NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

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

NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13. After we went to press yesterday the discussion on Cγ. McKay's motion re rescinding the appointment of the engineer came on. Cr. McDougall seconded the motion. Cr. McKay said they already knew his mind on the subject, and he would not occupy their time. He simply intended to vote for the motion. Cγ. McDougall said that his reason for supporting the motion was that another man had been appointed by the Public Works Committee. Cr. Swan: No, recommended. Cr. McKay: Don't interrupt. Cγ. Swan: I simply rose to a point of order, and wished to correct Cr. McDougall. I ask the Mayor if lam not in the right. The Mayor ruled Cr. Swan to be in the right. Cr. McKay : Well, then, I apologise, Cr. Swan. Cr. McDougall, continuing: A man had been recommended by the Public Works Committee, and by a majority of tbat body, and the clause should not have been rescinded. It 6eemed to him that Mr Lamb had been found to be much worse than they then considered him, or that Mr Marcbant had been found to be much better than when his chance was reduced to nil, or little more than nil, one vote. Cr. Cotton said he was strongly in favor at the Public Works Committee of Mr Marchant when they met to appoint au efficient engineer, but be was overruled by the remark that as good a man could be got in Napier. After the meeting he still held to his opinion, and he had since found that other Councillors had come over to his opinion. His reason for voting for the withholding of the letter was because he had heard a great deal against Mr Marchant, but he had since altered his mind. They wanted the very best engineer they could get for the money. There had been a lot of money wasted in the past. The Mayor : That has nothing to do with the subject. Cr. Cotton: We have to select the best engineer. (Hear, hear). The Mayor : That has nothing to do with money wrongly spent. But you had better name in what way it has been done. You have no right to come here and cast a slur upon m> administration and that of the past Council without proof. Cr. Cotton: I could name several instances where the money has been, wasted. The Mayor: Then give them. Cr. Cotton: Ruddock and Fryer's corner. The paving stones were put down and had to be pulled up again.

The Mayor: I am not an engineer, and have nothing to do with that, but the subject had better be dropped. Cr. Cotton, continuing his speeh, said he took it that Mr Marchant was already appointed, but if Cr. McKay brought forward a better man he would vote for him. He belonged to neither side. He had, since this matter came up, been all round the town and button-holed all the Wellingtonians he could find, and they had all spoken highly of Mr Marchant's efficiency, and he had now come to the conclusion that Mr Marchant was a fit and proper man to fill the office of Municipal Engineer. He thought it best to employ a stranger, as a local man might have friends amongst the contractors, and fee might be tempted to pass work not completed according to tbe specifications.

Here ensued an interval of silence,

Cr. Leonard said that, by the authority of the Council, the Town Clerk was ordered to insert applications for an engineer in the leading papers of the colony. They received a number of applications [and testimonials. In the meeting it was found that a certain gentleman had a few friends, and that gentleman's testimonials could be put in the envelope of a lady's love letter. He voted openly against it, but he found there was an under-current very thick with mud, but they, he felt sure, could swim out ot it. There had been insinuations made against a certain gentleman, which, had they been made against him, he would have had an action at law. The date of the special meeting had been altered to get Cr. McVay's vote, but that the public were adverse to this action would be Bhown by that day's election. He would ask whether the testimonials of applicants for engineer had been sent back.

The Mayor: Yea. Cr. Leonard : Then he would a9k that the Town Clerk would read the letters sent with them.

The Town Clerk explained to tbe Mayor that the letters had been read at a former meeting of the Council. Cr. Leonard said he thought Councillors would like to hear them read. Letters read.

Or. Leonard: He contended that Mr Marchant was legally appointed engineer of the borough. The Mayor : That is your opinion. Cr. Leonard : No, it is not; I can get tha Municipal Solicitor's opinion. After a lot of by-play between Cr. Leonard and the Mayor, the latter asked him to stick to the motion, and the former said: lam going to read out of this book (Dictionary ot Dates), which is an excellent authority on drainage. I want to show that a gentleman- who can build a lime-kiln or a house drain is not of necessity qualified to undertake the drainage of Napier. Cr. McVay : That has nothing to do with the question. Cr. Monteith : Are there two Mayors or one ?

Cr. Leonard here read from the book an extract entirely irrelevent to the question. The Mayor: Do you want to speak on the motion.

Cr. Leonard : I am just coming to it. He read on for some time till again stopped by the Mayor, who ruled bim out of order, and said if he did not intend to speak on the motion he bad better sit down. He (tbe Mayor) was astonished to see Councillors come there to talk such rot. and if the ratepayers would send such men to represent them he would soon be out of the council. If twothirds of the ratepayers would sign a requisition to him asking him to resign he would do it at once. He had been in the Council for six years and never seen anything like it. To Cr. Leonard : I rule you right out of order. Cr. Leonard then turned to the Municipal Corporations Act. The Mayor asked what portion he was going to read. Cr. Leonard : All of it.

He then commenced at the short-title, and read as if he intended to go right through with it, amongst frequent cries of " question " and calling to order by tbe Mayor. At last Cr. M'Dougall rose to a point of order, and asked that Cr. Leonard be ordered to sit down while he spoke. The Mayor asked Cr. Leonard to sit down.

Cr. Leonard replied that he would if His Worship would allow him to get on bis legs again. The Mayor replied that would depend. Cr. 'Leonard remained standing.

Cr. M'Dougall moved " That, in the opinion of this Council, Cr. Leonard is arbitrarily obstructing progress, and that he be ordered to be silent."

Or. deLisla seconded

Cr. Monteith contended that Cr. Leonard had said nothing out of order, and if he could show by reading from the Act that there was illegality it might influence the votes.

The Mayor: You are out of order. There can be no discussion on a point of order.

Cr. Swan here rose, but was ruled out of order also.

The Mayor said he had now the byelaws before him, and the motion was not necessary as it was competent for him to rule a Councillor out of order, and if Cr. Leonard continued as he had been doing he would order him to sit down.

Cr. Leonard here closed the Ait, and said he thought Councillor McKay should have brought up some reasons for his motion.

Here Cr. Leonard sat down, after keeping the floor for one hour and a half. Cr. Ellis Baid he had little to say, but what he had to say would take about three hours.

The Mayor: What book is that you have in your hand ?

Cr. Ellis :An almanac. He thought there was a good deal in it that would be found useful, even if when read it proved not to be quite relevant to the question before the Council. As he was remarking, what he had to say would occupy three hours, and he would therefore move tbe adjournment of the meeting until 8 o'clock the following evening.

Cr. de Lisle seconded the motion

Cr. MeDougall said he should oppose it, as the past efforts had only been an attempt to speak against time. Ihe Mayor: You are out of order. The bye-laws do not admit of discussion on a motion for adjournment. The motion was put and carried by six to three.

The Council then adjourned