THE CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL AND ITS CLERK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8882, 19 May 1892, Page 6

THE CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL AND ITS CLERK.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] Cambridge, Wednesday. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night to make arrangements for filling the office of town clerk, which, in accordance with a resolution passed at the last ordinary meeting, becomes vacant at the end of this month. The whole of the councillors were present, with the exception of Mr. Priestly, who was unable to attend. The Finance Committee brought up a report recommending that the conditions of the town clerkship shall be as follow :— Termination of engagement to be by one month's notice on either side. The duties of town clerk, in addition to those incidental to his office, shall be treasurer, valuator, clerk to Licensing j Committee, returning officer, rate collector, and public hall secretary; that a commission of 5 per cent, be allowed on rates collected to 30th December of the year in which the rate is struck, and '2k per cent, on amounts collected to 30th April following, after that date no commission to be allowed ; applicants for office to state what they are prepared to undertake the duties for; security for £100 to be found by the clerk. Before proceeding with the business of the meeting the Mayor read a letter from the Town Clerk acknowledging the justice of the decision arrived at by the Council at the last meeting, and requesting on account of his lengthened official connection with the borough, the Council to adjourn for a fortnight the consideration of filling the vacancy, and to rescind the resolution dismissing him from his office. Mr. Hally proposed that the meeting stand adjourned for a fortnight. This was seconded by Mr. Bach. Mr. Bond proposed, as an amendment, that the business for which the meeting was called he proceeded with. This was seconded by the Mayor. Messrs. Bach, Kirkwood, and Kerr spoke in favour of the motion, and urged that Mr. Thomson be allowed one more chance. Mr. Bond pointed out that if Mr. Hally's motion was carried, the Council would have to go still further, and rescind the resolution passed at the last meeting. The Mayor was opposed to an adjournment, and thought the Council, having decided upon a definite course of action, should carry it through. On being put to the meeting, the amendment was lost, the voting being—for, the Mayor and Messrs. Bond, Roberts, and Moisley ; against, Messrs. Hally, Bach, Kirkwood, Kerr, and Kincaid. The original motion was then put and carried, the voting being vice vena.