The Elevator Motor Again.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7365, 12 November 1898, Page 4

The Elevator Motor Again.

LOST—L24O OR L 480: WHICH 1 ■ . At the conclusion of the ordinary business at the meeting of the Borough Council last night The Mayor moved that the Council go into Committee as hs had an important statement to make. Councillor Hedley expressed the opinion that everything should be done in open meeting. He did not know what the statement was, but would prefer not going into Committee. Councillor Milne expressed himself in similar terms. Councillor Hamilton considered that sometimes it was as well to go into Committee — when, for instance, there were matters which were not to be reported, such as alluded to by Councillor Hedley at last meeting when he asked the reporters not to take any notice of it. Councillor Hedley denied that anything of the nature spoken of by Councillor Hamilton had taken place. Councillor Brown asked if, one Councillor having objected, it was competent for them to go into Committee. The Mayor said the majority would have to decide.

Councillor Hedley : Well, your Worship, never since I have been a Councillor have we gone into Committee, and I don't think we seed to-night.

Councillor Milne aßked if the statement was to be about Messrs J. and T. Meek's account.

'1 he Mayor : Well, not exactly ; that is, not the one you refer to. Councillor Taylor: Well, as Councillor Hedley says the Council has never gorie into Committee since he has been a member, I object to going into Committee to-night. The Mayor said that as the Council evidently objected to go into Committee he would proceed with his statement. He said that a fortnight ago that night, on the night of their last meeting, the Clerk had informed him that an important error had been made and repeated for 5 years in Messrs J. and T. Meek's account of charges for the water for the Elevator motor. Five years since, when Mr Meek applied for a charge from a 12 to a 24 hours supply, he signed the agreement, but Mr Cunninghame had omitted to make the alteration in the account, and had not noticed the error until that day. Councillor Hedley : May I ask hew much is involved by the error ? The Mayor : About L 250. Councillor Hamilton thought it only right that the Clerk should make a statement after that.

Councillor Hedley asked if the Clerk had sent in an amended statement showicg the difference between the Lll per horse power for 12 hours and Lls per horae power for 24 hours.

Mr Cunninghame said that immediately he discovered the error he went to Mr Meek. Mr Meek at first repudiated the liability, and afterwards came to the office and said he would pay one year's difference. Councillor Milne: Where is the agreement Mr Meek signed. The Clerk ; It is on the file. Councillor Taylor said he would like to know how the error had been made. Mr Cunninghame said that it would be remembered that it had been stated that the elevator motor was working more than the 12 hours for which the charge was made, and a demand was made upon Messrs J. and T. Meek for the difference between the charge for 12 hours and that for 24 hours. Objection was made by Messrs Meek, and proceedings were threatened ; but the matter was allowed to drop, as it was thought the Council had not a good case. In 1891 Mr Meek signed an agreement for service for 12 hours, and that went on until 1893, when Mr Meek applied for a 24 hours' service, and signed another agreement. He did not know, although he should have known, of the increase. Councillor Taylor : But do you not register the agreements ? The Clerk : Well, I suppose I should have done so ; but the Engineer keeps them. Councillor Taylor : Do I understand you to say, Mr Cunninghame, that you do not enter them up ? Do you not sign them al=o ? The Clerk replied that although he must have signed the one in question, he supposed he did not read it and he did not k~ep a record of it. Councillor Hamilton: But would not an increase of water supply charges be entered up in the same way as an alteration in the rate 3 when a different valuation is made 1 Councillor Taylor : What is done in cases of application for watsr for motive power ? The Clerk: Ju3t an ordinary record is kept. Councillor Taylor: How do you tally them? "Sou should have some method of seeing that the charges are correct. This one is incorrect. How do you know there are not others incorrect 1

The Mayor said no good object would be gained by this examination of the Clerk. tie would move for the appointment of a Committee to look into the whole matter and report; the Committee to consist of Councillors Taylor, Milne, Hedley, Brown and Hamilton. Councillor Brosvn seconded the motion. Councillor Milne said he had Eeen the agreement. The difference in the charges was L4B per annum, or L 132 for 12 hours and LIBO for 24 hours. Previous to 1890 it was discovered that the borough was losing revenue it should receive—he did nob know to what extent, probably another L 240. The position was that the Council had lost L4B a year, but did not know for how Jong the loss had been going on. Councillor Hamilton said that the reference to the former lo3s need not be gone into, as it was settled by the Council of those days. He objected to going back beyond 1893. Councillor Tay'or said that unless the committee had power to go into the matter fully, call for evidence, etc., he would decline to sit on it. The Mayor said full power was given for an exhaustive inquiry. Councillor Brown thought that the Mayor ought not to be expected to be convener of the committee. Councillor Hamilton did not see any reason why hs should not. 'i he Mayor said he would prefer not to be, and did not think he would be abie to attend any of the meetings. Councillor Milne proposed, and Councillor Hamilton seconded, that Councillor Hedley be convener.

Councillor Hedley suggested that the Clerk send in the account at once, as, if the amount were paid, i here would.be no necessity for a committee of inquiry. Councillor Brown said there was a necessity for the committee for other reasons. I 'Jjhe Clerk was instructed to render the account at once, the opinion being expressed that it should have gone in before. Councillor Milne said he would like to see the account sent in for L 240 Bince 1893 and another L 240 for the period prior to that date, and let Mr Meek plead the statute of limitations, a course which he (Councillor Milne) would like to see him adopt. Councillor Hamilton asked for a direction to the Committee as to whether it was to go back to a time prior to 1893 or not. The Council had agreed that they had no legal status, and he thought it was simply absurb to talk of going' back beyond the year named. He had no desire to shield anyone, but the wisdom of the Council of the day was surely a guide to them. - Councillor Taylor: Oh, we'll inquire into all the ancient ways. We're let into a nice thing now. Can't you find a few more things for us new Councillors to look into ? (Laughter). Alter this the Mayor's.motion was agreed to.