THE TOWN CLERK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6238, 8 February 1882, Page 2

THE TOWN CLERK.

At yesterday's meeting of the City Council the following report was read from the Finance Committee: —

"In reference to a communication received by his Worship the Mayor from Mr J. M. Massey (hereto attached), your Committee recommends :—That Mr Massey having complied with the resolution of Council dated 12th October, ISSI, be re-installed in his office of Town Clerk ; but finding from the experience of the past three months that his services can without detriment to municipal 'business be dispensed with, that he receive formal notice to this effect, and bo paid one month's salary instead of the usual notice, in addition to salary from date of suspension." Mr Massey's letter ran as follows :— 30th January, ISB2.

To his Worship tho Mayor. Sir,—l havo ihe honour to inform you that, having taken further action to vindicate my character as required by the resolution passed by the City Council on the 12th October last, as conveyed t, me in a letter from the late Mayor dated 16th October, a verdict has been found in my favour on all tlie issues submitted to the Jury. 1 have the honour to enclose comes of the issues, and of the finiiings thereon. Under the circumstances I have to rcquost that I may be informed as to what further action the Council intend to take consequent on their resolution of the 12th October before referred to.—l have, &c, '. J. AI. XIASSEY. A few remarks were made touching the wording of the report, after which Or Matheson said that it must be evideiu

that as Mr Massey was suspended pending the action he was taking to clear his character, that having been done in a court of law, they had now to reinstate him. Another reason entirely was Btated for now dispensing with his services—viz., that they could do without him, the work having of late progressed most satisfactorily. Cr Allen agreed with the view advocated by Cr Matheson. The cloud hanging over Mr Massey at the time, the Council passed its resolution of the 4th October was now removed, and1 they were bound to rescind the resolution.

It was then resolved to adopt the report as read, and further, to advertise in the manner prescribed by the bye-laws for a successor to the office, salary to be £500 per annum.