WAVERLEY TOWN BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 119, 14 October 1896, Page 2

WAVERLEY TOWN BOARD.

The first meeting of the newly elected board was held in the board’s offices, Waverley, last evening, when there were present—Messrs Cathro, Dickie, Palmer, and Thurston.

The clerk, Mr Fooke’s, informed the board that their first duty was to elect a chairman.

Mr Thurston proposed that Mr J. B, Taylor be elected chairman, remarking in doing so that Mr Taylor had held the office for some twelve or fourteen years and had at the election just past been returned by the ratepayers at the head of the poll.

Mr Oathro proposed as an amendment “ That Mr Dickie be chairman, giving his reason for opposing Mr Taylor’s election as chairman, but which the present law of libel precludes oar publishing.

Mr Palmer seconded Mr Thurston’s proposition and the amendment lapsed for want of a seconder.

Mr Taylor was therefore ’declared the duly elected chairman for the present term.

Mr Taylor being in Wellington at present Mr Thurston was elected chairman for the evening, on the motion of Mr Dickie.

Minutes of last meeting read and confirmed.

Treasurer’s balance declared, cr £35 10s 3d.

Accounts were read when Mr Cathro took exception to the amount charged for earthwork, as he had been given to understand that there was a resolution on the minute book (some years old) requiring any work costing over £2 to bo done by tender, yet this, although £5, had not been so lot.

Mr Thurston explained that the work had cost rather more than was anticipated owing in a great measure to the heavy charge made for horse and cart, but this they had reduced as far as practicable by employing the owner of the horse and cart. They had done the best they corffd under the circumstances, as the work had to bo completed. If tbe board thought it necessary they could pass the other counts and leave that particular one until next meeting, and make further enquiries in the meantime, and if they were not satisfied with the facts they would then be in a position to pass a vote of censure on the, chairman and himself for having done the work.

Mr Dickie thought they would have to pay the account in the end, whether they were satisfied or not and he could not see any use in keeping the men out of their money till next meeting. Mr Cath.ro said two or three people had come to him and spoken about the resolu tion requiring works tube done by tender Accounts amounting to £lll7s Gd were then passed for payment. Mr Fookcs wrote to the Board asking for payment of fees as Returning Officer for the Board as was granted in the case of other local bodies. Mr Dickie moved “ That Mr Fookes receive the foes as Returning Officer as per his letter.” Mr Gathro seconded and it was carried. Notice Avas received from Dr Harvey of tAvo cases of infectious disease in the town-, ship, the chairman informing the Board that unfortunately they were cases of diphtheria. Mr Thurston then said it Avas about their usual time for striking a rate, and in order to give members something to calculate on he had prepared a rough estimate for the year. Taking the rate at a halfpenny in the £ they Avould receive £43, subsidy £lO, dog tax £O, rents about £9, and cash in hand say £l(3 and two licenses £SO. The proposed expenditure, he suggested as follows:—From the Post Office on that road, £2O; culvert by Mr Cox’s £5 ; on the road by the hall clearing water-tables and rounding up, £6; the road past the School for similar Avork a similar sum, and the road by the Sale Yards, L 5 ; Station road, L2O ; and Main road, tarring footpaths, etc., LlO, and timber for kerbing, L3O They could manage on a farthing rate, hut the back roads mentioned could not have attention, and he thought all would rather pay the other farthing than have the back roads neglected. Mr Dickie thought it Avould he better to have the halfpenny rate and take care of the back streets. Mr Thurston moved “ That a rate of one-halfpenny in the £ be struck at next meeting.” Mr Cathro seconded, and it was carried unanimously. The clerk Avas instructed to give the necessary notice. Mr Cathro asked A\ r hy the furze on the road line of a section of Mr Ellis’ had not been cut 'i Mr Thurston said the material for a new fence was all ready on the ground and the furze Avould he cleared away completely directly, which Avould bo bettor than trimming, Mr Dickie then moved “That tenders ho called for clearing the footpaths and Avater-tables on both sides of the main road from the Post Office corner to the Presbyterian Church and on Gloag and Bear streets to the first corners.” Tenders to close on 27th instant. Mr Palmer seconded and it Avas carried. The Board thea adjourned.

The DOMAIN BOARD then met, same members present. Minutes of former mooting read and confirmed. Treasurer’s balance declared Cr £37 17s 9d. A letter Avas received from the Waverley Cricket Club thanking the Board for its vote of £5, and asking for more sheep to be put on to keep down the grass.

On tin; motion of Mr Cathro it was resolved, to call for tenders for 12 months’ sheep grazing of the Domain, the lessee to be subject to twenty-four hours’ notice to remove sheep from the ground at and for any time during the tenancy. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Dickie to call for tenders for trimming the fences round the Domain. Tenders to be in by the 27th instant. The Board then adjourned.

The Wairoa Domain Board and Cemetery Board met afterwards, the reports of which will be given in our next.