Borough Council.

Lake County Press, Issue 697, 27 February 1896, Page 7

Borough Council.

An ordinary monthly meeting of Arrow Borough Council took place on Tuesday evening last. Present —His Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Graham), and Crs Butler, Selby, Preston, Reid, and Summers. The dayman’s report was read and adopted.

Mr W. Tar ton wrote, as follows, re defaulting ratepayers:—In regard to the charging of interest on the past overdue rates I think your Council ought to pass a resolution that such interest be not charged up to, say, Ist January last for the waterrate and 31st March, 1896, for the general rate. I mention those dates as I understand they are the ones that the Council does not wish to charge interest on. After that I presume interest will be charged as there will be no excuse iu future for persons not paying up. Unless such a lesolution is passed 1 don’t see how you arc going to get the auditor to certify to your accounts. On the motion of Cr Preston, seconded by Cr Reid, it was resolved that the abovo be given lull effect to. An account from B. Wintcrbufn for 8s for cleaning out the grating, etc., at the Post V ffice coiner, brought forth considerable comment.

His Worship : I authorised tills work. Mr Winterburn came to me on Saturday night and made strong complaint about the water overflowing. I could not see the dayman on Monday morning. I told Mr Wiuterburn to put his boy on, 1 did not think he would make such a long job of it, but there was a good deal of “ tidddy-winking ■’ about it. .Ws are at fault. I felt that Mr Winterburn was injured, and consequently ordered the work. We were responsible. Cr Pres tone You are the best example of this kind of thing, Your Worship. You would have claimed damages, if you could, when water overflowed on your property some time back, but it was pointed out that your property was below the level. We are not responsible. Look at the Drainage Act ? Cr Butler : Sometime past it was resolved that drainage pipes be put down, but nothing has been done. We are to blame. His Worship : Of course we are to blame. Cr Preston : Cr Butler cannot be aware that the Council’s financial position would not allow of this expenditure. Cr Selby : The matter of cleaning the grating should have been the dayman’s work, it would have taken the dayman about 10 minutes to do it. Cr Kcid proposed that Winterburn be paid 4s. Cr Butler : I agree with Cr Reid, but we ■must respect the chair. This is not respeetinc the chair. Cr Preston said the mayor had the power to expend up to £2. His Worship said that when he put on Mr Winterbura’s son, ho thought he was as good a man as any of them. Cr Butler : That wont go down, Your Worship. You would not like to give him a shilling an hour ! Cr Reid on being asked said he would not withdraw his motion. When lie was in the mayoral chair he never spent a shilling without consulting the other councillors, and he thought it was not fair that the present mayor should have ordered the work without consulting some of ihe Council. Proposed by Cr Preston, seconded by Cr Butler, and carried—That the action of the mayor be approved. Cr Selby said he would give notice of motion that at next meeting stops bo taken to appoint a permanent dayman, instead of the system now in force. Ho refrained from bringing this matter up before, because he thought some older councillors might have done so. The present system was very unsatisfactory. His Worship remarked that the streets were in a disgraceful state last Saturday, and it was ordered that the streets becleaned every Saturday. It was decided that the matter of laying earthenware pipes from the Post Office corner to the river be left iu the hands of the Works Committee.

Accounts to the amount of £2O 9s 3d, wore pulsed for payment. O Preston said for the energetic way the Town Clerk had collected back rates he deserved some compensation, Cr Butler was of Cr Preston’s opinion. It was a great pity they had the present Town Clerk three or four years ago. His Worship concurred, but he thought the Council should go into committee over the question of amount. Cr Butler did not believe in going into committee.

The clerk was voted £2 2s for extra work.

Proposed by Cr Reid, seconded by Cr Selby—That the Town Clerk serve notice at proper times and give final notice to ratepayers, and let the proper course be take a tor recovery.—Carried.

It was decided that a notice be inserted in the Press to ratepayers to pay rates, also that in future 10 per cent, will be charged on all rates in arrears six mouths. The overdraft was reported to be £2OS.