Hastings Borough Council.

Hastings Standard, Issue 199, 17 December 1896, Page 2

Hastings Borough Council.

The annual statutory meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening in the Council Chambers. Councillor Welhvood M'as voted to the chair. There were also present: Crs Dennett, Hughes, Beecroft, Murdoch, and the Mayor elect, Mr C. A. Fitzßoy. STATUTORY DECLARATION. Mr Fitzßoy made the usual stautory statement and Cr Well wood vacated the chair 211 his favor. AN APOLOGY. An apology was read from Cr W. Beilby for his unavoidable absence and requesting leave of absence from the next meeting.—Granted. THE MAYORAL SEAT. Cr Welhvood, in a graceful speech, congratulated the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, on his victory in the Mayoral contest, which showed the esteem he was held in by the people of Hastings and by the Councillors. Cr Murdoch Cr Welhvood. It was a matter for congratulation for the town and Council that Mr Fitzßoy was returned to his position as Mayor of the borough. During the three years in which Mr Fitzßoy had held office he could not remember a single instance of friction between the Mayor and any member of the body which he controlled. The present almost perfect drainage system was due to the energy of the Mayor. The Mayor, in reply, said he was overwhelmed with the tributes of Crs Wellwood and Murdoch. He was glad the ratepayers recognised his services during his absence, and for this reason he was glad there was a contest. The overdraft at the Bank was said to have increased during his office, and he would endeavor to explain. In 1893 when he first took the chair the overdraft was .£1,597, and to-day it was £2,400, or an increase in round numbers of £BOO. Against this, £SOO was spent in paying off the balance on the fire engine ; £2OO in law costs, and £SOO in the drainage scheme and forming roads in connection therewith; the whole totalling £1,200. They would see that though the overdraft was increased by only £BOO, £1,200 was expended which need not be repeated. As there would be very little heavy expenses this year, he hoped to see the overdraft considerably decreased. lie thanked the Council for their congratulations. TENDERS. Tenders for carting were received as follows : —T. Home, one horse team per day, 7s 6d ; two do., 10s ; three do., 12s. W. Lane, one do., 10s; two do., 12s; three do., 15s. G. Hayes, 0119 do., 7s lOd ; two do., 9s lOd ; three do., 12s 3d. A. Masters, one do., 8s 9d; two do., lis Gd ; three do., lls.--On the motion of Cr Hughes, seconded by Cr Dennett, Mr T. Home's tender was accepted. The following tenders were received for the supply of dog collars : —Land and Heighway, new collars, 7|d; relabelling old collars, 2d- F. Bethell, new collars, 7d ; relabelling old collars, 2d. R. Wilkins, new collars, ofd; relabelling old collars, Mr Wilkins' tender was accepted. Tenders for printing were received from the Standard, the Herald, and Mr A. A. George.—The Herald's tender was accepted. The tenders for advertising were as follows :— -Hastings Standard, Is per inch ; Napier Telegraph, Id per inch. --The Mayor said this was evidently a cut-throat quotation, but if they did not accept the lowest tender they might find themselves next year in the position of having no tenderers.—The lowest tender was accepted. S The following tenders were deceived for lighting, cleaning, and extinguishing street lamps at" per lamp per month; —W. R. Ivessell, 1 §d; W. White, 2s lid ; E. Masters, 2s 6d ; L. Leeves, 8s; T. J. J oil, 2s Gd ; T. Home, 2s Od ; J. Sturm, Is Gd.—The Mayor thought there was a mistake in Mr Kessell's tender.—Mr Kessell, who was present, explained that the tender should have been Is Gd. —-Mr Sturm's tender was accepted. Cleaning streets as per specification per month :—A. Martin, £1 17s Gd : W. White, £8 (accepted) ; T. Home. £4 Gs; W. R. Kessell, £5. dog tax. The dog tax (5s greyhounds and lu - ordinary dogs) remains unaltered, an Sergeant Mitchell was appointed Registrar. dangerous practices. Cr Murdoch called attention to the orange and other peel nuisances on the foothpaths, and moved that bye-law 330 be enforced. Seconded by Cr Dennett and carried. The Mayor called attention to the prevalance of the dangerous practice of building haystacks in close proximity to dwellings in contravention of byelaw 197. It was decided to enforce this law rigorouslv in view of the danger of fire. Cr Dennett called attention to the great and growing nuisance of larrikins and older roughs congregating in shop recesses, especially 011 Sunday evenings when people were coming from church, smoking, spitting, and using foul and disgusting language. He thought the police should bo asked to take active steps in the matter. —Cr thought the police here were outworked. Sometimes, owing to the absence of one of them on country duty, the town work devolved on one only. Those, two men could not be expected to be perpetually on duty, and it was for this reason that increased police strength was applied for.—lt was resolved to direct the attention of the police to the matter. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr Beecroft called attention to the state of the drain fence in Railwayroad, where cattle can walk over it."*»r If accidents occurred the Council would be responsible.—Cr Murdoch confirmed Cr Beecroft's statements, and the Road Overseer was instructed to have the matter attended to at once.

With regaiai to die present ine-laws for impounding cattle, Cr WY-ilwood said that according to the old Road Boards. »v, vi if cattle were in charge of a jx r-K?!, they were liable to be iirtponndt «l nn"e- s she person iu charge eortld pr •. he was driving th« :.i from one to another. Tito K" -I OreRKW wsi- -• -fril in a sraiil.tr ease soiim* tin:" *;•. >. and he tli'.->:ght a few more cases should b*» taken up as tests. —C'r Ikimett thought th.it as tby gross on the public way was simply wasting and rotting, it was a pity to debar the poor people from using it. In »'>» _ winter, wh. n the nights were Ions? it was different. and he would agree with Cr W'<.Uwood, but he thought that at present the consideration of the question ought to be [*>: poned. C'r V\ . d s_. mpathi-» d with the poor people a> much as Cr Dennett, but that was not the viewthat should be taken of the subject. If Cr Dennett had » crop of oats next the road, how would he like to have a marauding cow break down his fence and feast upon it ?It was decided thai cattle suspected of being pastured on the roads, whether iu charge of a person or not, be impounded as test cases. This concluded the business.