INVERCARGILL BOROUGH COUNCIL

Southern Cross, Volume 4, Issue 24, 12 September 1896, Page 12

INVERCARGILL BOROUGH COUNCIL

Thursday, 10th Sept

The ordinary meeting was attended by His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Sinclair) and Councillors Mair, Blacke, Batchelor, Goldie, Stead, Rose, McFarlane, Hanan, Roche, Aitken, McKeown and Thomson. W. G. McKay, under direction of the North Invercargill Council, wrote asking the Council if they would contribute half-cost of the construction of footpath and ditch on west side of Elies Road from St. Andrew to George street. —Referred to Works Committee.

The East Invercargill Borough Council notified their intention of repairing Elies Road from Gala to St. Andrew street north, and called upon the Council to pay half-cost of same. —Left in the Mayor’s hands to attend to.

William Doraigan wrote asking to have trees removed from Town Belt, north side, which were at present a harbour for boys damaging his property. —Referred to Reserves Committee.

J. and G. Watson forwarded one of their patent gorse chippers, recommending it as a useful tool for use in the park, &c. —Referred to Works Committee.

R. W. Aitken wrote asking to be relieved of section 1, block XXVIII., Gala street, as he could not pay the rates due. The improvements had cost him £loo.—Referred to Reserves Committee.

John Gammell, President, of the Invercargill Athenaeum, wrote calling attention to the necessity for the erection of a public urinal in the neighbourhood of the cabstand. There not being the necessary conlawfully took advantage of the venience for the cabmen, they trespassed on the Athenaeum premises. It was a matter of urgency, as the trespass could not be allowed to go on any longer. —Referred to SanitaryCommittee for report.

A. Tapper applied to have the three sections held by him, near the jetty, transferred respectively to L. Buddie, G. Colbran, and T. Gruitt, •who had bought his interest in them. —Granted on usual conditions, the new holders to be responsible for all liability in connection with the sections.

Wm. Cruickshanks applied for the right to cut flax on Sandy Point Reserve, and offered £35 for the right for two years.—Cr. McFarlane moved that it be referred to the Sandy Point Domain Board for report. He thought it a pity to see the flax going to waste. —Cr. Blacke seconded the motion, pointed out at the same time, that the present lease precluded the Council from granting the right. —Carried.

Alex Ferguson, agent for Theatre Royal, wrote asking that the meters in the theatre be inspected, as the discrepancy in the gas bills clearly indicated that there was something wrong. He also pointed out that in other towns reduced charges were made in the case of theatres, and asked the Council to consider the matter of price.—Referred to Gas Committee.

The following report from the Works Committee was dealt with : 1. Recommend that the Marine Department, Wellington, te informed that the Harbour Committee approve of proposed regulations to apply to yachts as well as to licensed boats, and have no suggestion to make thereon 2. Recommend that C. Logan be informed that the Public Works gang on which he was employed have been paid their wages in full, and that the Council cannot interfere in the matter to which he refers. 3. Recommend that the extension of the drain in Conon street, referred to by Mrs Wehh, be attended to. 4. Recommend that a drain in west side of Uith street, between Teviot and Earn streets, be put in as recommended In the Engineer. 5. Eecomauend that a drain on north side of Biggar street, from Clyde street east, about 5 chains be put down as recommended by, the engineer. 6. Recommend that Kelvin Road be gravelled fourteen feet wide in the centre ■with Oporo gravel, and the bridge put in repair ; and that the County Council, Avanal

and Gladstone Boroughs, be applied to for their proportion of the expense. 7. Recommend that the engineer be instructed to have the water closet in block 1 of the gardens removed.

With regard to clause 7, the Mayor said that the convenience had been made a great nuisance and would have to be removed. The report was adopted as a whole. The following was the report of the Finance Committee ;

I. Report that Mr Whitmore’s letter in reference to his water supply by meter is held over for consideration, and that the Waterworks Engineer Has been instructed in the meantime to furnish a report to the Committee.

2. Report that the letter from S. J. Young, Dunedin, abandoning his lease of section 9, block 13, is held over for further consideration, and that the Mayor meanwhile make enquiries into the position of the lease. 3. Report having authorised the Mayor to pay over to the Southland County Council the subsidy agreed upon in connection with road making at Dunsdale Reserve, on his being satisfied that the money has been properly expended and in terms of the agreement.

4. Report that your Committee has instructed the Engineer to report fully on the water purification scheme. 5. Recommend that the Waterworks Reserve be fenced with iron strainers and standards and plain wire. 6. Recommend that tenders be called for painting the lamp posts throughout the town.

7. Recommend that in future it be inserted in all advertisements calling for applications for employment by the Corporation that any applicants who may make personal canvass to the councillors will be disqualified. 8. Recommend that a three-ton chain block be purchased for use at the water ■ works —cost, £ll. 9. Recommend that the accounts, amounting to—Public Works, L 985 13s 6d ; Harbour, L6l 9s 5d ; Reserves, L 49 2s 4d ; Gasworks, L 352 11s 9d ; Waterworks, LBO 15s ; Sanitary, L 45 4s 8d ; and Municipal, L 129 Is lOd —total, L 1703 18s 6d, be passed or p ayment.

The Mayor, referring to Clause 3, said he would see that the work had been properly done before allowing payment. Cr. Goldie moved, seconded by Cr. Hanan, that the report be adopted. —Or. McKeown moved that clause 7, which he considered ridiculous, be deleted. —Cr. Batchelor seconded the motion. —Cr. Hanan said he was responsible for that clause. The practice of canvassing tbe councillors was very objectionable, and opened the way to the practice of deceit and dissimulation. There was more likelihood of merit being recognised and justice done if canvassing was not allowed. —The Mayor said that although he did rot approve of the principle of canvassing for votes, still it would not be just to stop working men from doing it while candidares for seats in the Council and higher positions were allowed to do it.—Cr. Stead took the same view of the matter, remarking that they could hardly prevent others from doing what they might have to do themselves.—Or. Aitken said the practice had always been carried on and always would. — Cr. Rose said it gave him a chance to inquire of a man’s ability when he saw him personally.—Cr. Goldie considered that no injury to the working man could result from the adoption of the clause. —The amendment, on being put, was carried by 9 to 3, and the report adopted with clause seven struck out.

Cr. Hanan presented a petition signed by members and adherents of Sb Paul’s Presbyterian Church, asking that a crossing be made in Dee street, at the foot of Leet street. —To He on the table.

Cr McKeown gave notice of motion that the wages of the workmen employed on street maintenance be increased by 6d per day. Several matters requiring attention were brought up and left in the Mayor’s hands to attend to. The Mayor said that at next meeting he would put before the Council the position of the various departments of the town, two of which were absorbing an enormous amount of money that should be spent in the drains and streets. The following standing committees were appointed: —Finance, Gas and Water: Ors Roche, McParlane, Black, Batchelor, Stead, and McKeown ; Works : Crs Mair, Thomson, Hanan, Goldie, Aitkeu, and Rose.

Thirty - four applications were received for the position of assistant gardener. The Council went into committee to consider the appointment, which was given to Samuel Thomson. On the suggestion of the Mayor the second highest (Geo. T. Driscoll) was appointed to fill the vacancy caused through the other assistant, Dwyer, leaving—wages 5s per day. The Council then adjourned.