Hastings Borough Council.

Hastings Standard, Issue 339, 4 June 1897, Page 3

Hastings Borough Council.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the B;roit','h Council was held last night in the Council Chambers. Tbe Mayor presided, and there were also present ( ;•■!. B.<-croft, Dennett, Crosse, Murdoch, Linney, and Beilby. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. Williams, who was r way in Wellington on public business. ROAD OVERSEER'S REPORT. The Road Overseer's report was read as follows : 1. I have the honor to report that the work r.s authorised last month is a!! in hand and some completed. St George's Kond bridge approaches, naming streets on tamps'and buildings are completed. i'opLir planting on the banks of the Southland drain, street crossings, timbering drains, cleaning out watertables, road formation, and ■ lie Maraekakaho Road culvert are well in hand and are progressing well. 2. The Maraekalraho Road Culvert.— I find on stripping this Loth sides and part of the top the timber is too far gone to put in again, and my estimate of £l2 19s will in consequence be excec led by about £7 10s As this culvert is on the boundary of the borough, I think the county should be asked to contribute to the cost of the work. 3. Southland Main Drain.—Mr C'ollison has complained to me about the fences below tie poplars being too low in various places. Mr Boyle is also complaining about the laud on his side slipping away and lotting his fences down ; tins has occurred in two places. Now, as there is a large quantity of earth in places to be thrown out of the drain it must go over the fences and increase the evil". 1 would therefore recommend for consideration tha necessity of taking a strip of land on each side of the drain of say 10ft wide, from the poplars to the St George Road, in length about 82 chains, and equivalent in area to about 1 acre. 4. Mr Boyle has also raised the question of the right of the Council to cut the poplars, as he considers they are his property. I am of opinion they are the Council's property; it is a question of where the drain boundary is. However, Mr Boyle has shifted iiis fence close up to the trees, and the horses are now barking them, and in ail probability they will die, unless they are better protected. This question of boundary is one that should be settled at once I think. In reply to a question from Cr. Beecroft clause 2, the Mayor said lie anticipated no difficulty in getting the County Council to contribute towards the expense of the culvert. With regard to clause 4, Cr. Murdoch said if Mr Boyle shifted his fence beyond his boundary he should be compelled to put it back again. The Mayor agreed, but said they would first have to find out the boundary limits by applying at the deeds office. On thejnotion of Cr Beilby, seconded by Cr Dennett, it was decided to leave clauses 3 and 4 in the hands of the Drainage Committee to be reported on at the next meeting. SLAUGHTERHOUSES KEPOP.T. The Inspector of Slaughterhouses reported that the slaughterhouses in the district were clean and satisfactory. The question of license between Dillon and Palmer has been settled. There were 48 head of cattle, 801 sheep and 19 pigs slaughtered during the month. CORRESPONDENCE. From D. Guy, forwarding plan of his sections, showing the road, for the Council's approval. The road was 38 links wide.—On the motion of Cr Crosse, seconded by Cr Beilby, the Council declined to approve of a road less than a chain wide. From W. W : hite stating he was willing to carry out his contract for cleaning the streets, but owing to the floods the channels were silted, which entailed a good deal of extra work. He hoped the council would consider this and give him a bonus at the expiration of his contract. —The Mayor objected to forming a precedent by granting a bonus. He would rather pay the wages for an extra man during the time the additional labor was required. —Cr. Murdoch thought Mr White's case a hard one. When he tendered for the work he relied on ordinary weather for his contract. He moved the extra wages Mr White had to pay after the recent iloods be refunded to him. There being no seconder, Cr. Crosse said all contractors must take risks. The proper time to consider the claim was at the conclusion of the contract. He moved the letter should be received. Cr. Linney agreed with the last speaker and seconded the motion, which was carried. From Mr Tyree, setting forth the advantages of acetyline gas.—Cr. Linney moved that the letter be received, but Cr. Murdoch thought it was the duty of the council to enquire into the matter in the interests of the ratepayers. He suggested a sub-committee to enquire and report on the gas. —Crs Beilby and Linuey both said they hail experience in the gas, and that it was disappointing, upon which Cr Murdoch did not press the matter. From the Auditor-General, certifying to the Borough balance sheet for the year ending March 31st, 3897. Received. From W. Kinross White, thanking the Council for the donation of £SO towards obtaining information with regard to river conservation. —Received. From J. Palmer, butcher, transferring his license for the Havelock slaughterhouse to Mr Dillon.—Received. From W. Nelson, asking permission to connect the Tomoana main drain with the sewer.—Granted. From R. Wellwood, resigning his seat on the Conncil and applying to have his name placed on the burgess roll by virtue of his holdings, lots 28 and 29, sections 61 and 63, Block VI, Hastings-—The Mayor explained that Mr Wellwood neglected to place his name on the roll and consequently he was ineligible as a Councillor and could not seek re-elec-tion until the annual election in September. —Several Councillors regretted

the temporary loss of Or Wellwood's experience, especially on road matters. The application was granted, and the resignation received with regret. From the Hastings Debating Society asking the Council to reconsider their decision with regard to not permitting the society the use of the Ccmicil Chambers, and stating that thf- ivason one of the public halls was not used was on account of the absence of fire grates in these places. The Society would pay for the gas consumed".—The Town Clerk explained that under section 109 of the Municipal Corporations Act the Council could not ileal with the matter at that sitting. Cr Crosse gave notice of motion for the next meeting that the decision of tbe Council refusing the Society the use of the Chambers be rccinded. Cr Beilby suggested that the letter be received. Cr Murdoch said he opposed granting the use of the Council Chambers at the last meeting as he thought the Council by doing so was injuring the business of tbe public halls, but the secretary's explanation he considered ample, and he thought Cr. Crosse's notice of motion should be considered at a special meeting instead of waiting a month for the ordinary meeting.—Cr Linney did not see the occasion for a special meettng.—The Mayor explained that thore would be a special meeting of the Council shortly for another purpose, when he would see that Cr Crosse's notice of motion would he considered. From the borough solicitor, enclosing deed of trust for Queen's Square for completion.—deceived. ORDINARY BUSINESS. Cr Beecroft, in speaking to his notice of motion re forming the borough into wards, said he was not aware that it required a population of so many thousands to form a town into six words. A petition signed by a fourth of the burgesses to form the borough into wards should be presented to the Governor. The population of this town only entitled it- to three words, and he proposed that formation, rle would like to hear Councillors' opinions. —Cr Linney thought the formation of wards was inadvisable. The representative of a ward would naturally do more for the particular ward he represented thau for another. He admitted that the borough was too large, but the formation of wards would create party feeling instead of all working together for the welfare of the borough. —Cr Murdoch thought the idea all very well for large towns, but the population of Hastings was insufficient for the experiment.—Cr Dennett thought the idea premature. — Cr Beecroft, in deference to the Councillors' opinions, withdrew his motion. The Mayor said an account was to hand from Mr Gilberd for the fire engine brake, which was not included in the original invoice. Captain Brausche did not attach any importance to the brake, and it was a question whether Mr Gilberd should be paid the £l2 for the brake or have it returned to him.—Cr Linney did not see how the Council could avoid paying for it. — Crs Beecroft and Crosse thought the brake indispensible to the proper working of the engine.—On Cr Linney's motion it was decided to recognise Mr Gilberd's claim. The Mayor suggested that Jubilee Day should be celebrated by some public function. In a small place like Hastings the celebration could not be largo on account of the counter attractions elsewhere, but the day should not be allowed to pass unnoticed. Ho suggested that Queen's Square should be formally taken over on that day, and a procession of the band and the different schools be formed, and a pyrotechnic display for thejevening.— Cr Linney thought the Queen was an , estimable old lady, and they were all pleased that she had reigned so long, lie thought she would be more gratified if the cost of this demonstration were handed over to the Flood Relief committee.—Cr Dennett agreed with the Mayor, but he did not agree with having fireworks. The Bowling Club intended celebrating the day by a grand ball, and he thought fireworks would act as v a counter attraction and keep people away.— Cr. Beecroft enquired if the Bowling Club intended handing the ball surplus over to the Belief Fund.—Cr. Dennett said the club did not wish to make money out of the affair. The committee would probably be out of pocket.—Cr. Beilby laughingly gave it as his opinion that if the committee were approached they would make Cr. Beecroft a present of any surplus accruing.—Cr. Murdoch suggested that the Queen's Square grounds be formally opened on Jubilee day, and that an oakj called the " Queen's Oak" be planted in commemoration of the occasion. He moved that the members present form themselves into a committee to deal with the question. This was seconded and carried. Cr. Beecroft asked if any notice was to be taken of the state of the watertable in Station street, opposite Messrs Beck and Co.'s drapery establishment. This was a nuisance, and carbolic powder had to be used to minimise the effects of the effluvia.— The Mayor said the matter would be attended to. Accounts amounting to £205 Os 9d were passed for payment. This concluded the business.