WAIKAREAO BRIDGE AND ROAD

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIII, Issue 8686, 13 September 1924, Page 5

WAIKAREAO BRIDGE AND ROAD

ACCOUNTS PRESENTED TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

At the meeting ot t!i*■ C» unty Council yesterday, Ihe following letter was read from Mr H- O. C'uoney. solicitor, Te Puke: “1 enclose account in <■<nun*cti<>n with ihe dm- • mcetai bridge question. 1 haw noticed in a newspaper report of your retvjii proceedings that Mine questions was raised as to- the pr, priety id obtaining tin- engineer's leport n-ferred tc herein, but I remind your ecnncil tllat wfit'n such report was obtained that ■ a lesnlnfion had been carried bv I your Council directing the institution of a commission anil that as Mr Hodge and myself were instructed to act in tin* matter we realised that it such a Commission sat.v< nr Council would require fmd her expert evidence to corroberaie the evidence ot your own engineer. To that end. and as a preparation. tor such Commission. Major Anderson was asked to- go over the ground with Mr Hodge and myself and prepaid* Iris evidence for the pending Commission. Had the Commission sat. Major Andersen's evidence in corroboration of tin- evidence of your own engineer would have, been indispensable.” The account forwarded bv Mr Cooney totalled XlB 19/ itemised as follows ; Legal opinion by Messrs Hodge and Cooney, £6 ‘(5/ ; disbursements, X2 0/6: account for report bv Major J. E. Andersen, XI 0 12/6. Cr Darragh contended that the engagement of an engineer was outside the scope of the resolution of the Council.

Cr Rally maintained t'VJar Hie .solicitors- had authority (o engage an engineer.

Cr Hume moved to the effect that the account, be mot parsed for payment. !

O Darragh seconded. Cr Mundt asked that the minutes bearing on the question be read. The minutes of a previous meeting, wore referred to and one of the resolutions showed that the Chairman was authorised to engage counsel to represent the Council at the hearing before the CommisionThe Chairman expressed surprise at the action of the mover and seconder of th'e motion. After the resolution of the Council he got as many councillors as he could to get her. Crs Lally, Harris, Morton. Mundt and the speaker, interviewed Mr Sharp. They had lookjed for Ci* Darragh but could not find him. They asked Mr Sharp if lie would act for the Council, but lie said be could not, as he was solicitor for the Borough Council. Later. Crs Lallv. Morton, Mundt and the speaker interviewed solicitors in To Puke. He defended the action taken and maintained it was common sense. They had to ascertain whether they had a case or not for a Commission. It was proper for the solicitors to get information concemjjig the position. ' It was a business proposition to consult the solicitors. The account was reasonable- He was surprised at the attitude of some of the councillors. ■

Cr Mundr expressed surprise at the. attitude of certain councillors. At the Council meeting it was stated that Mr Sharp would probably not act for the County Council and in that eventuality it was decided that Messrs Cooney and Hodge/ be consulted.

Cr Hume said ho could not conscientiously vote for the payment. A notice of motion had been Tabled and he maintained that action should have been deferred until that notice of motion was dealt with. The charge was very reasonable. He did not see why a long screed should have been sent to the Council before the Commission was set up.

Or Darragh said he understood that if the Commission were set up counsel was to be engaged, but not otherwise.

Cr Merton pointed out that the Commission proposal was turned down.

The Chairman said the Commission proposal was turned down on the legal opinion that was submitted to (he Council.

Cr Lally moved an amendment That the account forwarded by Mr Coonev be passed for payment-

Cr Mum It seconded. The amendment was carried on the casting vole of the Chairman. The amendment was then put as the substantive motion and was carried on the Chairman's casting vote.

Cr Hume called for a division, which disclosed the voting*: For the mothm, The Chairman. Crs La]!v, Munch- and Merten. Against the motion. Crc Hume, Merrirnan, Darragh and Steele.

Cr Harris was net present during the discussion.