SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 776, 13 June 1864, Page 5

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD.

On Friday afternoon last, the 10th instant, at four o'cVck, a special meeting of the Town Board was held, in compliance with the requisition of Messrs M'Leod and Howard, to consider the steps necessary to be taken in consequence of the adoption by the Provincial Council of the report ofthe Select Committee appointed to inquire into the appropriation by the Board of the I*lo,ooo grant, and Vie L 35,060 loan. Tliere were pieseat Messrs Lowe, Barnes, Redmayne, Gray, Bastmgs, Turner, Howard, D. Miller, jun, M'Leod, aud alurray. Mr Gray was elected chairman. He explained the object of the meeting. On the motion of Mr Turner, for the purpose of fully discussing the various statements contained in the report of the Select Committee, the Board resolved itself into a Committee of the whole.

Mr-Gray was elected Chairman of the Committee. Mr Turner said that the first part of the business necessary to be gone into was the statement in the report of the Select Committee of the Provincial Council that the Committee, "consulting the dignity of the Provincial Council, deem it pi-oper to recommend" that the answers given in writing hy the City Etigiueer to questions laid before them by the Committee should not be appended to the report. He considered his evidence most important, and from the character cf t'lat evidence, he (Mr Turner) thought a different conclusion ought to have been arrived at. Mr Millar's evidence having therefore been given, the first course taken by the Committee should be to ask the City Engineer to read the questions as put to him by the Committee, witU the answer, returned.

The City Engineer not being present, the Clerk read the report ofthe Select Committee.' The City Engineer shortly after arrived. Mr Turner then moved that the City Engineer produce that portion of the evidence given by him to the Select Committee which the Committee declined to publish. He had no doubt if it were produced the Hoard would be abV to show, not only to the Provincial Council but to the town, that there was more in the affair than appeared on the surface. That the Special Select Committee was not composed of patri-ts, but of men whose interests were principally on one side ofthe city.

Mr M'Leod seconded the motion, as it ap^ peared to h m there was a burking of the evidence given. He thought tbe Committee had dealt very unfairly with the affairs of the Board, The report stated there was a discrepancy between the measurement of the Eoad Engineer and Ihe Civy Engineer, but they did not inform the Provincial Council; that the statement of Mr Patterson wa^ given; three months ago, and Mr Millar's evidence but. a few days previously; and therefore, asa matter of course, there was not so much filled iv when Mr Patterson gave his statjine.t, as there was when Mr Millar's evidence was given. But the Corauuttee male that a reason for recom mending that no more of the L.35,000 grant should be advanced. He believed in so doing the Government would be going beyond their powers. Mr Murray said that if the Committee had de-, sired fair play, they would have taken a widermode of gaining information than they had adopted. They might hive examined some of the members of the Board regarding the matter; bufc he believed they had no intention ot giving fair play. Mr O. Miller said the statement of Mr M'L?od was not correct respecting the measurement of Mr Patterson having been given three niont_3 ago. The City Engineer read the questions of the Select Committee, and the replies given—printed copies of which were presented to each member of the Board After reiding the first series of questions with fche answers, he observed that a second series had baen put to him, which he had neglected to answer, until at length he was threatened with a Speaker's warrant. He intimated, however, that that was not necessary; but he was desirous of being persona'ly examined, and he would present the written replies. He was quite ready to give verbal answers, oa condition that they were amalgamated with the written answers he was prepared to present to them. After the report had been read. Mr Murray felt much satisfied that the evidence laid before the Committee was so satisfactory. There was nothing in it to call for such remarks as were contained in the report, and which had been published in the newspapers, and he -considered the report of the Committee entirely at variance with the fact* set forth by the Engineer's. He felt somewhat humhed at the thought that a Committee of the Provincial Council should so far attempt to burke the enquiry a? to attempt to prevent those facts being made public. Had they b-:en brought before the public, people would have been in a position to judge respecting them, but instead of doing so thi Committee came forth with a garbled report, in 'which very many thiugs were completely at variance with the evidence laid before them. He could not go through the evidence, but he would take the matter up on some public occasion. The Town Boar I had done the best they could, and had it nofc been for certain members of tho Committee who, when members of the Board had got; it. into such a mess with their gas contracts and other things, tlie matter would never have been brought forward. It came with a bad grace from them The Committee had no right to prejudice the Board in the eyes of the public, as it had enough to bear already.

Mr I). Mrr<T.ER believed tho Select Committee had done their duty, and nothing more. He distinctly said from hU personal knowledge of the members of that Committee he had more confidence in that Committee than he had in any of the members ot the Board. (Hear, hear.) Mr Millar had misled the Board on many occasions. (iVhich Mr Millar]) The City Engine r. (nil! I thought it wis yourself.) If they were doin_r their duty, they would resign their places as members of the Board. He was ashamed of being identified with them. (Great laughter.) Mr Basttngs wa3 not in a position to go into the question, and as he wns not in a po.-dtkm to do fo, l-e certainly felt acutely that the Select Committee appointed by the House had taken up the posit-on they had done in regard to the subject of thnr inquiry. The Town Board and the Government stood in the relation in which the Government would stand we-e there an Upper House in exis'ence. It appeared to hia that they were conviuced they were wrong in repudiating "the evidence. Prom the statement made by Mr billies, who represented that he was a country member aud not interested in tbe matter, he appeared to be well up in the figures. He stated there was a discrepancy of twenty thousand yard 3 between thenifasurements of their Engineer and Mr Patterson. No evidence had been taken to refute the statement. Whether it was true or not he was not in a position to state and he would like to have evidence to refute thac. He would simply move what he trusted the Board would agree to, and which he believed would have the effact of setting the Board in a right position Tlie Government had granted a loan of L 35.080, and if th*>y refused to fulfil their part of the arrangement the Board could not pay the contractors. The consequence would be that in six or feven days there wi_d be 6">o or 700 men thrown out of work, and ilia contractors would take action agiinst. the Town Board, ancl the Town Board agunst the Go/eminent. Many people were waiting for their money, and he trusted such an event would not fc'ik-j pla-e in Dunedin. The Board had acted in good faith towards the Government, and he thought they ought not to be placed in the position in which the vote of tue Provincial Council had plac d them. He was surprised that Vfr Miller sliouid state he Ind a better opinion of tire membets of the Provincial Council than the members of ths Board He would move

/' That a memorial signed by the members of this Board be forwarded to his Honor the Sunerintendent, urginor upon him the ju-tice of withholding his sanction fco the motion passed by the Provincial Council, in reference to the L 35.000 loan and the LIO,OOO grant until the Town Board have had an opportunity to reply to or refute the statements made by the Select Committee, appointed by that body." r

Mr Redmayne seconded the motion. He observed tbat in the report of the Committee they ignored altogether the maintainine of fche main line through the city, and be saw the necessity of sending the memorial to the superintendent, and pointing out that, amongst the many other misstatements which were very dishonest.towards the Board. He therefore thought it necessary that the Board should be placed in a position to explain fully and satisfactorily to the inhabitants that the money had been spent with very great care, and under the sanction of the late Government. He could corroborate the statement of the Engineer as to the manner in which the 10000 had been spent on the reclamation of the market reserve, and the Board_ thought, as a portion of the main line, it. was eqtully applicable to one part of it as the oilier. A-uex the Board entered into the con*

tract, if was, found _that .tha Government intended fo reclaim a portion of the harbour, and had fixed their level two feet higher than the level adopted by the Board. The Board had consulted the. Government • about the deviation, and if they had not raised the level the work would hive been done for L6OOO. It was therefore the fault of the Government that it required raising to that level. He believed, if a Committfe were appointed to wait on His Honor, and report the statements, it would have a good efiecr. Mr Barnes was sorry that the members of the Board should have been called together on Such an occasion, ahd especially sorry that one member of the Board should have stated he was ashamed to be ot the body, it was a pity there was one biack sheep in the lot. He thought it too bad, that after the trouble they had taken, and the time they had .spent, they should have been snubbed in the manner they had been by the Committee. He was at the meeting when the contract for the market reserve whs entered into, but looking at the condition of the main line he did not think the Board was doing anything wrong in taking a portion of the money aud spending it on it. And if any member of the Council would take a ride up that roact he would find a great difference from what it was six months ago. He thought grert credit was due to the Engineer to the Board. He did not consider the JL35.0 0 was badly laid out. With regard to not pacing any more money until the L.OOO difference was spent on the market reserve, he did nofc think any of the farmers in the Provincial Council would send their teams with hay t > wait there until they met with a customer, and if a good thoroughfare were n.t kept, people would get disheartened and would not stay. Ho did not think the Provincial Council could have laid out the live better. He was surprised to find members for the Lity discouraging and disheartening country members^ (._ voice—"They are encouraging them.") He had property iv the.centre <f the Market Keserve but it was no bene6t to "him it might ne perhaps sometime, but if those members were in the Council when it became valuable they could vote money for-it then. Mr D. Miller, Jan., was willing to place him-, self in the hands of his constituents, but he saw other members were afraid to do so. He thought they should all resign.

He was proceeding fuvther in the same strain when the Chairman called him to order.

Mr M'Leod said the Provincial Council, and tlie Select Committee in particular, appeared to have acted very dishonestly and .unfairly to the Board. He might be served with a Speaker's warrant for saying so, but he was prepared to submit to the consequences. They had burked the question right through. They had confined themselves to one simple statement that tbe LIO.OOO should have been spent on the Market Reserve or Princes street south, but.there was an addendum to that resolution statiug it should likewise be spent on the main road through the city. The whole might have been expended on any part of the main line according to their vote or a small part in Princes street south, and a Urge portion on tbe maiu line through the city. ■ c was extremely sorry to find the city members tried to place the Town .Board in a dilemma. He did not see that they h id any power to do so, but they were trying to do it. It was very little in their favor, and he thought the people of Dunedin would attend very little to their ow» interests if they put a single one of them into the Council again. The Committee saw Mr Gowan's evidence.

Mr-ftEDMAYNE: Mr Gowan is the person who sweeps the Supreme Court. (Laughter.)

Mr D. Mi__Eß,junr.: He is the same gen tlemaa, and he has had very great experience.

Mr M'Leod: Mr Patterson's report was the truth at the time, but it was given to the Committee nearly three months hefbr-* Mr Millar's Statement. Both were right, bat the Committee had taken a one-sided view of the matter. In future it vfoixti he necessary for the Town Board and the rate payers to see that lione>t members were returned to the Provincial.Council. Ifc was evident that the Board was being victimised in order that fche Provincial Council, might gain a little popularity at their expense but if the Council would follow the example of the Hoard, they would be more respected.

Mr Turner did not wish to say much on the matter, but still he could not help saying that had the Board filled in the Market, reserve, and spent the remainder on Princes street south, there would have been no investigation. _ Indeed hd did not suppose the members ofthe City would have inquired if the Board had spent £20,000. The work was not completed, consequently Mr R.*yholus moved for a Sleet Committee, and it was appointed, not as committees usually are. by ballot, but he named the members. Had ie bei-n by ballot, the Board would.have fair play. The Committee seemed only, to take such evidence as suited them. He really did not know Mr Gowan but he, Mr Patterson, the Road Engineer, and the Clerk of the Board, were examined. He was not surprised they did not wish to examine the City Eugi'ier -he imagined he would have been too much for them. From what he could see it was only for decency's sake he was examined at all. The portion of the report he complained of was the last part, requesting the Government to authorise no more contracts until the works tinder the LIO.OOO vote were executed —the works were being carried out under the 135,000 vote in acordance with the vote, and therefore he did not think tbe great to do about Princes street South and the Market Reserve would end in smoke. The present Executive was composed of gen leroen who were quite determined to carry out the works so urgently required in the city, and he thought the Superintendent desirous of assisting the Board. He therefore advocated the adoption of the resolution by the Board.

Mr Basting 3 said, that in order that no iriju?fcicejrnight be done to the Board, he might say tharone of the members, who was a member of the Select Committee (Mr Gillies), confemnftd his own case, in connection wifch the transactions . between the Gnvernment aud the Board. He was a member of tbe late i-Jovernment. and they had broken faith with the Board. He had looked through the f<stim.t«s. md the promise given to the Boar.i topla;e L3OOO onthe •: stimates to'complete the Market Reserve had not been carried out. He must endorse the remarks of Mr M'Leod with reference to the City members. ' He regretted that some members should sit there, s>me of whom attacked the Boa-d in a violent manner, and the others sat by without defending it. Every one of them knew the Board had done all it posdbly could for the benefit of the City. He was very glad to say one m*mber had the manliness to stand up and defend the Town Board—a country member, Mr Vogel. He showed clearly it was not the Town Board who was to blame. They hai acted in a fur and proper manner witht <c consent of the Govemmcut, and it was unfair to make the Town Boird tha scapegoat for the mistakes of certain members of the late Government.

After a few word" from Mr Baknks aud Mr M'LE'D, the resolution was put and carried.

It was then moved by Mr M'Leod, seconded by Mr Bastings—'" That a Comraitte cinsi tin? of Messrs Bastings, Redmayne, Turner, Howard, and themover be appointed to draw up the memorial to the Superintendent embodying the previous resolution, and any further action they may deem necessary.'' The Board resumed-the Chairman reported the resolutions of the Committee which were adopted and the Board adjourned.

A C.vssrc Toilette. —A.c:*ordinfr to testimony which i* scatc-rly to be disputed, the sua could never have shone upon a less love.y object than a Roman lady in the days of the Caspars, when she oponed her eyes in the morning— or, rather, let us say, as she appeared in the morning, for before she opened her eyes a great deal had to be done. When she retired to re3t her face had been covered with a plaster composed of fcre*d and asses' milk, which had dried during the nitrht, and, consequently, presented in fche niornini* an appearance of cracked chalk. The purpose of the asses' milk was not only to preserve the delicacy of the skin, but to renovate the lun'?s, an I so btrong was the belief in the efficacy of the specific, that some energetic ladies bathei themselves in it several times in the course of the day. As for Poppolina, the favorite wife of Nero, she never set out on a journey without taking ia her train whole herds ot she-asses, that she might bathe whenever she pleased so to do. Tae plaster of Paris bmt having awakened in the mornini., in a cracked condition, it was the duty of a host of female slaves to mature it into per teet beauty. To clear the field for further operations the first ot these gently wa bed away with lukewarm i^es' milk 'he already crumbling mask, and left a smooth face, to be colnred by more recondite artists. The slave whose vocation ib was to pa'mt the cheeks, delicately laid on the red and white, having moistened the pigment with her own saliva. The apparent nastiness of this was diminished by the consumption ot a certain number of scented lo?enges, which, if fche slave neglected to take, she suffered corporeal punishisnmenb for. — " Dickens's AU the Year Bound."