HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2135, 16 March 1886, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

An adjourned meeting of the council was held last night. Present : Hid Worship the Mayor, Crs. Knox, Edgecumbe, Tippsn, Scott, Bach, Sandes and Philip. Arrears of Rates.— The Town Clerk brought up a lis»t of rate defaulters, and some discussion ensued as to the propriety of sneing for arrears. Ultimately it was agreed that the clerk consult with a solicitor on the matter. The Loan. — The Mayor said it would be necessary to have legal advice in connection with raising the loan, &c. He was not prepared to undertake the responsibility, nor did he think councillors would be justified in doing sn, — Some discussion ensued, Crs. Scott and Bach being of opinion that they should make a conti act with the solicitors. They ought to know what the legal assistance would cost. — The Mayor and Cr. Knox pointed out that it would not be possible to estimate the cost until it was known what work was required.—lt was finally lesohed that the mayor be empowered to take a legal opinion in regard to the steps already taken. » / Hospitaij Contribution— TliB Mayor said lie had a few words to say on a .natter which closely concerned himself. On the previous Monday night the council had passed a resolution to pay the amount of contribution to the Hospital Board. Since then circumstances had arisen which caused him to withhold payment. He. then detailed the reasons which had prompted him to move for the payment of the money, contending in the most emphatic manner that he had all along been favourable to the payment of the hospital contribution. What he and, he understood, all the local bodies in Wsiikato objected to, was the introduction of a Poor Law, and against this he had fought and would continue te fight, but he believed those who with him opoaed the w orkitig of the United Board were agreeable to contributing to the hospital. He had tried hard to get a hospital established in Waikato, but he had failed, the general opinion so far as he could ascertain being that it was better to support the district hospital at Auckland. When Mr Kidd informed him that the idea of working the Charitable Aid portion of the Act had boon given up, he (the Mayor) at once with'liew his opposition. He was under tho impression that the same insinuation had been furnished the Waikato County Council, ami that they would act simil.uly. Ho hu.d since loai lied th >t tho clerk to Hut council, Cjpt. McPheis.m, had boon acting entiiely on his own responsibility. :md ho b'lieved that many members of tho council were agreed with him that the hospital contribution ought to bo paid. He certainly understood as much from C-tpt.iiu Kunciman. From figuios furnished by the Hospital secretary if appeared that out of 93 patients Auckland city only furnished 41, the remainder coming from the couutry district*. The hospital" was qVite distinct from charitable aid, and if they intended to use it they must p.iy for it. The country residents should ica that they had a right to go there, aud not be obliged t" sue for admission us pauper-., lie maintained that he had acted consistently throughout. — In answer to Cr. Scott, the Town Clerk said the average number of patients from the whole Waikat.) districts was three. —Cr. Sandes protested against the expenditure.— Cr. Knot moved that the money be paid foithwitb. He thought that after the explanition given by the mayor tho council had tako-i a right and conistent course, and they should ply the money at once, and get the balance of their subsidy— Cr. Sandes denied that either the local bodies or the general public of Waikato were in favour of contributing to the hospital upon the present ba-sU. He thought they should have protested till the last. Piako County Council was de cidedly opposed to paying the money, and he believed Waipa was against it also. Everybody he met almost was loud in his denunciation of the system. If the Government had the power to take the amount of their contiibution out of subsidy let them do it, but do not let them pay it willingly. Let it be distinctly understood that they gave the money under protest. To put himself in order he would second the motion pro forma.— Cr. Knox did not want an adverse seconder, bat the Mayor ruled that Cr. Sandes had a perfect right to second the motion.— The Mayor said he would like to have the payment withheld for, say, another week, in order that a clear understanding might be arrived at between himself and other local bodies. He would like to see Waikato umted on this question, and he believed it would yet be found they were prepared to work together. — Cr. Sandes was aware that it would be difficult to secure that the rating should be on a population basis and for that reason he thought a strong effort should be made to establish a hospital in Waikato. — Cr. Tinpen said it appeared to him that the council were afraid of Capt. Me Pherson. He was strongly in favour of paying the money at once.— Cr. Scott found from the figures supplied by the Hospital Board .that whereas Auckland city and suburbs supplied half the patients, they only paid one-third of the cost. — Cr. Edgocumbe said it was no use to go just now into details] which involved an alteration in the Act. — The Mayor expressed a wish to hold the matter over for a week or so. In any case, however, he would meet the conference of delegates which he believed was about to be convened, and defend hi-> action thereat. — The motion w. > then put and carried, Crs. Sandes and Scott dissenting. This was all the business.

Custom compels an Icelander in his native country to kiss every woman he meets. It must make an Icelander mad to discover his wife bearing dowa on him from the opposite side of the way. One clergyman rebuked another for smoking. The culprit replied that he uses the weed in moderation. •' What do you call moderation ? ' inquired the other. '- Why, sir," said the offender, " one cigar at a time !" Notice to take land for roads in the Hamilton, and Kirikiriroa Road Districts, appeirs m our advertisement columns. Mr T McNicol will sell on the 31st, the household furniture and efforts of Mr J. S. Rucklaud, who is leaving tbe colony. Particulars in future issut.