COST OF THE AUCKLAND RECEPTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11691, 28 June 1901, Page 6

COST OF THE AUCKLAND RECEPTION.

THE CITY COUNCIL SHARE. PROGRESS PAYMENT OF £400. At the City Council meeting host night, the following clause was contained in the report of the Finance Committee: — Re Royal Reception Committee, asking for Council's contribution to expenses of reception: Your committee recommend a progress payment of £400 be made, and that detailed accounts he submitted to the Council before the final payment is made.'' Mr. Hannan ,noved that the clause be referred back to the committee. The Government had made a great deal of money out of the railways in connection with the Royal visit, and they ought to be made to pay. Mr. Dignan : We have pledged our word. Mr. Hannan said he had not pledged his word, and he thought it monstrous to pay away money which should be used on the streets. Tho report was adopted, Mr. Hannan being the only dissentient. DISCUSSION BY THE THAMES BOROUGH COUNCIL. (BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Thursday. At the meeting of the Thames Borough Council to-night Mr. Poulgrain drew the Council's attention to the fact that the Auckland Royal Reception Committee would probably have a surplus of £257 left in hand, after defraying all costs in connection with the recent Royal celebrations, and that the Auckland City Council was endeavouring to obtain possession Y>f the whole of the surplus. He considered that as the Thanes Borough Council had contributed the sum of £25 towards the funds, which was the most generous donation of any of the outside local bodies, it should take the necessary steps for securing a portion of the surplus, and he moved. " That this Council having voted £25, upon the understanding that the Auckland City Council contributed one-third of the total cost of the Royal reception, is of opinion that the Auckland City Council should pay its full share, and as to any surplus remaining that it should be repaid pro rata to the contributing local bodies." This was seconded by the Mayot, out on its ben g put to the meeting only three voted in .ts favour, to seven against. The motion was, therefore, lost.

THANKS TO THE MAYOR.

At the meeting of the City Council last night, a letter was read from the secretary of the Harbour Board (by the direction of the chairman) stating that His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York desired him (Mr. Kidd) to convey'bis thanks to the Mayor for the excellent manner in which tho*citizens of Auckland carried out the arrangements for the Royal reception during the week, and his personal satisfaction with the wav everything had been arranged. Mr. Sticllbliry pointed out that the letter should have come to the Council first, as the Board was a subordinate body. It was decided to return the communication to the Harbour Board.