Town Board.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 184, 9 June 1896, Page 2

Town Board.

The monthly meeting was held on Monday, June Bth. Present.— Messrs D. McGregor (chairman), O'Brien, Stewart, J. C. Hickey, and later, T. Knowles. Minutes of previous meetiug read and confirmed. TENDERS. For f abridge over Post Office creek: —!) nl'oy and Mitchell (accepted), £1 IU ; John Guy, £6 2s 6d. For extension of footpath beyond Post Office :—Sorrensen and Carter (accepted), £6 15s; J. and 0. De Castro, £7 10s ; Dudley and Mitchell, £9 4s. CORRESPONDENCE. From Treasury, notifying payment of £ll 5s to Board's credit for use of hall for Court purposes. From C. Orchard, denying liability for rates for which his name appeared on the rate roll, also stating that if sued he would hold the clerk responsible for expenses, and pointing out that the clerk had rendered himself liable to an action for sending a threatening post card to him. From Taranaki County Council, offering to hand over the Main Road, the same to be maintained by the Board.

Resolved, v That the Board declines to take it over on conditions submitted. (McGregor-Knowles.) From Commissioner of Grown Lands, acknowledging letter re encroachment of Waiau River, and stating that either he or Mr Robinson hoped to inspect same shortly. From High School Board, New Plymouth, re Education Reserve, asking Board to appoint a delegate to a conference to be held next Monday. Resolved, That this Board endorses the proposed action of the High School Board and that Mr J. B. Roy be requested to act as delegate for this Board. (McGregor-Stewart.) From J. Ritson, expressing his willingness to pay the Boards demand provided the words " or Taxes " were added to " Rates."

Resolved, That his request be granted. From Rutherford and Son, calling attention to need for repairs on Park Place. Resolved, That the Chairman and Clerk inspect and take steps to get necessary work done. SUPPER-ROOM. Mr Knowles asked what was being done about the supper-room. Mr McGregor said there was a diversity of opinion about it. Mr O'Brien asked why the resolution of the Board at its last meeting had not been carried out. Mr McGregor said he had got a different plan, which suited a majority of the Board and also a great many ratepayers, for placing it at the back of the hall, and if it were not put there he would wash his hands out of it.

Mr O'Brien said it seemed strange that one individual member should undertake to block the Board's resolution. The deputation of ladies .who waited on them undertook, to repay the cost, and it was Mr McGregor himself who had proposed the resolution to give effect to the wishes of the deputation. Mr McGregor said he objected-now to putting it on the side of the hall. Mr Knowles asked if it were built at the end would the ladies still keep to their guarautee. Mr McGregor said they would not.

Mr Hickey wanted to know if the Board was in a position to spend £9O or £IOO on it.

Mr McGregor said the biggest ratepayers favored it being put on the e:id. If they put it on the end the ladies might use the stage and not the room for supper purposes. sThen what would the ratepayers say. He would not favor putting up a room at the side, which would spoil the look of the hall, to please the ladies, none of whom might be here in two years' time. Mr Kuowles said the supper-room was a great necessity, and moved that the supper-room be built on the side of the hall, and that the ladies be asked to keep to their agreement re repayment.

Mr Hickey said he saw the plan drawn by Mr Robinson, which was well drawn, but he thought before Mr McGregor took it on himself to obtain that plan he should have moved to have the previous resolution of the Board rescinded. Mr McGregor's action taking the matter on himself was notbusiuess. He favored the room at the end as it was more private

Mr O'Brien seconded the motion. In answer to some of the objections he said that in all the halls he knew the supper-room was on the side, and he thought there must be some good reason for putting them there, and if they answered everywhere else he could not see why it should not answer equally well here. Mr McGregor moved as an amendment, That the matter stand over in the meantime. Seconded by Mr Stewart.

For the amendment: —McGregor, Stewart; against: Knowles, O'Brien. The chairman gave his casting vote in favor of the amendm?nt and declared it cairied.

The following accounts were passed —Dudley and Mitchell, 16s 6d ; Opunake Times, £1 7s ; McSweeney, £2 2s ; A. H. Moore, 7s 2d ; Fire Insurance, £4 2s 6d ;- Martin, £l2 53 6d ; Palmer and Co, 2s 4d.

DOMAIN BOARD. Mr J. Stewart chairman. Minutes read and confirmed. Messrs Rutherford and Son wrote offering to pay for the use of Reserve occupied by them for flax bleaching and requesting that fence 3 as erected be allowed to remain. Mr Knowles said he had had a look at the fences and did not see what they wanted to come down for. The mill gave a lot of employment and thought every encouragoment should be given to them. The fence had

been put up by Mr Rutherford, not by Mr Twomey. Mr Stewart said so long as Rutherford had erected the fences it made no difierence as they certainly did give a lot of work. Mr Knowles moved that Rutherford and Son be granted the use of the reserve and that the fences be allowed to remain where they are. Seconded by Mr McGregor. " - Mr O'Brien suggested that they might add to the resolution that an apology be also sent to Mr Rutherford and M? Twomey. Mr Stewart asked what an apology should be sent for. Mr McGregor said on second consideration he thought it would only be fair to ask Mr Rutherford to pay the same as Mr Twomey. The resolution was altered accordingly and carried. The following tenders were received for grazing the north belt:—A. Clough, 12s,,an acre; R. Pepperill, 15i (accepted).