BOROUGH COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1911, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL

. <► — ■ A meeting- -of the Borough Council was held last evening. Present: The Mayor (chair), Crs". V. 'Byrne, R. Russell, E. Sheedy, G. Sweetman, J. Jackson, E. Perkins, Gr. Tennent, J. Greenslade and J. Kerr. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr J. Tennent and 19 others asking the extension of gas mains to their property. Rceived and held over till next meet- ■ ing. •.■•■■ • • : MrT. Maher and 15 others wrote asking that a horse trough be erect- »«* on the Paroa Road. < Held over till next meeting. The Hokitika Borough Council wrote asking the Council to co-operate in asking- the Government to slvft the Otira station nearer the tunnel.^ so as to shorten the journey to Christchurch. ' Cr. Byrne seconded and Crs. Kexr and-Swetman supported. „ Cr. Sheedy proposed an amendment that the letter be received and no action taken. If the Hokitika and Kef ton people had consented to come over night the train could leave earlier in the morning, and the journey could foe completed in one day. Cr. Perkins seconded pro forma. He held that the shifting of the station would not do much .good. The railway service should be improved. Cr. Tenneht held that the* present station' was out of place, and too much time was lost over loading luggage. He supported the amendment. "• The amendment was put and lost and the motion carried. The "Wharf Labourers' Union wrote asking that Mr Joseph Stokes ibe given employment. Cr. Kerr moved that the matter be refered to the Mayor for favourable consideration. Or. Byrne seconded. Carried. . The Star Football Club wrote asking that the approach to their hall be made. Cr. Perkins "moved and Cr. Sweetman secondedjhat the work be put in hand at oncef '.Carried. Mr F. A. Michel and five other hairdressers wrote suggesting hours of closing. Agreed to: J The District Engineer wrote complaining of the charge of water for the cranes. Referred to the water overseer. Mrs Shallcrass wrote asking to -be allowed to erect a croquet lawn on | the Recreation Ground. The request was granted. The Lawn Tennis Cluib wrote asking for a site on the King's. GaTdens for the making of courts. ■ At this stage a person in the audience interjected and the Mayor ordered him to refrain from speaking. I am a ratepayer, and I- will have* my Say. The Mayor. — If you do not leave the room I will have you arrested. I don't. The Mayor. — Mr Town Clerk ring up for the police. After the telephone had rung the person cleared out and busines was •resumed. After discussion on the leasing^ of the Lawn Terms Grounds the motion for permission was granted, Cr. Byrne dissenting. Mr Eddison, Blaketown, wrote asking if the lamps at Blaketown were for ornament or use. Cr. Kerr said the lighting of Blaketown was disgraceful. He moved that a committee consisting of Crs. Sweetman, Russell, Greenslade, and Perkins, visit Blaketown and make a full . report at next meeting. Cr. Russell seconded. Carried. The District Railway Engineer wrote complaining- of the wandering cattle nuisance. Referred to the Inspector of Nuisances. Mr A .Naylor wrote asking for a building permit for four hoasos, and asking that the present ro.idway be maintained. Or. Kerf moved that a committee of the whole Council visic f he site and report. Cr. Greenslade seconded. Carried. Mr B. E. Warren wrote a-;kinj; for employment. Filed for reference. Nurse Bishop and three' ; wrote asking- for a lamp to be erected. Granted. Mr F. W. Shallcrass wrote asking for an approach to .be made to bis residence. Granted. The Waihi Borough Gouacil \c: ote asking the wages paid to gas stokers in Greymouth. Return to .be supplied. The West Coast Rugby Union -v*i ote asking the Council to place a glass case in the Museum for the reception of football! trophies. The Mayor moved and Or. rVeeiman seconded that the request be granted. Carried. The Greymouth Harbour Board wrote objecting to the removal of sand at Blaketown. Received. Mr W. Rathbun wrote asking that the drains near his residence be filled in. ' Cr. Kerr moved and Cr. Greenslade seconded that the overseer ,be requested to "carry out the work .at or>e. Gairied. Mr A. J. Petrie wrote applying- tor a month's leave of absence as tie had only had nine days holiday during six years. Or. Perkins said it was not correct. Mr. Petrie got three weeks holiday m Berjtember, 1909. Or. Byrne said a rule should be made 'to give an annual aoiifiay. He iiioved that cbnsiieration l.c held over and the matter be referred to the Town Clerk: . . '. The .Hospital-, and Charitable Aid Board wrote stating that the Borough's levy to the. Board would be £1,486, as against £968 last year. ' ' -U" ; 'V " The Mayor said the expenditure on -the hospital was excessive. If the . rate jumped up £500 a year property . holders could not live. Cr. Byrne moved that Mr M. Hannan be asked to ibring the matter before" the conference of lightening the burden on local foodies. The Mayor seconded. Carried. Nash and Co. wrote asking for a remission n the water charges. The Fresh" Food and: lce Company .wrote in a similar strain. Cr. Sweetman moved and the Mayor seconded that Mr Evans report on same. Mr C. Uddstrom wrote asking that a permit ibe issued to him to r cct an . upper storey in,Mackay street. Cr. Kerr moved that ihe leijavst be granted under clause ; 38.0. ; Hc.trpught it only a fair proposition. Cr. Sheedy seconded and said the recmest was a fair one. Cr. Sweetman moved an amendment that the permit be not .granted. Ci\ Jackson seconded- and- held that th° bye-laws should be carried out. Cr. Bvrne supported the amenrl-p-»pn.t. and siid he would carry out hi^ r>ledJTfs *o fTie ratepayers to. carry out tit" bvp-laws. r Cr. ■Russell ?a:d: the rierrnit slioiiTrt I i->« n-~opf C r] p's it seemed a reasonable ]-<■<"! Mpc:' •■■'.' ..■ ; .{''.' "■ ' . "■.'■- . i*f\ Tsp.n^Tif «;pi<"l tb f >>lp' r| Ol' pTP'.i sK""" li'i;VKo'rnrripf.]'.oi.it ihv' the letter according- to. rife ;by-laws,

The amendment was put and carried. For : Crs. Greenslade, Perkins, Tennent, Jackson, Sweetman, Byrne. Against : Crs. Sheedy, Russell, and I Kerr. J MAYOR'S REPORT. As most of the Councillors are conversant with the financial position of the Borough, it is unnecessary for me to go into detail, 'but simply to say that the estmated expenditure for the current year exceeds the estimated revenue t>y close on four thousand pounds. This is a serious problem for Councillors to face, and it requires careful consideration, but I feel that ■by g-oing- carefullj'^ifito the expenditure, and trusting to Councillors' wisdom, ways and means may be devised " to meet 'thfe difficulty without excesive hardships being put upon the ratepayers. Councillors at the table can console themselves with the fnct . that they are no?_ responsible for 'tho financial difficulties existing at present. However, on thoir shonlrWs now falls the burden of the maladministration of the.. p_ast. : To formulate a policy for the good government of our town s comparatively easy, but to carry it out is a most difficult task, ibut with officers "with a knowledge of their duties and a desire to carry them out, the ob- | stacles can be quickly removed. Several Councillors have' tabled notices of motions, and 1 trust they >will be successful in carrying them, as they all bear on the betterment of the Borough without further cost to the ratepayer. The vacancy in the position of En- . gineer caused through Mr Lord's death must 'be filled as soon as possible, as urgent loan works require to •be put in hand, and it is for the Council to consider the class of man — whether surveyor , engineer, or nrstclass city overseer — they intend to appoint. | Ways and_ menas .must be considered for the twelve months, the amount of revenue being- insufficient to meet expenditure. The system of asphalting- and draining private property is unsatisfactory. A large amount of the outstanding revenue is for this class of work, and we require our, employees for corporation footpaths, drains, etc., ! and- other works. ' • The time has arrived when the corporation must consider the advisability of purchasing a carting plant ; this can be. done out of loan moneys, and repaidat the expiration of loans -expenditure. "" A re-construction of the staff would meet with the ratepayers' approval. At present our monthly wage sheet all told is £500. It' is desirable that the Gas Manager gather all information regarding the cheapest and best method of delivering coal to the gas works. Loans falling due next year amounting to about £27,000 will require looking- into. The water supply of the Borough has been a source of concern to the consumers and councillors. It is a problem to face in the future, and Councilors must <be prepared to devote time and consideration to future plans in that direction. The large increase in the Charitable Aid levy for the year, 5 amounting to over £500 on the previous year, provides Councillors with food for reflection. A serious problem faces them, and the time has come when local contributing bodies should" propose a different rating- system, and considerably relieve the householder of a share of iEerate. - : In conclusion, the financial position of the Borough" can be attributed to the small amount received as net profits from the reproductive works, and the foregoino- of special rates in the past. It was not necessary to call all up, but a certain portion should have been collected to balance the expenditure. Cr. Kerr moved that consideration be held over till next meeting 1 . Cr. Sweetman seconded. Carried. WATER COMMITTEE. The committee appointed to visit the pumping station jreported that the machinery was working very unsatisfactory. Or. Tennent moved that this council _ immediately consider means of improving- our water supply. The water supply department was running them into the bankruptcy court, and the water was not good. The beds were sinking and tjie machinery was in a very bad condition. If we confinue the way we are goin"- it will cost us £2000 a year. The gas used would be nearly £1600. He believed in a suction gas plant, which would effect a considerable saving. The pumping station was the best customer the gas works had. He thought, a committee should be set up to go fully into the matter. . (Jr. Jackson seconded the motion and endorsed Cr. Tennent's remarks. Cr. Sweetman said the only way was to go in for a. gravitation scheme, and get expert advice. Cr. Byrne thought they should deal with the matter in a practical way. An engineer should be appointed to report on the matter of the gravitation scheme. The motion was carried. The Mayor suggested having a full discussion on the matter during the week. Agreed to. TREASURER'S REPORT. The receipts for the month of April were £1^123 13s 7d. The bank overdraft at date is £1,330 10s lOd, and the -credit* balance at loan account £5,799 15s sd; ■' Two foatcties of summonses have been issued for unpaid rates, and this process will be 'continued as it appears to be the only way of effectively dealing with the. large amount of outstanding -revenue. ■ i The balance-sheet for the year ending 31st March; 1911, is now practically completed,, and will be presented to you at next meeting;'- I may add that 1 am preparing profit and loss Statements of the trading departments of the boTOUgh from the respective dates of theirinauguration to the present, and these will also be placed ■before you at an early date. Three of the ; Council's loans fall due in January next and one in the following June aggregating £27,000 and "it will be "necessary for the Coun- . cil to make provision to take these up. r : " ' ■ ..'■■■■ '"- ; The following contracts have expired: Gass works' carting, removal of nightsoil, removal of house rubbish, extra carting and it will' be necessary for the Council to make provision for ! the carrying out of these services for the remainder of _the year. The late Mr Lord prepared specifications for each of the above, and I now submit them to you. ' '- . It is necessary that the Council should appoint two of their number to sign cheques drawn on the Council's bank account, and also two to s : crn all contracts entered into by -the Cmmcil. Th« bnli.rx"" sheet for the year p.ndir«> March 31st was presented and'received.". ' . ''^ • ■ • Or. J.t.VpoV said b n rilr>nppr! fo see that t^n to-""* 7 ") cler l ' hnd Furb a. jyrasrj of fh.e .'affairs. The report wi very satisfactory. '„ • TJiq report was adopted,

NOTICES OF MOTION. Cr. Jackson moved that the maintenance work of the borough be caTj reid out .by the councl direct. The work could -be effectively carried out by day labour under an. efficient engineer. • Cr. Tennent seconded. Carried. Cr. Byrne moved that tenders be supplied for all goods to the borough. Cr. Kerr seconded. Carried. Cr. Sweetman moved that the staff be re-organised both in and out. As regards the inside staff he was prepared to wait until the end of the month for a report from the new town clerk. The time had arrived to enquire into the outside staff. Cr. Jackson seconded. Cr. Russell said it was rather too soon to ask tlie newcouncillprs to carry out reforms. The motion was carried. The Council adjourned .at 10.50.