BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. Present — Councillors J. J3. Clarke (in the chair), Tait, Hawkins, Todd, Mac-~ farlane, P. L. Clarke, Alcorn, and Jack.

On the minutes being read by the Town Clerk, Cr Macfarlane objected to their correctness, on the ground that he had called for a division on the question 'of the election of ihe Mayor, which fact was not set down on the minutes.

The Chairman said that he did not understand that a division had been called for at the time the question was put, and when it was mentioned to niiu that it had been demanded, several .of the Councillors bad left the hall.

Cr Macfarlane said that he did call for a division and he expected tljat the fact should be stated on the minutes, cisc they would not be a true record of the proceedings.

Cr Alcoin also objected to the correctness of the minutes as a motion which he had seconded for the adjournment of the Council until the evening, for the'purpose of electing a AJayor, had not been put to the vote, and yet it was recorded on the minutes that the motjon had been put and lost.

Cr Tait said that a resolution which he had moved was of a similar nature, and probably tkat \yas the one referred to in the minutes.

The Chairman said he had np recollection about the matter, but be had no doubt the minutes were correct.

Cr Macfarlane was surprised at the Chairman stating that.he bad no recollection of the matter, when he must know that he had refused to put the motion to the vote,

The Chairman : I rule you out of order, and request yuu to sit down. Mr Alcorn insisted that the motion had never been put to the vote.

Cr Hawkins said that if Gr Macfarlane had called for a division it must have been when he (Or Hawkins) had left the ball. '

i:i --The Chairman reiteiale(rtTiath ! e|Bfad-'no ,' re6o}jpc|§^o/ thejjmotfon: re,fer/ed|[& Ry : l & j&fcor'n.r' The&tftion ? !md;Been hue a&J jps&as recorded irirthe niihMpf j v&ffli Mfs CV^MacfaYlane^nfaved tfist&t'he following be entered in the minutes : — 18 That the'meeting.lield on "the 20th December, and previous to the Chairman declarjug the elecjwn jrfjnjnself as Mayor, Cr RTacfarlane called for "^""division which was refused." , Cr Alcorn seconded the motion. Cr"na"wldris'rii6ve'd"as*'an''amendment, that Ihe following be iiiserted in the minutes before the words desired to be inserted by Cr Macfarlane:— "That after the 'show of hands was taken, Cr Hawkins declared Cr J. B. Clarke duly elected Mayor." Or Tait seconded the motion. ~ Cr Macfarlane ' objected to the words moved by Cr.Hawkins being placid on the minutes before his (Cr Macfarlane's). Cr Tait said that Cr Hawkins's motion would come first as he was out of the hall before Cr Macfarlane had called for a division. On the question being put the motion of Cr Macfarlaue was carried and that of Cr Hawkins negatived. Koine discussion ensued as to whether it should be inserted on the minutes tli.it Cr Hawkins had declared Cr J. B. Clarke duly elected Mayor. Or. Macfarlane did not object to that being done so long as his own demand for a division were inserted first, but it was objected that the motion for inserting the words had been negatived," and therefore they could not be inserted. Cr Alcorn then requested that the incorrectness of the minutes to which he had referred should be corrected. The Chairman refused to have the minutes altered in that respect. He maintained that the motion had been put and lost, and the minuter were correct. He (the Chairman) had been placed in the chair as Mayor by the Council, a position for which he had never asked, either at any previous time or at the present. He had - always felt a desire to do his best to conform to the wishesofthe Council. He woiild" desire to have the best wishes of the Pres«, but if the Press was to be bought over by gold and silver then let it be s >, as he did not care what was said about him. ' The Press had already done their best to do everything against him. Cr Alcoru's motion had been put, aud it was no use to try to oust him (the Chairman) out of the office. He hoped tUe day was not far distant when the Mayor would be elected by the public.

Cr Alcorn demanded that the minutes should be corrected as he required. The Chairman : I shan't nave anything of the kind done, sit down, sir ! I rule

yon out of order. Sit down ! Or Rlacfarlaue considered that the minutes should be corrected as required by Cr Alcorn. The Chairman said that he was determined not to put to the Council any motion for correcting the minutes as required by Cr. Alcorn, and therefore it was no usj arguing about it. The minutes were then put to the meeting as amended, but on a show of hands there were three for the confirmation, and five against. _,

The Chairman said he should sign the minutes and stand by the consequences, right or wrong, lie did not care whether the Council confirmed them or not. Ho would, however, put the minutes again to the vote. Ou the vote being taken there was the same result, and the Chairman then bjgucd the minute-. The minutes of the special meeting held on December 23rd were then read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The following letters were read:- 1 - From Mr. A. Scott, secretary of the Hokitika Academy; requesting the Council to construct a patnway to enable the children to have access to the school. Referred to the Public Works Committee with power to act. Prom Mr £tiggin and other residents, requesting that the* Council would grant a sum of £1 4s per week to the man who was watering the streets, as it was a work of great public utility. Referred to the Public Works Committee.

REPORT.

The following report from the Pablic W»rks Committee was read : — Gentlemen, — Your Committee met on the 18th instant, and have the honor to report; — 1. That they examined the drain in Ilainptlen-street, <md deferred passing the same until Mr Frew's return. 2. The footpath in Weld-street and. the metalling of Hall-street were passed for payment. 3. The drain at the foot of Eevell-street south has been attended to, and the snag in the river complained of by Captain Turnbull, have been removed. 4. Your Committee considered a letter from Mr Clayton, asking the Council to relieve him from the office of Pound Keeper, and recommend that his request be acceded to. 5. The petition of P. Ward and others as to grazing cattle, and that of D. Macfarlane and others as to a drain in Pitzherberfc-street, were held over until the next meeting of your Committee.

D. Macfaelane, Chairman.

On Ihe motion of Cr Hawkins, seconded by Cr Jack, the report was received and adopted.

PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS

The Town Oierk stated that the payments since the meeting of December 3& amounted to £303 10s lOd, and the receipts to £201 7d 4:1.

The Town Clerk reported that the bond for the Wharfinger had been signed by the securities, and that the printing contract terminated on the 3jLst of December.

On the motion of Cr' Tait, the Town Clerk was instructed to procure tenders for piinting for the ensuing twelve months.

The Town I lerk stated that it was then the duty of the Council to strike a rate for the municipal year.

Cr Macfarlane objected to any business being proceeded with until his motion which stood on the notice paper for proceeding with the electjon of Mayor, was disposed of. He said that until a Mayor was legally elected no business could be done.

The Chairman said he would not give in ? and he should refuse to, put Cr JVJacfarlane's motion before that for striking

the rate.

A \f>ng and noisy discussion took place and ultiinatgly a resolution was moved by Cr Alcorn, seconded by Gr Jack, " That the motion of Cr Macfarlane take precedence of that for striking the rate." On the motion being put, there were four votes on each side, including the Chairman, who gave his casting vofe with the " noes" and declared the motion lost. Pour of the Councillors then left the hall and there being then no qnorum the proceedings then terminated.