BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 151, 26 June 1894, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS.

NEWTON,

Thk uanal fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held last nighb, when there were present the Mayor (Mr English), Us, Davenport, Holden, Donald, Shackleford, Wilson, McMastera and Bouskill. Akbor Day.—A circular from the Agricultural Department was road, and ordered to be received. Municipal Conference.—A letter was roaii notifying that the Municipal Conference would meet ab Wellington on Monday, July 2nd.—lt was resolved to ask Mr P. A. Phillips, Town Clerk of Auckland, to repreienb tho Newton Borough. Limited Contracts. — The Mayor of Cambridge wrote forwarding a lengthy statement with reference to the question of the existence of a limited right of contract between Borough Councils »nd individual Councillors. The writer explained thab in Cambridge there was but one stationer, and he was a Councillor, so thab under the ruling of the Auditor General for even a shilling's worth of stationery required by the Council the order must be sent ab least 14 miles to the nearest outside stationer for execution. The writer asked the Council to take sorao action in the matter, and added : " To us, besides such an inconvenience as that above referred to, it seem 3an injustice to Councillors, who gratuitously dedicate a portion of their time and labour to tho public service, that they should be prevented from sharing to the limited extent mentioned in the Municipal Corporations Acb, and will usa all necessary safeguards agaiusb a partial and unfair application of the power in any business which the Council may require- to have done." — Cr. Shackleford said he was aarainst any move being made in that direction.—Tho Mayor said thab thia was only opening the door for abuses, and ho was unfavourable to bhab. AH legislation ought to be in the way of preventing abuses. To change the Act in tho direction indicated would simply be absurd. Ab Cambridge they had a Councillor who was a stationer, and another who was a solicitor, but it was nob compulsory for those gentlemen to go on to tho Council. He moved, "Thab in the opinion of this Council, it would nob be advisable to have the Act altered aa suggested." Cox's Crekk Bridge.—A letter from the Town Cierk, Auckland, regarding repairs to the approaches to Cox's Creek Bridge was referred to tho Streets Committee. King-street.—Mrs Edgar wrote asking for certain repairs to this street.—The letter was,received as the work had already been commonced.

Footpath Wanted.—Mr A. Gibson wrote asking tlio Council to form a footpath at tho foot of Arch Hill.—The letter was referred to the Streets Committee.

Murdoch Road.—Mr J. Crook wrote asking thab tho footpath in this streeb should be attended fco. —The letter was referred to the Foreman of Works, who was instructed bo carry oub the work. Stray Cattle.—The Ranger, Mr Skeen, wrote complaining about the number of cattle that were depastured on the roads of the borough in the charge of small boys. —It was resolved to call lnspoctor Hickeon's attention to the fact, in order that the police inighb tnka action in the matter.— A letter was read from J. Ryan complaining that some of his calves got out on to the road, and he was charged 16s impounding fees.—Tho Mayor said ehab a8 a matter of fact the fees mi^hb have beon 21b, so tho poundkeeper had under charged. — Cr. Bouekill considered the case a bard one, bub Cr. Davenport pointed out thab the (Jouncil did nob receive the fees. —The letter was received. Waxd Allocation.— Cr. Shackleford gave notice he would move ab next meeting, "Thab theamounb of ratea raised yearly be expended in the ward in which they are raised, less the amount necessary for general borough expenses, providing also that any amount in excess of tho above expended in one^year in any ward, shall be deducted from the expenditure in following year or years." Cr Shackleford also moved "Thab bhe Finance Committee bo asked to report at the next meeting whether the above suggestion would entail any extra amount of work on the office." —This was agreed to. PARNELL. The usual fortnightly meeting of bhe Parnoll Borough Council was held last evening, the Mayor, Mr J. McCabe, presiding. There were ako present, Messrs Page, Pollard, Briggs, Whitley, Walker, Withy, Gilmour and Thornes. Parnell Endowment.—Tho Commis«ioner of Crown Lands wrote asking the Council to forward him certificate of titla for section 2, block V, Punakibere, S.D., for the purpose of allowing the Districb Land Registrar endorsing the registration of three village homestead leases thereon. —The request wa.i complied with. St. George's Bay Road.—The Auckland Harbour Board informed the Council in reply to the letter of the 19tb inst. that the communication had been duly considered, and that bhe matter had been referred to the Finance and Legal Committee td report upon,—The letter was received. Property Assessment.—A request from Mr E'.l. Withy to assess his property in two portions instead of one was granted. St. Stephen's Avenoje.—Mr C. K. Roskruge pointed oub thab a houso owned by him in St. Stephen's Avenue had been unoccupied since 24th December last, and that he was therofore entitled to a refund of one half-year's rates on same.—Consideration of the matter was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee. Licensing Emotion.—A letter from the Nowmaikeb Borough Council, asking for particulars of first item in licensing election account, £26 2s Od, was received. Clifton Road.—Messrs Arthur Joseph and Alfred Smith drew attention to tho bad state of the footpath leading to their houses, and suggested that two or three loads of scoria should bo laid upon it.—lt was agreed to do as* suggested. Infkctious Diseases. — Dr. Lyfctle reported a c<is»e of typhoid fever in tho Great North Road.—As the case was nob in tho borough of Parnell, the letter was returned to the writer with explanation.

Accounts.—The balance of the Council's accounts at the 25th instant wero as follows : —General rate, dr., £699 17» 6d ; works loan, cr., £216 2s: drainage loan, cr., £258 17s lid ; water supply rate, cr., £23 8s 7d.

Rates.—ln the course of a protracted discussion on the Legal and Finance Committee's report, several councillors expressed their strong disapproval of the way in which the borough rates were being collected. It was stated that there was an overdraft at the Bank of about £700, and that tho rates unpaid amounted to no lass than £170. Tho greater part of tho latter amount had been sued for some time last yenr, bub had nob yet been collected.— Cr. Whit-ley thought thab ib was a disgrace to the Council thab such a largo amount should be, still outstanding when the finances of tho Borough were in a most unsatisfactory position. The Council were, he considered, neglecting to do their duty in allowing such a state of things to exist, and ho for ono would cease to sib as a Councillor unle?s something wore immediately done to enforce payment, even if such a course did give offence, of what rates wero overdue. —On the motion of Cr. Withy, it wa3 finally agreed to take immediate steps to reco\er all rates not paid ukf to the 31st March, Cr. Thorne being deputed to go into the matter to-day with the Town Clerk, and see what ratepayers should bo taken into Courb.

Water Supply.—Tho Town Clerk forwarded a copy of the turncock's reply to the. Council* letter of tho 12th inst., contradicting the statements made therein.— The letter was received.

Legal and Finance Committee.—This Committee recommended thab accounts amounting to £25 16s be passed for payment, thab the Council give their atbention bo bhe Government subsidy for 1593 and 1894, and also consider cbe endowment lands.—The report was adopted, consideration of the last matter -being deferred till nexb meeting. The Town Clerk was instructed to make an estimate of the rate for the coming year and send it ia to the Government at once.

Water Taps. —Mr Joseph Armifcage wrote complaining thab the turncock in bhe employ of bhe Council should be allowed to go about putting in water taps and charging for them, thus competing with the plumbers in Parnell.—On the motion of Mr Withy, it was decided to instruct bhe turncock to confine his duties only to repairing tap-i in future. DEVONPOKT. The ordinary meeting of the Devonporb Borough Council last evening was attended by Messrs E. W. Alison (Mayor), M. Niecol, R. Duder, 0. Mays, W. Avenel, F. J. Hammond and R. Wynyard. Stray Cattle. —Sergeant Kelly wrote re complaint as to cattle straying on Vauxhall Road, stating thab action was being taken in the matter, bub drawing abtention to the facb thab a number of cabbie were driven down this road to and from a paddock in tho road. There was no authority to prevenb such occurrences, as there was no bylaw laying down a3 to what pace the cattle should be driven.—The letter was received.

Water for Dock. —The Secretary of the Harbour Board wrote enclosing copy of a resolution passed by bhe Board re the laying on of water to Calliope Dock. Captain Graham, of H.M.S. Wallaroo, wrote to the Council asking on what terms fresh water would be supplied to bhe Naval Depot and buildings, also for supply of water to steam launches belonging to H.M. ships. On the motion of the Mayor ib was resolved: "That the Board's offer be accepted, and the pipes laid to Calliope Dock, the Board to pay all cosb of connection from boundary of their property to the dock." The Mayor also moved : " That the Mayor and Mr M. Niccol be authorised to confer, and, if required, to arrange with Captain fl. B. Graham re water supply."—The motion was carried.

Open Drain.—On tho motion of Mr Wynynrd, ib was resolved: "That the immediate attention of the Harbour Board be drawn to tho dangerous open drain made by the Board's workmen on the road to Si.o Calliope Dock ; thab the Board be required to at once cover in the drain : and thab the Board bo notified bhat they will be held responsiblo for any damages bhab might occur in the meantime."

Catholic Cemetery.—Mr W. J. Napier addressed bhe Council regarding a proposal from tho Roman Catholic residents of Devenporb, asking for an alteration in the line of fencing.—lt was decided that the Works Committee should meet the Church Committee on the ground, and report to the Council at its next meeting.

Coal Supply. — Tenders for the coal supply for the Dovonporb waterworks were recoivod as follows: —E. Ford, Ngunguru 16s, Hikurangi 14s 9d, Kamo 14s ; J. J. Craig, 2-ifgunguru 16s 4d, Kamo 14s 6d, Hikurangi 14s 5d ; Wells Bros., Ngunguru 17s 3d, Kamo 16s 3d, Hikurangi 15s 6d. Mr E. Fordo tender, being the lowest, was accepted.

Pomi'ing Enginebr.—There were 23 applicants for the position of pumping works engineer and watorwoika fitter, and ib was de-sided to hold a special meeting on Friday next to consider the matter.

Waterworks By-law.—A special meeting of the Council was held, ab which the Mayor moved, "That by-law No. 6, waterworks by-law, Borough of Devonporfe, be adopted as printed." — Tho motion was carried. A draft form of advertisement re special water rate was read and approved of.