The Daily Telegraph FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2981, 14 January 1881, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1881.

The scene at the special meeting of the Council yesterday afternoon has never been equalled in this town before, and we regret to think that it is likely to be repeated. His Worship the Mayor was alone to blame for what occurred, and should he ever again so thoroughly mistake his position as he did then we shall assuredly be treated to another scene of disorder. A more ridiculous assumption of authority, we imagine, was never before attempted by a Mayor. Not a Councillor was permitted to speak in opposition to the motion without constant interruption from the Mayor, who, having lost his temper, appeared to have lost all control over himself. It was pitiable to see him ; and bis behaviour might have called forth a motion for his censure, when he would have had to have left the chair during its discussion. Under the provocation it was highly creditable to Councillors that not for a momeDt did they forget the respect due to the office of Mayor. The first point raised was the legality of Cr. McVay's presence in the Couueil. The question was a most important one, but not for an instant would His Worship permit any discussion upon it. He had determined to secure the rescinding of the motiou appointing Mr Marchant to the post of engineer, and to do tha- it was necessary, at all hazards, to keep Cr McVay in the Council. Cr. McVay was also willing to take the ri»k of breaking the law, and between them no aruument was listened to. The Mayor did not want any solicitor's opinion upon t' c subject, and would not have the matter referred to: one after the other did he rule_ Councillors out of order. A large audience was in tbe chamber to see the fun. and the Mayor's arbitrary conduct, which was a perfect burlesque of chairmanship, provoked loud and repeated laughter, with occasional shouts of indignation. It was then so obviously the iotention of the minority, aided by the casting vote of the Mayor, to smother the voices of the majority with the cloak of authority, that there remained but one course open, which was most reluctantly adopted, which was nothing less than to speak against time till Mr McVay's successor was elected. Cr. Cotton opened the ball, and would have made a connected and sensible speech had he not been constantly interrupted by the very person whose duty it wa« to prevent interruption. It would have taken a practised orator to have spoken to the point at issue under such circumstances, and at last, wearied with the unfairness of his treatment, he sat down. Cr. Leonard followed ; there was then no object to serve in disguising the tactics of his party, and after a few remarks be proceeded to trace the history of drainage from the period of Heny VII. His Worship's excitement and anger besame most amusing at this time to witness; he was up and down from his seat every minute, but nothing disturbed the serenity of Cr. Leonard, wbo in spite of everything kept his stand for an hour and a half. An interruption by Cr McDougall, who gravely put a motion

that Cr Leonard by requested to resume his seat, only served to waste more time, and so played into the hands of thestonewallers. The fun reached its climax when Cr Elllis rose to say that he bad pleDty of time at his disposal, but, as he thought be would detain the Council more than three hours, he would first move the adjournment of the meeting. This was most unexpectedly seconded by Cr. de Lisle, whose action came like a bombshell in tbe ranks of his party. The motion was put and notwithstanding whispered remonstrances, Cr. de Lisle had the good taste and sound judgment to vote with the ayeti, and the Council adjourned. And so came to nought the dodgery practised to defeat the resolution of the Council that appointed Mr Marchant municipal engineer. The Council meets again this evening, when it is just possible that Cr. McKay will carry his motion, but no one will deny that Crs. Swan, Leonard, Monteith, Ellis, and Cotton, did their duty to their constituents in their protest against the arbitrary powers that have recently been assumed by the Mayor.