MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 353, 15 August 1876, Page 5

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The first ordinary meeting of the Town Council since the annual elections was held in the Chambers on Friday evening, 11th instant, there being present a full council, viz: The Mayor (Mr Jolly, re-elected), Councillors Arndt, Aitken, Talboys, Brown (re-elected for Bridge Ward), Burres (new member for Macandrew Ward), and Scott (new member for Kawarau Ward). CONGRATULATORY. The Mayor in introducing Messrs Burres and Scott to the Council, expressed his pleasure in seeing them take an active part in our local government, and felt sure the gentlemen elected would work earnestly and harmoniously with their brother Councillors in furthering the interests of the town and district. The new members suitably replied, and took their seats at the board. Councillor Brown thought it must be a source of much gratification to the Council to see again at its head a gentleman of the energy and ability of Mr Jolly, the public confidence in whom had been displayed by electing that gentleman to the position of Mayor for three consecutive years. The works accomplished under his guidance had been extensive and well carried out, and no doubt the current year of his office would be marked by similar wise administration. He (Cr Brown) felt he was only echoing the sentiments of his colleagues in paying this tribute to Mr Jolly. His Worship sincerely thanked Councillors for their hearty appreciation of his past conduct as head of the Corporation, and could only promise to still do his duty to the best of his ability with the hope that it would tend to promote the town and district of Cromwell. Business was then gone on with, by the Clerk reading minutes of previous ordinary meeting and proceedings connected with the annual elections, which were confirmed. CORBESPONDENCE. The correspondence inward was of little importance, comprsing letter of thanks from Arrow Council re promised co-operation in erection of bridge at Kawaru Junction, and applications from Mr J. Marsh and Mr J. Scott to be allowed to insert 1-inch pipes in water main. On the motion of Cr Talboys, seconded by Cr Arndt, it was resolved to grant the applications of Messrs Marsh and Scott, subject to their paying a water tariff hereafter to be'fixed. EXPLANATORY. Before proceeding further with the business, his Worship said it might be well for him to enter into some brief details of the working of the Corporation, so that new members might the better be able to understand the mode of procedure. First, nspecting the officers of the Corporation : The Town Clerk was paid L 25 per year, with 10 per cent, on all moneys collected, excepting publicans' licenses, and was likewise allowed LlO per annum as clerk to waterworks—making in all about L 125 per annum for this officer's salary. This method of paying the Clerk was simply a trial one, and had been found to work well. Looking at the duties to be performed, the salary could not, he thought, be considered too large. It would be for members to say whether the same system should continue. Next, there' was the Corporation day-man, who was paid a weekly wage of L 4 10s, and whose duty it was to do the day and night-work of the town, for which purpose he had to provide a horse and cart. It must be confessed that this office had not given the satisfaction which the money expended should lead them to expect, but as the work was a necessary and important one, it could not at present well be done away Avith. The Council did their best to get value for the expenditure, but from the nature of the duties, a strictly correct control of the day-man's time could not be kept. Respecting the financial position of the Corporation, it was not so flourishing as when the financial report was submitted some weeks since, when a balance of L3OO was shown to credit. Since that time a number of accounts had been paid, which induced the balance to L 77 lis. It would therefore be seen that it was necessary that outstanding rates should be at once collected. It was more especially necessary that water rates be at once paid, as that account was considerably overdrawn and in debt to the ordinary account. Besides, the ratepayers had got value for their money, and as a matter of fact the reduction in their insurances more than covered the rates payable. Peremptory steps must therefore be taken for payment of water dues. A number of notices of motion stood on the minutebook which it would be for the Council to deal with. RATEPAYERS IN ARREAR. The Clerk reported that he had placed the cases of a number of defaulting ratepayers in the hands of the Corporation solicitor, and that immediate steps would be taken for the recovery of amounts due. COMMITTEES. The appointment of permanent committees was then proceeded with, as follows : Public Works. —Crs Scott, Aitken, and Burres. Finance. —Crs Arndt, Brown, and Talboys. Legislative. —Crs Arndt, Brown, and Talboys. ACCOUNTS. ■ A number of accounts were presented and passed for payment subject to approval of Finance Committee, who were also em-

powered to arrange with Messrs Park and Curie for a settlement of balance due that firm for material supplied in connection with waterworks. TREE-PLAVTING. Or Brown, on behalf of the committee appointed to take this matter in hand, reported that certain portions of the town had been selected for plantation this spring, and enquiries made as to the most suitable treiis for the purpose. It might be well for the new Council to re-form the committee and invest them with power to act, so that no time might be lost, as the season was now advancing. This was done, Crs Brown, Talboys, and Aitken being reappointed with power to act. FIRE BRIGADE PROPERTY. Some discussion took place respecting the property of the Council in hands of the'Fire Brigade, resulting in a motion by Cr Brown to the effect that the Captain of the Brigade be requested to have prepared and submitted to the Council an inventory of property at present vested in the Brigade. WATER TARIFF. In view of the various applications before the Council for leave to use larger than the regulation size of pipe for conveying water from the main, Cr Aitken proposed that a committee be appointed to draw up a scale of charges for extra water supply, the committee to consist of Crs Burres, Brown, Talboys, and mover, and to lay their report before the Council at next meeting.— .Seconded by Cr Arndt, and carried. HAWKERS' LICENSES. Licenses to hawk goods within the Municipal bounds were granted to Messrs Lewis, Anderson, and Tamblin. CROMWELL COAL-PIT. Attention of the Council was directed to the danger to property at the north end of the town by reason of the workings in the Cromwell coal-pit, as the ground was subsiding from the surface. It was pointed out that in case of injury to any private property from this cause, the Corporation would be held liable for damage. It was suggested that a survey of the woi'kings should be made, but no definite conclusiun was arrived at.

This concluded the business, and the Council rose.