ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9322, 27 March 1889, Page 6

ONEHUNGA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ax adjourned meeting of this body was held l;ist night in the Council Chamber. There were present : His Worship the Mayor (Captain M. Yates), and Messrs. Austin, J. J. Shaldrick, \V. Shaldrick, Jackson, Tapp, Hastie, and Iveehan.

A " Scene." —Mr. Jackson rose to ask permission to move the notice of motion standing in his name, to the effect that a letter recently received by the Council from the Minister of Lands be read. His Worship ruled the matter out of order. Mr. Jackson : I have given a distinct motion that this letter shall be rend. There is no standing order by which you can rule it out of order, and I think you ill have to show your authority for this. The Mayor : I can "do this without any standing order; it can be done by the statute order. This matter was brought on years ago, and I look on it now as a wilful obstruction. Mr. Jackson : lam only maintaining my right, and the right of any other councillor, to have the document read. The Mayor : This, I say, is nothing more than a ■wilful obstruction, and by the statute order I now rule it out of order. Will you please be seated ? Mr. Jackson : Yes but I surely have the right to make a remark. The Mayor : I have ruled, and the matter is at an end. Proceed with the next business. Mr. Jackson : Yours is a very harsh riding, and is not supported by any law, order, or custom. The matter then dropped.

Waterworks. The Mayor stated that, with the clerk of the waterworks, lie had recently visited the reservoir. It was then down an inch and five-eighths. He was of the opinson that the pipes should be tested. This had not. been done from the reservoir, and lie thought the matter should be taken in hand by the Council. It struck him as only necessary that this should be done, and he would move that the town clerk be instructed to write to the borough engineers (Messrs. Boylan and Vogan) asking them to request the contractor to have the water turned on to the whole reticulation, in order to test the pipes. This was seconded by Mr. Hastie. Mr. Jackson could not vote for the motion. He had tried to keep himself and the Council out of any squabble between the engineer and the contractor. Mr. Austin would have liked the Mayor to have ruled this out of order, also, as there was nothing in relation to the matter before the meeting. He would have to vote against it. The motion was put and lost.

Council Chambkk. — Mr. Austin, in moving his noticc of motion to the effect that the Council take into consideration the advisability of providing a more suitable Council Chamber, said he would not take up the Council's time by enlarging upon the necessity for a new building, but would content himself with simply bringing on his motion. Mr. J. J. Shaldrick seconded the motion. Mr. Jackson remarked that years afo a sort of rough understanding had been come to% by the Council to erect a Chamber on the present site, at the rear of which was to be built a hall. A hall'had been since erected, and the question had dropped. It was a necessary thing ; but, in the poverty-stricken state they were at present, he thought the matter should be deferred. Carried on division. Mr. Austin further moved, " That the Blockhouse be utilised as a Council chamber, and that the present tenant receive a month's notice to quit." He remarked that the present building could be used as a fire brigade station. He felt ashamed of the appearance of the present building; and besides ii.< unfavourable appearance and condition it was an inconvenient one. Mr. J. J. Shaldrick seconded the motion. The proposed new chamber would be .a picture to the town. If the Council shifted its quarters, it could lease the allotment on which the present chamber stood for £25 per annum. After a lengthy discussion, this second motion was put and carried. Mr. Jackson moved, in relation to the previous motion, "That the resolution just carried be not put into effect until the burgesses have been consulted at a public meeting." Mr. W. Shaldrick seconded the motion, which was lost. A committee consisting of the Mayor, and Messrs. J. J. Shaldrick and Austin, were appointed to have the Block House prepared as a Council Chamber, at an expense of not more than £10.

Notices of Motion. —Mr. J. J. Shaldrick gave notice to move at the next meeting to the effect that the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for laying service pipes in connection with the water supply ; and that the resolution on the books of the Council appointed the Foreman of works dog registrar, be rescinded, and that the Inspector of Nuisances be appointed in his stead.