TOWN COUNCIL.

Western Star, Issue 284, 15 February 1879, Page 6

TOWN COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Town Council was held on Monday evening, instead of Tuesday, to allow of the election of members of Harbor Board, which the Act rendered compulsory should be completed that day. The members present were Crs. Daniel, Herr, Locke, and Simpson. Cr. Locke was voted to the chair. The minutes of last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. Or. Horr called attention to his protest against the validity of the special meeting held on Thursday, with a view to its being recorded. The correspondence comprised telegram from the Hon. J. Macandrew, stating that, in accordance with toe wish of the Council, lie had given instruction for a better class of passenger station to be erected at Riverton j and letter from Marine Department, notifying the necessity of electing four members of Harbor Board on second Monday in February. On Cr. Horr’s protest being read, he said that the grounds of his protest was that all the councillors did not receive notice of the meeting. It ■would be a most dangerous precedent to establish if the law with respect to calling _ special meetings of the Council was not carried out strictly, as it would open the way for a clique to carry any measure sub rosa, Ho did not object to the business done at the meeting referred to, but be contended every councillor should receive notice of a special meeting. Cr. Daniel suggested that the Town Clerk should state the cucnmstances which rendered the special meeting necessai y. The Town Clerk said the primary cause of the meeting was, owing to the resignation of the Mayor, the urgency of immediately appointing some one to sign debentures. Cr. Simpson thought the grounds of the protest were trivial, and suggested the witborawal of the protest. . . , , Cr. Horr moved, and Cr. Daniel seconded— That consideration of protest be held over ii!l next meeting. —Carried. An amendment by Cr. Simpson That the protest be then considered, was not seconded. Cr. Daniel drew attention to the unsatisfactory position of the various mu-icipal and other reserves, and pointed out that but for the ac,ion he had taken wl ile in Wellingtonrecently there would have been a danger of (heir being lost to the town, Crown grants not yet being issued. The matter was held over till after the election of Mayor. Accounts as follows were passed for payment :—J. Eveleigb, £4 19s ;H. W oods, £3 lo? j J. Calder, £67 13s. An account from Mr Bews, C. E., for laying out and superintending formation of Havelocn street, amounting to £l7 Ss, being ten per cent, on amount of contract, was considered too high. It was thought that a sum equal to five per cent, on contract would be a fair charge. Consideration of the matter was deferred . ; ll next meeting. _ . [Cr. Simpson here retired, leaving only a bare quorum present.] Crs. Locke, Mills, Horr, rail the Mavor were appointed members of the Harbor Board. Cr. Horr’s motion, that Havelock street be not kerbed, was seconded by Cr. Daniel, ana carried. The Council then adjourned.