The council injected the peti- § tion to keep up their dignity,— (laugh- ' | ter) — well,, their dignity was high 'fj enough now. — (Applause.) .He thanked f them for their kind expressions, and said :j that Mr Christie deserved their thanks ■■'% quite as much as he did, for, he assured : % them, he had been boycotted in the 4 council more than once .over it.— (Ap- -5 plause. ). , % - The Chairman also testified tp : the r ignorance on the subject on the part of ~i the counciUoL' who moved the inotioh ' 1; referred to. A groat deal had been said * about the "insulting" petition. He 1 i would just i*ead it to them, as he could not see anything very insulting in it- after • all. He read the petition as follows :— •■ To the Chairman and Members of fcho Olutha ! County Council- ' Gentmmen,— Wo the undersigned ratopayera in the Clinton llidins: having for some. timo pasb takon uofcica of a dispute that has arisen between, the council and Mr Brooks, would beg I'especfc fully to draw the attention of members to th.3 following pombs thereon. (1) The present claim of the council's Uiat Mr Brooks has encroached upon the road-line is of a trifling nature— the : real cause at issue being, as we believe, a pnvely private one regarding tlio right to provide a drainage system for the property of the county member, Mr Seotc. (2) That a considerable amount of the ratepayers' money has already been thrown away over this matter. (3) That should the council persist in its proposal to entor a case in the Supremo court airainst Mr Brooks, there will be a certainty of largo additional costs being contracted. (4) We would ■ therefore urgently desire the council to take no. steps to initiate these proceedings, seeing they are for the furtherance of private grievances, the cost of which 'will be borne, by your petitioners — [And then follow tho signatures of 104 rate payers.] , ; ; , Mr Wallace said they. should decide what lawyer to consult. DrFitohett had carried Mr Brooks through, and he moved that he be consulted in this case.—Se conded by Mr John Johnston, and carried. Mr G. 