IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE CITY BOARD.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2613, 21 March 1866, Page 3

IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE CITY BOARD.

An important special meeting of the City Hoard of Commissioners was held at their offices, Canada Buildings, at four o’clock on Saturday afternoon last, for the purpose of conferring with the members of the Provincial Council representing the several divisions of the city relative to matters o importance connected with the loan to the city of Auckland out of the half-million loan borrowed by the Provincial Government. Present: Messrs. ,J. W. Bain (chairman of the Board), George, Ashton, Slater, Turnbull, Mueready, Swanson, Sheehan, J, O'Neill, Coolahan, and Ridings,

The Chairman explained the object for winch the meeting had been convened —to take into consideration bis Honour the Superintendent’s Alessage, No. 47, sent down to the Provincial Council on Thursday last, so far as it related to the loan of £t‘so,ooo, which the city was entitled to receive in five yearly instalments of £IO,OOO, under the provisions of the “ Auckland Loan Act, 1803.” He wished the meeting to consider that matter without any bias in their minds one way or other. The City Board had been debited with the sum of £12,500 for the purchase of the site of the old Supreme Court-house building, and also with £7,000, reserved for a markethouse. Not one penny of those amounts had been given to the Board. There was due at the present time to the Board, even taking credit for the two sums mentioned, out of the loan to which they were justly entitled, the balance of £9,500. That amount was due, and the Board simply asked that it should be paid. It was for the meeting to give some expression of opinion on the question. His Honour the Superintendent had admitted a short time ago to a deputation that there was a balance of the loan of £50,000 due to the Board, but he was unable to pay it. That money was absolutely required by the City Board to enable them to carry out desirable improvements. He would repeat his Honour’s own words, and express his surprise at his Honour stating his surprise at the course taken by the Council, including the members of the city, after having made such an admission that he owed the money to the city, but could not give it. He quite agreed with the Superintendent that the ignoring of important principles could not possibly tend to the advantage of the Council ; and in the present instance it certainly would not tend to the advantage of the City Board, whose expenditure could never ho “improvident." The City Board had never ignored their “ important and special functions.” The Board merely asked for what was justly due to the citizens out of the loan. He had already done so in the Council. They should, as the represntatives of the ratepayers and citizens generally, make a strong remonstrance to the o i 1

kjupci 111 ttsnuiiiic ana Provincial Council, ami show that they were justly entitled to receive the money asked—the money originally granted to the Board out of the half-million loan. The representatives of the city in the Council and at that Hoard would be neglecting their duty to their constituents did they not take some immediate action in the matter, and aid each other in obtaining the money due to the city. He (the speaker) then read a statement of city loan as at 17th March, 1866, which had been prepared by the secretary. From that statement it would appear that the Board had only received the sum of £21,000 out of their portion of the loan (£50,000) ; and that there was a balance due of £9,500. In the face of that the Superintendent expressed his “surprise at the course the Council lias taken.” It was for the meeting to consider how they could obtain their fair share of the loan. He did not expect to receive anything out of the revenue; that was nut from under their feet, as well as the loan. He hoped the meeting would arrive at some conclusion as to the best mode of obtaining the balance of the money they were fairly entitled to receive.

Mr. Swanson said there was no doubt but the money was justly due, and the only question to be considered was, what action should be taken to try and make the Provincial Government pay that money to the Hoard.

Mr. Macready said the Board were also fairly entitled to receive somthing out of the revenue as well as the loan. The city provided more than one-third of the whole revenue. AVhile an establishment was maintained for carrying out the business of the province they should pay something to carry on the machinery of the City Board. Mr. Swanson said the question was how to obtain the money due, to enable the Board to carry out essential improvements.

Mr. George said when the half-million loan was voted, .£.>0,000 of it was a loan to the city. A large sum of money had been voted, and taken from the city for waterworks. They had got in return a little quantity of water from the Domain. Air. Coolahan said they should be very careful of using any expression against the Superintendent, who had been brought forward by them to represent the province. It would he unwise to do so. The Superintendent had committed no error; he had acted according to the means at his command. He had told the Council, in plain language, the financial position of the province—that there was no money to advance to carry on any works. He (Mr. Coolahan) would dissent from any opinion put forth against the Superintendent. The City Commissioners could not be blamed for looking after the interests of the city. What was ttie Superintendent chosen for? He was chosen to put the province in a proper position ; it was not to advance money which was not forthcoming. The Board had no right to demand one shilling. (Oh ! Oh! ) The Board would hear him out. They had no right to demand one shilling that the Superintendent could not make available. If there was any blame in the matter it was not deserved by the present Superintendent, but by the previous Supintemlent of the province.

Mr. O'.Veill said lie was sorry that Mr. Coolahan should imagine they were met that day to censure in any possible way the Superintendent. (Hear.) lie thought, if Mr. Coolahan would only reflect a little, that ho would see that that was a larger question, and one of greater importance to the citizens of Auckland, than he (Mr. C ) was disposed to consider it It was one of life and death to a great many persons in the city, (Hear) and if M •. Coolah in would only bear in mind that the Provincial Government had kept faith in the matter of the railroad and the harbour by giving the money for those works, and also with the people of the Tamaki by voting the money for the bridge, ho would see that they had a right to keep faith with the city. (Hear, hear.) lie (Mr. O'Neill) would he going in for their just rights to the full extent —for not one sixpence less than the £50,000 —or let the Government take charge of the city. It would be out of place to make a speech upon what their rights were. It was quite clear they ought to got some portion of the revenue. The Provincial Government had thought proper to organise a Board of Works for the other portions of the province, and paid salaries to them out of the moneys

levied upon the inhabitants of the city. Then, why should not the City Board pet a portion of that revenue to pay the salaries of their own officers? That would be only reasonable, and the Superintendent would not be unjust to others by being just to the citizens of Auckland. Air. Swanson thought the suggestion of Air. O’Neill a wise one —that a deputation should wait upon the Superintendent early on Monday morning, before the Council met. Air. Coclaban said there should be something decided upon by the meeting. Air. Swanson moved, “ That it is the opinion of this meeting that the city is entitled to the full sum of £50,000." Air. Ridings seconded the motion, which , was carried. j % Air. Alacready said their questions should be put in writing, and let the Superintendent give his answer in writing. He j moved, “ That a deputation, composed of the Chairman, Mr. Ashton, Air. Ridings, | Mr. Swanson, and Mr. O’Neill, be appointed j to wait on his Honour the Superintendent, for the purpose of representing the necessity of securing for city purposes the unpaid balance of the loan of £50,000.” Mr. Ashton seconded the motion, which was adopted.

It was arranged that the deputation should meet his Honour the Superintendent at 10 o’clock on Alonday morning. The meeting then separated.