MUNICIPAL

Evening Star, Issue 11673, 4 February 1902, Page 8

MUNICIPAL

i’nHT Chalmkks. —Tlio fortn rtbt.ly meeting of the Gmmcil was attended yesterday evening by the .Mayor (Mr J. Miff), Crs Leech, (ludfrev, Shaw, (.'able, Tail, Inveracity, M‘Kay, Shanks, and Edgar. An ajvdogy was received from dr Simpson.— the Town t’lerk read correspondence from (he Sydenham Borough Council ro liio compilation of the municipal valuation rolls, and asking the. Council's eo-operatiou with the objects of the Conference held last July at Sydenham, where resolutions to the above, effect were passed (received), and from Mr John M'Pherson, calling the Council's attention to the verandah on section 25, Island terrace, which encroaches on the street line, in which matter the Council decided to request the agent to remove the encroachment.—His Worship called attention to the departure of the Ninth Contingent. He was pleased to say that the South Island members would leave Port Chalmers—the last port of departure—at an early date. He intended to call a meeting as soon as possible. It must be apparent to the inhabitants of .New Zealand that His Excellency liad taken a great interest in the departure of the various contingents. This was a great encouragement to the. inhabitants, uniting as it did iS'ew Zealand close' - to the Old Country.—The Finance Committee reported that the receipts since last inceiirg were : Central, £l7O 15s 7d; water rates, £94 2s Id; total, £264 17s.— The Works Committee reported on the various works, principally tarring and sanding footpaths and channels; also that a. number of channels in the wards had been cleaned; and that Messrs Gibb and Stevens had completed their contract for' painting the fence in Wickliffe terrace.—Repairs to the baths: Une tender for driving twelve piles and repairing the spring board, for £l7 10s, was accepted. —lt was resolved that the present members (Messrs J. Thomson and N. Dodds) be re-elected members of the Dock Trust.—The Inspector forwarded a report of all buildings erected on the Peninsula Beach road, and stated that a portion of the sea walling required repairing. Referred to the Reserves Committee. —The Council then went into committee.

Soctii Dcnkdix. —The fortnightly meeting of this Council was held last evening, when {here were present —'The Mayor (Mr A. Todd) and Crs O’Kane, Baird, Fleming, bommcrvillc, Smith, Allen, Fiddis, Cietwin, and Lyon.—Mr AV. Wardmp wrote asking for the patronage of the Council at a concert on behalf of Mr Price, who had lost his eyesight; also that they appoint two delegates to assist in the preparations. Crs Fomrnervillo and Iteming were appointed delegates.—The Water Committee reported that they had instructed the town clerk to write to the 'Master Plumbers’ Association to ask for the name of the informant re the practice of substituting inferior water taps for those known as “ Guest and Gimmes,” and also that they be furnished with the name of the plumber who had fixed the taps bearing the above brand, which were alleged not to be the genuine article. Approved. —The Finance Committee reported the following bank balances ; —General account (overdraft to date), £3,990 16s 7d; water account (credit). £5Bl 19s sd; interest (overdraft), £225 5s 6d; and the sanitary account (credit), £l6O 6s 7d. —Before the Council went into committee to consider the plans and specifications with regard to the erection of a new town hall, Ci” O’Kane asked leave to complain of the unfair reports given by the Press on such matters as fowl runs, bad smells, stagnant water, etc., in that borough. He was stuck up everywhere and asked where the fowl run was that was referred to so vaguely in the papers, where So-and-so’s premises were, whose back yard it was, and where the bad smells came from, etc.— (A Councillor: “It might be someone’s yard at the back of White Island for all he know.’’) Sometimes they left them out and reported others. As au instance, hu wished to state that tire Press had omitted to report when Dr Ogstou had rcjiortcd on Fix-inspector Thomas’s premises, which were covered with water two days after a wet day. But they reports I it 'when his (Cr O’Kane’s) premises were examined by Fx-iaspector Thomas, who recommended tliab a new floor should be put in his cow-byre, and he contended that the inspector had something “up his sleeve ” at the time. Fx-inspector Thomas, who was present, at, this stage shouted out: “You’re , and if you don't leave my name out of these proceedings Fll punch your head." Several councillors rose and pretested against such language at the Council table. The Council then went into committee, and on resuming decided that a special meeting should bo held on Friday next to consider the erection of the now town hall.—By this iuue several of the ratepayers had found their way back to the Chambers, amongst them being Fx-inspector Thomas (who is a! o au ex-councillor), and he proceeded to address the mayor and councillors, sharing that if they wear© going to allow this sort of thing to continue, meeting after meeting, by permitting Gr O’Kane, who is supposed to represent >South Ward, to viiily and abuse him continually, and if they did not see that proper order was maintained, and a ratepayer protected, then he would lake the law into his own hands and protect himself, which simply meant that lie would that night punch Cr O’Kane’s head. After the meeting had dispersed Fx-inspector Thomas challenged Mr O’Kaue to come and settle it, but the councillor declined tlu invitation, remark-

ing that he would prosecute him. Mr O’Kan© then made off, Ex-inspector Thomas pursuing him for about thirty yards.