MEETING AT PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 5969, 29 April 1882, Page 2

MEETING AT PORT CHALMERS.

A public meeting was held yesterday evening in Morkane's Hall, Port Chalmers, to consider the action of the Borough Council in leasing the quarries without public tender. About 150 persons were present. Mr D. A. Db Maus, who was voted to the chair, after explaining tho object of the meeting, commenced to read extracts from the papers of the meeting on January 10 re leasing the quarries, when Mr Tomkins asked if the chairman intended to address tne meeting. The Chairman made a short explanation and then called on

Cr Morkane, who explained that there are two Corporation quarries held by the Company—one known as the big, the other the little quarry. The former was held under lease for three years at LBO per year, which expires in November next; the other was under lease for twelue years at LlO per year for the first three years, after which the rent was to be fixed by arbitratiou every three years. The first three years expired in March last, and on the 28th of that month the Council wrote to the chairman of the Company informing him that they had appointed one arbitrator, and requesting him to appoint another. That letter had not been replied to. In August last the Council received a letter from the chainnan of the Quarry Company suggesting that the two quarries should be amalgamated and leased to the Company for twenty-one years, the first seven years at L7O a-year, after that to be fixed by arbitration every seven years. This was agreed to by a majority of the Council. At that time he thought it was a fair offer, and voted for it. After he had reason to believe that the course agreed to was not in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the ratepayers, and in January last he got a resolution carried in Council that a vote of the ratepayers should be taken, stating at the same time thafrhe would stand by the result of that vote. It was through standing by that vote that he was before them that night. Before a poll was taken a public meeting was held to discuss the matter, and then the Mayor was loud in protesting against leasing unless by public tender. The majority against the extension of the quarry lease was six. On April 5 a special meeting of the Council was called by the Mayor to consider a letter from Mr Smith, a shareholder in the Quarry Company, who offered L 125 per year for fourteen years. Only four councillors attended that meeting, so that nothing was then done, but at the next ordinary meeting Mr Smith's offer was accepted, and orders given to have a lease drawn up. A draft of the proposed lease was submitted to the Council at their last meeting, when it was resolved that the lease be signed. He at once gave notice that he would move at the next meeting that the portion of the minutes relatin? to the quarry lease be rescinded. Hitherto the Mayor's ruling had been to delay the matter until the motion was disposed of, but in this case he (Mr Morkane) feared that ruling weuld not be found convenient. The Mayor had been pleased to declare his (Mr Morkane's) actions inconsistent. He declined to allow the Mayor to be the arbiter of his actions in this case, and preferred to be Judged by those who knew him and were aware that he had nothing to gain by betraying the interests of the town. He challenged the Mayor and his followers to produce any proof that he had ever acted contrary to the best interests of either his own ward or the whole ' own. He (Mr Morkane) would abide by the decision of the meeting. ... Mr Gott could not understand the iutncacies of the Council, bat was sure they had no power to lease any part of the Town Belt, though they might let it from year to year. . The Mayor wished to say a few words in explanation. He said that the first meeting in reference to leasing the quarries had been called by him in censequence of the Council some months back being desirous while he was absent in Wellington of leasing the quarries for twenty-one years. He refused to sign the lease, considering that LBO per annum was not enough. But for his action then they would not have had the question before them now. He might have said at the last meeting that he was in favor of the lease of the quarries being let by tender, but circumstances altered cases. The Council could not advertise for tenders for the large quarries because the small quarry was let to Mr Allen for nine years. The small quarry was the key to the large one. The Government claimed 40ft in front of the quarry, but permission had been given by the Government to the Quarry Company to blast under certain conditions, one of which was thot they should build a stone wall in front, to cost abont L4OO. The lease, although for fourteen years, was only as if from year to year, as the Government could stop the Company from quarrying at any time. The lease would be drawn up so that the Company could have no claim against the Corporation if stopped at any time by the Government. The Council had done well, for if he had signed the lease as requested by the Council on his return from Wellington the town would only receive LBO per year instead of L 125. During his absence the Council had instructed the clerk to write the Quarry Company informing them that their offer of LBO had been accepted. At the expiration of the lease neither the Corporation nor the incoming tenant was bound to take over the machinery. The Quarry Company had expended about LBOO in putting in a siding and other improvements, which should not be ignored. Whether he signed the lease or not would depend on the action of the meeting. The lease was not yet signed. The Council did not think it necessary to employ an arbitrator after receiving so good an offer as Mr Smith's. , Cr Law said that for some months he was in favor of calling for tenders but when he found that the Government ground run 15ft into the quarry, and that the offer of L 125 per annum for fourteen years was a good one, he thought', should b3 accepted. He did not think they had any legal right to call for tenders as they could only let the quarry year to year. Mr E. G. Allen explained the Company's operations, and their desire of extending the works, while he drew a comparison between the position of tho position of his Company, which employed sixty men, and the rental they paid and the quarries let to Mr Borlase and Mr M'Guire at rentals of LlO a-year. Mr J. Gorr moved and Mr W. Rkid seconded—"That it is the opinion of this meeting that all Corporation quarrieß be let by tender for a period not exceeding seven years." The Mator stated that he was the person who should have been called upon to convene this meeting, and he would not accept any test decision on the matter. , , , For the resolution two persons voted, whereupon the Chairman declared that the meeting endorsed the Mayor's action.