ONEHUNGA WATER SUPPLY

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 54, 5 March 1901, Page 2

ONEHUNGA WATER SUPPLY

a' stormy miseti:n*«

At the Onelmnffa Borough Council meeting- lust uighi therg was an un^ usually large number of ratepayers present, in support of a petition to that body, asking that before ;iny definite arrangements were made with i the Manukau Water Supply Board, :i j representative body should be heard I on the question. The proposed terms of agreement arranged by a-committee of the Council and the Water Supply Boaid, and wliich appeared in . thu j issue of "Star" of this day week, evidently were not acceptable by ;i very large number of ratepayers, «s i may be by the petition sent !to the Council last niffht, together j with a letter from the president of the llatepayers' Association, of which the following- is a copy:—"l am instruetert to inform you (fiat tin* Ratepayers' Association arc opposed to any further offers being1 held out to the Mannka.ii Water Supply Hoard by your Council, as they consider you havo "•one far enough already." tie was further ■instructed by tlio Association to request the Mayor of the boroug-h to call a public meetin'g1, and have the voice of the ratepayers with him hi any further proceeding; Which may have to be entered upon or into between both the above mentioned bodies. The following1 memorial was also addressed to the Mayor and Council by those interested in the manufactories: —"We, the undersig-ned burgesses of Onehunga, respectfully request that the Council will receive as a deputation the following- gentlemen, whom we appoint as our representatives to confer with you before signing the agreement with the Mannkau Water Trust. The deputation will consist of Messrs Jno. Stoupe, A. Itobb, Jn,o. Neill, .fas. Park, (i. It. .Tames, and D. Brown." Here, follow fifty-four signatures. The Mayor said he must rule that the document was a petition, and must lie upon the table for a fortnight. (!r. Hill suggested that the Stand-ing-Orders should be suspended to allow the matter to come up for discussion. The Mayor pointed out that at last, Monday's meeting- he had supplied each councillor with a copy of the proposed sug-g-estions, in order that they might consider them, for the purpose of acting- to-nig-ht. The Council, and himself in particular, had been accused of trying- to rush the agreement through withou* duo consideration. This he emphatically denied, asserting- the statements were made only for electioneering- purposes. Cr. Howe was not satisfied with Hie terms offered, but if they were the best the Manukau Water Supply Board would offer, to save litig-ation it was for the Council and the people to say which should be accepted. Cr. Shaldrick moved that the consideration of the matter be referred to the Council in committee. lit; considered that those who sig-ned the request for a conference were property holders,. and while any action nf theirs (the Council) would not be taken as v want of confidence, no bad result could follow. Cr. Hill seconded. The motion was carried on divisoin, Cr. Yates recording- her vote against the proposal. The matter will be 'further consid-ered-on Monday next. An angry scene occurred at the conclusion of the discussion. Two or tlwee of the ratepayers present, as a piotest against the matter being- referred to the Council in committee, left the room, while the President, of ths Ratepayers' Association, in ;>n excitable manner, shaking- his list at the Mayor, declared that if the Council did not decide next Monday to call a public meeting-, he would se-3 the Mayor's effigy would be burnt.

T OST. yesterday, a Butcher's Saw--Li Anyone returning sarao to Snove ana Co Butcher, Newmarket, will be rewarded.