MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 335, 19 October 1866, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

At a meeting of the Hokitika Municipal Council, held at the Fire Brigade Hall, on Tuesday evening last, there were present — Councillors Hungerford, Fitzsimnions, Williams, Clarke, Shaw, Gumming, Ecclesfield, Anderson, and the Chairman. The Chairman announced that the principal business of the evening would be the consideration of Ihe various applications for the compilation of the rale roll, and also the appointment of a solicitor to the Council.

Cr Ecclesfield desired to be informed if the Council were to understand that it was solely for the purpose of appointing these officers that they had met

The Chairman replied in the affirmative. Cr Shaw then suggested the advisability of at once proceeding with the business of the evening by opening the letters, which was accordingly done ; but owing to the letters addressed to the Chairman not having been endorsed as to the nature of the application, several communications, when opened, were found to appertain to the appointment of Town Clerk, and upon the motion of Cr Williams, seconded by Cr Ecclesneld, it was resolved — " That all applications for the office of Town Clerk be sealed up, and be not considered by the Council until the expiration of the time named in the advertisement."

Cr Clarke then rose and proposed — " That this Council do resolve itself into a committee of the whole to discuss the various applications for "compiling the ratepayers roll."

Cr' Shaw moved as an amendment — " That the applications for the compilation of the ratepayers' roll be considered in committee." In doing this he would observe that, after the application for the office of Town Solicitor hud been disposed of, the public had a perfect right to be acquainted with their proceedings, and he moreover deemed it right and proper that the applications should be read during the presence of the public. (Ap plause.) Cr Anderson was of the same opinion. (Hear, hear.) The amendment was then put, with the following division, viz. : — Ayes — Crs Shaw and Ander.-on. Noes — Crs Clarke, dimming, Ecclesfield, Hungerford, and Fitzsimmons. The Chairman then continued opening the letters, and after they had all been read — Cr Anderson moved — " That Mr Purdon's tender be accepted." He had pleasure in stating that he had known that gentleman for some time as Secretary to the late Improvement Committee, and he, personally, had every confidence in him. Cr Clarke, with the sanction of the seconder, obtained leave to withdraw the original resolution. (Laughter).* Cr Williams thought that they might as well read the applications of the Solicitors, but he was strongly in favor of both the applications for Rate-compiler and Solicitor being considered in committee. Cr Shaw certainly would object to such a*proceeding, as he thought it was not calculated to reflect creditably upon the Council, and would furnish a very bad precedent. He was- decidedly in favor of the proceedings of the Council being conducted iv as public a manner as was consistent with propriety. (Applause). Cr Clarke was of opinion that the applications for the office" of Solicitor to the Council, should not be read except in committee, as such a procedure was opposed to professional etiquette. Cr Shaw observed that by his judgment and experience, no Solicitor in applying for the office would write anything that he need be ashamed of. (Hear, hear). Cr Anderson was pleased to hear ■Cr Shaw so express himself. The majority of the Council entertaining the same opinion, the Chairmun read the applications of Messrs Rees, South, Campbell, and Harvey. Crs Williams and'Ecclesfield considered that the appointment of the Solicitor should be determined on in committee. Cr Shaw could not view the matter in that light, and he would therefore move — " That Mr Harvey be appointed Solicitor to the Hokitika Municipal Council." In introducing this resolution, he did not wish to be considered as saying, any thing that might be deemed depreciatory of the professional ability of the other gentlemen, and, as only one had to be selected, and as he had known Mr Harvey for years as a professional man and one in his judgment capable of giving every satisfaction to such persons as might have occasion to require his services, he would strongly advocate the appointment of that gentleman. Cr Clarke contended that the . applications should be considered in committee. Cr Shaw was really surprised at the tenacity with which Cr Clarke clung to the supposed necessity of having appointments considered in Committee. He would again endeavor to impress upon the minds of Councillors that they were but public servants, and consequently the public had a right to review the actions of the Council, and more especially when those identical actions not only affected but threatened their rights. (Applause ) The Chairman said that it was unnecessary that such a lengthened discussion should arise upon so trivial a matter. He regarded the various letters sent in as the property of the Council, and, therefore, necessarily subject to their disposition. Cr Clarke could not see the force of the Chairman's observations, and he would therefore move — " That the application for appointment of solicitor to the Hokitika Municipal Council be treated as the application for Roll-compiler, aud that the same be considered in Committee. Seconded by Cr dimming. Tbe motion was then put, with the following result : —

Ayes — Crs Ecclesfield, Fitzsiramons, Clarke, Hungerford, Williams, and Cumniing.

Noes — Crs Shaw jsnd Anderson. Cr Williams then moved, and Cr Ecclesfield seconded—" That this Council do now go into Committee for half an hour." Carried.

The public then retired, and after an absence of an hour and five minutes, the Council resumed, when it was reported, for the information of the public, that Mr Harvey had been appointed Solicitor to the Council. The announcement appeared to give satisfaction. It was also intimated from the chair, " that Messrs Clayton, Donaldson, Hiscocks, and Purdon, hall been requested to attend the next meeting of the Council." Cr Shaw moved — " That applications for the office of Town Surveyor be invited, and received up to the 30th inst." Seconded by Cr Williams, and carried.

Cr Williams gave notice that on next night of meeting, he would move — "That all official appointments to the Council be by ballot." •

Cr Shaw also gave noticp of motion — " That on the next night of meeting he would move that the Council do permit the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Compan} 7 to lay down rails for traffic within the following bounduries, viz., from the old Hospital Reserve through Fitzherbert street, and along the wharf^; subject subject to the approval of the Town Surveyor." ' A vote .of thanks was then accorded to Cr Williams, for his kindness in having permitted the Council to assemble at his hotel; and the compliment was appropriately acknowledged. The meeting then closed.

urveyor

On the arrival of the steamship Albion, from Hokitika, the name was given of a passunger who died on board. Wo are requested by Mr Thomas Hartwell (whose name was published as that ot the deceased) to state that he is alive and well. The person who died was a Mr Hat.field. — Melbourne "Argus," Oct. 8.