A LIVELY COUNCIL MEETING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8150, 22 April 1887, Page 5

A LIVELY COUNCIL MEETING.

A PUGNACIOUS COUNCILLOR. [Per Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, April 21, An extraordinary scene has just taken place in the Borough Council, one of the members having struck another in the face at the table. The Corporation has recently imported a gaa holder and plant, and there has been some comment about town owing to the fact that Councillor Basstian’s lorries were used to convey the materials from the wharf to the gas works, and that the work had not been offered for tender, or an offer made by another party considered by the Council. To-night, in dealing with the accounts. Councillor M* Donald, exMay or, referred to the matter when the account for the cartage of the gas plant came up in tbe name of one Maslen, and led it to be inferred that he believed it was really Basstian who was to receive the money, and that he was evading the Corporation Act. Councillor McDonald referring to the matter said he hoped there was not an ali-ass in the question, when Councillor Basstian jumped up and struck him. Councillor M'Donald asked the Mayor to send for a constable, but he declined, and after some further words Councillor Basstian said he was sorry for what he had done, but bad been worried by this matter of cartage being talked of in the town, and resented Councillor M'Donald’a innuendo. Councillor M'Donald refused to accept the apology, and again asked the Mayor to call in a policeman. Councillor Basstian then left tbe hall, and the Mayor said Councillor M'Donald had hia remedy at law. One councillor said Basstian ought to be called on to resign, while another said he would not again sit at the table with him. The Council broke up without doing any further business.