PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19978, 21 December 1926, Page 7

PORT CHALMERS COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting lapsed last night for lack of a quorum, only the Mavor (Mr T. Anderson), Crs J. Morgan, T. Mackie, and N. Campbell being present. The Mayor said the next meeting would be held on January 17. The following reports were to have been submitted to the meeting last night had a quorum been present:— The Gas and Water Committee reported that a consignment of coal had arrived, and was being carted to the works, ihc committee recommended that an amount of £2 10s be voted to Miss M. Taylor for services rendered in watching the gasworks plant during the times the gas manager was on meter reading, beveral water services have had attention during the fortnight. The sieves at the reservoir had been repaired, and were in good working order. The water main in Harrington street had to be scoured during tire fortnight owing to an accumulation of dirt. The Finance Committee reported that the accounts for payment amounted to £336 12s lid, and the receipts to £559 I9s sd. With regard to the lease of a property adjacent to the reservoir, and at present held by W. Forrester, this lease would expire on February 1, 1927, and the committee is of the opinion that after the expiry date the question of again leasing the property be allowed to lapse in the meantime, with the ultimate idea of using the property as a water reserve." The committee, proposes making an inspection of the property in order to ascertain its real value as a water reserve. The committee also recommended that the fence on the Mihiwaka reserve be repaired, and that prices be obtained for doing the work. The committee 1. d gone into the question of the payment of an increased honorarium to the Mayor. The facts might be summarised as follows: —On March 31, 1926, Mr Tait relinquished his duties as town clerk, and pending the appointment of a new officer, it was necessary to make temporary arrangements to carry on the work of the office. The council therefore decided that the Mayor should carry on the work until such time as the new town clerk assumed his duties (Mr Blackman took up his duties as town • clerk on June 1, 1926). As no statutory provision was made for payment to a Mayor or councillor for services, the council decided that the only course open bv which they could recompense the Mayor for his work in the office was to increase his honorarium by £SO for the current year. Accordingly a vote of £IOO was iilaccd upon the estimates as Mayors honorarium for the current year. , , e estimates were considered and passed by the council at a meeting held on May 10, 1926. On June 9, 1926, a cheque for £SO was paid to the Mayor, and on July 31, 1926, a further cheque for £l2 10s was drawn, but on the legality of the payment being questioned the extra amount \va.9 referred back to the Finance Committee to report. The council instructed that an opinion be obtained from the borough solicitor on the legality of increasing the Mayor’s honorarium in the second year.