KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5083, 22 December 1881, Page 3

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of this Oouncil was held on Tuesday evening. Present— The Mayor (Mr Blaokwell), Ore. Moore, Pinching, Smith, Fraser, Stanton, Mathews, P*rnbam, Woodford, and May. Letters were read — From Mr Ellen, contractor, relative to completing the lining of fire brigade uniforms. From railway engineer, stating that the work of ereoting a orane at the railway would be put in hand soon. From the Colonial Secretary, acknowledging intimation of election of Mr O. Smith as Mayor. From Mr E. F. Metzies, Napier, offering to negotiate loans for Borough Councils from £60,000 and upwards. Ordered to be acknowledged. From Messrs Day, Miram, and Hicks, complaining of a contractor removing earth from Hall street, near the river, where the river encroaches, and pointing out that these matters ought to be deoided in'"opsn Oouncil. The surveyor reported that the bridge near Mr Be veil's was repaired. The Beaoh road was being farmed and- cleared, and the oontraotor had begun shingling. Advised placing a third tressel in Swing Bridge. The kerosene and hall lioenses were overdue since September. Earth had been removed without permission from the rear of Hall street. Or. Woodford protested against the repairing of the bridge on private road to Mr Bevell's. On the motion of Or. Moore, the question of Swing Bridge repairs was referred to tho works oommittee with power to act. In reply to Cr. Smith, tho Mayor said no intimation respecting the tramway had been reoeived ; the oostof repairs to the bridge would be paid out of the reserve fund. It was resolved « That the persons liable be notified that the lioenses for halls and storage of kerosene must be at once renewed." Cr. Pinching moved, Or. May seconded—" That the clerk sue Mr Lambert for illegal removal of the soil, but not to press for a penalty." Cr. Moore suggested that the motion ought to be altered. The motion amended to read that an information be laid was agreed to. Some discussion took place on the letter of Messrs Day, Miram, and Moore. It was resolved they be informed that step) had been taken. Or. Fraser announced the receipts to be £90 10s 3d, and tbe present overdraft £76 10s 3d. Aooounts, £6716s Id, were passed. It was deoided to pass the amount for reforming Beaoh road on approval of the works committee. Or. Smith moved—"That before the hall licenses are granted, the committee see that proper means of egress are provided." Cr. Pinching seconded. Carried. An application was made for Mr W. Alexander for oonsent to a street, to be known as Southurat street, on BS. 297. On the motion of Or. Pinohing, it was deoided that the Council's consent be granted on condition that the road be a ohain wide, formed, metalled, and conveyed to the Oounoil free of cost. Beports and schedule of duties referring to the town clerk's position were laid on the table, whioh were read in referenoe to a charge of £7 lOi, made by bim for collection of rent of the Council's endowment reserves. One schedule set out that he be paid 3 per cent, on the first £100 of rates collected, 4 per cent, on second £100, 5 per cent, on third £100, and 8 per cent, on the balance of rates, and "5 per gent. on all other moneys collected." A letter was read from Mr Kerr, an ex-Mayor, to the effect that the 5 per cent, on other moneys was to be paid. The clerk exolained that he had not charged on all moneys oollcted, nam-J/, »uDSoripuons towards works carried out whioh he had sometimes to make repeated calls for. Or. Pinching asked how it was that the commission for collecting the reserve rents had escaped tho notice of the finanoe committee for over three years ? The chairman of that committee replied that he had never for a moment thought such a charge was being made, still less that it was been regularly passed by the Counoil. Or. Woodford had never heard of it before. Did the olerk also get commissions on the publicans* lioenses whioh were paid into the Bank? The clerk replied in the negative. Or. Woodford thought the reserve rents had better be paid direct to the Bank. Or. Parnham asked if the olerk did not reoeive commission on the tolls on the bridge, beoause the reserve was made to the town to replace the loss of income from the toll, and the clerk was entitled, in his opinion, to have commission on tbe good and bad accounts. The olerk replied that he did not receive commission on the tolls. Or. Pinching said the majority of councillors were aware of _ the payment of the commission from time to time, and but for certain circumstances whioh had happened lately, it would never have been questioned. Or. Smith agreed with the last remarks, and thought if the ohairman of the finance committee had attended to his duties he would have spoken of this before. Or. May was proceeding to ask the olerk if he would continue to hold offioe if this commission was taken away, when Or. Moore protested that the question was a highly improper one. He was opposed to paying what was equal to 9s per week for tha collection of the reserve rent, whioh was paid in quarterly in* stalments. Tbe olerk might construe his agreement to cover it, but that rent was not being paid when the schedule was drawn up, and it had never been contemplated that the commission should be charged, or payments of that kind to the extent of £22 10s a year. He protested that'some of the ratepayers found it difficult to pay their rates, and ought not to be saddled with charges of this kind. AH the clerk had to do in respect of this £450 was to write about four letters and four receipts, and for that work he was opposed to payiDg 9» per week per annum. Or. Fraser moved—" That in future no commission be oharged for collecting the endowment rent." Or. Smith asked the Mayor to rule that notioe should be given. The Mayor thought notice was not required, but the question of giving th» clerk three months* notice would have to be borne in mind. The clerk here stated that when Mr Ellen was Mayor he asked him if he thought it right to charge commission on tbis £450, and Mr Ellen thought so, as the expending of it by the Oouncil increased his (the clerk's) duties. The Mayor tbougbt it would be better to give notioe. Or. Fraser then gave notioe to move in reference to the question. Or. Pinohing moved—" That a hearty and cordial vote of thanks be recorded to the Mayor, Mr Blaokwell, for tho able and courteous manner in which be bad discharged the duties of his office in tho past three years." In the Council, on the platform and the benoh, he had acted in a manner creditable to himself, the Council, and tbe town. Or. Parnham seconded, and all the councillors expressed themselves in j complimentary terms. The motion, put by the clerk, was agreed to. Mr Blackwell, in thanking the council for their eagerness to do him honor, said he had always endeavored to impartially discharge his duties, and had invariably had the earnest support of the Oouncil. Compared with other corporations their proceedings bad been worked with good order, and by mutual concessions they had tided over the sffiirs of the town. He thought after eleven years' service in the Oounoil he was entitled to a rest. On tbe motion of Or. Fraser, seconded by Or. May, £5 was voted towards the fire brigade demonstration. Tbe Council then adjourned.