3

H.—24

Enclosure in No. 9. (ExteAct from Newspaper.) "With reference to the appointment by the Government of two Trustees (Messrs. Dalrymple and Pratt) of the Municipal Sinking Fund, regarding which the official notification was read — His Worship the Mayor remarked upon what appeared to have been a studied insult to the Municipal Council. He said two gentlemen were nominated by the Couucil some time prior to the 12th of February, and a letter was forwarded to Wellington intimating that the nominations had been made. He might say that the Council, in making the nominations, were not influenced by any political bias. It had hitherto been usual that the Municipal Council should be consulted in connection with an appointment of this kind, and he might say that the Superintendent would never have thought of making such appointments without doing so. Necessarily, therefore, the Council, having been consulted as to the first appointment, had a right to consider that when a vacancy occurred, their nominations would receive at least courteous acknowledgment. Instead of that, however, their nominations had been treated apparently with complacent indifference, notwithstanding that the letter of the Council must have reached the Government before the Gazette containing the notification referred to was published. Under these circumstances he considered that a very great indignity had been cast upon the Council. Councillor Kingsland concurred in the i-emarks of the Mayor. He felt quite sure that not a single member of the Council had any political leaning when they nominated two gentlemen to be Trustees of the Sinking Fund. Both gentlemen commanded the highest respect of their fellow-citizens, as being men of high social standing and possessing eminent commercial fitness for the office. He was very sorry to see, therefore, that they had a Government who could pander to such low ideas as attempting to purchase political support. He moved, " That, in the absence of any reply from the Government to the letter from the Corporation of the 12th of February, other than the formal one accompanying the Government Gazette of February 27th, notifying the appointment of Trustees (Messrs. Dalrymple and Pratt) of the Municipal Sinking Fund, instead of the gentlemen nominated by this Council, the Council are of opinion that an unwarranted slight has been cast upon the Corporation by the disregard of their nomination." Councillor Goodwillie seconded the motion. Councillor Johnson moved, " That the Town Clerk be instructed to lay before the Government the facts of the ease, and respectfully request an explanation." He thought they had no right to come to the conclusion that the Government were influenced in the manner suggested by Councillor Kingsland. The Government had not acted discreditably in the past, and the Council had no right to assume that they would do so now. They might find out that they had made a mistake. Personally he should be very sorry to see the Council take any political stand in the matter, and therefore would suggest a postponement of action till they were thoroughly acquainted with the facts. Councillor Roche seconded the amendment. Councillor Kingsland said he had no objection to withdraw his motion in the meantime. Ultimately the respective questions were put to the meeting. For the amendment only the mover and seconder voted. The motion was carried.

Authority : Gsoroe Djdbbcry, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79.

Price 3d.]