EVENING SITTING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 69, 25 April 1879, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

The Council resumed at 6.30 p.m. Present — The Chairman, and Messrs Gower, Loudon, Carr, and Dr Rockstrow. FOXTON POUND. Letter read from J. Hillary, resigning position of L'opudkeeper at Fwsfcon, and

applying for refund of £21 las pdid ftfr pjurul fences, &c. i 'l'liomas Bowe applied for the position of poundkoeper in place of J. Hillary. Mr Gower thought tenders should be oal'ed for the position. Dr Kookstfow spoke of the neoc3sity of liflviiiir sdme One to impound cattlu foun-1 trespassing till tile highway's:. At present tho Poundkeepur was not allowed to iirpoi.nd, and cattle were allowed to wand at largo to tho detriment of the drair.s and othor public works. I'o believed saveral paoplo would tender if allowed to impound. Ultimately, it was proposed by Mr GoWor, and seconded by Dr Rockstrow — " Tlislt tenders be received by Chairman of County Council at Foxtcm for" lease of pound at Foxton to 31st March, 1880. Conditions to be prepared by County Engineer. Tenders to be in by next meeting." PAYMENTS TJ COUNTY WORKMEN. The Engineer having reported that in his opinion all County workmen should be paid 7s a day, instead of some 6s 6d and Others 7d, Dr Rookstrow stated that the men's work was well worth 7n a day, wet and dry. Good men oould not be oxpected to work for less. The Chairman remarked that when the Council was applying to the Government for 500 immigrants, I)r Rockstrow said he could get lots of men for os a day. Dr Rookstrow replied — Yes, lots of them, of a certain class. As it was considered to be an important question, it was held over until next meeting, to be decided by a full Council. FOXTON-OTAKI ROAD. Two tenders were received for the above work. Upon the motion of Mr Loudon, it was resolved," That instead of accepting a tender for formation and metalling of the road, from Symons' corner to Manawatu River, fresh tenders be called for formation only." He pointed out that ths gravelling largely increased the cost of the road, as contractors were afraid of the trouble necessary in ob* taining tho gravel. TAONUI GttAVELPIT. The tender of F. Bassett, £49, for filling up gravelpit near Taonui school, was accepted. PALMERSTON-FOXTON ROAD. The tender of P. R. Bryant at £4 2s Od per chain, and oulverts £3 JOs each on the road, was accepted. clerk's salary. The Chairman said it was absolutely necessary a Collector should be appointed. The Council was losing interest through rates being uncollectod. Mr Gower said a question connected with that, was the small salary paid to the Clerk. He had a lot of work, and when a press occurred, he frequently worked very long hours to get it done. Either he should have assistance or more salary. He thought a rise in the salary should Ire jjiven ; at present it was only that paid to a mechanic. The work had been well done, and more pains could not be taken. The Chairman thought an advance should be made. It was a mistake to underpay officials. He was well satisfied with thd way the Clerk performed his duties, Dr Rockstrow was glad Councillors were so unanimous upon this matter. Since Mr M'Culloch was appointed Clerk, no payments had been made for extra clerical as* sistance. He would propose " That the Clerk's salary bo increased to £200." Mr Loudon seconded. The Chairman suggested it might be more satisfactory to have it left for a full meeting, when he felt sure an unanimous vote would be obtained. He did not expect opposition ; but at present there was only a bare quorum, and it was a bad precedent to raise salaries when the Council was so small. Mr Gower was willing to postpone, on condition that tho increase started from now. Mr Loudon thought the sum so small that it was not worth while postponing. He believed the feeling would be just the same if all the Councillors were present. Dr Rockstrow said they seldom got a full Council. The gentlemen from tho Upper District came down at 2 o'clock, and left at 4, leaving the business unfinished. The resolution was put and carried. COLLECTOR FOll THE COUNTY. The Chairman again referred to the necessity of a collector for the County About £500 in rates was still due. Another rate would shortly be struck. He thought a per centage might be offered. It would be necessary to take proper precautions, however, or a man might get in the rates easily collected, and then throw it up. He thought a sliding scale shonlJ be adoptedMi* Gower asked the amount of the County Rates. The' Chairman replied about £2,000. The Collector had a deal of work to do He has to give notice, either personally or by placing it on the property. Supposing the Collector were paid £100, that amount would be saved in interest. At present they were paying interest on an overdiaft, whilst £800 was owing for rates, of which £500 could be got for the asking,. They should first decide whether or not a Collector was wanted, and then decide on the terms of his engagement. Ho believed they would receive many applications. Security would be required from the Collector. The difficulty would be so to bind him thai he could not receive a percentage upon the two thirds of the rates easily collected, and then throw the work up. One plan would be to pay him none of his percentage until a certain proportion of the whole rates were collected. The Council generally agreed that a Collector should be appointed. Dr Rockstrow suggested that the Collector be bound to collect all rates, or show cause why they were not collected. Mr Loudon suggested that when the Collector had taken the steps required by law, he should be deemed to have douehis duty. The Cluirraan said there was a, certain amou.it of the rates that it was almost impossible to collect. For instance £210 was still owing for 1877-8. He thought a higher percentage should be given for the last £200. Tenderers could incorporate that m their tenders. The Clerk said the total arrears on March 31 were £860. That amount had since been reduced to £820. The persons who owed the money were in it any cases resident in the County. Mr Gowor thought a few summonses would rapidly reduce the arrears. The Chairman suggested that perhaps the Clerks to the Highways Boards would act as collectors, and obtain the two rates at one time. Dr Rockstrow pointed ont that the Clerks to the Highway Boards could tender. He proposed, " That tenders bo called for the position of Collector to the County Council, and that the Chairman and Messrs Linton and Halcombe be appointed a committee to draw up specifications of the duties." Seconded by Mr Loudon and curried. STRIKING THE BATE. The Chairman said it would be necessary to get the rate struck as Boon as possible. It was not done until November of last year, and in consequence their rates weie in arrears. The valuation lists of the Foxton Local Board and Manawatu Highways

Board, wei'o now pas>:ol, ami ho proposed engaging special clericuJ assistance to have them copied. The lists' for'tbo Manchester and Obaki Highways Boards woi'e u'lfgacty i done. Ho thought tho work necessary could be done by iiay 12, wheu they should meet and pass tho estimate i as require.! by law ; i'ouvfceeri days' notice could then be siiVen, which would bring the:n up to May 3(3. This v?in cutting it, fine, but it was ' roughfc nboiit through two of the lists tiding thrown out. He woiild mako a rough estimate of die cost of the County expenses for noxt year, and send i v . round to the diiforent Councillors, who could fill hi the estimates of works required in their respective Ridings. Thj sooner they struck the rate the sooner money would come in. They "would nejd to overdraw that night. lIisCELhIkXBOVS. The Engineer's roport was read. It was resolved that the tender of T. Cameron for repairing the Foxton punt, at a cost of £22, should be accepted. A sum of A'l-3 was ordered to be expended on the Awapuni drain. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to over £1200 were passed. An account having been presented from Mr Bradley for progress payment upon ft contract in Manchester Riding, Tho Chairman thought Mr Bradley should be at once informed that unless he pushed aho id with the work, the fines would be strictly enforced. Only 21 chains were finished, and nearly 100 remained to be done. He was driving work iuto the winter. Mr Gower thought not more than 50 per cent should be paid as progress payments. The Council decided not to make the payment. NEXT SITTING. The next meeting will be held on ifay 12, at 2 p.m. The Council adjourned at 9 p.m.