THE COUNCIL IN A TANGLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 33

THE COUNCIL IN A TANGLE.

At the adjourned meeting of tho City Council last week, the Town Clerk stated that two meetings had been called—the special meeting for tho consideration of the schedule of street works for the present year, and the ordinary meeting of the Council adjourned for the completion of the business on the Order Paper. It was decided that tho special meeting bo held first.

A memorandum from the City Surveyor was then read. He submitted'the following reductions in his estimates:—Wages, cartage, material for general repairs and maintenance, reduced from .£3700 to .£3000; first-class metal, £3OOO to £2500; second-class metal, gravel and Windings, .£3IOO to £2500; repairs asphalt and concrete, .£l5O to £'100; new concrete, £SO, and culverts authorised, £1225 (these items were retained) ; formation works, £lllO to £515; kerbing, £3ll to £10; channelling, £230 to £2O j asphalting work, £2906 to £320; block crossings, £1153 to £1(10; reclaimed land streets, =£l3Bl to £630; urgent contingencies, £2BOO, struck out; replacing old boxes with pipe drains, £.1075, struck out. The amount £5220 previously appropriated was for the construction of storm-water culverts in Aro street, Kent terrace and Alfred street; formation work in Uidwill, Constable, Davis, Aro, Ilargreaves, I'irie and Shannon streets ; kerbing in Constable street, channelling in Constable street and Clifton terrace, and asphalting in Owen, Pita Rua and Wallace streets and Thorndon Esplanade, and block crossings in Victoria and Willeston streets, and in Jcrvois quay from Queen's Chambers to the "Wharf. It would bo seen, the Surveyor pointed out, that for new works, a number of which were very necessary, there was no provision. Councillor Devine moved that the list of estimates as recommended by the engineer in his amended statement be authorised for the current year.

Councillor Myers moved that the motion placed on the order paper by Councillor Higginbottom, to the effect that the proposal to spend £O2OO on a high level water scheme be postponed, be considered. Councillor Harris seconded tho amendment, and said the City Surveyor was to be commended for the way he had drawn up tho estimates lor tho year. It was a matter of impossibility to jamb £33,000 into £14,000. After further discussion the amendment was carried by 7 to 5.

Councillor Dovino entered his protest against what he considered was a most irregular 7>rocceding. It hart been rtecirtert to take tho special meeting first, and now they passed a motion to deal with some of tho business set down for the ordinary meeting. Councillor Willeston also entered his protest. Councillor Higginbottom moved that the Council now adjourn. Councillor Smith seconded this, as a protest against tho way tho business was hieing carried on, contrary to tho standing orders. Tho Mayor : That is a reflection on the Council. Councillor Smith said it was a reflection. Councillor Myers : Instead of adjourning let thoso councillors resign. Wo are in a mess. Councillor Smith : No. Councillor Myers (emphatically): We are in a mess and likely to lemain there. The motion for the adjournment was then put and carried by six to five, the voting being as follows: Ayes: The Mayor, Councillors Willeston, Smith, Devine, Barber, Higginbottom. Noes: Councillors Anderson, Myers, Tanner, Tatum and Harris. It was then suggested that they should hold tho adjourned ordinary meeting, but tho Mayor ruled that the Council had adjourned and no other business could bo taken, and ho then lott the chair.

An excited argument then began amongst several of the councillors. One suggested that they should resign in a body, end said he would move a motion f" that effect, bet it was pointed out that there was no chairman.