BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3751, 11 March 1891, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Another Fiasco

Meeting Breaks up ia Disorder. A special meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held in the Chambers last evening to consider a notice of motion given by Councillor Gapper that, the motion authorising the Overseer to raise the kerbing in Queen-street be rescinded. There were present His Worship the Mayor and Crs Eenall, Hessey, Dixon, Eton, Gapper, Cullen, E. Chamberlain and W. Perry. The requisition calling the meeting was read by the Clerk. Cr Gapper, in moving the resolution standing in his name, stated that when Cr Cullen's resolution was passed the work of altering the kerbing was supposed to be a necessity. Or Cullen had stated that there was a depression of five inches in some parts of the footpath. It was on the strength of this statement the resolution was carried. He had inspected the work next morning and found the footpath wa3 only three inches higher than the kerbing. He had taken the measurement with Cr Cullen in three different places. In two places there was a depression of 2|- Jnches and in the other 3 inches. Nobody seemed to have authority to instruct the Overseer. He had spoken to Mr. Betty and suggested the rounding off of the footpath the same as in other parts. He objected positively to people coming into the Council and carrying resolutions under misrepresentation. He considered that a Councillor who acted as Cr Cullen had was not worthy of his seat. He pointed out also that Cr Cullen, in proposiug his resolution, was an interested party. This made him doubly culpable. He again expressed his strong objection to wilful misrepresentation. It was unjust to tho ratepayers to disturb the kerbing as had been done. No notice had been taken of the footpath in front of Carpenter's; but because the supposed depression was in front of Cr Cullen's they had to undertake it. It was trne the matter had been relegated to the Works Committee, but the Committee had not met once this year. It was quite time some thiog was done. He was in tota ignorance as to who was the superin* tendent of the work in question. Une thing he did know, it was not supervised by the Works Committee. The Mayor pointed out that the work had been done by the resolution of the Council and he had personally overseered it. Cr Hessey objected positively to an individual Councillor overseering a work. Cr Cullen bad objected to the kerbing put in by the Overseer and had ordered fresh timber to be procured. The Overseer could not be blamed for what was done, it was simply done through the ofliciousness of Cr Cullen. A man who had represented things as had Cr Cullen was not fit for his seat. This was not the first time he had misrepresented. He had stated positively before that there was only one house on West Bush road. (The Mayor ; But that docs not affect the question under consideration.) The Works Committee bad not interfered with the Gas Committee, and Cr Cullen had no right to interfere with the works. The Mayor stated that he had authorised the Overseer to leave a depression. Cr Hessey did not object to any authority given by the Mayor. What ho objected to was Cr Cullen interfering.

Cr Gapper stated that he was proud of the work done by the Overseer, and was sorry to hear Cr Renall say at last meeting that Mr Betty was incompetent to do the work. It was a good, faithful job. If there was any difference in the elevation it was in the putting on of the material. The Mayor quite agreed with Councillors that instructions to the Overseer should not be given by an individual Councillor;' But he would point out that at last meeting Cr Gapper himself had been twitted with giving authority, It w»3 a question whether oit'uer was right, He though t the giving of instructions should rest with the Chairman of the Committee.

Or Hessey: Ido not object to your Woiship. 1 simply object to Cr Cullen, who is not a, member of the Works Committee, giving instructions.

Cr Renall stated that he had all along condemned the Works Committee as incompetent. They had done work which was a disgrace to the Council. The formation of the footpath in front of Greathead's was a thorough waste of money. They should have lined out the kerbing and then got the incline. Cr trapper J Question. The Mayor: This does not affect the question under consideration. Cr Re.nall : But I say it does. Cr Hessey : It's got nothing to d with it,

Cr Renall; I've heard your logic ; now you'll hear mine, (laughter). The Mayor ; Don't interrupt, please. Cr Renall, proceeding, said there was a depression at the sides of the footpath and a lump in the centre. There were lots of instances where Cr Gapper aud his workman had been in error. They were quite incompetent. The Mayor: But how are we going to improve the position ?

Cr Renall: I'm sure I don't know how we can with these men.

Cr Gapper said the question of kerbI ing had been one of costs. An objection to the depression had never beIfore be eQ raised. In front of the Theatre there was a depression of oyer two inches which had never been objected to. Cr |)ixon staged that he had been influenced b\ Cr Cullen's statements. He had voted for the resolution which he would not have done had he known the circumstances. The thing had been grossly misrepresented. He had visited the footpath on the morning following, and did not consider it an eyesore, nor objectionable in any way, Councillors had no right to mislead. The Mayor stated that it was quite possible for a councillor to make a mistake of an inch or two by a rough observation, Cr Dixon : But Cr Cullen said he had measured it!

Cr Cullen: I bug your pardon, I did not. Cr Dixon : Butvou did.

Cr CnlleD, in justification of his action, sfated that the work was now much bitter than it originally was. He believed he was quite as competent to overseer a work as either Cr Qapper or Cr Dixon. He bad given a rough estimate of the Jepns-1 eion. At any rate, whilst he was abo 7e tlie njark, CrQenall (who bad stated he thought there was a depression of 2| inches) was below. He bad a precedent for his action in what he had seen in other parts of Queen street. Tho condition of the footpath was now much better than

before. (Cr Eenall: So it is.) Councillors had inspected the work, and had expressed the opiniori that it was not right. (Cr Perry : We did j not.) He believed he knew quite as much as Councillors Perry and Gapper about the matter. He had not takenaction outof any antagonism or hostility. The work was a disgrace beside work already done. There was a fall of nearly six inches from his door to the bottom end of the footpath before it wis straightened. If he had been overseer he would have cut the thing down. If the Works Committee had been about when they should have been, this difficulty would never have" arisen. He objected to what Cr Gapper had said because ho believed he knew as much about the work as that gentleman. The work should be done properly. The motives of Cr Gapper were well known. Cr Gapper: I rise to a point of order. Cr Cullen must substantiate what he says. The Mayor : Yotf have no right to impute motives, Cr Cullen. Or Cullen, continuing, said be had mentioned that there was a depress sion of five inches because he believed this was so. He had been twitted with falsehoods, but what he had done was iu the interests of the Borough. The Mayor: I do not think Or Cullen can he ajcused of falsehood in the matter.

Cr Gapper : But he can. He stated he measured the footpath and tound the depression to be Cve inches. He cannot deny it. Cr Eenall stated he believed there would be a depression of six inches from the Star corner. Cr Cullen: That's my opinion, Cr Gapper has made fish of one part of the town and flesh of another. If I have done anything wrong I'll stand by it. Voices: Pooh ! Mr Eenall stated the work had not been handed over to the Works Committee, and nobody could object to the action of the Mayor. Cr HeS3ey : We don't object to' what the Mayor has doneCr Perry called attention to the work done once before by a Mayor without the sanction of the Works Committee and asked what was the result.

Cr Renal 1: We know all about that. Who was the Mayor 1 Where is he ? etc. Cr Hessey : I object to these inter - ruptions. I'll not sit beside such a Councillor. The Mayor : I should like to say— Cr Renall made further Interjections and Crs Hessey, Gapper, Chamberlain and Perry rose from their seats and left the Chamber amidst confusion. A most disorderly meeting was thus brought to an abrupt termination and Councillors adjourned to the street, where a heated 'corroboree' took place over municipal matters generally, the language used being more forcible than complimentary.