ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 55, 7 March 1899, Page 2

ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A LIVELY SCENE

The ordinary meeting of the Onehunga , ; , Borough Council was held last, night. ■ There were present Messrs S W. R. Erson ;v (Mayor), Colledge, Laking, Rowe, Bradley, and Stoupe. Petition.—A petition was received from :' v several carters in the borough requesting ; : : v ; the Council to reduce the grazing fees :r| for draught horses on Mount Smart Re- ,r,-.| serve from £1 per annum to 10/. The pc- % tition, which was in'the hands of Mr Laking, was ordered to lie on the table „ | for a fortnight. Fire Hose.—The Secretary of the Fire Brigade applied for a quantity of fire hose, and also suggested that the Council ■' should purchase the new hose reel recent- I ly in use at the Auckland Industrial Exhibition Buildings. The letter was re- ■£,% ferred to the Water Committee. A Gift.—Mr Enos Pegler forwarded a suitably mounted photographic shield of the Mayor and Councillors, to be hung in the Council Chamber. The present was accepted, and the generosity of the j donor acknowledged. j Onehunga Brass Band.—An application I from the Onehunga Town Band for the • j use of the old library building to practice " ''' j in one night a week was granted on payment of 2/6 per week. Tenders.—Three tenders were accepted for breaking blue metal: j. Catley, 5/10 v per yard, in Willow-street; H. Morris, 100 yards in Church-street, at 6/3 per yard; - T. Foster, 25 yards at 6/ per yard. Onehunga Ratepayers' Association.— , The Secretary of the above Association - ~ wrote that the Association had been formed to assist the Council as far as pos- ' sible in the business of the town. He asked that its existence be recognised by thft )t->'h Council, as it was in no way antagonistic ; %; to the latter body.—The Mayor expressed his pleasure with the letter, and moved 'That the Council desire to recognise the. Association and express its satisfaction with the formation of such, a society, and that the ratepayers are taking an active interest in the welfare of the town.'—The motion was agreed to. ."■,, Waterworks.—lt was resolved that thi Council-in-Committee consult with tl. Borough Engineer with regard to th waterworks.—A letter from the Auckland City Council on the water question was referred to the same committee. ; ,vi Finance.—The Treasurer's statement was as follows:—General account, credit ; a balance, £92 1/4; waterworks account, £33 16/4; recreation reserves account, £37, ■> 2/1; contractors' deposit account, £20;. domain account, debit balance, £116/3. S\ H .The Council in Committee reported hay« o :*■ ing considered a letter from Captaia Yates on the sanitary condition of the; ; town, and stated that after hearing the .C Sanitary Inspector on the subject they v had no recommendation to make, but that they had full confidence in the Inspector; ', J Captain and Mrs Yates, who were pre- .g sent, asked that the letter be read. The Mayor was about to proceed with" |~ other business, but Mrs Yates protested. ; The interruption seemed to please a \, portion of the audience, and a faint cheer ; was raised. On the Town Clerk making ;, a third attempt to proceed with the business, Mrs Yates said, '1 demand that the it letter be read.' Mr Rowe thought these interruptions ?■; ought to be stopped. Mrs Yates: 'Listen to little Johnnie/ i Then (fixing her eye on that gentleman): '..,.'". 'Why, you are worse than anybody.' . :» The Mayor said such interruptions de- y'i'M served only to be treated with contempt. ' When the Council shortly afterwards . resolved themselves into committee. Mrs; < Yates rose and proceeded to give the Mayor a piece of her mind. She saidt ?! When I was Mayor, the business of the Council was always done openly, and the correspondence read at the meeting so / that people could know what was going on. Talk about a "Star Chamber!" It's a fool to this.' Captain Yates: 'Come on, Lizzie. We are the ratepayers and the backbone of-1-; Onehunga.' Then (casting a withering \ look at the Mayor): 'It's a pity, Dr. Kr* " son, that you ever left Hudderafleld.' Mrs Yates: 'Yes, indeed.' Captain, and Mrs Yates then left thi ,;,. Council Chamber. [In connection with the above, Dr. Erson infroms us that all correspondence re* '■;'.. ceived by the Council was read at its or- ;,: dinary meeting if it was couched in proper language. ; ?<fi j