BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1982, 10 March 1882, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

AVednesday, March 7

Present: The Mayor, Crs Simon, Hay, Struthers, Hughes, Gilmer, Lloyd, and Roche.

A letter from Mr Loveday, drawing attention to the very lengthy period that the ballast account lias been outstanding, was received.

John Ward wrote, asking that the drain in Henley street should be covered in.—Referred to the Public Works Committee for report. Letter from Mr Bowen, indicating articles required for use at Licensing Cammittee meetings.—The Mayor had seen to the matter, and the letter was received.

Upon a petition from a number of ratepayers, it was resolved—That the letter from S. Thorpe and others be referred to the Public Works Committee with authority to employ the Overseer to prepare an estimate of a road, 14 feet wide, from Palmerston [street to Domett street.

The Relief Committee reported that Mrs Mulqueen is a widow with six children, none of whom are able to earn a livlihood ; that she does work for various people, but such employment is not constant, and that the care of her children takes up some portion of her time ; that the Mayor has ordered the Council's allowance of 10s per week to be given as a direct money grant, instead of by an order for goods, as formerly. The following accounts were passed : Railway Department, £4 15s ; W. Morris, £3l 15s ; Neil and Quigley, os. THE TOWX CLERK. A letter from Mr Dempsey was read, asking that the audit for the half-year ending September should be postponed for a week, and that he should be granted further leave of absence for the same time.—The letter was ordered to be held over until after consideration of the Mayor's memorandum regarding the Town Clerk and the oihce work.

The Memorandum was then read, and the Mayor said that arrears of rates must be sued for before the 31st March, and there is no Court after the 21st inst. He did not ask that Mr Dempsey be dismissed, and only wanted power to employ temporary assistance. He had laid before the Council a statement of facts and it was their duty to act thereon. He then referred to the defective way in which the books are kept, and the fact that Mr Dempsey had not taken thoslightest trouble to explain to him the circumstances of the amount of £ls 9s 6d not being put through the books in the proper manner. Miss Connell says she paid rate No. 8 (£4 ss) to Mr Munro, who says he has no knowledge of it, but if lie did receive the money it was handed to the Clerk. There is no account of it in the books. He also wanted to know why Mr Hughes' mime appeared on the Rate Book as a defaulter, and why it did not appear on the Defaulters' List. Cr Lloyd said that the best time to get an explanation was when the person interested was present to make that explanation. He knew that Mr Dempsey was suffering from serious weakness, and was not tit to do half-an-hour's work. The next ordinary meeting would be time enough to take decisive action. There was no work in the Borough offices, which could not be done by the present clerk. Cr Corr moved—" That the Mayor's memorandum be held over until next meeting." He advocated granting the Clerk's request for a week's further leave, and that notice bo given him if he could not attend at the expiration of that time that he must put another in his place. The motion was seconded by Cr. Lloyd. Cr Hay spoke against the memorandum being held over. Thei'e was work to be done, and it was Dempsey's place to have put a competent man in his stead. The dillydallying with the question was makingmatters worse. The audit and balance-sheet required attending to. He moved : " That the Mayor be authorised to employ clerical assistance for one month, and that the expense be deducted from Mr Dempsey's salary." The Mayor said it would be a kindness to Mr Dempsey to carry the amendment. He felt that Mr Dempsey would not be fit for work in less than a month. Cr Corr said that the Clerk asked for one week, and the Crs proposed to give him a month .' What position would they be in if he was ready for his duties in a week. Ho hoped the amendment would not be carried.

The Mayor said all Councillors and himself would be very much pleased if Mr Deinpsey could resume his duties to-morrow.

Mr Struthers said if a private person's business had been neglected as the Council's had been, the Clerk would be outside the door in a very short time. It was time the work was done properly. (A little sharp-shooting here took place between Cr Corr and the Mayor.) The amendment was carried, Crs Corr, Simon, Hughes, and Lloyd voting against, and the Mayor, Crs Hay, Struthers, Gilmer, and Roche in favor. It thus became the motion.

Cr Hughes wished to propose an amend-* tnent granting leave as applied for by the Town Clerk, but was ruled out of or. <cr, the letter not being before the Council. '• Cr Corr spoke in objection to the ruling. The Mayor had been speaking upon the Town Clerk's letter, but would nut allow a motion upon it. Cr Gilmer made some remarks which were inaudible to the reporter. Cr Hughes : I'd like to know what Cr Gilmer is blathering and spluttering about? Cr Gilmer : It is more to the point than Cr Hughes's spluttering. The Mayor : Order, gentlemen, please. The business before us is of too serious a

nature to allow of the admission of personal feeling. Cr Corr moved an amendments—That "one month" be struck out and "one week" inserted. Cr Simon seconded the amendment, which was lost, the mover, seconder, Crs Hughes and Lloyd voting in its favor. The motion authorising the Mayor to employ clerical assistance for one month was then put and carried, the voting being as upon the last division. The letter from Mr Dempsey was then again brought before the Council. Cr Gilmer moved—That the letter be received ; that the Auditors be requested to complete their audit at once ; and that Mr Dempsey be granted one month's leave of absence from date. Cr Struthers seconded the proposition. Cr Corr moved an amendment which Cr Lloyd seconded—That all the words after "received" be struck out, and " that Mr Dempsey's request be granted" inserted. The Mayor said it was strange that in view of the unexplained error in the Rate Book, some members wished the audit postponed. What would it be were there a direct charge of malversation of funds and Councillors endeavored to hinder enquiry ? Cr Lloyd said there was not the slightest use of the Auditors coming to the office unless the Clerk was present. The Mayor asked whether Cr Lloyd had not ever heard of an audit being made when the person who had had frharge of the books was dead or absent ? Cr Lloyd certainly had, but in the present instance there was a chance of the Clerk shortly being able to attend the auditors. Cr Struthers was surprised that a good book-keeper like Cr Lloyd should suggest that books could not be audited in the absence of the Clerk. Books should be kept so as any fool could audit them. All the books and documents showing where the money went to should always be available. The amendment was put and lost. Cr Hughes proposed another amend-ment-—That " one week" be inserted for "one month." (Cr Roche here left the Hall.) Cr Corr seconded the amendment, which was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. The voting was—For : Crs Corr, Lloyd, Simon, and Hughes. Against: Crs Struthers, Hay, Gilmer, and the Mayor. The Mayor was about to put the original motion, when Cr Corr asked that Mr Dempsey's letter be read. The Mayor read the letter, and said : I will now put the motion. Cr Corr : Will your Worship read the motion I The Mayor : I decline to read the motion again. I have done so already about eight times. I cannot account for Cr Corr's obstruction.

The original motion was put and carried on the Mayor's casting vote. Cr Corr : Now, what have you done with the Town Clerk's letter. If you know your a genius. The Mayor : Or Corr may think himself funny, but I sec neither wit or wisdom in the way lie is carrying on. The necessity for the appointment of a Borough Treasurer was spoken of, but it was agreed to postpone the matter. The Council rose shortly after 10 p.m.