WAVERLEY TOWN BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 121, 9 October 1895, Page 3

WAVERLEY TOWN BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above Board was held last evening, when there were present Messrs Taylor (chairman), Cathro, Davis and Thurston.

Before commencing the business of the Board, Mr Taylor said he wished to say a few words to Mr Cathro. At the last meeting of the Board he (Mr Cathro) came to tho Board (as a mem bor of a deputation, not then being a member of the Board) and declared that wo “ were all a set of robbers, and sat there for the purpose of robbing tho public,’’ and until those words wore redacted he did not feel inclined to begin the business of the Board. Mr Cathro said he did not say tho members personally were robbers, but that when they leased the Domain reserves at 15s per acre rent when they could get £2, they were robbing the Domain Board of its revenue. Mr Thurston said there was no doubt; that he (Mr C.) declared they were iobbers, and he for one should simply decline to sit at that table until the words were retracted.

Mr Davis certainly thought Mr Oatliro said they were robbers, but in what way he meant the words to apply he, of course, could not say. Mr Taylor would decline to proceed with any business until Mr Cathro apologised for making such a statement, as having sat on that Board for sixteen years, and the Board's balancesheet had never had a fault found with it during the whole time, there could not have been much robbery. Mr Cathro said they had quite mistaken his remarks, as he never for a moment meant to call them, personally, robbers. Mr Thurston said he would move, “ That the meeting be adjourned until next Tuesday to allow time to bring proof as to what was actually said,” as he was not going to sit at that table with a man who had called them a parcel of robbers. Mr Davis thought it would be better to settle the matter at once and not adjourn for a week, as the Patea County Panes representative had to come from Patea, and it was a long way to come for nothing.

Mr Thurston : Oh ! the Press man may go to Jericho. We are not here to study him, Mr Cathro said again that they had quite mistaken him Ho said they were robbing the Domain Board of revenue by accepting such reduced rents, and he said so still; but he never called any of them, personally, robbers, and if they thought ho had said any such thing, he would apologise at once, but he could not possibly have called them so, as their action could not put a penny into their own pockets, and they had none of them ever wronged him in their lives He would willingly apologise for anything they could possibly think was personal, and if that would not suit them, they could leave it alone. Mr Taylor said all they wanted was an apology for the words used against them, and as Mr Cathro had so apologised, the members would he satisfied. Minutes of former meeting w r ero then read and confirmed. Treasurer’s balance declared Dr. 10s Bd. No correspondence required consideration. Accounts amounting to £l3 6s 4d passed for payment. After some discussion it was resolved on the motion of Mr Thurston, and seconded by Mr Davis, “ That the rate book be made up and a general rate of Id in the £. be struck at next meeting of the Board.” Board then adjourned, WAVERLEY DOMAIN BOARD then met; same members present. Minutes read and confirmed. Treasurer’s balance declared Dr. £ll 19s 3d. Accounts amounting to £lO IGs 9d were passed for payment. Mr Cathro said he would like to have the correspondence with Government about the reserves read. The chairman said there was no correspondence since last meeting, and they dpi not feel inclined to have hack correspondence read over again ; but Mr Cathro could call in at any time and see all tlie correspondence for himself, Mr Oathi’o said that would he Better than delaying the Board, and he would do so. Board then adjourned. The Wairoa Domain Board and Cemetery Board meetings were held over till next month, as there was no business to be brpught forward.