BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8630, 28 July 1891, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS.

NEWTON.

The ordinary meeting of the Newton Borough Council was held last night. Present : Messrs. S. C. Brown (Mayor), Porter, Warnock, Cox, Shackeltord, English, Donald, and Webley. A Nuisance. —Walter Bernand complained, by letter, of the state of the footpath in Wilton-street, which had become almost impassable in some parts owing to the mud created by cows wandering along it. Another resident also made a similar complaint, and suggested tliat the attention of the poundkeeper be called to the matter. The Mayor moved, " Thab the letters be received and acknowledged, and that the poundkeeper be asked to attend to his duties in a more satisfactory manner or resign ; also, that the Inspector of Police be requested to instruct the local policeman to assist the poundkoeper in freeing the district from straying , cattle." The motion was carried, and the question of carrying: out the repairs to the path was referred to the Streets Committee, with power to acb. PomcN-STREHT.—A letter was received from C. Bates, asking that the main drain in Pollen-street be laid down, as he strongly objected to the drainage running into his back yard, as was the case at present. He was prepared to contribute towards the cost. Referred to the Streets Committee.

Municipal Conference.—The Wellington Town Clerk forwarded copies of the proceedings at the late Municipal Conference at Wellington. It was resolved that the copies be received, and that the Town Clerk be thanked for his kindness and trouble in the matter.

Balance-sheet. —The Auditor-General returned the balance-sheet, it having been duly audited, and asked that a printed copy be sent to him for firing. It was resolved, •'Thatthe balance-sheet be signed by the Mayor, and fifty copies printed, and that the Auditor-General's request be attended bo." -

Water Account.—lb was agreed that the Bum of £70 should be debited to the water account, and credited to the sinking fund account. The water account, ib was getting beyond the limit fixed at the bank.

Slaughterhouses.—The Town Clerk reporteVl £hat he had visited all tho slaughter houses in the district, and had found the same in a satisfactory condition. Audit Bill.—The Mayor drew the attention of the Council to the proposed Local Authorities Accounts and Audit Bill. He said that some of the conditions set forth in this measure were of an exceedingly injurious nature. Clause 9, for instance, seemed bo provide for .a preliminary audit by the local bodies themeelve3. For this a competent auditor would be required, and thus extra expense would have to be incurred without, as far as ho could see, any corresponding advantage. Again, Clause 20 seemed objectionable. This clause provided that the accounts should be published in the newspapers of the district, or printed and posted up in conspicuous places. This would mean two or three columns of a paper. The first by-laws of the Newton borough cost some £43, and in that year they spont £110 193 6d in printing, etc., which was an absurd proportion of*their revenue of about £1000. However, expenses in this way had since been much reduced. Other clauses also would be very vexatious in their effect, and some of the penalties were very heavy. These latter would deter residents from gratuitously giving their services to the district, as they mie'ht at any time find themselves let in for £100 for some little oversight. He would not, however, make any motion at present, but ask the councillors *to have a look through the Bill.