BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2400, 15 April 1873, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

KAIAPOI.

Tuesday, April 8. The ordinary meeting of this Council was held on Tuesday evening last. Present—The Mayor, Messrs Parnham, Blackwell, Milsom, Fairweather, and Messrs G. H. Wearing and William Taylor, having made the declaration required by newly-elected Councillors, took their seats. . Copies of the last-passed Ordinances of the Provincial Council were laid ob the table. ■■■ • ' The Town Clehk reported that he had received a letter from ; the secretary of the insurance association which was mislaid and could hot be produoed at last meeting. The letter stated that £75 bad been voted in aid of a steam fire engine for the Borough. '" The balance-sheet laid on the'tabls showed that the receipts for the fortnight were— From bridge tolls, £29 125.3d; Resident Magistrate's Court fees, £5 ss. Of this amount, £4 12s 3d had been paid a 9 interest on the overdraft, £7 8s was carried to the bridge* fijnd, and £9 If 4d to pay off the balance of the overdraft, thus showing a balance in hand of £13 15s Bd. CrMILSoM, chairman .of thefiriance committee,*brought up the following report:— " Your committee have to congratulate the Council on tbe present state Of the horough funds; the overdraft? existing so long having been paid off. thero remains a credit balance of £13 15s Bd. Annexed is a list of moneys due to the Council. " The total amont due for rates ie £32 lis 9d, of which the amount of £18 7s 3d may be written off as bad. The further sum,of £3 we recommeud to be remitted on the grounds of poverty, leaving a probable available balance of £11 2s 6d. " The amount of rents due to the Council from river reserves is £40 3s Id, ■" The balanbe due from the bridge account is £20 168, leaving an approximated total of £75 Is 7d. ■.'" '-- V 7 I . (Signed) " G. H. BLACKWKLJ,, ' ■■■ - P. Milsom." v The Mayor said the report was satisfac** tory ; the finance eommit.tee.-fea.d_d.OQg_. well in showing the Council what they had not seen for some timej namely, a balance ,to their credit.' 7 * ; Cr Blackwell - stated that it ought to have been included in the'report that tbe committee found the Council satisfactorily kept. ( Some discussion ensued in reference to remittiug the rates of three persons on the grounds of poverty.' It was understood that before this could be done, the parties concerned must make a proper application to the Council, t : ■ f . ?7 Cr Paenham moved, Cr Faibweather seconded—"That the finance committee's report be adopted." Carried. , , Cr Parnham moved, Cr Faieweather seconded—" That the following accounts be paid :—Toll collector's salary. £4 10s ; I. B. . Sheath, drain pipes, £1 ; foreman of works. £3 16s lid; town clerk, £2 18s 4d." Carried. .■'■<..'' Cr Blackwell moved, Cr Pabnhaaj seconded—"That the river reserve rents due be collected forthwith," the mover pointing out that it was time some-of them had been paid. •*. • The motion was carried. , I Cr Blackwell enquired if, any, and wbat steps had beeu taken to order the steam fire-engine. He thought it time something. was done in this-matter. The Mayob thought they had better appoint a committee giving them full power to get the thing done. ■ • J' j After a slight discussion, CrIWEA&iNG moved, Cr BLACKWELL seconded—" That a committee of the Mayor. Cr Parnham, 1 and the mover be appointed a committee to enquire into the whole matter of ordering a steam fire-engine. The committee to report at next meeting." Carried. ■ The Mayor drew attention to the question of the valuation prior to a rate being made. It was a question whether the present valuation should be adopted, which could'be done by resolution, or whether the increase in the assessment of the town under a new valuation would be commensurate with the expense. . Cr Blackwell was in favor of a new valuation, as there were errors iv the present, assessment which ought to be rectified. Cr Fairweatheb moved " That the present valuation be adopted." . '•' Cr Pabnham seconded the motiorj p.''* l forma. Cr Blackwell moved an amendment— " That there be a new valuation made of the rateable property in the town, and a fee of £3 3s be paid to the Town Clerk for the work." Cr Wearing- supported the amendment, as there were several little errors in the last valuatioa. and it would only be just to the ratepayers to give them an opportunity to be correctly assessed. The amendment waa put, when Cts Blackwell. Wearing, and Taylor voted Aye; Crs Fairweather, Parnham, and Milsom No. The Mayor gave bis casting vote for the amendment and re-valuation. i gThe following estimate of monies required for carrying out the works of the Council during the year ending April Btb, 1874, was read —Expenditure for salaries, £160; office expenses, advertising, aud printing, £50 ; Fire Brigade maintenance, £50 ; roads, en 1 - vertsr&c, kc, £400. Total,£66o. Receipt*; —From general rate, 9d in the £, £301)

I bridge tolls, loft- 25 per cent.. £334 ; river j reserve rents. £25. i.-Ml. £»>59. j Cr BLACKWBLL mm-.* !. and C" TAYLOR j S!'e.»ad.-.l—"That th* e-tim it- of receipts i and expenditure-ha adt>pt d."—Carried. Cr Paunham waa granted leave to postf pone his motion for a general ratn of la in the £ till next meeting. It was decided that, further stops be taken against parties on whom notice had been served to trim their fences overhanging the foot pat lis, who had not complied therewith. The Council then adjourned, NOTICE OF MOTION, Cr Wearing to move at next meeting— "That i i the opinion of this Council it is desirable to let the tolls of the swing bridge by public tender for one year.''