Borough Council.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 5, 4 December 1884, Page 2

Borough Council.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

Present— The Mayor, Cra Hutchi|so:i, Abrahams, Wylds, Larcomb, Beniley, Hawkins, J. King, West, Buk, G-eorge. Minutes of previous ordinary and special meetings read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From Returning Officer announcing el action of Mr James Linton a8 Ma.) a?. L -Apology read irom Cr T. King for absence through illness. From Mr J. 0. Batchelor as follows : — ln reply to your memo of the 17th ult., I was not aware at the t'*ne the work on Racecourse was not completed or would not have asked the Council to release, me but the work now will be done with all possible despatch if the weather only holds fine. I would further ask the Council's iadulgence for afnrther extension of time say till next December, 1885, as Parkes tells me that the burning season was so bad that last year it was impossible to do anything with it. I shall be obliged by your granting this request. Application granted. From Secretary of the Road Board acknowledging i-eceipt of letter re pound, and m reply informing the Council that the Board have decided to accept the offer suggested by your Public Works Committee ; at the same time the Board will not admit any liability respecting the Pound, and that one month's notice be given on either side to discontinue the use of said pound. APPLICATION FOR RANGER. Gr. W. Remnant, J. O. W. Kehler, Henry Paul, E. H. Lynch (£lB 10a per annum,driving fees m), W. Evans (£2O per auuum, and 6d per head driving fees), J. Je^sop, T. Jordan, P. Bryce, H. Paltridge. Ballot resulted as follows : — Jordan, 9, H. Paul, 2. T. Jordan duly appointed. MINUTES OE PUBLIC WORKS COMiMITTEE. December, 1884 :— Present— Ore L. G. We>t, Chairman, E. Larcnmb, A. H. Wyids. The letter from the Secretary to the Manawatu Road Board referred to this Committee from the Council, relative to the terms for the use by the Road Board of the Borough Pound was considered. Resolved— That it be proposed to the Road Board that half poundage tfeeN be charged them fro* all cattle impounded m the Borough Found fioni ;the Road District, (subject to the approval of the Council. Resolved -That it be arranged with the contractor m Boundary Road West to dig- a second drain to obtain material for formation m lieu of carting clay from the Mangaone Bridge, say 13| chains at 10» per chain. Resolved — That relative to Mr Langkjer's application that he be assisted to make a drain through his property, the Council he recommended not to aseede to such application, bnt to have the present drain m Terracestreet cleaned out and straightened and the stuff excavated therefrom be placed on the street side to form a bank. The report was adopted with the exception of the part referring to Mr Langlqer's application, which was to .stand m abeyance m the meantime, the question of the proposed Terracestreet drain to remain an open question. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES. Had visited the town during last month, and given a few notices. Had also cautioned people to be careful m observing cleanliness, owing to warm weather having set m. Reference was made to a dead horse which had been improperly buried m Forgusonstreet. Recommended that the fact of dead carcases laying about should be reported to the Inspector, and not be buried near ihe town, or insufficiently buried. Notices had been given to owners of sections Nos. 770 to 773 inclusive re dangerous trees on Botanical Road. Replies .had been received from Mr Binna of Wellington., and Mr Bauiber, Wanganui, expressing their willingness to fell a chain back, but no answers had as yet been received from the other two. Cr Hawkins suggested that the two who had not replied, to be written to forthwith stating that instant action would be taken, as the matter neglected invoked very serious danger to the public. poundkeeper's report. By Ranger, 39 ; by property owner, 2 : outside borough 1 ; total 42. Fees received £11 10a ; less pound tees 10s ; half-driving fees to ranger 19s 6d ; advertising, £2 9s; balance 10 Borough, £7 Us 6*d. ACCOUNTS PASSED. Roadmen, £36 19s 6d ; Town Clerk, £16 13s 4d ; Stamps, telegrams, £3 17s 2d ; poundkeeper, £4; Lighting, £4 16s; horse feed, £4 s<* lid : advertising, £4 10s 9d ; Mrs FftUer's funeral, £3 10s; F. Stratford, wheelbarrow, £1 5s ; A Paltridge, 5s ; Palruerson and Scott, plans, £5 ss ; D. M. George, cases, 6s. TheMayor : How are these accounts to be paid Mr Keeling ? Have we got any money ? The Town Clerk : No ; In some cases amounts are due for rates. The Mayor : Oh, we are to do our business on the contra account principle; TIRITEA STREAM. Cr Park inquired had any definite steps bpen taken to secure the reserving of the sources ot the Tiritea stream for the future water supply for the Burougli, and also for the preservation of forest trees for a future recreation ground. The Mayor explained the present position of the matter. Mr Elliott to be written to on the subject. MISCBLLANIOUS, Resolved — That tenders be invited for registration of dogs for year 1885, collars to be provided by the Council, the fee to be 10.s per head ; also for the supply of dog collars with badges. Resolved — That applications be invited for the position of pound* keeper. The annual meeting will be held al noon on Wednesday the 13th inst., when the new Mayor will be installed. THE OFFICIAL ASSIGNEE. The Mayor suggested that the Council should represent to the De« \

piuuuent m WelUnjjton the advisability of there being aa official assignee resident m ;Palmerston, as the ' p'v--ent system was not convenient to the public. Cr J. King thought their member m Parliameat might be asked to move m the matter. Cr Hawkins paid a high compliniont to the urbanity and efficiency of Mr Gr. J. Scott, and doubted rery much if they wou'd get :i better man. He was extremely urbane and prompt m the discharge of his official duty, and as a professional man he spake of him as he had found him. No doubt it was desirables thatthere should be a loial deputy assignee, so fur as the convenienceofohepublic was coacerned; but a better man m his position, or one more anxious to oblige m his official capacity; than Mr Scott it would be hard to find. It was taken as a request on the part of the Council that the Assignee m Welliogtonshould be communicated with asking him to appoint a resident Deputy Assignee for the Palmeston district, and that Mr Macarthur be asked to assist, m the matter. FOREMAN OF WO RKS REPORT. Works during month as follows:— Filling up hole and making crossing near Mr Rush's, Bvoad-street also placing culverts for crossings and carting gravel for same ou Rangitikei Line and Fitzherbert Road. A culvert m College-street West had been takea up aud placed across Featherston street to take away the flood water. ADOther culvert on the Rangifcikei lime had also been taken up and part of it placed m Fitzherberfc Road drain for crossing. The two ends of bridge on RaDgitikei Line had been fenced m to keep cattle from going down the sides as they are destroying the bank. The drain had also been boarded up m places and filled m with stripping. About five feet of the drain on Boundary Road near the Kawau Creek had also been filled m. The approach to the Mauawatu Bridge on the East Bide had been repaired, as it was giving way. About five chains of footpath m Terrace-street had been metalled. The footpath had to be raised a foot to keep the water from going into the people's gardens, as the locality was completely flooded during the last heavy rains, and more still remained to be done. The footpath m question hud been used as a j road for carting on, as the road is m such a bad state and badly requites metalling. The windows of the old hospital at Terrace End had been boarded up, and the pit m Fitzroystreefc is being filled up. Part of the d"am on the Foxton Line had been cleaned out; they get blocked up very soon. Mr Finnis, on the Rangitikei Line, had complained of the water flooding 1 his place, the water having been inside his house during the last flood' To avoid this would be to make the water-table from G-rey-strect to connect the one already made near Featherston-street. Ploughing would save labour and expense. The across a corner unfenced section next to Mr Finnia' causes a constant puddle m front of his house. The contract on drain and road on Boundary Road West had been completed, but part of the road was washed away by a recent fresh. A small drain was recommended to be dug on the south side of the road similar to that made by the Highway Hoard. This course would be less expensive than placing culverts across the road. PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE. Letter read from Mr Philip Armstrong as follows : — I see by the papers that the Council is m need of professional assistance to enable it to form some reliable estimate of the probable cost of wa«er supply and drainage works for the Borough, aud that the Council wishes to save expense as much as possible. I am prepared m ? x weeks from date of instruction to give you for the sum of £15 a trial survey and levels of the proposed site of reservoir, line of snpply, distribution, &c, with report and estimate of probable cost ; also for the drainage, together with a survey and levels of existing drainages, and, m fact, all the information you need. I guarantee the aenracy of my work, and would call atention to the fact that such works as water supply and drainage require, before being carried out, a large amount of patient labor and careful investigation m the execution and placing on paper a level chart, &o , m the fullest detail, so that your committee can thoroughly understand what they may be able to do. The above sum of JBIS would only cover the cost of a preliminary i survey ; but I am prepared for £30 and m three months time to provide a complete local chart of the Borough and site of supply. You may probably wish and intend to obtain the opinion of an expert on these matters — that is a report by some leading engineer ; bnt before doing this you must still have data for him to report on, otherwise such an opinion would be worthless and costly. Should you be afterwards inclined to entrust the execution of the proposed works to my charge, I shall be willing to furnish plans, estimates, 'and supervision, devotihg all my time and attention to the work for 2 per cent, on the outlay. Cr Hawkinspropoaed, and Cr J. |King seconded that Mr Armstrong's offer of professional assistance, at the remuneration of £15 be accepted. Cr Abrahams opposed the motion on the grounds of want of means Besides, it seemed to him like putting tha cart before the horse. Some such procedure might be right and proper after the loan proposals hail been considered m detail. If any such work were to be undertaken he thought tenders should he called for. Cr Hutcheson wermly supported the motion. At present thiy were simply working m the dark. He considered Mr Armstrong's offer was extremely reasonable. They certainly required professional assistance, if their scheme was to be properly carried out. Cr Park supported the motion. He considered that a water supply, 'provisions for sewerage, and street improvements were the main requirements of the Borough. The question of lighting could be more advantageously dealt with by a private company. - The Mayor strongly supported the motion. He was m favour of ffoing further, and authorising the obtaining of the information which Mr Armstrong was prepared to supply for £30. . Such information would be invaluable, even if the loan scheme was not carried. But the necessity for a loan was most apparent. They must improve the town, and to do so, must have means. There was the bro»d pr Jßttple of a Borough

Loan to be affirmed. He hoped there would be no acrimonious feeling imported into the question. Personal and private differences must be suok m the common interest. They need not bind themselves at the outset to any fixed details of a loan scheme, but must endorse the broad principle. Any nmendments m det r 'ls would be accepted m a f.-tendly and conciliatory 6pirit. He w»j'd give his hearty support to the motion. Cr Hawkins desired to explain that m the originnl drafi of the progress repo:t of the special committee appointed to consider the question of rasing a Borough Loan of £50,000, it was expressly stated as follows : — " Your committee, before further reporting-, desire authority to employ professional assistance to enable them to report as to the cost of the several works suggested, m detail, after which the ratepayers at the same time as assenting to or rejecting the proposal could be consulted separately as to what works should be carried out, and what if any rejected." It was therefore indispensable that professional assistance should be obtained at the present stage. Cr West supported the motion. The necessity for the employment of professional assistance was obvious. He spoke at some length aud argued very forcibly and logically m support of the motion. ' He finally moved that the progress report of the committee on the loan scheme he received aud adopted, and would f urihe* move that Mr Armstrong's offer of £30 be accepted. At the present stage professional informa tion was absolutely necessary. Without it they would not work to advantage either now or hereafter. Besides, the work would occupy three months, and the cost would come into the nest financial year. . Cr Larcomb seconded. Cr Abrahams moved as an amendment that the report be received. Cr Park seconded. The Maj-or pointed out that at the present stage it would be premature to adopt the report, as many amendments m detail might yet have to be agreed to. The report could be received, but it would not be advisable to adopt it at the present stage. It was finally resolved (Or Abrahams dissenting) that the progress report of the committee on the loan scheme ba received, and Mr Philip Armstrong's offer to supply ceitain professional prelimiuary information as set forth m his letter for the sum of £30 be accepted. It was further decided to refer the progress report to the Public Works Committee, so that details might be scheduled and a proper understanding arrived at as to the preliminary steps to be taken. RESERVES REPORT. Cr Bentley asked for an extension of time of a fortnight m which to bring up their report on the connection of Coleman Place with Gorge-street, and Other matters affecting the reserves of the town. CHARITABLE AID. When the accounts were being passed for payment, reference was made to the item, funeral expenses of Mrs Fullef £3 10s. Cr Abrahams expressed bis 1 opinion that cases of this kind were of too frequent occurrence. Not long ago they had paid a similar claim for Mrs McEwen, end he thought there was some danger of the Council being too lax m this respect. Cr Hawkins said he had been given to understand that the late Mrs Fuller had saved money m the bank. In such case this was not a legitimate expenditure under the heading of Charitable Aid. He had heard that had she lived she had expressed her intention of paying the passages of her family to the Home Country. He may have been misinformed, but he had certainly been told so. The Mayor said he believed that at one time Mrs Fuller, by her industry had saved some money, but through sickness it had all been spent. Her husband was not employed regularly, bat , only earned some trifle weekly at the | Manawatu Times office. Sometime ago he had severely hurt his back m the bush, and had never been able to do much hard work since. Other Crs thought that discrimination should be exercised as to granting assistance m cbnnectiou with charitable aid. After some further discussion Cr Abrahams moved, Cr Hawkins seconded, and it was carried — That the Finance Committee examine all accounts presented to the Council, previous to such being passed by the Council, and that any two members of the Finance Committee have power to. sign cheques. NEW BYE-LAW. The Town Clerk read a letter from the Borough Solicitor m reference to a bye-law to be framed for the object of /Suppressing the objectionable demonstrations by the Salvation Army.' The reading of the proposed bye-law provoked hearty mirth,* the quaint wording inducing frequent outbursts of merriment. Cr Abrahams did not approve of the proposed bye-law at all, stating that the wording was not all m conformity with his ideas as to what the tenor of the bye-law should be. . Other Crs expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposed bye-law, which they said did not all meet their views. Cr Bentley suggested that Bye-law 73 would meet the difficulty, but the other Crs were not of the same opinion. Finally it was decided to defer the further consideration of the bye-law till next meeting.