KAIAPOI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1303, 10 January 1867, Page 2

KAIAPOI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

This council met at the Council chamber on Tuesday evening last at the usual hour. Present—Messrs Porter (chairman), Woodford, Kerr, Hall, Ellis, Dobbs, Henwood, , Dudley and Hewlings. i The minutes of the previous sitting having been read and confirmed, a letter was read from Mr R. Rickman asking permission to use tho ' waste water from the tank in Charles street. After some discussion on the subject, it was resolved on the motion on Mr Hewlings, seconded by Mr Dudley, that permission '. be granted to Mr Rickman, on the understand- ; ing however that the Council reserve to themselves power at any time to stop the i supply. The Chairman then laid on the table tho statement of receipts and expenditure since ■ last sitting ; the former, amounting to £49 10s ■ 9d, had been received from the following sources :—Balance on hand, 15s 6d; rates collected, £14 Os 6d; rent of swingbridge, £33 Is 9d ; rent of river reserve, £1 13s. The expenditure had been:—-For insurance of Council premises, £3; clerk's salary, £25 ; Doyle and Co. for the corporate . seal, £4 10s; pay-sheet, £2 12s j leaving a balance at the disposal of the Council of £14 Bs. Mr Dudley proposed that as there was a balance available, a most necessary work which at any season of the year could not be more cheaply as well as effectively done than at present, be undertaken at once. He then moved—" That the drain leading from Oboko road to Lock's creek be inspected and cleared out." Mr Hewlings seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Dobbs drew attention to tho state of the side channel and road near the Kaikainui hotel, caused by the overflow from Mr Swarm's artesian well. Mr Hewlings moved—" That Mr Swarm receive notice to discontinue the nuisance withia one week, or the Council will undertake the work and sue him for the cost." Mr Ellis seconded the motion, which was put and carried. Mr Dudley drew attention to the fact that the notice of the last election of members of the Council had not yet been gazetted, as required by the terms of the Ordinance, ana wished the Chairman to take cognizance of the matter, for till the election had been gazetted in proper form the legal status of ths Council might be open to a doubt. Mr Henwood asked if there was any rule in connection with the Council regulating the heights of verandahs over footpaths. The Clerk replied there was, and he was instructed on a previous occasion to attend to such matters. Mr Dudley thought that the new rate* roll ought to be written out as soon as convenient. The Clerk said the work was already in progress. Mr Hall drew attention to the combustible nature of certain tenements near the scene of the late fire, and instanced the fact thatic close proximity to the late fire tho Volunteers had their ammunition store. Mr Henwood said no danger need be feared from the fact that the gunpowder was stored in an oven he had built himself, and which ha believed to be perfectly sound; and no danger need be apprehended so long as the ovendoor was shut. The matter here dropped. Mr Dudley moved, and Mr Hewlinga seconded—" That the Council proceed to ths opening of tenders for the situation of clerk." Carried. The public then, at the request of ths Chairman, withdrew. The following tenders were then opened for performing the duties of clerk at per annum :—George Alexander, £144 ; C. E. Dudley, £130; John Thompson, £100; B. W. Smith, £100; R. H. Matthews, £95. A ballot took place, with the result that Mr C. E. Dudley obtained five votes, and Mr Matthews four votes. Mr Hewlinga moved, and Mr Woodford 1 seconded—" That Mr C. E. Dudley be elected Clerk." Mr Kerr proposed an amendment that Mr Matthews' tender be accepted, as h& considered him equally as efficient, and likely to perform the duties equally as well as tho present clerk, and the saving of £35, the difference between Mr Matthews and Mr Dudley* tenders, would be an object to ratepayers not to be lost sight of. Mr Ellis seconded ths amendment. Mr Hall said Mr Matthews had a consider* able knowledge of surveying, he believed, and was in other respects suitable to filling the office of clerk. He should bo in favor of the amendment. Mr Hewlings said the lata clerk had worked well for the Council hitherto, and on that ground he proposed him. Mr Dudley said Mr C. E. Dudley had discharged his past duties fully, and this year ths nlerk to the Council would have a large? amount of work still to do. He referred particularly to the spending of the grant <& £500 from the Government to the "mania* pality. He opposed She amendment. Mr Woodford agreed with the motion. Mr Henwood thought that £130 was not is any way too much provided the clerk discharged his- duties fully. Mr Hall said he had heard many strangs arguments in his time, but none so fool»?i as many which had been urged in favor of »\o motion before the Council. He would a** how it affected the Council whether a man hsa , done or could do the work required by tii« clerk so long as he offered to do it, and wonla be bound to do it, at £130 or £95 a year, except that in the one case they would effect a saving of £35, and in the other os throwing that sum away. He did not wish lose c Mr Matthews condemned till he had haas fair trial. Nothing had been said against Mr Matthews's abilities or qualities, and for aag» s the Council knew he was quite as capable & filling tho office as any of the tenderers. The Chairman said he intended to vote W» the continuance of the aerriccs of the press*" clerk. He knew nothing of Mr Matthew* but he was fully satisfied with the conduct <» their clerk. As to paying low salaries. B * found that low salaried men often shirked ««* work. .. Mr Kerr replied at length ia support of n» amendment.

The amendment was then put, and lost on the voices. A division was called for with the following result:—For the amendment, Messrs Kerr, Ellis, Dobbs and Hall; against, Messrs Dudley, Hewlings, Henwood, Woodford and the Chairman. Accounts amounting to £35 2s were ordered to be paid. Mr Dobbs gave m a notice of motion for next meeting that four sections of the river reserves be reserved from being let. The Council then adjourned for a fortnight.