ARROW BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Lake County Press, Issue 904, 29 March 1900, Page 4

ARROW BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening last, and attended by His Worship the Mayor (L. H. Preston, Esq.), and Crs Graham, Pritchard, Richardson, and Stoddart. Or Jenkins signed the declaration ;nd took his seat. Minutes of previous ordiuary and special meetings were read and confirmed. Outward correspondence was read and approved. Mr W. Eraser, M.H.R., wrote informing the Council that he had arranged with the Government Insurance Commissioner r* the Borough loan, the rate of interest of which would be 5 per cent., instead of 7 per cent, as heretofore. John Houlihan applied for permission to occupy a small piece of land between his freehold section and the Arrov River. The Council decided that they could not entertain the request, the ground applied for being part of the mining reserve. M. Robertson applied for permission to quarry stone on the Cemetery Hill. The Mayor said he had granted tha application on the usual conditions, subject to the approval of the Council. The Mayor's action was approved. J. Oldfield, Secretary of the Arrow Fire Brigade, forwarded a report on the fire at Mr Powley's shop, and requested the Council to provide the B igade with hatchets, etc, for use at tires. He also forwarded an account of 10s for refreshments for the members of the Brigade after the fire. It was resolved that the request for the hatchets stand over ; the account of 10s be paid; and that Master Pucenix Oheyne be granted a bonus of 5s for ringing the fire-bell on the night of the fire. A letter from the Municipal Association of N.Z., asking the Council to join the Association was merely received. W..N'-vl'>ii having declined to go on with the collection of the dog-tax, fresh tenders wt.re ordered to be called for same. The following tenders were received for the cartage of gravel from the Arrow Flat to the cemeterv: —K. Butler, 2s per yard ; J. W. Baker, 2s 5d per yard. K. Butler's tender was accepted, tli6 contract not to exeed 50 loads. Applications for the position of town clerk were then opened. There were two applicants, viz., H. B. Smith and C. lilingworth. The Council went into committee to deal with the applications, Mr H. B. Smith being appointed. A committee, consisting of Crs Romans, Richardson, Pritchard, and Stoddart, were appointed to meet the lessees of sections whose leases are about to expire, and arrange fresh leases. A account of £2 10s, owing by theWesleyan body, was ordered to be written off, as they had paid for the time they used the Council Chambers,. hut had neglected to return the key. Cr Stoddart moved the motion of which he had given notice—That the 0 uncil hold tht-ir ordinary meetings on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. Sicondt-d by Or Richardson, and carried. Accounts as follows were passed forpayment: —Dayman, £7 Is 8d ; town cNrk, £3 6s ; petty cash, 3s 9d ; J. W. Bilker (carting), £\ 17 s 6d /A. Briscoe and Co., 6s 6d ; sexton 10s •• J. Wrbh, 10s. Cr Graham drew attention to the bad state of the road in front of Mrs Lenthall's residence. He suggested that the pipe crossing the road should be shifted. The matter was left in the Mayor's hands to attend to. Cr Stoddart moved the motion, of which he had given notice—That the Mayor be granted an honorari*» of £ls. W The Mayor vacated the chair, and Or Pritchard was appointed chairman. Or Stoddart, in speaking on the motion, said the present Mayor had been very energetic, and had devoted a lot of his time to the interests of the Borough, and he fully deserved some remuneration. Cr Richardson seconded the motion. Cr Graham said it wou'.d be absurd to entertain the proposition. They were in no position to grant it. They owed £360 to the Bank, and could not. pay their lawful debts. No smalk borough ever spoke of such a thin"

1 Or Jenkins said there was no doubt the present Mayor had worked hard for the welfare of the town, but he (the speaker) did not think the ratepayers should be saddled with this new expense without being consulted. The position of Mayor was one of honor, through the fact of his being the chief man of the town. Hf> would, however, propose that seven guineas be granted. Or Stoddart agreed to compromise, by making it £lO 10s. The motion, in its amended form, was then put and carried, Or Graham voting against it.

The Mayor then resumed his seat, and, on being informed of what had been done, said he thought the position was worthy of -ome remuneration. He had spent two or three days a week looking after the interests of the Borough and keeping things together, besides at times paying small amounts out of his own pocket. The meeting then adjourned.