ASHLEY.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7173, 8 October 1888, Page 6

ASHLEY.

A meeting of this Board was held on the 4th instant. All members present. Mr Martin, one of the members, stated that he wished to call the attention of the Board to the minutes of 2nd August, which he was going to submit were not duly authenticated, because it was the duty of the Chairman at the next succeeding meeting to authenticate them. The Chairman of the next succeeding meeting was Mr Barker, but he declined to sign them, as in his opinion, in which Mr Brock, another member, concurred, that meeting was a special meeting. He (Mr Martin) stated that whether a special meeting or ordinary, the minutes of the preceding meeting should be then authenticated. However, they were left unauthenticated, and at the then next succeeding meeting, the Chairman, Mr Brown, signed the minutes in questionas authorising them The due authentication of the minutes of a public Board, expending the public rates, he could not do otherwise than consider an important matter, and he had written the Minister of Public Works at Wellington on the subject, and he would read his communication received in reply. He then read the following — " Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, New Zealand. Ist September, 1888. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 27th August asking to be informed if it is the duty of the Chairman of the special meeting to authenticate tbe minutes of the preceding ordinary meeting of a Road Board. In reply I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to inform you that he thinks it is the duty of the Chairman of every meeting (whether ordinary or special) of a Road* Board to authenticate the minutes of the last preceding meeting, but that in answering your question he accepts no responsibility for his interpretation of the Statutes.—l have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, (signed)G. S. Coopjbb. Wm. Martin, Esq." It would seem, then, Mr Martin continued, that of course always excepting the ruling of the Supreme Court, we had now the highest advice that could be got in the colony,and in conformity with that he would move—" That the .Clerk do now delete the signature of Mr Brown wherever It appears as authenticating the minutes of the 2nd August. Mr Feather seconded. Mr Brock moved, on the contrary, that the signature of Mr Brown should remain until the Board took legal advice on the subject. Mr Martin responded. If, in the face of the Act and the advice of the Colonial Secretary, as stated in the official communication now on the table before the meeting, legal expenses should be incurred, he would do his best that the expense of such legal advice should not come out of the Road Board funds. Three voted that legal advice be taken, and two that it should not. Some further business was then spoken df, when Messrs Brown, Barker, and Brock addressed a joint letter to the Clerk, resigning their seats at the Board.