Borough Council.

Lake County Press, Issue 701, 26 March 1896, Page 2

Borough Council.

An ordinary monthly meeting of above body was held on Tuesday evening last. Present—The Mayor (H. Graham, Esq.), and Ors Butler, Jenkins, Selby, .Preston and Reid. T. J. Butler wrote, offering the use of his property for letting surplus water run through same at a rental of £1 a year; also stating that the Cemetery hill was farming rabbits for the district.—lt was decided to offer Mr Butler a rental of 10s a year; also that J. Shepheard be written to that complaint had been made of the rabbit pest on the Cemetery hill. H. de la Perrelle wrote, asking that the culvert leading to her place be repaired.—Left in the hands of the Works Committee.

The dayman’s report was read and adopted. Dr Thomson wrote (in reply) suggesting that certain, measures he taken in cases of fever coining in or occurring in the town.—Received. 3 The matter of the sinking fund account,. 189'3i which has never beem paid was brought up. Or Preston said this was a matter of vital importance. Instead* of £l2O being owing it was discovered: £240 was owing. It was agreed to hold the matterover till word had been received front the Commissioner. In speaking to his notice of. motion*, for the appointment of a permanent dayman, Cr Selby said the present system was very unsatisfactory. Withthe winter coming on and giving at the rate of Is an- hour as at present it would be out of the question. Gr Preston said with the present system they were not getting value for money. The-streets were- in* a very bad state. Cr Reid : How much has it cost for the present way 1 Reply: At the rate of £69 per year.. Or Butler said every day the dayman worked he got 10s 6d. The dayman deserved it, but he (Cr Butler) would ke in favor of the motion, as. there was no satisfaction in the present system. Cr Preston : We have given tho system a fair, trial,.and it. is no good. Patch work always costs tnor&- • Or Reid : To put on a dayman is throwing away money. Give the man a horse and dray and he can do the work, but with a barrow he can donothing. We are £SOO to the bad, and if the Council can see their way to appoint a dayman well and good, Cr Preston : It is not necessary to--hitch over barrow or dray. If we require a dray let us have one. His Worship : A barrow could housed to advantage in small-jobs, while a dray would be better for largenonea. [The subject of “ dray v. barrow j and=“ barrow, v. dray ” was discussed for nearly an hour. Daring the debate the councillors exhibited considerable rhetoric talent, and our reporter took down close on 12 pages of shorthand notes,, but as no decisionwas come to, we considered it best to delete that portion of,, the Council’sproceedings.] It was resolved that- applications bacalled in the Lake County PEess for tho position of dayman at a. salary of £BO per annum. His Worship brought up the matterof a fire plug at Mr Lawton’s,., but it was decided to deal with it when the dayman was appointed..

The Works Committee were authorised to havecertaiuroadsgravelled. The matter of pay to the Town Clerk for extra work was next brought up He had been given £2 2s which theclerk did not think fair for the extra* work he had done.. The Clerk explained•'that he was. given to understand he would receivecompensation for the extra work done,, which included eight days’ work, andthe collection of £24-8 12s 6d that-had-nothing to do with his duties.. Ho considered the two guineas very, poor - reward for a man doing his best; [The cleric then left the room .at therequest of the Council]. Councillors spoke highly of MrWebb and. thought he- should. get more, and it was resolved - on tire motion of Crs Reid and Butler—That the clerk receive £6 6s altogether for .past, work. Or Butler gave notice of motion that the clerk get 2|.per cent,, on alii generalrates collected. It was decided to leave-the clearings of gorse near the Police Camp standi over. Accounts to the-amounfe ci £Sovoddt were-passed for-payment-..