MUNICIPAL AMENITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 10341, 15 June 1897, Page 4

MUNICIPAL AMENITIES.

At last night’s meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council a discussion arose with regard to the dispute between Cr Sutton and the mayor which took place at a former meeting. The Mavok, on taking his seat, asked Cr Sutton to apologise for certain expressions used towards him at the last meeting. Cr Sutton' declined to apologise, and some discussion ensued as to the action of the mayor in regard to a letter that had been received at a previous meeting, the Mayor stating that he gave the letter to the town clerk and asked him to put it on the table, while Cr Sutton disputed that that was done. Cr Murray eventually moved—“ That the Council proceed to the next business,” The Mayor asked Cr Murray if he, as a just man, thought that the words used at a former meeting by Or Sutton were fit to be used to the Council. Cr Murray said he had moved that the Council proceed to the next business. He thought they were all pretty easy-going men there, and that they ought not to stand on their dignity. He quite believed, if he spoke his opinion honestly, that both the mayor and Cr Sutton were at fault. Cr Cameron seconded the motion. He agreed with Cr Murray that both the mayor and Cr Sutton were at fault. Cr Sutton used words he should not have used, and the mayor did not act as a gentleman in treating the Council as he did. The Mayor: In “chucking” the letter down. Cr Cameron : In treating the Council in the manner you did that night. The Mayor said he would only be too happy to see Cr Cameron placed in the came position as be (the mayor) was. Cr Inyerarity Sutton had insulted the mayor grossly at the previous meeting. That was why he (Cr Inverarity) got upon his feet and called Cr Sutton to order. He thought it was very uncalled for on the part of a councillor to tell the mayor to shut his mouth. Cr Sutton : What called forth that remark? Cr Murray : There is a motion before the meeting. Cr Cameron said Cr Sutton bad taken objection to the mayor opening the letter which had been referred to in defiance of a resolution of the Council. If the mayor had allowed a motion to be put rescinding the previous resolution then he might have opened the letter, but he opened it in a defiant manner. The Mayor : I am surprised at you, Cr Cameron. Cr Cameron : That has nothing to do with it. The Mayor: Yes it has. I opened the letter at the meeting before that. Cr Cameron said the mayor tore the letter open. The Mayor denied that the letter was ever closed, and Cr Sutton maintained that it was. Cr Cameron observed that there was a motion on the table to rescind another, and asked why the mayor did not wait till that motion was disposed of. Cr Sutton ; That was the cause of all the disturbance. Cr Weir moved as an amendment—--41 That as Cr Sutton used offensive words, in contravention of section 24, part 12, of the by-laws, he be requested either to apologise or leave the room.” Cr Sutton : I decline to do either. Cr Leach seconded the amendment. He thought the words used by Cr Sutton .were very offensive, and that he should certainly withdraw them. Cr Sutton repeated that he declined to withdraw the words. The Mayor subsequently put the amendment, when four voted for and seven against it. Then, having declared the motion carried, His Worship, referring to Cr Sutton, said he had asked him to withdraw, and had told him the penalty would be £5 if he did not do so. The Council would see how the matter would go. The ordinary business of the Council was then proceeded with.