THE HAMILTON PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2319, 21 May 1887, Page 2

THE HAMILTON PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

A special meeting of the borough council was held last night, convened by the Mayor to consider a petition which appears in our advertising colums. There were present: His Worship the Mayor, Crs, Edgecumbe, Jones, Knox, Scott, Tippen, Bell and Dey.

The Mayor expressed his regret at having been obliged to call them together, but he wished them to decide the question. For his own part he could not imagine what information the burgesses required that they did not already possess, and he confessed to feeling very much annoyed. He narrated the steps which had been taken since it was first decided to obtain the buildings, and pointed out that the burgesses had unanimously, at various, times resolved to leave the whole affair in the hands of the council. The Government had decided that the buildings were to be on the hill, and the council, though they had suggested another site, agreed, and so far as knew the burgesses had agreed also, for they had voted the additional £1000 required to place the buildings where it was now settled they should be erected. He felt bound to express his surprise at the recent action of certain councillors in asking the Government to re-open the site question. He had no desire to burke public discussion, but he felt that the time had come when he should make room for another man. He had performed his part and would retire. This was his settled determination, and nothing could alter it. Any information in his power to afford he would be glad to give them, but he could 110 longer consent to hold office as Mayor. He regarded the petition in the light of an insult to the council and himself personally. Cr. Knox thought the Mayor would change his mind when he saw the result of the public meeting. The Mayor ought to have put the petition behind the fire—he would have done so. He referred to the interview between councillors and Mr Ballance, and reminded them that the Minister positively stated that the Government would have no other site but that on the hill. It had been said that he (Cr. Knox) influenced Mr Ballance. Well, he might yet be enabled to unearth the " varmint " that said it. The Mayor said he could fully exonerate Cr. Knox. . Cr. Knox said the people who signed the petition did not represent Hamilton, and he objected to be catechised by them. At the same time he thought it would bo well to give them a chance to air their supposed grievances, and astonish thein. He moved that a public meeting be convened for the next (this) evening. Cr. Edgecumbe, in seconding the motion, remarked that those who had signed the petition stultified themselves by that very act, inasmuch as all that had been done in respect of the public buildings had been done by the burgesses. They should be permitted to carry out their design with the least possible delay. Cr. Scott thought a little more notice should be given, and moved that the meeting be held on Monday night. Cr. Tippen seconded this, and Cr. Dey supported it, on the ground that Saturday night was a bad night for tradesmen to get away. Cr. Edgecumbe said councillors should not consider themselves. A large number of working men who only came in on Saturday would be prevented from attending the meeting on Monday. Saturday was not too soon, as everybody was anxiously waiting the result of their deliberations. Cr. Scott: If you hold the meeting tomorrow night, you will be called " bilkers. Cr. Edgecumbe Raid be did not. care what they called him. He was acting in the interests of a large class. After some further discussion, the question was put, when there voted for the amendment: Crs. Scott, Tippen, Jones and Dey ; tor the motion : Crs. Knox, Edgecumbe and Bell. The Mayor, in accordance with a previous declaration, voted both for the amendment and the motion. The former was consequently carried. Cr. Knox said a deliberate attempt had been made to prevent a large number of the burgesses from attending, a charge which Crs. Tippen and Jones warmly resented, but the Mayor put a stop to what promised to be an animated discussion by declaring the meeting closed.