Mr White. In this communication, dated August 9th, Mr White stated that he had not sanctioned the offer which Mr. Kell had made to the Board, and he had given that gentleman £20 to summons the witnesses for the trial; also that he was not aware but that Mr. Kell had seen Mr. Growse and contradicted the offer of the 13th of July. he then made the following propositions:- He would allow his shop to be removed back against the Custom House on payment of £75 and some other conditions named; or the Board might purchase his shop for £400, allowing to remain till the new Fish Market was built, and giving the first choice of a stall; or they might purchase and remove for £550, by finding the writer warehouse room for his baskets and other things used in his business. – Coun. Poole said it was his wish now to bring this matter to an end. The orders had remained in abeyance for two years, during which the Local Board had been endeavouring to obtain White’s shop, and had even now failed to do so. Some time during the summer an application had been made to the Sheriff to appoint a jury to assess the amount to which White was entitled, but the fact was that White was not desirous of parting with his property at all. Seeing that White still had his shop, and the town had its money, except what had been frittered away in law expenses, he would move that the resolutions which had been passed on this subject be rescinded. – Ald. Ross and Ald. Ginner would vote against Mr. Poole’s motion, the latter gentleman remarking that instead of the Board giving £75 for setting back White’s shop, White ought to give the Board £150 to do it, as it would then be more valuable. The other conditions named were altogether preposterous. He would therefore move as amendment that the Town Clerk take such steps as are necessary for the non-fulfilment of the contract. – The amendment was carried, there being only one dissentient, which was Mr. Poole himself, who expressed his disapproval in warm terms. On the 13th of Sept.
An Adjourned Meeting was held, when the project of a new fish-market appeared to be helped forward another step. A letter was received from Joseph White, in which he stated that rather than go to law any further, he would let the Board take his shop and land for £300, if they would allow the shop to stand adjacent to the Custom House until the land should be required, for which accommodation he would pay a rent of 1s. a year, and also that the Board would give him £10 towards an expense of £40 15s. which he had incurred in preparation of the arbitration. On the terms being discussed, Ald. Ross moved that they be accepted. This was seconded and carried unanimously.
