COUNTY COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 3275, 2 December 1884, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thuksday, November 27th. The Council resumed in Committee at 2 p.m., on the "relief" list. At 2.30 p.m. the Committee reported progress to the Council. The application of Wm. Hanna was recommended to favorable consideration on the ground of commiseration,' and that £IOO be awarde 1 to him in full of all claims.—Chairman moved, andCrMcPadden seconded That the report be adopted.— Cv Munro entered his protest against the recommendation, expressing his dissatisfaction with the manner of the enquiry, he not being granted full opportunity to examine the Overseer. He held that Mr Hanna had no legal claim against the Council, as his evidence proved he knew of the state of the punt, and perhaps Mr Hanua was really indebted to the Counc : l for damage to the punt. The County was in a state of insolvency, and here they were asked to vote a sum of £IOO as an "act of grace," while the debit balance was £SOOO ; and also while they were unable to pay the amounts voted in charitable aid. If Mr Hanna was able to prove his case, the speaker would be quiie willing to compromise the matter, but he could not, and he (Cr Munro) would be satisfied to submit to a verdict at law. On behalf of the people he represented he solemnly protested against the gratuitous donation under the circumstances of the case and the financial position of the Council.—Cr McPadden thought it would cost them more than £IOO to defend any case brought by Hanna, who had the sympathy of the whole County.—Cr Colvin argued that Hanna had a legal claim. The punt was held under permission from the Council and Council should have insisted upon a proper punt being provided.—Cr Organ was of opinion Hanna had no legal claim or even moral claim ; but in view of hfs heavy loss he (the speaker) was prepared to assist him, but he could not support this large sum. If the sum was voted the public voice would be against them. He advocated adjournment of the proposal until some future time.—Cr Haselden explained that he did not take part in the discussion because he was professionally interested. (He subsequently seconded a motion simply to assist the Council out of a technical difficulty.)— The Chairman regretted the motion being pressed in the present state of the finances. He d : d not think Hanna had a legal claim, but he was entitled to commiseration. The Council had no authority over the punt, and if he went to law the sympathies of a jury might be with him. The Council had no authority over the punt. The speaker would be quite willing to privately assist in relieving Hanna, but if the Council voted him money—to prevent litigation, for instance—it could not be paid at present. If the Council voted the money he hoped they would make its payment contingent upon the County being in fund -Cr Coop, supported the vote, as it would prevent litigation, through which the Council would lose in any case, whether they gained one action or not.—Cr Munro proposed to move an amendment, "That the consideration of the report be held over until the second meeting in 1885,"—The Chairman ruled that Cr Munro could not move an amendment as he had already once spoken to the motion, this ruling applying to all Crs who had spoken.—Lively discussion ensued upon this ruling, the Chairman, Crs Munro and Organ taking part, several passages-at-arms occurringbetween the former two.—Cr O'Sullivan moved, and Cr Haselden seconded (pro forma) (these two having not yet spoken) " That the £IOO recommended be paid six months hence."—Cr Munro spoke on the amendment, and during his speech said there were interested persons taking part in this debate ; he said this was infamous.—Cr Haselden objected to this remark, and by the Chairman's direction it was withdrawn.—Cr Munro continued, showing the proposed compensation was either too much or too little. The speaker then proceeded to comment upon the last ruling of the chair, which prevented him moving his amendment, when still another diversion took place between the chair .and himself; at the conclusion of which Cr Munro continued to speak, stating that if Cr O'Sullvan's amendment was carried the Council would do a gross wrong.—The Chairman explained the difference in Committee, which occurred in this way : Cr Munro was examining the Overseer, and the Chairman put a question while he was doing so, to which Cr .Munro objected, and declined to ask any further questions ; and then acrimonious discussion followed. The Chairman held the enquiry was complete.—Upon the division being taken the voting was : For the amendment—Crs O'Sullivan, Colvin, M'Padden, Cooper, and Chairman; against—Crs Munro, Fennell, and Organ. —When the substantive resolution was about to bo put, Cr Munro quoted the previous ruling of the Chairman that all expenditure required notice.—The Chairman ruled the proposal in order, as it came up on the recommendation of a Committee.—Cr Munro then asked if a previous resolution was on the books declining to entertain Hanna's claim.—(Another little breeze here).—Cr Haselden characterised Cr Munro's proceedings as "stonewalling."—The Chairman ruled the business was perfectly in order, notwithstanding the recorded resolution, which did not bind the present Council.—■ On a point raised by Cr Haselden, another "order" debate ensued, the Chairman ruling that Crs who had spoken had no absolute right to move any further amendment, without the permission of the Council.—Such permission was asked .and refused.-—The motion to pay the money was then put and carried— For: Crs O'Sullivan, Cooper, Colvin, McPadden, and Chairman ; against: Crs Fennell and Munro. (Crs Haselden and Organ left the Chamber.) The Committee appointed to consider Mr Gregg's application reported:—"That Mr Gregg be notified that he must either adhere to the terms of his contract, or he must specifically state to the Council at its next meeting what modification he requires."—The report was adopted, on the proposal of Cr H.selden, seconded by Cr Organ, both of whom spoke against the inadvisability of establishing a mischievous precedent. The interrupted debate re making application to have the road, Waimahgaroa to beach, made under the Roads and Bridges Act, was continued.—Cr Fennell moved as an amendment that the matter be held over until next meeting. He held that there were other more important works in the County.—Cr O'Sullivan seconded, urging that sufficient works had

been already authorised.—Cr Munro supported the proposal, and announced that he intended to ask for several v or* in the Lyell Riding under tlvs Ac —Cr Haselden showed the difference between this work and those mentioned by Cr O'Sullivan.—The Chairman opposed postponing the matter, but thought a better road could be made from Westport to Waimangaora alongside the rail way line.— He suggested that this and kindred proposals should be referred to a committee. Cr Fennell withdrew his amendment, and substituted another : '' That the resolution of Cr Organ be referred to a committee of the whole Council, to deal with this and kindred subjects, to report as early as convenient." Amendment carried, Crs Haselden and Organ only voting against it. Memorial from ratepayers residing between Westport and Sergeant's Hill, asking for the construction of a track. The Chairman declared this " urgent" business, to obviate disabilities imposed by the Standing Orders. Cr Haselden and the Chairman here differed on a point of order, the Cr stoutly objecting to this power being vested in the Chairman alone, contending that the Council only could declare business "urgent." Resolved, on the proposal of Cr Munro, seconded by the Chairman, "That this matter be dealt with as in the previous case." Robert McNabb, Karamea, reported that he had passed certain roads at Karamea, and the report was received, Cr Cooper objecting to the passing of one road (the Zigzag), upon which there are slips. The Council then went into commtttee to consider reports and payments, and continued in committee with a short adjournment until 10 p.m.