HAWERA TOWN BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 102, 6 April 1881, Page 3

HAWERA TOWN BOARD.

A meeting of the Town Board was held "n. Monday last, at 7 p.m. Present — Messrs. Cookburn, Duffill, Dingle, MoCutchan, and King (chairman). Minutes of the two previous meetings were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Letter from Mr. Barleyman re leases of certain sections, and correcting certain claims in his account. — From the same, re state of drain in High street, and asking leave to erect a bridge over the same. — From Mr. Buchanan re culvert required on road leading to his property.— Keport from Mr. Pinches, inspector of nuisances, re nuisances. Reporting one near Mrs. Carson's, which he traced to the brewery, but thought the whole drains needed cleansing and attention, admitting that Mr. Johnston had had his portion of the drain cleaned out. On Mr. Barleyman's letter being discussed, it was resolved to affix the seal of the board to Messrs. O'Connor's, Cockbarn's, and H. McGuire's leases. It was resolved to grant permission to Mr. Barleyman to erect a bridge over the drain. In respect to Mr. Buchanan's request for culvert and formation, Mr. Cockburn proposed that the work should be left in abeyance until there were more funds at the disposal of the board. There being . no seconder, the motion lapsed. On the motion of Mr. McCutchan, it was resolved that additional culverts be made the full width of the roadway, the drain being filled up on the culvert. Mr. Bayly seconded the resolution, which was carried.

In respect to the nuisance complained of by the inspector, Mr. McCutchan stated . that any 'cost of improving the drainage would not fall upon Mr. Johnston, but upon the owner, Mr. Burton. It would be immaterial to Mr. Johnston whether he paid his xent for removing the nuisance, or to the owner. Mr. MoCutchan moved, "That notice be served on the owner of the brewery to forthwith abate the nuisance in the watercourse east of Princes street, caused by debris and water arising and flowing from the brewery, and to take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of the said nuisance, within one week." Mr. Cockburn moved an amendment

that one month should be allowed. The Chairman mentioned that there I^ad been more sickness in a house near the place complained of than in any other in Hawera. . After discussion, Mr. McCutchan said that where life was in danger, the expense

to the individual should not be considered. Ample time had been already given to the owner. The amendment was then put and lost, and the original resolution was carried. It was admitted that Mr. Johnston had greatly improved the state of the drain on his property. Mr. McCutchan then proposed, and MrDingle seconded, that in default of the owner complying with notice to abate the nuisance, a summons be forthwith issued. (Carried.) Mr. McCutchan proposed that in future the Inspector of Nuisances be empowered to serve notice to remove a nuisance, and if necessary to take out summonses, with the consent ol the chairman. Mr. Cockburn thought the inspector should have power to issue a summons without reference to the chairman, and proposed an amendment that the Inspector of Nuisances be empowered to serve notices and summonses to abate nuisances. (Carried.) LEASES. It was proposed by Mr. Dufnll that all monies paid for leases of the Acre Eeserve be paid to a separate account in the bank, to be called the " Hawera Town Board Office Building Account," such deposits to continue until funds have accumulated sufficiently to erect suitable Town Board buildings. Seconded by Mr. Cockburn. Mr. Bayly proposed an amendment — " That the rents received from the Town Acre be treated as ordinary revenue of Board." He thought it was hardly necessary to. stick to the strict letter of the grant. It would be possible to reserve a similar sum from ordinary revenue in another year or so for building purposes. They would only borrow the money for a short term for necessary works. The Government would probably sanction such a course, if asked to do so. Mr. Duffill stated that the land was applied for for Town Board offices. Many of the buyers of the town acre leases bought with a full expectation of seeing the offices erected. Separate accounts could be kept, and then if money were really needed for pressing works, the Board might borrow from No. 2 Account. The Chairman thought that at the end of another year there would be sufficient funds in hand to erect offices, at least, as good as those at present occupied. The present board ought to leave the matter on a thoroughly sound and proper footing I for their successors in office. Mr. Bayly thought it was childish to have a double banking account, as proposed, unless a special arrangement were first made with the Bank. Mr. McCutchan thought that the Board had no right to expend the money on any other work except that for which it was intended. Mr. Dufnll's resolution was then put and carried. RECREATION RESERVES. ' The Chairman thought that the proceeds * from the recreation ground should be devoted to the improvement of the reserve. The Secretary stated that there had been £15 18s. received, and £16 ss. 6d. spent out of that fund. Mr. Cockburn was "strongly in favor of all funds derived from the recreation reserve being expended on the reserve, and also of separate accouuts being kept. He proposed a resolution to that effect, which was seconded by Mr. Duffill. To which Mr. Bayly moved an amendment that separate accounts be kept in the ledger of all monies derived from the recreation ground. — Carried. THE CEMETERY. The Chairman stated that the cemetery was not properly managed. Two acres had been fenced in, and cattle could no longer trespass. Mr. Duffill had obtained rules and regulations of their cemetery from Patea, and it was necessary to consider the question at once. It was resolved to appoint a committee of the whole board, with power to act, and to have a plan of the whole cemetery made. THE DRAINAGE SCHEME. Mr. McCutchan thought that certain information was needed by tne public in respect to the special meeting to be held on Wednesday next. He found that on December 6 the chairman was empowered to consult Mr. Foy, to see what he would take to act as engineer to the board. On the 11th a long report from Mr. Foy was presented, who offered to do certain work for £150. This was accepted conditionally on the 13th. The whole thing was done in a week, although Mr. Foy urged mature deliberation, which waß not given. The mover asked the chairman for an explanation of Mr. Foy's first report, which he could not understand. He thought that a large piece of a map could be done for £20. All the money the board at that time had to their credit was £5 6s. Bd. He wanted to know what the chairman expected to have for value for the £150. He thought an attempt was being made to throw dust in the eyes of the ratepayers at the coming meeting. The Chairman stated that they expected to have a plan of a drainage scheme, and other things, such as Mr. Foy promised in the report bad handed in, including bench-marks, and pegs at all corners of streets, &c. He hoped the question would be thoroughly ventilated. He would present full particulars to the ratepayers on Wednesday evening. Mr. McCutchan- -There is a good deal of suspicion about this transaction. The Chairman — There may be suspicion, but there is no juat ground for any such suspicions, as he hoped to show the meeting on Wednesday. There was no one who, in his opinion, so much regretted the publicity offered as the mover in this matter. He (the chairman) had taken Mr. Duffill and Mr. Dingle with him to consult Mr. Foy, in compliance with the original resolution on the 6th, and the result of the interview was Mr. Foy's letter. Mr. Bayly thought the discussion had better be postponed until Wednesday night, when it would be fully ventilated. PRINCES STREET. The Chairman reported that complaints having been made of the quality of the gravel in Princes street, had been inspected and checked. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment : — Clerk, £12 10s. ; Galvin and Co., 12s. j T. Anderson (roll), £5 55. ; Balneavis, 4s. 6d. ;■ Town Glerlr,-G-overn- - ment Storekeeper, Acts,' 4b. ; T. M- Foy, plan of Albion street, &c, £2 Is. ; Nathan, gravelling, £184 6s. 6d. ; passed subject to approval of foreman of works.

The Secretary left it to the Board to fix the remuneration for the work done in reference to ascertaining the number of householders' in the proposed borough. Mr. Cockburn proposed that £3 3s. be given. Mr. King proposed that £2 2s. be given. Mr. McCutchan seconded the amendment, which was carried.

lawyer's bill.

On Mr. Barleyman's bill being taken into consideration, Mr. McCutchan rose to leave, on the plea that his presence was useless, as he had no knowledge of the items. He was, however, remonstrated with, and remained. It was pointed out that there was no date attached to any of the items, although some of the debts were contracted about twelve months' previously. Mr. King proposed that so soon as Messrs. Pulford, Bate, Galvin, and Ferguson have received copies of their leases, and a copy of each handed over to the Board, the amounts held in trust for these leases be paid to the solicitor. — Carried.

Mr. King proposed, and Mr. Dingle seconded — That the Board does not acknowledge any liability in connection with the cost of the following leases, charged for by Mr. Barleyman, "which it considers should be collected by the solicitor from the lessees, viz. : — Mrs. Smith, Messrs. Davidson, Espagne, Dyer, Owen, A'Court, Hawke, Carroll, Mainwaring, Byrne, and Lynch. It was resolved to postpone further consideration of the solicitor's account, though the Chairman gave notice of objections which he proposed to lodge against certain items, such as charges for interviewing Ministers, reading telegrams, &c. The Board adjourned at 10.15.