BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5630, 27 November 1889, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met last evening. Present — The Mayor and Crs Townley, Dunlop Hepburn, Coleman, Harding, Lucas, Whinray, and Lewis. A CLAIM. A letter from Mr John Thompson, late R.E., was received. It was agreed to notify to the writer that his claim wa barred by the statute of limitations, and that it would be illegal for the Council to recognise it. THE BRIDGES. The Overseer reported that one of the piles of the Taruheru footbridge had been broken by the Tuna. The cost of replacing the pile would be about 30s. — It was resolved to replace the pile, and apply to Messrs Nelson Bros, for the cost. The Overseer reported on fender-piles for the bridges. — Mr Coleman did not think they could in the present state of Borough finance. — Mr Wilkinson, in reply to a question, said that the four fenderpiles for the big bridge would cost about L<*o. Cross bearers to support the turn table of the Turanganui bridge »vould cost about Lso.— The matter was referred lo the Works Committee, to report at next meeting. FREKZIXG WORKS. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that complaints had been made about refuse being thrown into the Taruheru from the freezing works, but on visiting the works lie found there was no foundation for the report. There was no such thing as refuse at the works, everything being utilised. He believed the steamers going up and down helped to clear the river of rubbish. PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for

HOLIDAY. Mr Lucas stated he had been requested to ask the Mayor to proclaim Monday next a public holiday Saturday was St. Andrew's Day, but it was deemed advisable to have the holiday on the following Monday. — The request was granted.

In reference to the rabbit question, Mr Cowan declared at the Stock Conference,

that, notwithstanding all that had been done to keep down the rabbit pest in New Zealand, it had grown very largely. The skins imported in 1887 numbered some 8,900,000, in 1888 the number was

12,125,000, and in 1889 12,595,000. This large export trade in skins showed to what ,vi excent the pest had grown since the rabbit was first introduced from Scotland

n 187o\ He moved :— " That the means v use hitherto in the different colonies

that are infested with rabbits have not bad the effect of materially reducing :he numbers of that animal and that n consequence the period of being releved from the pest is ?till uncertain,

thereby entailing continued loss to the pastoral and agricultural industries of the Australasian colonies ; and thU Conference is of opinion that joint action should be taken by the Governments of the different colonies to offer a bonus for a,

means that will lead to the more rapid extermination of rabbits than the means at present hold out the prospect of." Some of the other members had no faith

iti the bonus plan, and considered rabbits could be only kept down by hard work. The rabbit- proof netting was also extolled as a preventive. However, it was thought the motive could do little harm if it could do no good, and it was carried.

Tl\i! r»iiiiks -will be closed on Saturday ie:vi. the ,'JOth mat.

payment . — Charitable Aid £65 0 0 Town Clerk 1(5 13 4 N. Robertson 4 (i 8 T. Fiiram 15 0 0 E. Wilkinson 15 0 0 T. Morrison 8 0 0 J. Smaill 1 () 0 H. C. Boylnn 18 0 Opening Bridges 1 19 0 H. C. Clayton 4 17 0 W. M.orrison (5 15 6 .1. Somervell 9 8 0 W. J. Scotter 3 17 G. Humphries 4 (! <i J. Jackson i 9 « Sundries 1 10 0 F. J. Piesse 110 Insurance ... ... ... 12 0 0 Gas Company 27 7 0 Whataupoko Road Board ... 10 0 0