ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 145, 20 June 1888, Page 5

ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SECRET MEETING.

A meeting of tho above local body was held lasb nighb in bhe Council Chamber, there being present the Mayor (Dr W. R Erson), Crs. Hill, Rowe, Clark, Sheldrick' Jackson, Tapp, Hills, and Goldsbury. The press and the public were excluded, but a little bird who roosbs on the firebell has, in our reporter's exclusion, furnished the following shorthand nobes, baken verbatim in a most careful and precise manner : — Afber a considerable amounb of small balk on unimporbanb matters the following resolutions were carried —1. To gut the opinion of Mr Brookfield, bhe Borough Solicibor, as to whebher bhe Council can sbrike a special rate wibhoub bhe sanction of bhe. rabepayers. 2. If bhey can do so, are the Council empowered bo increase bhe special rabe for any obher purpose without consuming bhe ratepayers ?—This was agreed to. — The Mayor then informed the Council that he would see Mr Brookfield before breakfasb in bhe morning in order bo give him as long time as pos sible before bhe meeting on Thursday.— The Mayor had nob so much confidence in being able bo secure a special rabe, as he said ib was scarcely probable bhab threefifths of the ratepayers would sign their death warrant. —Cr. Jackson here pointed oub bhab bhe opinion given by Mr O'Meagher some time ago was the means of making the burgesses rather careful, particularly thab porbion in which Mr O'Meagher sbabed bhab ab Oamaru the special rabe was suddenly raised from' one shilling to five shillings.—Cr. Clark observed bhab bhis was, in his opinion, the rock upon which they split. The Mayor now remarked thab he brusbed bhab bhe Councillors presenb would bo unanimous in sbabing thab the general rate would not be burdened (at any rate for the next bwo years) wibh the waterworks expenses. He further wished bhab ib mighb nob go forth to the oubside public bhab bhere was any secrecy in the Council's action that nighb.—Cr. Burden said bhab he would nob be unanimous in anybhing, or vote for anything thab night, as he was so suddenly called to attend this meeting. He was quite unprepared to giv© any opinion one way or bhe other.—Cr. Jackson said bhis was all nonsense, as every member knew a week ago bhab bhis privabe meeting was bo bake place. Afber some further conversation of a general character the.secreb socieby quiebly dissolved.