Cromwell Borough Council

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1987, 7 May 1906, Page 5

Cromwell Borough Council

The first meeting of the Counci since the election pf Mayor was hel at the Council Chambers cm Wednes ' day, 'bid May, at 7.30 p.m. Present His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Little Crs. Cair, Tlotop, Percy, Jolly Donnelly, and Bowie. The Town Clerk stated that h< called fov nominations for Mayor ir the proper manner, and there wai only one nomination (Mr J. Little consequently he was returned unopposed. Cr. Gair was voted to the chair, and on Mr Little signing the usual declaration, he was then duly installed for the year. Cr. Gair, in vacating the chair, congratulated Mr Little on the way he had conducted the business during the past year, also on being again returned unopposed. Cr. Jolly also congratulated the Mayor on being returned unopposed, and he had much pleasure in stating that Mr Little had, during his term of office, conducted the business with great tact, and the utmost good feeling had existed, and he trusted it would continue as in the past, for then good work is sure to emanate from the Council. Mr Little briefly thanked the Council for the kind sentiments expressed, and he must thank the councillors one and all, for the way they had supported him during the past year, and he was confident the councillors had the best interests of the town at heart, and they had carried out some important works during the year, and there was a number of works requiring to be done this year. A great deal requires to be done, but as the finances must be attended to they would have to “ cut their cloth accordingly.” Again thanking them for their good wishes, he hoped the good feeling of the past would continue. The ordinary business was as follows : The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : From Secretary Cromwell Hospital Trust enclosing rent for office for year (£3), and asking for a reduction to £1. —Received. Rent fixed at 30s per year. From Secretary Municipal Association, Wellington, stating the Association's meeting is held in July, and V delegates are to be appointed, and the names sent. It was resolved to appoint Mr Frazer, M.H.R., who had consented to act. From Treasury, Wellington, forwarding voucher for £1 17s Id, goldfields revenue. — Received. From Cromwell Brass Band, asking for the usual grant from the Borough, enclosing balance-sheet for the year showing they had a credit balance of nearly £65. After considerable discussion it was resolved that the usual grant of £2O be given this year, but the Council did not think they would be able to grant the amount in the future. From Cr. Ford resigning his seat for Macandrew Ward on account of removing to Dunedin,— Resignation accepted. From the Charitable Aid Board asking for the valuation for the year. The Clerk had replied giving the amount as £4263. From P. Hill, stating that owing to ill-health he could not continue his sub-contract from R. Olds of the Borough Endowment, and asking the Council to cancel it. After considerable discussion it was .resolved, That Mr Brodrick (Borough Solicitor) be requested to get the lease between the Borough and Olds for the council's inspection, also the lease from Old’s to Hill. From the Fire Brigade asking the Council to get ladders, as at the present time they could not do anything with a two-storey building.— Resolved to refer the letter back, requesting the brigade to give an estimate as to the amount of the cost. From the Vincent County Council, asking the support of the Borough to the resolution passed by the County re royalties on flax and coal.—Request agreed to. Cr. Hotop brought up the matter of the non-attendance of councillors, and suggested the Mayer should say something on the matter, as it was not right for anyone who accepts the position to stay away from meetings unless there was good reasons for so doing. The Mayor stated he should have so before, but it escaped his notice. He strongly condemned the practice of non-attendance; but while it does not apply to a councillor who has been granted leave, or who is away on account of illness, a councillor who does not attend is insulting the ward he represents, also the Council as a whole, and he hoped these remarks would be helpful in securing a good attendance in the future. The following letter from the Vincent County Council, in connection with the Water Motor invented ' by Mr Gillanders, stating the Council intended forwarding a copy to the Minister of Public Works, Minister of Mines, Messrs Fraser, Bennett, and MacPherson, M.H.R.’s: — The Hon. The Minister of Lands, Wellington. gi r? —l have the honor to inform you that for some time past the Mayor of Cromwell has been in communication with Mr Gillanders, Dunedin, who holds a patent for a Hydraulic River Motor, At a conference of delegates from Vincent County and Cromwell Borough Councils, Mr Gillanders exhibited the plans and specifications of jjjg machine, and later showed a work jng model of same. The plans and jgecific*tiqna to™ b * ei * exmxined and

checked by the Vincent County Engineer, and his report, which is favorable, is attached to the plans and 1 specifications posted to you under I separate cover. For many years past the Cromwell : District has suffered from a bed of ) drifting sand ; the town has been , threatened, and the County roads destroyed. Government money and ' funds from the local bodies have been 1 spent without giving any lasting > benefit, and it has been a recognised 1 fact by experts and local residents that the only real and lasting remedy is to secure a growth of some plant on the sand covered area. This has been tried by planting marram grass, gorse, lupin, etc., all of which grow rapidly in the spi’ing’ when the ground is moist, but as the summer advances

dies out for want of moisture. Up to the present time the residents and local bodies interested have failed to find a cheap and permanent water supply. It has been thought by the Councillors of Vincent County and Borough of Cromwell that “ Gillander’s Motor ” will prove a success for the purpose mentioned above —namely, to supply water to abate the sand nuisance, and also prove of great value and benefit to Central Otago and the whole colony. The machine is adapted for our rapid flowing rivers, where a never failing supply of water is available and contingent to the thirsty lands, only

requiring irrigation to grow crops second to none. The inventor of the machine claims that a machine to cost two thousand pounds (£2000) will raise five (5) heads of water one hundred and fifty feet (150). and if this is so, then this is undoubtedly the cheapest method for a supply of water that has ever been thought of. The Vincent County Council and the Borough Council of Cromwell, at full meetings, passed resolutions, which are attached, urging on you to provide the funds to erect a trial “ Motor ” out of the vote of £50,000 on the Estimates of last year, “ Lands Improvement, Class 38 Folio 76 of Estimates, 31st March. 1906.” We may add that thousands of acres of Crown Lands will benefit by the machine, if a success. Mr Gillandeis has agreed that we submit his plans and specifications to you in order that you may submit them to your own experts and thus ensure that there will be no failure. It is proposed to erect the first machine in the Clutha Rivav bof W eeri Dead Man’s Point and the Town ui Cromwell, and lift the water from the Clutha River to a point near the old Cemetery behind the Town of Cromwell. “ Resolved by the Vincent County Council, “ That the Hon. The Minister

of Lands be urged to provide funds from the Lands Improvement Vote (£50,000) to erect one of Mr Grllander’s River Motors on the Clutha River near Cromwell, the estimated cost of which is two thousand pounds (£2000).” James Horn, Chairman. The Common Seal of the County was affixed in the presence of Crs. James Horn and Wm. C. Fetches. Witness : John S. Dickie, County Clerk.

The resolution was unanimously adopted by Council. An approximate statement for the year ending 31st March was read by the Clerk, showing the expenditure as £1142 12s 2d, and the receipts as £lO9l 2s 2d, leaving a Dr. balance of £sl 10s ; rents over due, £66 12s 4d ; rates, £56. The C lerk was instructed to write Mr Bowling re the trees overhanging the street at his residence; also to Mrs Marsh re the fence at her place. Accounts amounting to £l4 Is 7d were passed for payment. The usual vote to the chair closed the meeting.