BOROUGH COUNCIL

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11570, 11 July 1899, Page 1

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Borough Council met on Mondaj evening. Present : The Mayor (Mr E Doekrill), Messrs Bellringer, Brooking, Clow, Collis, Avery, Cattley, Stohr, Ward, and Walton.

Letters were read from the agenls oi the SootUsh Metropolitan Accident In surance, Oec-an Guarantee and the New Zealand compani p R quoting rates at which the respective companies were willing to insure the Borough employees.- A lettei was also read from the emj'loj'ees stating that they wero satisfied with tLo Ne« Zealand Company, and a recommendation was made in its favour by the Works' Committee - Mr Clow said he h-.d a lottei handed to him that evening signed by all of the employies, except one, expressing a desire <o be insured by the Ocean Company.— The letter was read. — Mr Bellringer moved the adoption of the Committee. recommendation. He said the members of the Committee had the quotations of the different companies before them, and, as tha premiums were the same and every satisfaction was ex(ressed by the men with the treatment received from the New Zealand Company, the Committee decided in favour of the latter institution — Mr Stohr seconded the motion. — The Mayor made a similar explanation.— Mr Collis wanted to know what the difference was in this and last year's quotations in the New Zealand Company ?— The Town Clerk : Onethird less — Mr Collis : And that is in consequence of the new companies coming in the field? — The Mayor: I presume so. — Mr COIH3 thought some attention should be paid to the wishes of the men. —Mr Walton was of the same opinion, and he moved an amendment that consideration be deferred. — Mr. Ward said it seemed to him the men did not know their own minds. If the matter were deferred another week it would be found that another reduction would occur, and the men would then sign a further letter.— Mr Clow considered it was to the Council's interests to do business with the cheapest institution, and if there had^been auy shuffling .— Mr Bellringer: I deny it in Mo. — Mr Clow: If there has been any shuffling, as I have been informed there has been, ' then its our duty to enquire into it — Mt Bellringer said the only inference from Councillor Clow's remarks was that the Town Clerk or come of the Committee had been gnilty of trickery. He would like to know who was referred to. — Mr Clow: I did not say the Council or the Town Clerk. —Mr Bellringer: You said trickery, and I for one am not prepared to stand under such an accusation. I have done my duty honourably and honestly,and I won't allow Councillor Clow or anyone el-e to make such a reflection. —Mr Clow : I did not say the Council had been guilty of . — Mr Bellringer : You said you had been informed there had been trickery. — The Mayor : 1 have some information, and I am certain neither the Council nor the Town Clerk is implicated. —Mr Clow: Just so-, I referred to some one outside the Council — Mr Bellringer: If Councillor Clow will say that lam prepared to accept the statement, — Mr Clow: I told you before. I did not refer to the inside of the Council room. I said, "he told ." — Mr Bellringer: Who's "he"? Mr Clow: "He's" outside the Council." — Councillor Waltou's amendment ws.s put and negatived on a division by 3 to 7, the ayes being Messrs Walton, Collis, and Clow.— The recommendation of the Committee was then adopted A letter was read from Mr S. Vaile dealing with legi-latiou affecting certain lands. —Mr Bellringer moved that the letter be acknowledged. He thought if Mr Vaile would read a bill lately before the Home Government he would change his views on certiin matters. — The Mayor : Mr Vaile eeema to think the Government is as autocratic as the Czar of Russia. One would think that the Government did everything and there was no Hoa'o — Mr Colin : So the Government does — Ihe Mayor: And the House doesu t sanction anything ! If (he Government is as bad as they make out one would think the sooner we got " shut " off it the belter.— The letter was acknowledged. Several letters, whioh are dealt with in ths committees' reports, wero read. The Inspector reported the sanitary condition o£ the borough to be good. The turncock reported on the work done by him during the month. —Mr Stohr complained that the turuco-k had turned off the -water on three 01 four occasions in the west end of the town without previously notifying the people, whereby much inconvenience was caused. —The Mayor said it was the usual custom of the turncock to inform the people, and it must have been an oversight in the" ins ances referred toby Mr Stohr. The Fire Prevention Committee recommended the Council to pa's a by-law dealing with the storage of explosives within the Borough, making due provision as to the quantities and conditions under which such dangerous goods may be kept. The Committee also drew attention to the necea-ity of passing] by-lawa without delay. — Adopted. The Resei yes Committee recommended : — That the lease of part of Egmont-street reserve to Mr J. F. Hooker be signed and sealed ; that the Council be recommended to agree to the exchange of that part of the racecouise reserve lying to the east of Elliot-street and north of Bell-street, of an area of about 3 acres, for the piece of land known as St. Germain's Square, •conditionally on the latter being vested in the Borough as an endowment, and that the cost of completing the exchange be borne by the Vnranaki Agricaltural Society ; the Taranaki Agricultural Society to complete all legislation required — Adopted. The Works Committee reported :—: — That the Foreman's letter re waste of water be'referred to the Borough solicitor, and if he is Fatisfied there is a case, that the Town Cleik be instructed to lay an information ; that the Borough solicitor draft an agreement or agreements so as to make all extraordinary supplies of water within' or without tho Borough under the provisions of the Borough by^lawd ; that all persons having extraordinary supplies of water be required to sign the agreement when prepared by the Borough solicitor ; that tho Chairman attend to Mr RH. Solo's request ; that repairs and sundry articles required at the Waterworks Engineer's houso be scon to by the Chairman.— Adopted. The following tiansfers were agreed to: ~-W. Aruoldt to D. McLean, sec 105G, East; F. Bsllringer to C. I Turchi, sec 1998, East; R. Hughe3 to W. T. Coad, sec 369, Contral; W. B. Davi«3 to A. L. Tuke, part sec 669, Contral; 11. Kealo to A. Atkioson, see 1117, East; M. T. Courtney to M. C. Callaghan, part sees 251, 252, 253, 277-79, subvDiatrict West; same to A. E. Sykes, do; same to F. J. Messenger, do; Church Trustees to F. T. Bacon, sao 68, West. Accounts were passed and tho Council rose.