately. On the amendment being jiu& the mover and seconder voted fcr it > the sao^'tjr and seconder of the orijjiimi motion held ■up :heir hands against it. Cr. Hill declined to vo-.t either way." Tha Mayor very sensibly dejiitti in favor of the orisiqajmojon, and the ..-.■i-.tcr was (lefinirf.Ly settied.^The amount in d.tpjt;o was £2 8s for 4 weeks services watersuj tiis st»eet3. v