MILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 17 September 1917, Page 5

MILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chambers last Wednesday night. Present: The Mayor (Mr C King), Ors. W. H. Hitchon, W. Kirby, Jno. Moronoy, M. W, Fleming, E. Hollick, T. G." Henderson, W. A. Wilson, and J. S. Murphy, Correpondence. Mr Thoe. Cannon wrote asking that the water channel near his residence in Johnson street bo cleaned out, and the footpath requirod gravelling.—Referred to the Works Committee. —lt ■ was pointed out that,although the Borough Council derived the rates from this property, ib had no jurisdiction over the footpath or road, which were under the Brace County Council, and before undertaking any improvements it would be advisable to hold a conference with the County Council to arrive at some settlement re ■ garding apportionment of cost of upkeep of such boundary roads. Mr W. H, Hitchon wrote asking permission to connect a property in John" son Btreot with the borough drain.— Granted, subject to the usual conditions. —ln reply to a question, the Mayor stated that ratepayers wore charged for connections as from the middle of the street, irrespective of which side of a street any drain was situated. This sys* tern placed all ratepayers on a footing of equality. Council's Fire Insurance Risks.

The manager of the State Fire Insurance Department wrote soliciting the Council's fire risks. He pointed out the advantages offered by the State Office, which had been the means of reducing other companies' premiums; in addition, insurers participated in the bonuses.—On motion of Crs Hollick and Henderson, it was agreed that the Council's fire risks be placed with the State Office on expiry of tho present policies. Civil Servants' Bonuses. A circular letter was received from the Green Island Borough Council asking Council's co-operation in protesting against the granting of bonuses to un« married civil servants receiving over £l5O per annum, or married civil servants in receipt of more than £2OO ; also that no special grants be made to Gov* eminent officers. Cr Hitchon moved that the Council support the protest. Seconded by Cr Holliek. Cr Kirby expressed tho opinion that a large majority of theso resolutions from local authorities dealt with matters of politics, and did not concern mattors affecting local authorities. It was their duty as councillors to merely administer the borough affairs. They were nob authorised to deal with political questions, and ia supporting these resolutions hclus-bolus they were exceeding their duty, and were merely expressing their personal opinions. Cr Hollick rose to a point of order, and remarked that members did not require a dissertation from Cr Kirby on their duty as borough councillors. Cr Kirby replied that they should confine themselves to those duties for which they were elected by tho ratepayers. He moved as an amendment that the letter be merely received. The amendment lapsed for lack of a seconder. Cr Henderson supported the motion. There was no other question which had been more prominent recently. If the local authoritiee did not take action who shcu'd do so ? Cr Kirby i The Government. Cr Henderson: But who forces the Government except the voice of the people or the local authorities '? The motion was carried, Cr Kirby dissenting. He remarked that ha would oppose every motion of a po'itical nature which came before the Council. Hospital Beard Expenditure. On motion of Crs Kirby and Header* son, it was agreed to support a resolution from Mb. Herbert County Courcil suggesting the need for an amendment to the Hospital and Charitable Ins'iitun tions Act enabling boards to boirow money for capital expenditure, for the purpose of replacing old buildings and for extending institutions to meet the ' demands of an increasing population. Finance. The Finance Committee recornmen* ded payment of tho following accounts: Salaries and wages ... ... 46 iS 4 Sanitation .. .. ... 16 12 6 Railage .. .. .. 1 13 6 Metal ~ ... •• 3 5 7 Punting, advertising, etc ..12 9 5 Legal ... 3 3 0 Miscellaneous ... ... .. 8 210 Gas account ... .. .. 7 8 S Cemetery account ... ... 7 * & £lO7 IS 6 Adopted, on motion of Crs Henderson and Hitchon. Works' Committee's Report. Tho committee recommended : " That Cowper street footpath, on south side from Johnson street to Chaucer street, be formed, and screened with quarry screenings. " That a crossing be put in the channel on the road between Toko. Domain end the school grounds, and footpath be screened from eutranco to the poultry farm to the bridge over Sahnmond's Creeds. The Bruce County Council to be asked to contribute half cost. I " That two trucks of Logan's Point LV-inch metal be procured ; also 300 yards of screenings be procured from the borough quarry. " That the Domain 'Board be requested to top tho trees on its property, abutting on the main south road, to a reasonable height, and also to have the tree roots removed from the footpath." The report was adopted, on motion of Crs Henderson and Fleming, with the escepticri of the last clause.

Tho Mayer dated that tho Domain Board had paseed a resolution to top tho trees, but notice of motion had beeo given to rescind this resolution/in favor of cutting tho trees out altogether, Neither the Domain Board nor any other local authority had power to cat the trees down except by the authority of an Order in Council. The last clause in tho report was then deleted. National Day of Prayer, A communication was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs, suggesting that Sunday, October 7th, be fixed on as a day for National Prayer, and in addition to the ordinary church services that meetings be held for united service. It was agreed that tho Coronation Hall bo granted free of charge, and the Mayor arrange with the local clergy re combined service. Overdraft. On motion of Crs Hitehon and Fleming, it was agreed to sign the usual documents guaranteeing the bank for an overdraft of £ISOO on the general account. Acetylene Gas Leakages, The City Clerk, Dunedin. wrotfi'agreeing that tho City Council's inspector visit Milton to inspect consumers' gas meters, with a view to discovering in* correct registerings of gas consumption. Gas Committee's Report. The Gas Committee reported as folIpws : " The income for the past month amounted to £65 7s 4d. A few meters have been selected haphazard, and for* warded to the Duuodin gas engineer to be tested, also about slbs of carbide. Tho engineer has been asked to forward the results of his test as soon as possible, and also to allow tho inspector to come to Milton as soon as the tost is made." Adopted, on motion of Crs Hollick and Fleming.