Borough Council

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13828, 6 March 1918, Page 4

Borough Council

LAST NIGHT’S MEETING. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last night, and was attended by his Worship the Mayor (Mr J. A. Nash), Crs. L. Jt. Bryant, E. H. Crabb, E. L. Broad. M. O’Rielly, C. X. Clausen, H. E. Bennett and H, J. Canton. CORRESPONDENCE.

The request of the headmaster of the College Street School for the use of the Sports Ground on the Sth inst. was granted. A letter of thanks was received from the Terrace End School Committee for Council’s permission for scholars to have free use of Municipal Baths. 11. Coles wrote asking that the footway in Grey Street between Albert and Victoria Streets be tarred and sanded. Decided that the work be carried out.

W. Harris wrote notifying the Council that the watercourse adjoining his property in Clifton Street had been blocked. Decided that the engineer report on the matter to the Public Works <3ommittee.

The Kairanga County Council wrote forwarding account for Council’s proportion of cost of upkeep of Manawat.u Gorge bridge. It was decided that the account be paid. J. Straehan wrote asking that the Council complete the tarring of footways in Marne Street. Decided that this work be done. The Minister of Public Works wrote stating that he regretted being unable to re-open the matter of recent allocations made re Mariawatu Gorge Road and bridges. Received. BOROUGH CARTERS’ APPLICA TION. An application was before the Borough Council at last night’s meeting by nine of the Borough carters asking for an increase of wages, owing to increased cost of horse feed, etc. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee. In connection with this matter, Cr. Broad asked if anything had been done in the matter of getting a blacksmith. Two of the increases the carters complained of were the. rise in the cost of shoeing and the, price of horse feed. In regard to the former if the Council were carrying out the resolutions that were passed several months ago, they -would be able to shoe for the carters at cost price. The borough engineer (Mr S. Jiekell) stated that he had a place ready where shoeing could be done. The iron was also procurable, but blacksmiths were not. Cr. Broad suggested that the Finance Committee buy horse feed in large quantities, say 50 to 100 tons at a time, as the carters usually bought in small quantities and therefore not to the best advantage. He considered that if feed wore bought by the Finance Committee in large quantities, and the shoeing instituted, the carters could be met in this way instead of giving them an increase in wages. The suggestion regarding the horse feed was made aus a recommendation to the Finance Committee. MI NEMO A BOWLING & CROQUET CLUB. In connection with this scheme inaugurated by the Council some few months back, a report from the borough solicitor was before the Borough Council last night, in which it was stated that the proposed method of financing the matter was illegal, and as borough solicitor he could not recommend the course suggested. The original idea was that a certain number of guarantors in the club were going to got £IOOO from the bank at (! per cent and the Council was to pay for the £IOOO at the rate of £SO per annum.

The borough solicitor now reporter! that the Council could not take moneys, for any other purpose than a loan.

The matter was discussed in commit

\ Or. Clausen said he did not agree j with matters of this kind being disI cussed in committee and before underj taking matters of this sort the Council i should b6 sure that things were ail 1 right before they started. He did not ! agree with things of this description be--1 ing undertaken at a time like the preI sent, and they should stop all work until things were on a satisfactory basis. The Mayor remarked that it was just ' as well that the ratepayers should know that the arrangements with the club could not be carried out, but it must , bo understood that the money being advanced to the borough interest would be paid to the borough on the expenditure and the capital amount would be reduced at the rate of £SO per annum until relieved of their liability. Or Orabb stated that as chairman of

the Reserves Committee he w r as authorised to go on with the work which had to be commenced at once, otherwise it. | would have had to be held over for aunt her year. At that time the ‘Council was under the impression that the negotiations with the club wore quite legal, but he had now, at this late date, learnt from the borough solicitor that j the. whole thing was illegal. However. 1 the step the Council had proposed was I one in the right direction. They were not only going to undertake necessary work but necessary recreation for the ; town. In this instance the club, in consideration of receiving a portion of the I ground, were paying the whole of the I interest and practically the whole ot | the upkeep, and sufficient ground was j reserved for the public who could get ’ a game under fixed charges. Cr Crabb | said he desired to make the matter clear in order that it might not be ! thought that the Council desired to avoid discussing this matter in open council. The Mayor, seconded by Cr. Crabb, moved: “That all reference to the money to bo advanced by the Hinemoa Howling and Croquet Clubs towards construction of bowling green and croquet lawns contained in resolution dated ”1/9/1917 be. rescinded and (1) that the. Council authorise the Reserves Committee to expend a sum not exceeding £(i00 iu laying out lawns, etc., (21 that, the Hinemoa Club enter; into an agreement to pay the Council interest on the total expenditure the amount upon which interest is payable b pei cent, to be reducible by a sum of £59 per annum until extinguished.” Tin* resolution was carried.