ST. KILDA COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 15909, 15 September 1915, Page 4

ST. KILDA COUNCIL

The fortnightly meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council was held last night; presenV-fthe Mayor (Mr W. T. MTarlane), Crs Scurr, Campbell, M'Connell, and Edgar. The Agricultural Department wrote informing the council that goat's rue had •been added to the schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act.—Received. The Dunedin Drainage Board wrote stating that they -were prepared to withdraw clause 7" of the Drainage Board Amending Bill.—lt was decided to support the Bill in view of this decision by the board. The' Finance Committee reported the following bank balances to date:—District fund, account (dr), £7,072 13s sd; special loan account No. 2 (cr), £257 15s 9d; special loan account No. 3 (cr), £3,565 10s; drainage and sewerage account (cr). £8 2s 6d. The committee also reported having instructed the Town Clerk to replv to a telegram from Lady Liverpool asking for the council's co-operation with the City in the matter of the leather waistcoat fund for the soldiers, stating that the movement would receive the council's whole-hearted support. The committee also recommended that the request of tho Anderson Bay Town Board for the temporary use of the council's sanitary service be granted.—Adopted. The Works Committee's- report," wliich dealt with a number of minor works in the borough, was adopted. The Reserves Committee's report recommended that a report prepared bv Mr H. Clarke on the grub pest at Culling Park be adopted. This report rea.niniended that apterite be used on this park, as/ in addition to being very destructive to insect life, it was also "a great fertiliser.— The report was adopted. Cr Dove moved, in accordance, with notice of motion—(l) "That the resolution in the minutes of Jnlv 22, 1913 ' That drainage permits in Chapman. Alills Bird, and Dalgetv streets be 10s'—be rescinded." (2) "That, now that these streets and footpaths are being properly formed, £1 be charged for drainage permits in future."—Cr Scurr seconded the motions, which were carried practically without discussion. Cr Dove then moved—'"That the agreement with the engineer be terminafed.'' He said he had no desire to injure anv man in any way whatever. He, however believed that he would bo failing in his duty as a councillor if he neglected to take the drastic step proposed. His reason for moving this motion was that the engineer had signally failed in his duty to the council in advising them to procure metal from-the Logan's Point quarry When the question of the formation of turf footpaths in the middle portion of the borough was brought under the notice of the council, councillors were unanimous that this rfiould not be, but the engineer was out of town, and the work still wont on, and was still going on. Cr Dove referred to other matters in which he considered that the engineer had flouted the council, and urged that his proposal should be carried. Cr Campbell seconded the motion. Cr Edgar said that for the small remuneration he received the engineer had done excellent work. It was only a matter of giving him a fair show.'and'the work would be all right. There was a good deal of tittle-tattling going on round "the borough, and members should, if there was anything wrong, come to the committee meetings and thrash things out. He would oppose the motion. Cr Scurr said he came to the meeting with quite an open mind, prepared to be guided by the arguments put forward. The evidence adduced bv Cr Dove had convinced.him that the council would not be justified in passing the resolution proposed . The Mayor and Cr Kilpatrick each eulogised tho work done by the engineer, and stated that he was a' man with a very excellent record, and one who.-e service* were very, highly valued wherever he wa* engaged. Cr Dove having replied, the motion was put to the meeting and lost, only tho mover and the seconder voting' for it." This concluded tho business.