WAIMATE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16230, 28 March 1917, Page 7

WAIMATE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. The Waimate Borough Council met last evening. There were present Councillors • Inkster (Deputy-Mayor), Jones, Manchester, Pollock, Dash, Russell, A'cwill,' ;Collet, and Evans. His. Worship the Mayor, Major Francis apologised for abence. ' THE MAYORALTY.

A .'-letter -was received from the Mayor,' Major Francis, regretting that ,he ; was unable to alttend the meeting, /being confined to bed with a chill. As he was due to leave for Wellington on Saturday, he took this opportunity to express his grateful appreciation of ihe support offered him by.ithe Council and burgesses during the past two years. Ho regretted fchat his military duties nad_ involved prolonged absence from "Waimate, but the Borough had not suffered, the Mayoral duties having been moSt efficiently carried out by Deputy Mayors* Captain Hayes and Councillor Inkster. He thanked these gentlemen for lebeir unselfish action in relieving him of those duties. He had been asked to stand for re-election, but with the probability of eventful times during the next two ;> T ears, when ir. 'Would De desirable to have an energe'tie Mayor in office, and the unlikelihood of his being able to reside in WaiTn.oto, rvroud a.o he would Ke to seek re-election, he -felt that under 'the circumstances he was not an eligible candidate. He xhanked the Council for their courtesy towards ham. A resolution' was passed regretting tnhe reason for the Mayor's absence, and _ expressing appreciation of Lis services as Mayor, i -fOWN CLERK'S -REPORT.

On the Town. Clerk's report it was derided that the applications for hail, vehicle, billiard room licenses, ho granted subject to satisfactory reports. The owner of a high 'thorn hedge in High Street, was ordered toi have it cut hack to the fence line. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter from the Department of Internal Affairs asked that Anzae Day be observed on April 23rd instead of • 2oth. The Coii&il decided 'to observe the day on the 25th, and to ask the ministers of the town "to hold services on that day. - A circular from the Efficiency Board asking for a report ou various matters, ithe Town Clerk was requested to fur■"i°h any information likelv to be •useful. ' : . . * ■ An application for leave to erect a telephone stand in Queen Street was held over for inquiry.' An fnvnliVritifyv by Mr "W. Buzzard for permission to construct a septic 'tank was granted. An application from the School Committee (supported by a deputation) for rc-duction in 'dTic water charges for the school sanitation was referred to the "Water Committee for report. FINANCE. The Finnn"e Committee submitted estimates for the coming year with a report on the financial position and prospects. The commititee recommended that expenditure should be limited to only absolutely necessary payments for the health and ordinary upkeep of_ the Borough during the war period, as requested by the Government; every effort should be made to keep down expenditure and avoid raising the rates. Certain reductions were therefore recommended in Ithe "Works Committee's- estimates, to bring 'the to'cal within the estimated revenue. On the moefon for adoption of the report, Councillor Dash moved an amendment that a special meeting he hold to consider the finances, and he went very fully into the question. His mrftion lapsed for want of a seconder. The report was then adopted by seven to two, Councillors Dash and Pollock opposing the mo'cion. Accounts for c ; 286 16s Id were passed for payment. DOMAIN BOARD. The Council sat as the Domain Board, aud Councilor Russell was appointed chairman- on a mo'tion o>f Councillor Jones.