HAWERA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Issue 277, 21 July 1882, Page 2

HAWERA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting was held on Wednesday evening at half-past seven. Present): Councillors Bate, Prichard, .McL'Dowie, Biddiford, Thomson, King, Syme, Hobbs, and Partridge, and Mr. McGuire, the exMayor (in the chair). He spoke to the effect that although sorry to cause the Council the trouble and expense of electing a new Mayor he had, after mature deliberation, come to the conclusion that tbe course he had pursued in resigning was the right one. He compared tbe resolution, " That all gravel carting be stopped until October next, and that all surface men be, discharged except Boss," which was carried at the previous meeting, with the amendment, " That during the winter months no gravel shall be carted over any street that is not metalled with broken stone in the centre. In the event of unusually dry weather this resolution to remain in abeyance as regards carting footpath gravel," moved by Councillor Thomson.' He pointed out that had the resolution which was carried at the last meeting been carried earlier in the season, the road to the railway station and the Main South road would probably have become quite impassable, and the Council's duty was to promote and foster traffic and communication. That the, bad state of the streets was practical evidence of the prosperity of the place, and Pa tea and other towns would be only too glad to see their streets cut up by a similar stream of constant traffic. He contended that at this date it was impossible for any man to say what the weather might be between now and October, and that tinder the resolution, as it stood, no advantage could be taken of fine weather if it occurred. He was an advocate' against one single load of gravel being carted in wet weather. He tbought Mr. Thomson's amendment should have been carried, and blamed the Council for not doing so ; it was of an elastic nature aud very suitable.' ' He, us mayor, would have been referred to in the event of drays breaking down and the road becoming dangerous, and under the resolution he would have had to sit passive and do nothing ; but he .had no intention of occupying 6uch a humiliating position. , Even though it should cost five times as much to keep • the road to the railway station open now as it would in February next, still the Council were bound to keep it in repair. He challenged the mover or seconder, or any supporter of the resolution to contest the coming election with him upon the basis of the resolution v. the amendment, and he would, if unsuccessful, be prepared to pay the costs of the election, provided that his opponent would do the same. After thanking the Councillors for tbe harmonious and energetic manner in which they had always worked with him, he behoved good results to the borough, lie drew their attention to the duty that was now before them, namely, the- election of a chairman to act during the period elapsing until the election ' of' a new Mayor. ■ - Councillor Bate proposed, and Councillor King seconded, " That Councillor Thomson be elected chairman." Carried unanimously. Councillor Thonieou, in taking tbe chair, thanked the Councillors for tbe honor done him, and then referred' to the difficulty that had arisen with regard po the gravel supplied by the Government! and would be glad of their opinion on the matter. After Various suggestions had been made by several of the Councillors, it was unanimously agreed to deal fully With tbe subject at the next special meeting on Friday evening next. In (he meantime it was agreed to keep the supply of gravel going until tbe Couuoil had dealt with the subject.