BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 130, 9 May 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

Present — The Mayor, Crs McNeil, Walker, Mowlem, Snelson, Linton, Leary, and Ferguson. CORRESPONDENCE. Prom the Borough Clerk, Waneranui, intimating that the next meeting of Hospital Delegates would be on Wednesday; May 9, and asking the Council 'to intimate same to the Delegates. '"-■ - The letter was laid on the tab'e. From Cr M.c v eil, withdrawing his resignation as Borough Councillor. A COMPLAINT. From C. Tricklebank, giving the whole history of bis brickyard from the year 1872, A,D. ; setting forth a declaration of the damages sustained through the action of the Borough Council m flooding his premises with water from the outflow of drains now being constructed, and threatening an action at law. . Or McNeil said toe letter had been before the Public Works' Committee, and that it appeared to them that the drain would be a material advantage to Mr Tricklebank, for which he should be very thankful. So far as his threat about an action, the Committee considered if he felt so disposed hie must take what steps he considered necessary. . Cr Lin ton said the simple fa-;t was that. Mr Tricklebank had been sinking a hole' deeper and deeper every year, and that naturally -there -was aa everlncreasihs; accumuTation of water. 1 Resolved .vThafc Mr Tricklebank's letter lie on the table. THE RAILWAY WORKS. In answer to Cr I inton, the Mayor said- certain inquiries had been officially made by th* Railway Department, whicli showed that the subje.cn of extension was not being lost sight of. Mr Stewart had told him that all that was now wanting was Mr Black otl's final ratification of the proposed plans. - Cr Lin ton proposed, and Cr seconded-;— That the Minister for Public vVorks be a^ain urged to proceed tvita the extension of railway works m the Square without further delay. SPECrAL MERTING. The Council resolved into a special meeting to receive the Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts, and Auditors' Report for the year ended March 31, 1883. . Resolved, That the same be received and adopted, the usual extra number of copies to be printed the same as last year. . The ordinary business was then resumed. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. We, your Public Works Coramirte, havo the honour to report that daring the past month we have accepted tenders for deeper, ing the drain m Fsigusonstr«el, and for the groin on the river bank, the former for £22, and the latter for £129 15i; the success^! tenderer m each case was C. Rosenthal, Your Committee finding 'hat the soil was such a nature that the diaiu m Botanical Road" would not stand, has instructed the Borough Engineer to have a culvert constructed within it for about 10 chains, this it is hoped will make a permanent work of it. The District Railway Manager has been written to, requesting him to have a culvert placed under the railway opposite theKairangi Koa<l,a<ut i* contemp'ated taking the whole of the drainage to the lagoon on the Racecomse. He has likewise been requested to deepen the railway drain to the Kawau. We have considered the Engineer's monthly report, and have instructed him to supply estimates <>f cost of draining the water now carried into the public 'domain down Pitt-street. W ft would recommend that the Council should veto the taking o f gravel from the Borough 'unless for work under th« supervision of the Council. Messrs Stevens and Gorton and other resH'-nfsin Kangitikei street have made application for a footpath on the west side on the usaal terms which we recommend. ; Cr McNeil said he had been deputed to interview the District- Bailway Manager, when m-Wanganui, but found he was absent. It was probable, howewer, that he would be m Palm^rscon soon, and would be consulted on the maker referred to m the report of the Public Works Committee, PUBLIC HA.LL COMMITTEE. We, your Hall Committee h*ve the honoiir to report m accordance with the resolution of Council we have had specifications of the necessary repairs and the painting and papering required, to be prepared and have accepted tenders for the same as follows : — Carpenters' work, Meyrick nnd Perrin, £48 10s; painters' and plumbers' wort, EL Morrell, £30 10s. With respect to the rules for letting the Hall referred to us, we wonld reccommend that they be as follows: — Hall with lights to midnight, £1 10s ; for any time after that hour, 5s extra. Hall without lights, £1 ss ; these chargi s to be paid m advance. Meetings for public works to be free of charge. Application for the use of the Hall m all cases to be made to the Town Clevk who may refer the same to the Mayor for his approval before granting such application. These rules after beina; approved by the Council are to be printed and pUced m conspicuous places m the building. In addition to the contract already let we have authorized the erection of inside doors to the entrance, and that a tank be obtained for the supply of water, also that lino™ hum and Venetian blinds be provided lor the office. These extri matters we esimate will not cause the original estimate to be exceeded. THE BANGER. Geitleman — W«, the committee appointed to enquire into the charges made against the Range-, for partiality m the. discharge of his duties, have the honor to report that having made in* quires as to the corn plai its alleged, and having questioned the Ranger m the m tier, we have arrived at the conclusion that the Ranger when first appo;oted did m several instances, instead of impounding cattle, which he knew had broken out from thoir owners' paddocks, drive them back again, being.

an lor the impression that the Council did not so mach desire lo otbnia a revenue, so long as the streets were kept elfiar. Since he had ascertained that such was not the case, he hud acted impartially m impounding all aninvile found at large on the streets. We were unable to obtain indc-pendont evidence as to the conduct of the Raajjer, as the panics applied to, declined to come forward. pqundkeeper's report. Impounded m Public found by the Ranger, 58 head ; by property owners, nil ;on private lands, nil ; total 58. F*es received, £8 18s. Poundage fees to Pouudkeeper, £3 2s ; half driving fees to hanger, £1 9s ; total, £4 lla. Cash received for cattle sold m Borough Pound, £3 10s ; expenses at sale, and I poundage fees for same, £3 ; balance 10s. Total handed over to Borough Council, £4 17a. MISCELLANEOUS. Counci lor McNeil's motion to re» scind former resolution of the Council m reference to having all works or material exceeding 1 m amount £20 tendered for, was after considerable diacnssion withdrawn by leave of the Council. The report of the Public Hall Committee, which was amended as published above,caused a prolonged debate, and elicited a very considerable diversity of opinion. Cr McNeil proposed and it was carried, that a set of Standard weights and measures be procured, also a laotometer. . ' Cr Mowlem drew attention to the dangerous condition of the side of the road ii Fitxherbert-street. The Engineer explained the cause- of the un - sound formation, which he said wad due to the unavoidable use of surface vegetable soil. Or Ferguson drew attention to the want of a side tail on the approach to the bridge m Fitzheibert-streeß. The matter was left m the hanis of the Engineer to attend to. The InSjiectr of Nuisances pointed out that no dapu^.y inspac or had be«n appointed since Mr Graff resigned that position. He said the nature of his duties would not permit him to attend co tlie matter as it should be done. It was suggested that the appointment be offered to Mr Montague, being m his line. Cr McNeil said that' a friend of his had recently been making a short cut to back premises, and had got bogged m a quagmire ot filth, by which he had had his trousers spoilt. He was informed that the place was used as a deposit for night soil, instead of the proper place appointed by the Council . The Inspector of Nuisances said he had visited the place, and found that there was a compost being made by Mr Relf tor temoval, but ife was not of an offensive nature. It was finally decided lo see if Mr Graff would undertake the duties of deputy-inspector at an annual rental of £10 pet annum ; if he declined, applications to be invited. Whoever whs appointed, a monthly report to be sent m to the Council. Cr Mowlem referred to Thomas Goodison's having des'red to be relieved of the contract for forming the pound, on the grounds that the ranger c >uld injure him "by refusing to impound cattle. It appeared- that there was a certain amount of ill feeling between the two, which led to the present complications. Or Mowlem suggested that the ap-pointment-should stand as formely, T. Goodison being poundkeeper. Cr McNeil strongly objected to rescind a former resolution of the Council on the bare word of thn^ound keeper. Cr Leary asked were there any sureties for Goodison's fulfifent of his contract. The Towa Clprk said no suretic3 had been offered or accepted ; certainly a cheque had been enclosed, but for certain reasons i% bad not been negotiated, /vfter considerable discusw Hion it was decided to ascertain if the cheqne was negotiable the following morning, and if Goodiaon was willing, to carry out his contract ; if otherwise, then fresh tenders to be called, the deposit to be either cash or a marked chequ\ It was stated that it was belived that the ranger uni poundke*per were now on rather more. amicable terms, and possibly the causes of dissatisfaction might no longer exist. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Snelson that the footpath already I authorised to be constructed m front of sections Nos. 847, 848, and 849, b* continued to Ferguson-street, so far ias Wollerman's corner, on the usual conditions. Cr Snelson stated that it was Mr Wollermm's intention to erect a substantial buildinar, and also a lamp near the spot iodictted, and he thought such a desire to improve the appearance of the town should be appropriately recognized by the Council, Cr Snelson moved, and it was carried, That a Cocumitt»e of all the Council be appointed to consider what steps it would be best to Uke to erect an 1 maintain the necessary protection works, whereby the damiire by the current of the Manawatu River would be lessened; that the said committee be called together as early as possible, and report .to the Council at its next ordiuary meeting. It was decided that the committea meet on JFriday at 2 p.m., and pay a personal visit of inspection to the locality indie ited ; the' Borough Engineer accompanying them. The Council then adjourned.