Borough Council.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4284, 20 July 1899, Page 2

Borough Council.

MINUTES.

At last meeting it was resolved to refer the minutes back to the clerk for the reason that a record of business in committee had been included. The Mayor said be had looked into the matter and had found that the proper combe had been taken, by including the business in question, but suggested that a separate book should be kept to record such portions of committee business as was considered necessary or desirable. The minutes were confirmed. CO^BBSPONDBNOa.

Justice Department re exchange of sections in borough — The Mayor, Crs Paterson and Adamson were appointed a committee to go into the matter and report to next meeting.

District Railway Engineer, asking when water supply will be available — Replied to that information could not yet be given. RESIGNATION FBOM A COMMITTEE — DIS-

GRACEFUL LANOTAGB.

A letter was read from Cr Paterson, a member of the Becreation Ground Committee, resigning his position on the committee.

After the Mayor had expressed his regret at Cr. Paterson's decision and referred to his past interest in the ground, Cr Paterson said his reason was that the whole of the committee meetings were held on business afternoons and it was therefore impossible for him to attend. He also stated that on one occasion he bad not received notice of the meeting until the evening of the day on which the meeting had been held. He had pointed this out to the Chairman (Cr Fake), who had stated that in arranging the meetings the outside members of the committee should have consideration. Evidently he (Or Paterson) was not worthy of consideration, and he has therefore decided to resign and give place to someone who could attend. Cr Paoey thought the difficulty could be arranged by meeting in the evenings. Cr Fake : Cr Paterson has been asked continually to attend the meetings both on holidays and on other days, but he seemed determined not to attend. Therefore I called the meetings at a time that would suit the others.

Cr Paterson : I must give that statement an emphatio contradiction.

Or Fake : You are a liar

This led to an altercation, during which the Mayor asked Cr Fake to retract, which he refused to do and used the words " a damned our," but in the confusion our representative could not gather quite how they were applied. At the same time Cr Paterson appealed for protection. The Mayor: Cr Pake, I must ask you to leave the chamber. Cr Fake : I won't. "

The Mayor: I must impose the fullest fine the law will allow for making such a direct statement across the table. *

Cr Fake : Why don't you do the same with him (Cr Paterson).

The Mayor : lam net going to discuss the question for a moment. During the history of the council no such thing has happened at the council table. lam sorry and shaken to the core that such a thing had happened. You have no idea of the enormity of your offence.

Cr Fake : If you do not like it I can retire from the council.

The Mayor then instructed the clerk to take down the words used by Crs Fake and Paterson, as he said it wag necessary that a record should be taken of what had occurred.

A summary of the language used (substantially as above reported, except that the words " damned cur " were not included) was then read out and approved of as correct, Cr Fake concurring.

After the Mayor had referred to the bye-laws and Municipal Corporations Act he indicated that ordinary business should be proceeded with.

Cr Fake : Are you not going to settle the matter now ?

The Mayor : It will be a question for the Coutt to decide.

Cr Fake : I want the matter settled now. Cr Faterson is the first one you should have called upon when he imputed those remarks to me. I defy him, or you, or any other councillor. The Mayor said it was a most painful matter. Never in the history of the Council had such a thing taken place, and he hoped in the history of the place it would be the last. He could not understand how any councillor could make such an accusation. It was not alone a statement of the moment, but a degradation perhaps for always. Of all councils in New Zealand few could boast as Hawera could of the manner in which the proceedings' had always taken place. It was futile to now express regret — the words bad been spoken — and whatever retraction might be made still the event had happened. He was certain present as well as past councillors would regret the occurrence for it degraded the Council, not only in the eyes of the burgesses but in the eyes of the colony generally. Further discussion would be of no avail. He thought, however, that until the matter was settled neither Cr. Paterson nor Cr Fake should take any part in the Council's proceedings. Cr Paterson objected to this, holding that he had in no way transgressed the rules of the Council. If such a step were taken he would tender his resignation as a member.

After some further discussion it was resolved to proceed with ordinary business as usual.

In regard to Cr Patereon's resignation from the committee it was* deoided to hold it over till next meeting.

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