BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 601, 30 April 1891, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met on Tuesday evening. Present: The Mayor and Crs Whinray, Hepburn, Joyce, Lewis, McLernon, Dunlop, and Harding. The Secretary of the Charitable A id Board (Mr McKay) wrote agreeing to the offer of the Council to allow the Board to rent the cottages in Roebuck road at £4O per annum, necessary repairs to be done at the expense of Council. Mr McKay also applied on behalf of the body he represented for a vote of £llB as the Borough’s usual contribution according to law. The Mayor said the amount was slightly in excess of last year, but had been made up on careful es'imates.— It was resolved to make the required grant. Mr R. N. Jones, solicitor, applied for the Council’s approval of the transfer of sections 30a and 31a from Mrs Houlden to Mr Primrose.—Cr Joyce thought there could be no objection, as Mr Primrose would be a good lessee. —Cr McLernon moved, and Cr Harding seconded, that the transfer be approved of.— Carried. Cr Whinray asked whether there had been anything further done in regard to the footbridge.—Mr Warren said he had seen the solicitor, Mr Finn, who had shown him the letter he had received from Wellington, in which a wish was expressed that the expense of sending a Commissioner would be avoided by mutual arrangement among the bodies Concerned. He had told Mr Finn there was no hope of that, and a reply bad accordingly been sent at once to that effect. The Fire Inspector presented a report, in which he slated that Mr Wildish this year wore the medal for best all round man, and a request was made that Mr Wildish be ap pointed a Fire Inspector. Mention was also made that a manual engine on hand might be disposed of, and it was agreed to try and do so.—Cr Joyce spoke in praise of the honor won by Mr Wildish, and said that he deserved the congratnlations of the Council. He moved accordingly ; Cr Harding seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. The Overseer reported that Mr Kuipehad Satisfactorily completed his contract for outlet drains; Mr Knox had delivered about twelve yards of stone during the fortnight ; the obtaiuing of a few yards of Matawhero gravel, at 3s a yard, was advised, and it was stated that Mr Hicks was willing to supply more Kaiti gravel, but wanted his own time. In reply to the Mayor Mr Wilkinson said that Others were willing to supply the gravel without delay, at the price previously given to Mr Hicks. The Mayor said in regard to Mr Knox’s contract that he had spoken about the matter to Mr Knox, who said he was getting the metal broken, and when be began, with fair weather, would bring it in very rapidly. It was decided to order 50 yards of the Matawhero gravel at 3s a yard, and the matter of the Kaiti gravel was left in the hands of the Overseer. Mr Warren said that the Returning Officer refused to take the one guinea offered for attending to the local option poll. There was seme discussion on the subject, and Cr Joyce moved that two guineas only be paid—there was too much money, he said, spent on these fiddling jobs.—Cr Harding seconded the motion After much further discussion the Mayor’s suggestion was agreed to, that the amount be paid, but that the system be looked into 10 as to make other provision in the future. Cr Wbinray said the Council should take into consideration the special work performed by Mr Robinson since the death of Mr Bourke. He thought £2 a week was the least they could offer. He moved to that effect, and Cr Harding seconded, also speaking in high terms of the way in whioh Mr Robinson bad carried out his duties.— Cr Joyce endorsed the opinion, but thought the amount was too little for the special services rendered by Mr Robinson.—Cr McLernon coincided in the views expressed. —Cr Dunlop thought the amount rather small for the responsible position in which Mr Robinson was in, at least temporarily. He did not know the proportion of the work borne by Mr Warren, but he thought they might reasonably make the amount £2 10s.—Cr Whinray did not wish to limit the a.mount; and Cr Joyce and the Mayor said they thought the Harbor Board could fairly make some allowance.—The original proposition was carried, the arrangement dating from April 1. Cr Joyce moved that tenders be called for repairing the Borough cottages.—On the suggestion of Cr Harding the matter was left to a committee, with authority to call for tenders tor the carrying out of the work. The following accounts were passed :— A. R Muir, £2 9s; H. Hamblett, £1 9s; R. Robinson, £4 6s 86, E. Wilkinson, £l3; T. Faram, £l3; T. Morrison, £8; J. R. Jones, £1; Nightwatchman, £2 3s 4d; T. Knipe, £7 14s 3d; J. Kenny, £2 9s; E. Clements, £2 12s 6d; J. Thompson, £1 16s 9d ; Sawyer and Hicks, £l. Cr Joyce gave notice to move that a lamp be erected on the Whataupoko side of the Tarqheru bridge, THE ACCOUNTS. According to notice Cr Joyce moved that a competent accountant be appointed to go through the books before a new appointment was made to the Town Clerkship. He considered it requisite to have everything clear tor a new man. Mr Robinson could not do the whole of the work, and they should appoint someone to see that the books were handed over to the new Clerk in a properly balanced state. The Mayor seconded the motion. Cr Wbinray suggested that the Finance Committee be empowered to give effect to it. Cr Joyce said be bad no objection to the Committee having access to the books, but he panted to see a competent, independent person appointed. He had made a similar suggestion at the Harbor Board, but had modified it; afterwards other appointments had been made, and the Hoard’s Committee were considered thorough experts at figures. Cr Whinray considered the Borough’s Committee were quite competent, and should be empowered to employ expert assistance. Cr Lewis did not tbiak it made much difference whether th? Council or the Committee made the appointment—in fact he thought it better for the Council to decide the matter. ' Cr McLernon said he would like to see the Council go into Committee, so as to consider the best means of giving effect to the proposal. Cr Harding did not see why they need go into Committee. He agreed with Cr Joyce that an appointment should be made, and the only question was whether the Finance Committee or the whole Council should make the appointment. As Cr Lewis said it would perhaps be better for the Council as a body to make the appointment. It had to be done, and there was no reason why it should not be done openly. Or Wbinray said his object in suggesting the Finance Committee was because they would know just where to obtain any informa' tion. Or Joyce said that was a question. He pould hot remember any proper report being yet brought up by the Committee, At a future time be would move to have a proper monthly report made. The Mayor said they required to be careful as to the matter of expense, If the Finance Committee, with Mr Robinson’s assistance, were entrusted with the work they would probably bring up a satisfactory report, and would be able to make better arrangements gs to an expert. However, except to guard Against unnecessary expense, he had no particular desire in the matter cos way or the oilier, Or'JbydS said Mr Bobinson would no doubt give every assistance. He would be in favor pf Mr Bobinson being appointed peimanently, only that, though he bad the ability, be was too young fur so much responsibility. The motion was carried unanimously. Cr Joyce said he would propose that the statement be laid before the Council when prepared. The Mayor said that would follow as a matter of course. Cr Lewis thought there should be some definite arrangement ae to how far the accountant should gp back in the books. Were they to accept the auditor's previous certificates ? The committee should not be left In the dark in the matter. The Mayor said it would be very expensive U they decided to have the whole of the books gone through. The Committee would have been able to go into the matter with

the Government auditor, and see what was necessary.

Cr Whinray said it appeared to him the more advisable that the Committee should have the matter in hand. The Mayor said the Harbor Board had chosen its Finance Committee and they had got necessary assistance, and had been working very hard; a report would be brought up very eoon. Cr Joyce pointed out that the Board’s Finance Committee were experts at figures. He put little faith in the efficacy of auditing. It would take an expert very little trouble to go through the books thoroughly with Mr Robinson’s assistance. It was necessary to have the work done even if there was some little expense. Cr Dunlop considered that a perfectly independent man should be appointed, and that he should go through the books during the whole term of Mr Bourke’s employ and give a report to the Committee. The man should be quite independent, and one who could be relied on to give a faithful report. As to the Government auditor he would do nothing but verify the work that some accountant had done. Cr Harding was of the same opinion as Cr Dunlop. He thought a statement should be prepared by a competent and independent man and he laid on the table at an ordinary meeting. Cr Joyce said the Mayor and Finance Committee might arrange the terms with the expert employed. He proposed that Mr Quigley be appointed. He was an expert at figures and was quite impartial. Cr McLernon seconded the nomination of Mr Quigley, whom he believed to be a capable accountant. TheSM.-yor said that Mr Quigley, Mr Davies, and many other well-known accountants had been auditois at different times. Mr Warren said Mr Quigley had been an auditor up to March 31, 1887. Cr Dunlop said they should have a thoroughly independent man. If errors were found they might prove to be the fault of the auditor, and they certainly should not have some one who had been an auditor for ten years. Cr Joyce quite concurred, Cr Dunlop suggested that Mr Piesse, if he had the time, would be a satisfactory person to appoint. He moved to that effect. The Mayor seconded. Or Harding would support Mr Piesse if they had to go right back in the hooks, but if they only wanted to go back a few years he would favor Mr Quigley. Cr McLernon did not think there was any necessity for going back far. Cr Joyce thought they might appoint Mr Quigley and only go-back four years, unless they thought it necessary then to go back further, when they could appoint someone else. The Mayor said it would not do to have two different appointments. Or Whinray favored the whois work being gone through. The amendment was then pat whether Mr Piesse should be appointed to go through the whole accounts, and the appointment was approved of, those for being ihe Mayor, and Ore Hepburn, Whinray, Lewis, Dunlop, and Harding. On the motion of Cr Harding it was resolved that the Finance Committee arrange terms, and if Mr Piesse could not undertake the work or an arrangement not being made as to terms, the Committee be empowered to make an appointment, so that there should not be a fortnight's delay.