PICTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 58, 9 March 1911, Page 5

PICTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Our Picton correspondent writes that the monthly meeting of the Picton Borough Council took jplaco last evening, those present being his Worship the Mayor (Dr Redman), and Councillors Riddell, Lucena, Fredericks, Smith, Peek, Fell and Clinch. Leave of absence j was granted to Councillor Pugh.' THE "WHARFAGE CHARGES. A letter was. read from Mr Dueh -can regarding the proposed whairfage charges. , The question cf Asking -Mr Millar for control of the harbor was also brought up, but as it was a very wide question,, it wa.s resolved, on the motion of Coaincillor JFredericks, seconded by Councillor Peek, that the Council meet on .Friday evening .to discuss the matter. THE PROMOTION SOCIETY. The Secretary of the Picton and .Sounds Promotion Society wrote asking if the Corporation could iassist; the Society in -advertising -the advantages' of the district; and also, reaiiesting that a fence be.erected to keep the sheep off the Domain, as< .they were doing damage to the trees .recently .planted. ~/./•,? Councillor Fell moved that, the; Secretary of the Society be .requested, to send in a .fresh application to the incoming .Council at a later ndate.— ; Carried. Councillor Smith moved that the question of erecting a fence be left* with tbe Domain Committee. This, f was seconded by Councillor Riddell ;and .carried, JRATES. The Treasury wrote enclosing vouchers tor subsidy on rates, being1 ..the balance on 1909-1910 .rates and an advance on the present year's' rate. THE WAIRA.U FORD. The results of the tally kept of .the .traffic passing over the Wairau ford were received., which showed' .that Picton stood lowest on the List with .0.30 per cent. It was decided to obtain a list of the bona fide Picton vehicles crossing .the ford .during the period under WATER WANTED. Mr T. R.. Smith wrote asking .that, .the water laid on .to section Bii2. It wac. decided that this be left in the .hands of the Borough Foreman. . SANITARY INSPECTOR'S" REPORT. The report ot .the sanitary .inspector for the month was read, which wag satisfactory. JNo infectious ..cases were reported.

FOREMAN'S REPORT. _ The ,Borough Foreman's report-of work tdone .during the month was.

The question of metalling Taranakij Street' was discussed- Councillor| .Fredericks moved that the metal bei obtained .from the. Kent Street.! quarry. Seconded by Councillor j Smith and carried.

CARTERS' WAGES. Applications were received .through; the Borough Foreman for .an in 7 .creased rate of pay from the carters; 'employed by the Council, who were oi the opinion that .the present rate was janremimerative. : Councillor Riddell stated -that he .did not think the present rate was; sufficient, and .had 'not been for some time. He was of opinion that their request be granted. ■ ~ , x- ; Councillor Fredericks said that .for two or three reasons he was not agreeable to this. : It was not fair: to jsajddle an incoming council with additional liabilities. Councillor, Fredericks moved that the matter be, left over for the new Council to deal; with. This was not seconded. Coimeillor Riddell moved that thei carters be granted, an increase of Is' (3d per .day, to. be divided pro rata between 1-horse and 2-horse teams, being 14s and 18s Gd per day respectively. He maintained that the, request was very reasonable- The; carters were at the beck and call of' the Council, and practically had to keep an extra horse for the work. Councillor Clinch seconded, as he considered that they were not asking too much. Taking into consideration, the cost of chaff, wear-and-tear of the carts^, etc. Councillor Fredericks maintained that it was better to give the full amount asked, or nothing, than split | ■straws on the matter. j Councillor Peek thought it would j be a good idea to call tenders for the! carting. ' Councillor Smith moved as an amendment that the matter be left ; over fill next Friday night for discussion. They should find out what other Councik were paying, the matter should be gone into thorough-

Councillor Peek seconded the amendment, which was carried.

BOROUGH RESERVES

The report of the committee set up to go into the matter of persons using Borough reserves was read by Councillor Riddell. It was recommended that a peppercorn rent be charged those who have a portion of any of the streets fenced in. He moved that these charges be made from April Ist, payable in advance. Councillor Fredericks seconded the motion, which was carried. Accounts totalling £344 10s 8d were passed for payment, and the Council rose.