THE CITY COUNCIL "SCENE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11955, 2 May 1902, Page 5

THE CITY COUNCIL "SCENE."

INQUIRY BY A COMMITTEE. A SUGGESTED APOLOGYAt last night's meeting of the Auckland Oity Council a report was laid on the table by the Legal Committee with reference to the statements made at a meeting of the Council a month ago by Mr. J. H. Hannan, concerning another member of the Council (Mr. F. E. Baume) and the city solicitor (Mr. 1Cotter). The committee reported receipt of a letter from the city solicitor denying the truth of certain statements made by a councillor, and that they had inquired into the matter, as directed by the Council, Mr. Hannan and Mr. Cotter having been notified to attend. Mr. Baurno retired from the committee while this business was being dealt with. At the request of the committee, Mr. Baume expressed his views, denying the allegations. Mr. Cotter appeared before the committee. Mr. Hannan did not appear, but sent a letter declining to have anything to do with Mr. Baume or his solicitor. Mr. Cotter denied having acted in any way as alleged, but only on behalf of the Council in accordance with the instructions from the town clerk. The committee had no evidence before it in support of Mr. Hannan's allegations, which, on the contrary, were emphatically denied. The committee recommend that Mr. ILmnan, having declined to appear before the committee and avail himself of the opportunity to substantiate, if possible, the charge made against Mr. Baume and the city solicitor, be bo requested to withdraw the same and to apologise to the Council, and to those against whom the charge lias been made) and in default of so doing that he be censured by the Council. Mr. Stichbury moved, " That the matter be deferred till next meeting of the Council." He hoped that by that time it would bo settled satisfactorily to all .parties. Mr. Hannan said nothing gave him more pain than to offend a member of the Council. He felt that what was published in the newspapers was not a correct statement of what occurred at the Council. A gentleman, for whose opinion he had the greatest respect, approached him as he came to the Council that evening, and recommended him to take a course altogether different from what lie had intended. The way he felt was, that if he had given offence to anybody, nobody was more anxious than ho to make amends, but as what had appeared in the newspapers was not in accordance with what ho had done in the Council, he felt it his duty to wait till a correct statement was made. The Mayor put Mr. Stichbury's motion, but Mr. Glover called for a division, when five votes wore east for the motion (Messrs. Stichbury, Court, Masofield, MoLeod, and Hannan). and five against (Messrs. Julian, Rosser, Glover, Carratr, and Patterson). The Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of the motion, and declared it carried.