MUNICIPAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2806, 25 January 1888, Page 2

MUNICIPAL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held iii the Council Chambers last night.

Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. W. Renall) and Crs J. Macara, Muir, Blkins, Hessey, Heron, Gapper, Carman, Cullen, Perry, T, Chamberlain, B. Chamberlain.

The previous meetings minutes were read and con6rmed.

Correspondence inwards and outwards was read.—Prom the Wesleyan Church, giving the Council permission to dam the stream on the Church property,' and fit up a hose box for the Jubilee Fire Engine.

The Mayor: They have no right to give permission to dam the stream.

Cr Gapper: I move that the permission be accepted with thanks. The Mayor: I can't put the motion while it is in its present shape. Ci'tMacara: It is only intended to use the dam sluice in case of fire, and not as a constant thing. The Mayor: That doesn't matter. We have already a good supply in the present water service, which is conveyed past the Post Office corner. The rates have been fooled away often enough on illegal expenditure, audi am not going to sanction a motion which would in the present case lead to unnecessary and unlawful expenditure. Cr Gapper lit is only intended to sink a box below the bed of the present stream; that is all, and I shall move acceptance of the Church's assent. The Mayor; I shall decline to put such a motion to the Council, The thing is unnecessary, and. that's enough. Cr Heron: I second Cr Gapper's motion. The Mayor; I ain't a-going to put it. Cr Gapper; I must ask observance of the standing orders. The motion should be put; it cannot be withdrawn. The Mayor: Audi say I am not going to put it! Cr Heron: If your Worship will bear the expense, we will withdraw the motion. Cr Perry: Talknig. of illegal expenditure, may I ask Your Worship who dammed up the Waipoua? • The Mayor.: Whatdoes that matter, the Waipoua cfoes'nt belong- to you,

;";. Gr .Miir ; :;'. I>' wisli Gapper's moiiom '"■ ''.. '; : <- f .'.\ The Mayor: Keep yout 6hfti^Cr- v ' : < Muir, I have already said I won't put the motion. Ci* Gapper: I must reimest adher- ' , ance to the standing ordjff ■ r The Mayor: I don't care for your- « standing orders. Sit do wivCr Gapped . lain here [to protect the burgesses - interests,-and lam going to do'-it.' *' You have spent frfoney illegally bffen enough. Look, at- the Californian _. • pump for instance. ■ That Was an un- " authorised expenditure. :I say I won't take that resolution, That box is not required, I don't want any more of your wrangling, take your seat. ToCrMuir: Youwillleamapd ;, deal before I have been in this chair ''l six months. ' i To the Town Clerk: Go on With | the work Mr Brown. Cr Heron: I maintain'; that the ' motion must be dealt with, beforo ' other business is done. The Mayor; Go on Mr Brown. Keep your seat Cr Heron, nj" Cr Heron: 1 have takenlp my stand; I know lam right, anal will - not take my seat. The Mayor: Go on Mr Brown. Cr H^asey: Your Worship may show the -same opposition to the next motion. gi i ; The Mayor: OfcourseHshall if I , think the expenditure unjustifiable.. * j. ;■'. To the Town Clerk; Proceed,' Mr % Brown, never mind theni, read out ' that letter.

Cr Heron; I shall not put up with this; I protest. The Mayor: Oh! Protest away. Several Councillor!: It's of no use our stopping here"; "let us go and leave him toil

The Councillors tjien left the Chamber in a body; excepting Or > Muir who remained., His Worship then showed a disposition to transact business with the aid of the Town Clerk and the one Councillor still left.

The Mayor, (to retiring Councillors): All right away you go. (To Town Clerk): Proceed Mr Brown.

The Town Clork hereupon'commenced to read an application from the Masterton Hospital Trustees to be ■'" allowed the free use of a conmiiMep room in the Institute. Cr Muir: I wish, to draw Your Worship's attention to thgteality that there isn't a quorum; iflfiact I am the only one left.

His Worship: That doesn't matter, a I We started with a quorum, that's;the: '/': ;a main thing, and that complies with- - ; ji the Act which only requires a quorara- '.; ;; : to he present before busiuesscau.be '•', r commenced, If they like togp-oufcr '■- afterwards, that does notaflfeot it, as long as there's one Councillor Jefti ';?;; :l lam going on with the meeting; : : ■ :^'; ; : The Town Clerk here alsd expressed r <|; an opinion that a quorum ; sary, and he supported Ma view: by* '■ ''.; v quoting the Act. '" "' ."■ ' ; '{(; *;.: 1 ..' : The Mayor; That's right eiiougli,v L ; but you should all know that you caii!t' ;; force a Mayor to put a motion when" • he refuses. The oniy.tlpgVyoucah '.;;:. do is to go to the Supreine.CWt for a ; ; •-: mandamus against. hiiii,;.bufc : I- (i think such an application would holdft; '% good in the present case.;. ; ■■:[ ■'■}■■ -^ Cr Muir: Your very arbitrarily, .jL\. '?-':0 : i The Mayor: Sol going to protect the W^ ;i - His Worship then read:the' A<jfc';'' : -;; himself, and admitted that; tlie • meet-;' : ing would have to to'th;e ; ,; ' quorum being exhausted'by the volim-*' ■ vi; tary retirement of the 'Councillors'. "~^:^: Or Muir: I think it's';a parcel l folly. It simply means that uo.DUsi-v ; ness can go on;unloss you ; get your;: ;S way about it; and feel' inclined;to;/->; agree to it. '■.:..'. TheMdyor; I• don't care. I am;•■■■l only looking after the burgesses' ; " '•■.■ interests.

_ The Town Clerk: How about nakv . , ing aecouiita—the men's vjagijs- .ahcv- ; that sort of thing* your Worship? : '^. ;: ■"■ The Mayor. Oh! TeilJiienjio! ■';:• borrow from Perry, or get ail on future prosperityr However,^ think, Mr Brown, we had bette'r^ove't; : - the adjournment of the Obuirioit. r move the adjournment, ,;■-■.7 .-'.'• The Town Clerk: Lapsed for want; .- of a quorum? ■•''.'.,' •" '.''' ; v; : The Mayor: Yes, th'ad.do-forV', ; want of a quorum. |*' •

His Worship, Cr Muir, and the : : Town Clerk then left the room, fol-, lowed by the three reporters, anihalf ■ a dozen stragglers who formpjja '■ audience in the strangere' ? meeting thus ended without/the traiis--action of any actual busines's^llateyer, i His Worship reraarMltgflffltlie s^pi : ' '•"■ posed they would meet' again: in a v:; fortnight as usual. ,' ,;?' :.; : > ; ;'.; ( ■ \