PUBLIC MEETING AT PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6307, 29 April 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT PORT CHALMERS.

A public meeting was held at Morkane's Hall, Port Chalmers, yesterday evening, to .consider the action of the Mayor and Councillors in leasing the fltosa quarries. There were about 200 persons present, and Mr D. A. De Maus was called to the .chair.

MrMoRKANEsaid :Mr Chairman and gentlemen, to enable you properly to understand the position of the" Corporation and the Quarry Company respecting these stone quarries, I must explain there are two Corporation quarries held by the Company-one known as the big, the other as the little quarry. The former is held under lease for three years at £80 per year, which expires in November next; the other under lease for 12 years, at £10 per year for .the first three years, and after that the rent is to be fixed by arbitration every three years. The first three years expired in March last, and on the 28th of that month the Couacil wrote to the Chairman of the Company informing him, that they had . appointed one arbitrator and .requesting him to appoint another. This letter, gentlemen, has not been replied to, And qqw, gentlemen, you willpre-

aently we what has "given'riserlo' all "this unpleasantness.: In August last tho Council received a letter from the Chairman of the uuarry Company suggesting that both quarries should be amalgamated and leased to tho Com' ■p»»y for a term of 21 years, the .first ..seven., years at £70 per year, after that the rent tp_be' fixed by arbitration every, seven -years. This was agreed to by a majority of the Council, rat the time thought it was a fair .?5. e£J? ld voted for it; but after some time I fiacT reason"'td'believe it was not in accordance ! with the wish of the majority of tho ratepayers, so that in January last I got a resolution carried in the Council that a vote of the ratepayers be-taken, at-the-sama-thne-stating that I would stand-by tho result of that vote, and it is through standing by that vote that I appear before you to-night. You will remember before a poll was taken a public meeting was held in this hall to discuss tho matter, and at that meeting you will remember his Worship was loud in protesting against leasing, unless by public tender, ho that there shall be no mistake as to the issue that was before the public, I will give it you word for word as printed on the votiin*papor: "Extension of Time Port Chalmers Quarry Lease.—For : Against." The majority against the extension was six! I now COi me. ti- the granting of. the lease, through which this meeting is called. On the sth of this month a special meeting was called by his °v ??5 consider a letter from aMr Smith, a shareholder in the Quarry Company, offering hUo per year for 14 years; but only four councillors attended that meeting, so nothing was done until the next ordinary meeting, when Mr Smith's offer was accepted, and °al, ? ven to have a ]ease drawn up, a draft of which was submitted to the Council at its last meeting, when it was resolved that the lease be signed. At that meeting I gave notice that I would move at the next meeting otOouncil that the portion of the minutes re-, lating to the quarry lease be rescinded. Hitherto, his Worship's ruling has been to delay the matter until the metion is disposed of, but in this case I fear that ruling will not be found convenient. I will, sir, with your permission, make a brief reference to a letter bearing his Worship's signature which appears in this day's Daily Times, wherein he has been pleased to declare my actions inconsistent. Now, Mr Chairman and gentlemen, J. decline to allow the Mayor to be the arbiter ? f my actions. In this case I prefer to be judged by those who know me, and are aware thatl can havi- positively nothingtogainbv betraying the interests of the town ; and, gentlemen, 1 challengu.the Mayor and his followers to produce any proof that I have ever acted contrary to the best interests of either my own ward, or of the whole town. His Worship no doubt feels sore that his authority should be set at naught; but let me tell him. Air Chah* man that he, like the rest of us, must subm t ritv Ifw? O/ f thos,V vh? Pl^e'us inautho Ert I£,Y e attempt to do otherwise a downfall must be the result; and perhaps his Worship may live long enough to find this out. .i fB^ 1 J :? weted several questions, and finally stated he would abide by the decision the meeting might arrive at tWint - 0T? asaf ate Payerdid not understand the intricate workings of the Council, but was of th % y al no ?T yert 0 lease any Portion of the Town Belt, although they might let it year by year. Mr W. M. Irons (the Mayor) was desirous ot _ saymg a few words in explanation, and pointed out that the first meeting in reference to leasing the quarries had been called by him in consequence of the Council some months back wishing to lease the quarries for 21 years. He objected to this, and had refused to sign the lease; and but for the stand he took on that occasion, the ratepayers would not have had an opportunity of having the matter discussed. His Worship went on to explain the circumstances which led to the Council leasing them, and pointed out that those members who were favourable to doing so had shown themselves desirous of furthering the interests of the town

In answer to Mr Morkane, his Worship stated he believed he-had been in favour of Ti 1"8^ 116 Wames on a former occasion, while the question of his signing the lease would depend upon the feeling-exhibited by the meeting. He assured Mr D. Miller the lease was not yet signed. He informed Mr W. Reid the Council had not thought it necessary to call m arbitrators after receiving so .valuable an offer from Mr Smith for the quarries. *• Mi"tS" ?*P lailled his reasons for accepting Mr .Smith's offer. He had for months I past been opposed to leasing the quarries, but when he-found so'good an offer had been made he was decidedly in favour :of accepting Mr E. G. Allen spoke at some length on the subject, and gave a very clear account of the Company s operations and their desire of iwmß'^ 8 works; while he pointed out that Messrs Borlase and M'Guire and others had been granted leases under far more favourable circumstances. Mr ASj]FvP\, moved and Mr W. Reid seconded the following resolution:—"That it is the opinion of this meeting that all Corporation; quarries should be let by tender for a period not exceeding seven years." _ His Worship the Mayor pointed out that he alone was the person who should have, been asked to convene the meeting, and would not, take; any expression of feeling on the matter, ;, . , . ..'■"■'-. .The Chairman having put the resolution, two Jiands were held up in favour of it: and he therefore declared that his Worship'saction had been endorsed. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting. ,