Town Board.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 220, 13 October 1896, Page 2

Town Board.

The first meeting of the new Board was held on Monday, October 12th. Present: —Messrs D. McGregor, R. Pepperill, G. W. Rogers, W. J. Christie, and J. M. Hickey.

The Clerk called on the members to elect a chairman.

Mr Christie moved that Mr Rogers be-chairman. Seconded by Mr McGregor. Mr Rogers, in taking the chair, thanked the members for the honor done him and hoped the members would be found working harmoniously for the good of the town and the ratepayers generally. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr MacManus, stating that the 7d per yard quoted in his letter for channelling was the rate in New Plymouth, and considering the expense of coming to Opunake he could not undertake it at less than BJd. A long discussion on the matter of drainage and the filthy state of drains took place. Mr McGregor moved and Mr Rogers seconded, That the channelling between Napier and Layard Streets be doue, subject to Mr Knowles complying with an offer previously made to the Board to pay one third the cost. After further discussion Mr McGregor said as he had agreed as a member of the Board to calling tenders for the work to be done at the Board’s expense he would ask permission to withdraw his motion.

Mr Rogers then moved the same motion with the addition that Mr Knowles should contribute one third the cost of four chains. Seconded by Mr Hickey. Mr McGregor moved as an amendment, That the whole of the work be done at the Board’s expanse. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, and the motion was carried.

From County Council, forwarding resolution that the Council would do the channelling between Napier and Layard Street when in funds. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, re Waiau encroachment, stating that the Surveyor-General considered the Board, with the assistance of the School Commissioners should do the protective work. Resolved, That the School Commissioners be communicated with.

From J. Stewart, asking permission to occupy Section 1, Block 44, on the usual terms.

Mr Rogers moved, seconded by Mr Pepperill, That the request be granted. Mr Christie objected to letting any more of the reserves until after next March, as the Board had virtually let them to that date to those people who had paid for registering thoir cattle, and be thought it was unjust to them, after taking their money, to then take away the grazing from them. He moved an amendment that the Board let no more reserves until after next March.

Mr Hickey seconded the amendment, as if they shut up all these reserves there would be no grazing left. Even now the horses finding feed so short in the town where finding their way up the Eltham Road. Mr Rogers said he agreed to a certain extent with Mr Christie, but the Board had advertised these sections to let, and for years they had gone begging, and now that there was a chance to let them he could not go back on the previous action of the Board in advertising them. The amendment on being put was lost and the motion carried.

From Secretary Brass Band, asking the Board to forego the charge for the hall for the late band concert, as the proceeds were to be devoted to buying a new instrument.

Mr Rogers said the instruments were the property of the Board, audit being a new band he thought they should get every encouragement. Resolved, That the charge be foregone. (Rogers-Hickey.) From M. Dillon, asking for an allowance of 80s on account of two stone culverts. In the specifications it was stated that the stone in the old culverts was to be used in the new work, but when the culverts were opened up one was found to be a wooden one and the other a pipe culvert.

Resolved, That amount be paid. (Rogers-McGregor.) FINANCE. The Treasurer presented the financial statement, which showed cash in bank, £l2O 7s 2d ; liabilities, £96 Is ; having an available balance of £24 Gs 2d.

TENDERS. Street lighting.—J. S. Knobbs for lighting street lamps Is 3d per week per lamp. (Accepted), Resolved, That the lamps be extinguished at 10.80 except on Saturday night, (Pepperill-Chmtie.) Contract 160. Formation of footpaths—Sorrenson and Carter: Fox Street, 16s per chain ; King Street, £1 7s 6d per chain ; Domett Street, £1 7s 6d per chain. Dudley and Mitchell : Fox Street, 18s Gd per chain ; King Street, £1 5s 6d per chain; Domett Street, 16s per chain. Contract 159. Supplying .stone and sand for channelling.—Sorrenson and Carter : Stone, 3s per yd ; sand, 2s 6d per.vd. Dudley aud Mitchell: Stone, 3s Gd per yd ; sand, Is 6d per yd. Contract 159 was held over pending Mr Knowles agreeing to contribute to cost.

The Chairman moved that Dudley and Mitchell’s tender for contract 160 be accepted. Mr Pepperill seconded.

Mr McGregor moved as an amendment that it be not accepted until the Board gets a reply from Mr Knowles, and if he declines to contribute to cost of channelling, then that contract 160 be gone on with. Mr Christie seconded. Mr McGregor said the channelling was of more importance than the foot-

paths, aud if there was not money enough to do both, the footpaths could better stand over.

Mr Hickey did not see what was the object of the late Board calling for tenders if there were no funds to carry out the work.

Mr Pepperill agreed that the channelling was the most important work, as it should be the duty of the Board to conserve the health of the people. These drains were in such a filthy state that unless something was done there would be serious consequences when the summer came in.

The Chairman said he was quite willing to withdraw his motion, and had moved the acceptance of it because these contractors had been put to the trouble of putting in tenders. The amendment then became the motion and was carried.

Mr Clough applied for permission to fence in part of Aytouu Street. The Chairman said with regard to roads and crescents he quite agreed with Mr Christie’s contention that they should not be fenced in, depriving those who had registered stock of the privileges they had paid for. He moved that the Board declines to grant permission to fence in any roads. Seconded by Mr Christie. Mr McGregor moved as an amendment that permission be granted as requested. Mr Christie said shutting up the roads was most unfair and unjust, and that if it was to continue the Board would lose the revenue for grazing, which for this year amounted to £2B ss.

There being no seconder to the amendment it lapsed, and the resolution was put and carried. Resolved, That the chairman be authorised to sign cheques. (Mc-Gregor-Pepperili.) Resolved, That the chairman and Mr Christie be appointed to sign contracts. (McGregor-Hickey.) The Chairman wished to know by what authority Mr Vickery’s name had been placed on the roll. The Clerk said Mr Rogers, when chairman, had initialled the alteration of the roll himself.

The Chairman asked on whose application the alteration had been made. The Clerk said the owner’s agent. The Chairman; Did Vickery consent ? The Clerk : No.

The Chairman said it seemed a very hard case that a man’s name should be put on the roll for property which he did not occupy, and that he could not get it off when he wanted. The Clerk stated that the Court had decided Mr Vickery was the occupier, and there was an action pending now in the Court to decide whether or v not he was the tenant still; until that was decided or Mr Vickery provided a substitute his name could not be removed from the roll.

It was therefore agreed that the matter should be left in abeyance until the case had been heard.

Mr McGregor wished to know how the hall piano stood, and who it belonged to. The Chairman said as one of those interviewed he could only say that the matter was in Mr Brame’s hands, and he understood a public meeting was to be called.

Mr Pepperill said there were great complaints about the ranger making excessive charges. He would pick up a beast just outside a person’s door, drive it to the pound, then send a written notice, charging 2s 6d for it, and though a beast might be in only an hour or two there would be 6s 6d to pay for it. Mr McHardy intended going for the Board ov-r it. He would like to know what were the terms of bis appointment.

The Chairman sai I a week’s notice was fixed in the agreement. As far as the charges were concerned he understood they were in accordance with the Act, and if any one objected they would have no redress unless they took the matter into Court.

Mr Pepperill moved that the ranger’s services be dispensed with.

Tiie Chairman sojonded the motion pro forma. Mr Hickey asked on what grounds were his services to be dispensed with. Mr Pepperill said on the ground of excessive charges. The Chairman said that the charge for sustenance was an extortion, as there was nothing there but dirty straw, and it was disgraceful that he should make a charge for it. He was undoubtedly a good ranger. Mr McGregor said he was a good ranger, and there could be no objection taken to him if good sustenance was provided. He did not altogether blame him in the case of Mr Middleton. As to Mr McHardy’s complaint, he thought it was a job for him that the pound was there, as no one in the district had made more use of it or made more money out of it than Mr McHardy. He (Mr McGregor) knew that to his coat.

He moved an amendment that the ranger’s services be retained. Seconded by Mr Christie.

The amendment was carried.

Resolved, That the poundkeeper be required to provide proper means of sustenance within two weeks. (Mc-Gregor-Rogers.)

The following accounts were passed for payment: —Harbor Board, £1 5s 4d ; Returning Officer, £3 4s ; T. H. Mann, £4 lls ; Times, 11s 3d ; D. E. Mathers, 4s ; Auditor, £1 ; Sorrenson and Carter. £29 2s 7d ; Dudley aud Mitchell, £1 3s 7d ; J. S. Knobbs, £2 15s.

The Chairman gave notice of motion, That all fences oj roads and crescents be removed.

DOMAIN BOARD. Same members. Mr McGregor moved and Mr Hickey seconded, That Mr Christie be chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Christie took the chair. Minutes read aud confirmed. The following tenders for ploughing

and discing were received : —Dudley and Mitchell: Ploughing, lls 6d per acre; discing Is 2d per acre. H. Boyle: Ploughing, 8s 6d per acre ; discing, Is 6d per acre. Mr Boyle’s tender was informal, and Messrs Dudley and Mitchell’s accepted. The Chairman and Mr Pepperill were appointed a sub-committeb to supervise ploughing.