CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 11, 13 January 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting was he\<\ last night for the purpose of; electing a Mayor ; Cr. Dodson in the chair. After a somewh vt lengthy discussion, from which it appeared that a difficulty existed in getting anyone to accept the office, it was resolved th*t a meeting of the ratepayers be called for Friday evening nest, for the purpose of allowing them an opportunity of nominating one or more individuals for the office, and that in the event of more than one being named, a poll be taken, the Council binding itself to ratify the choice of the ratepayers. The following letter was read from Mr. Watkins, resigning the Treasurerahip : — " To the Toavn Clerk, Nelson, " Sir — I beg to refer you to your letter of the 28th May, 1874, and So remind you that when I accepted the olfice of Treasurer to the City Council, it was on the understanding that I was not to be held responsible in any way for the correctness of the accounts, and that the account* bonks of the Corporation | should be properly attended to. " I have since come to the conclusion that the Treasurer cannot, and ought not, to be freed by the Council from his responsibilities ; and it is my opinion after examination, that Ihe books of the Corporation are not properly attended to, or the accounts rendered in accordance with the 'Municipal Corporations Act.' " I therefore resign the office of Treasurer. *' Yours faithfuliy, " James Watkiws, " Treasurer City Council, "Nelson, 11th January, 1875." Cr. Fern, said the reasons given by Mr. Watkins were very serious. He scarcely understood what he really meant, but it was clear that he was of opinion that the manner in which the hooks were kept was altogether wrong. The Towh Clerk, in explanation, Faid that Mr. Watkins had met him in the street, and said he should like to see the books, co he came up and saw the minute book and balance-sheet to October 31, as audited by Mr. Goulstone, and aßked for nothing more. Cr. Dottsow : Did he see all the books ? . The Clerk : No. Cr. Frli, : Did he complain at the time ? The Clebk : No. He paid, before looking at the accounts, that he intended to resign. He was not in the office more than two or three minute 3 altogether. Cr. Ffll thought it was a very serious charge to make, and one which ensfc a slur upon the book-keening of the Council. It should bo an instruction to the Finance Committee to inquire into the accounts, and to meet Mr, Watkins and finl out from him what ho reaily meant, and hid grounds for making such a charge. If they neglected to do this, and nnytliing were to ari<ie hereafter, they would be very seriously implicated. He himself was a member of the Finance Committee, but had not seen the boaks for a long time. Cr Burn reearded the charge as a very s°rious one He to.i was a member of the Finance Committee, but had not been summoned to attend a tnepfing for months, an<l therefore knew very litt'e of the state of the account?. Cr Haddow was of opinion that the letter contained very grave imputations, and reflected not only on the officers but upon the Council i'self. He thought the Finance Committee should see Mr Watkios. and perhaps they conld »emovphi?Bpprehe'i&ions. (> Dodson fail that he had told Mr Wstkins fhit the books were not in the 6ta*e in which he should like to hand them over to his suecossor. He wa«t rtferrinqr at the time to the gas and, waterworks accounts, which were not in anything like proper order, not a single entry being posted in the le4ger. He hnd told this to Mr Wi >zell, and stated that, he was ashamed to [ass them in that state to his successor. Tiio Town Clerk : I think, centlemen Councillors, with your permission, that I can explain this Cr Dodeon toM you the other night that constant drafts were being made by the Provincial Government without the knowledge of the Council, ami I a«k you as reasanable men whether it is to be expected that under such circumstances I can keep the leiger in anything like proper order. Cr Dodson : But The Clerk : Pardon roe, Cr Dodson, I have the authorty of the Councillors to speak. The books are kept a* dictated by Mr Goulstone, bu' it is utterly impossible for me to post up the ledger while payments are daily being made, as is now the case when the interest on debentures ib due, without my knowing anything about them. Cr Dodson : You never entered one of our payments. The Clskk : But I can exp'ain. Cr Dodson : Will you bllow me to speak, Sir ? You know I hive spoken to you frequently on the subject, and sometimes angrily, because I could not get you to do what I wanted. Cr Fell : I think it is far better that we Bhould talk the matter over quietly in this Fin«nce Committee, when the (Jerk will have every opportunity of »xpJaining.' The Clerk : I can explain everything. The Council then adjourned until Friday, the 22nd inst.