ONEHUNGA BOROUGH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5302, 13 November 1878, Page 3

ONEHUNGA BOROUGH.

The ordinary meeting of the Council was held on Monday evening. Present : The Mayor, Messrs. Blakey, Codlin, Clark, Earle, Hartnett, Hastie, Jackson, Mclntyre, and Neilson.

Library Site.—The Committee of the Onehunga Tustituto asked the Council to complete the promise made to grant a site for building.—Mr. Hastic moved, "That the allotment applied for be offered at public auction at the upset price of £10 a-year."— The Mayor moved an amendment, "That Mr. Laishley bo instructed to prepare a lease to the trustees of the allotment for 21 years at a peppercorn rent."—Mr. Jackson felt bsund to oppose this gift. This was not a public library, but had only lately been temporarily made a free reading-room, in order to qualify for the Government subsidy. There are no trustees, the committee being elected annually by the subscribers. The whole concern had been insolvent for years, and had only continued to exist by the tender mercies of its creditors and the Government subsidies. This was because no public interest was taken in it. Even out of the ten members of Council who agreed to give away the Borough land there were only three subscribers to the library, and out of a burgess list of 400 not 40 subscribed. He was sorry for it, but it was true. He would be quite willing to support a proposal to take over the whole concern and make it really a public library, having been a member of it in its present state for 15 years.—Messrs. Clark, Codlin, Mclntyre, and flartnett supported the Mayor's amendment, which was carried by 7 to 3.—Mr. Jackson then moved a further amendment, " That before carrying this resolution into effect, the whole matter be referred to the burgesses in public meeting assembled." He contended that the Council had not power to lease land except by public auction, and if it was to be given away, it should at least be by the burgesses themselves and not by the Council, who were only trustees. This amendment was lost by the casting rote of the Mayor. Tenders.—Tenders were accepted for various road works, &0., amounting to £170. Streets Committee's liEroßT.—-The discussion on this report was not finished at 10 o'clock, when, after passing the accounts, the Council adjourned.

All claims against the estate of the late Mr. Thomas Day Leslie have to be sent in to Mr. IV. EL Rirating on or before the 18th inst.