BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1495, 7 December 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Present : His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Townley, Brown, Tutchen, Clayton, Soiimiervell, Whinray, Tucker, Lewis, and Brrry. Tlie minutes of last general and special meetings were read and continued. Offer ok Loan — The hnu of Messrs Menzies & Co., of Napier, offered to lend the Borough any sum from £00,000 on any Municipal security ; terms would be communicated if the Council were disposed to treat. The Towu Clerk was instructed to reply that the offer would be borne in mind. Balance Shuet. — A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary, stating that if it was necesssary after the completion of the Bal tiice-sheet that an Order in Council would be obtained to extend the time, Auditors.— ln reply to the Town Clerk who asked for the renewed attention to the work, they stated that they would do it m speedy as possible. The delay had arisen through both of the auditors being engaged in electioneering. The Town Clerk informed the Counc 1 that the auditors had promised to have the audit com pelted withj|i a week as extra assistance had been engaged to carry on the work. Native Land Coubt.— The letter forwarded to the Nativo Minister, asking for the tixing of a sitting of the Native Land Court, was answered to the effect that the fixing of the Court did not belong to tho functions of tho Government, and that the letter was sent on to to the Chief Judge— a reply was received from the Secretary of the Land Court Chief Juduo, curtly acknowledgthe receipt of the letter. The New J. P. — A communication was received from th» Colonial Secretary, to tho effect that Mr. C. D. Bennett Mayor elect, had been appointed J. P. in virtue of his ofh'ce, and authorising Captain T. W.. Porter to administer tho oath of allegiance and office him. The Punt. — John Thompson stated that alterations had been made in the plan of the punt subsequent the acceptance of the contract, and that he had not been supplied with a working plan. Should he be put to additional expense, he would make n ciaim against the Council. Mr. Thompson, who was present was examined, when it was found that the sole ground of his complaint was that he did not get a tracing of the plan. He a Imitted having tendered according to the plan. It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Tucker, seconded by Cr. Cluyton, — That Mr. Thompson's attention be drawn to the fact that no alteration in the plan has been made, but that an addition of figures explanatory of the plan was made before he sign«d and thereby ho signified his acceptance of the contract. That a working plau and tracing may be obtained from the office on the usual terms. Gbk\ Stkeet. —In respect of the continuation of this roud on the south side of the Waikane, a reply was reoeived from Mr. Barium! that the Survey Department had no authority under any Act to lay off this line (.f'rtud. It was resolved that authority be obtained under the Public Works Act to lay off the road. Danubhous Good Stoke.— Mr. J. Shrimptou called the notice of the Council to tho danger likely to arise from tho large quantities of kerosene tins in the back yards of the various stores. He respectfully submitted that the Council should erect a dangerous good store for the reception of Bijch inflammable goods.— Or. Clayton said Mr. Shrimpton had a right as a ratepayer to refer to the mattor. He had been shown

over 100 cns«s pile \ up in a yard near the Post Office. It was ordered that the receipt of the letter bo acknowlodgud. Public Urinals. — Mr. J. Shritnpton naked that public urinals should be ereoUd in the vicinity of the Post Office. He stated his reason to be that it was tho intention to close to tho public those that were situated in ihe yard of tho Court House, because of certain disputing acts. The Council replied th-it they were not ill a positiou to provide the urinals.. Thb Latr Towk Olkrk — A letter was received from th'« latu Town Clerk requesting the Council to take Ullo Consideration the great increase of work which had been entailed on him since ho assumed office, without any extra remuneration being paid him. Ho detailed iit length all the aodititional office work which was thus imposed upon him. It was rbsolved that the receipt of tho letter be acknowledged, and that, Mr. Sheriff bo romided that as he did not perform his undertaking to the Council tr> attend the office, and instruct the lately appointed Town Clerk, and aa he did not complete the account* for auditing, that tho Council decline to entertain the request. Auditor*' Report.— Mr. McLean, one of the auditors, being in attendance, said that ho had written a letter on the subjects of the Borough accounts, which ho had since withdrawn, simply because if tho Council wished for information he could give it verbally, without committing himself to writing. He had been engaged in the work for some time past. He would tell them that there had been many irregularities, which the report would deal with. On second thought, he had held over the report until the completion of the audit. He would say that the accounts and books wore in a disorderly state. He had been constantly working at them of late, but it would tike several days before the accountant's part of the work would bo done. After that he would proceed with the audit. The preparation of the balance-sheet must necessarily remain until after his rct'irn from Napier, but if in his absence thoy chose to employ another accountant, he would retire in favor of the person appointed, but as auditor he claimed the ri^ht to have tho Auditing of the accounts when he returned. He would inform the Council that there were no ledger entries since September, ['ho disadvantages he wa-t laboring under was that he had other duties to perform. He also intended to report on the system of book-keeping which had been carried on, and introduce from the commencement of the half-year a new system. The books would be handed over to the present Clerk entered up to date in accordance- with the new system. All that he now asked from the Council was sufficient time to complete his combined work of accountant and auditor. Some of the Councillors had told him that the work oii^ht to have been finished long ago, and so it would bo if it was slummed over. It was not his intention to slum over the work — His Worship said, having heaid Mr McLean's report, that it would be bettor to ullow him to finish it. They had lost so much time that they could not suffer much by a little delay. — Cr. Soinurvell said the thanks of the Council were due to Mr. McLean, in attending the Council and imparting the inform o ion. —It was agreed to allow the necessary time to complete tho work. Oxknham'h Contract. —Mr. Oxenham wrote a letter, in which he undertook to deliver 20,000 yards of metal from the river near Oruv>nd, instead of from the Ronpongaere crossing, where the gravel has almost ail been washed away, and that which is remaining is insufficient. It was proposed to deliver the metal from Ormond at is. per yard. — Cr. T<>wnley suggested that the Borough should confer with the County Council before any action was taken. — Cr. Somerveil conourred with what Cr. Townley proposed. The metal was vastly superior to that obtained at Waerenga-a-hika. If the gravel which is now being obtained there was brought down for tho Borough roads, thero would bo aery out about it. Ho had inspected the metal where it was now proposed to obtain it from ; it was of a very superior quality. — Cr. Tutcheu thought that immediate action should be taken. — His Worship said the difficulty in deciding the raittor was that for this quantity at tho price mentioned the wholo of the special loan account would be absorbed. It would make tho difference between £300 and £400.— Cr. Berry suggested, and after discussion it was resolved " That a committee be appointed to inspect the nhingle at Ormond and Waerenifa-a-hika, and consider the letter ; said Committee to interview the County Council in order to arrive at an arrangement with Mr. Oxenhum regarding the proposal mude to this Council.