BOROUGH COUNCIL

Lake County Press, Volume V, Issue 278, 26 January 1888, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Arrow Borough Council was held on Tuesday evening last. Present —His Worship the Mayor (G. Heller, Esq.), and Crs Beier, Campbell, Donaldson, Jenkins, and Jopp. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Outward correspondence was read and approved. Inward correspondence, read and received, comprised the following letters;— From Audit Office, requesting the Council to pay in £4 to the public account as the cost of auditing the half-yearly accounts.

From Government, intimating that Crown lands rates would not be paid after 31st March, 1888. From Martin Birch, applying to lease part of quarry reserve, and promising to comply with certain ordinary reasonable conditions. From W. Butler, an application to lay on a |-inch pipe from the Borough mains. From B. Rushton, applying to have his name put on the roll.

From Government, requesting a form (enclosed) to be filled in showing the present value of land endowments, etc., held by the Council. From the Southland District H. and 0. A. Board requesting payment of the Council’s quarterly contribution £3. From W. Jenkins and Co., applying for renewal of slaughtering license. From the valuer, transmitting tho valuation lists for the Borough. The Council proceeded to deal with correspondence His Worship (referring to the letter concerning cost of audit) : That’s retrenchment! Before that cost us £2 2s. Now it costs £-i. In replv, the Mayor said the Crown lands rates for the year (on a fid rate) would ho about £3 Ifis. Regarding Martin Birch’s application, Or Jenkins was of opinion that the reserve should he left as it was. The Mayor said it would cost £1 at least to advertise it as open for tender.

Or Jopp would favor the reserve being dealt with if it could be done without expense. Finally it was agreed that the matter be left in the hands of the Mayor to see what Birch would give and then judge if it were worth his while to advertise it. It was ordered that Mr Rushton’s name be put on the roll. W. Jenkins and Co.’s application for slaughtering license was granted.

Resolved that the valuation be accepted. 1 W. Butler’s application to lay on |-inch service pipe was granted. It was stated by the Mayor that the County Council had not yet forwarded cheque for the rents on mining leases in the Borough wrongly paid to them. What should the Borough Council do? Or Jopp (jokingly) : Summon them. The remarks made in the County Council meeting about the Arrow Borough Council being a “tough i lot,” etc., were referred to. His Worship : They are too sharp with us. The Clerk was authorised to write the County Council on the matter. Or Jopp asked who fenced in the land at the back of Thomas Gibson’s 1

No one appeared to know. Cr Jenkins said others had been doing the same thing. Or Jopp then wished to know why Martin Birch wanted to pay for the lease of ground if could be got elsewhere for nothing ? Mr Bell’s application to be appointed dog-tax collector at £25 per annum came on again for considera- | tion. It was stated that what was really j wanted by Mr Bi ll was an auc- , tioneer’s license at an annual re- ; duced fee of £25.

Some of the councillors expressed themselves against this.

Cr Jenkins questioned the legality of doing so. The Mayor replied that the Conn oil could pay what salaries they liked. Cr Jenkins ; Tbit the dog-tax docs not, amount to tint. Tne Mayor said other locd bod’ r < paid auctioneers a salary of £25 for dog-tax collection or some, much scrv icc. Ibe letter was further held over to give Mr Bell the opportunity of communicating again with the Council. Tenders for the right to collect doglax were ordered to be called bv ad vertisement, the fee being fixed at 7s 6 1.

It was stated that certain persons in the Borough had been carting without a licen.-.e, and it was agreed to summon them if they did not pay the fee.

Tlie followingaccounts were passed for payment:—Joseph Hunter, 13s 6d ; Fergusson and Mitchell, 3s 6d ; W. J. Marsh, printing, £4 16s 6d ; Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, £5 ; J. F. Healey, quarterly salary, £25.

The "Mayor said certain classes of expendi ure had been legalised by the Amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act—payment tolicenj sing clerks, etc. Cr Campbell would, however, haw to refund slaughtering license fee remitted to him, that not being sanctioned and the auditor having already drawn attention to the matter. Or Campbell said he would not do that. The Mayor ; You will have to be summoned then, or members will have to pay it out of their own pockets. Cr Campbell ; I don’t care. I held it only one month, and I pnid quite too much for it. I would sooner spend £lO than pay it. Thefencing off of 1 he river ban k near the bridge was ordered to Vie clone, and the Mayor to see Mr M‘Pherson in reference to land fenced in by him at the same place, which interfered with the approach to the bridge. It was left to the Works Committee to inspect the footpath leading past Mr Baker’s property, the Committee to have power to order necessary improvements to be done to same.

The meeting dosed with a vote of thanks to the chair.