Greytown Borough Council

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1779, 6 January 1886, Page 2

Greytown Borough Council

This Council held its usual meeting at the Chambers, Oreytown, on Monday night. Present—His Worship the Mayor (F. H. Wood, Esq) and Crs Cameron, Jones, Armstrong, Varnham, Maxton, Trotter and Cotter. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed.

Correspondence Outwards was read by the Clerk, including letter to Mr Thomas Kempton, sen., re removing piles and erecting sufficieut fence on the site of the late fire. To Chairman Town Lands Trust re having gorse removed on sections No 1 and 2. To others concerning the same matter. To Mr \V. Pock re well (unprotected) upon bis section. To .Mr John Fabian and others in answer to letter asking Connell to subscribe £ for £ for log bridge over Papawai creek. Correspondence inwards—Ftem Colonial Secretary, acknowledging receipt of letter announcing the election of F. H. Wood, Esq., as Mayor for Qreytown Borough. From Colonial Treasurer’s Office, re small sum paid into bank overdraft to credit of Council. Works Committee’s Report.

The Works Committee’s report was read, recommending improvements on Main street, improvemeute ou Kurstiwhiti road, repairing and metalling 60 chains on Cross's road, 25 chains on Kuratiwhiti road, and 25 chains Papawai toad. The Works Committee also recommended that F. Cole's tender for building log bridge over Papawai creek be accepted. Ills Worship the Mayor said be gathered from the report of the Finance Committee that it was necessary to be a little cautious, and see that they could secure sufficient funds for the several works required. He had no doubt that the works were very necessary, but bs considered the Council should hsvs

an idea of the cost; be wonld ask, Could any Councillor give an approximate estimate of the probable cost of such work* * Be would accept the Works Committee’* report if he could add, “ On condition that sufficient funds can be available for the purpose of carrying ont the work*." He would move that these words be added to the proposition for the adoption of the report. Councillor Varnham said some of the work, viz , that of Cross’s road, could be done for £2 per chain and the 25 eheine on Eempton'i road and the 25 chains on Papawai road for £1 per chain. He thought it was the intention of the Woike Committee not to commit themselves to the work unless funds were available ; he (Cr Varnbsm) thought the Mayor might interview the Manager of the Bank and report if funds were available.

The Loo Bbidob. Cr Trotter proposed, and Cr Varnham seconded, that F. Cole’s tender for log bridge at Papawai be accepted. Cr Mazten said he thought the Council could go on with the log bridge at Papawai, as the Council had already promised to subscribe £ for £ with the persons who bad promised to voluntary contribute. Cr Cotter said when be was at Papawai the other day be beard that tbe Natives bed threatened to raise an obstruction to the erection of the log bridge. Cr Varnham asked if. when the contractor had completed the biidge, tbe abutments wonld be secure (or sale traffic.

The Clerk read the specifications, which contained no apaeifio instructions re the approaches. Tbe Mayor said Or Varnham had raised an important question which was not apparently considered in the epccifleatione—that of the approaches. He found it necessary to move as an amendment “ That the Works Committee's report be adopted with the Council s additions—with tbs axeeption of that portion dealing with the Papawai bridge.” Seconded by Cr Cotter. Cr Varnham moved as a farther amendment, that Mr Colc'e tender be accepted ■abject to tbe approaches being included. Cr Varnham’e amendment was not seconded, and the amendment proposed by tbe Mayor was pnt to the meeting end declared carried. Mr Cotter said he did not see that there would be any difficulty with the approaches as they were marked an the plan. Cr Cameron thought when tbe , bridge was made very little formation would bo required in the way of approaches. It was.ultimately resolved, en tbe motion of the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Mazton, that F. Cole's tender be accepted, provided it includes tbe approaches to the bridge. Cr Varnham thought before the work was proceeded with, tbe subscriptions shoal d be substantially guaranteed or forthcoming. Cr Cameron said Mr John Fabiec, one of the guarantors, bad informed him that he (Mr Fabian) was quite prepared to provide progress payments equal to the Couneil’a disbursements as the work proceeded. The Mayor thought if there was any doubt, steps should be taken to secure the promised subscriptions beforehand.

Cr Cotter said it would be a eater proceeding to get the money ia hand before the work was commenced. He understood at the last meeting that such was to be the case. He would move that the wore be undertaken, provided the money opposite the subscribers names be forthcoming beforehand, or before next meeting of Council. Seconded by Or Jones. Cr Varnham said he believed that the eon* tractor would not be prepared to commence the work before the commencement of next month (February). The Mayor said it would be rather a dell* cate matter to hold any one person taspon* sible for the promises of many, and he was sure the Council would not like to push any one gentleman for the money, so perhaps it might be advisable to ask the requisitioniats to advance their subscriptions.

The original proposition was withdrawn in favor of last amendment, which was declared carried. Miscellaneous.

On the motion of Cr Cotter, aesonded by Or Cameron, the Finance Committee’* report was adopted. The Hanger reported twenty head of oattlo as being impounded during the month. It was subsequently arranged that if sufficient funds can be forthcoming from the Bank, the Town Clerk should call for tendere (to be in by next Council meeting) for tho several works required. Cr Trotter moved that bis Worship tho Mayor be asked to make arrangements for the purchase of an acre of land down Kuratlwhiii road, for a gravel pit. He said bo thought people down that way would forego for the meantime the filling up of the ditch, provided that the pit could die bought. Seconded by Cr Cotter. The Mayor said he did not know if there were any other places where there were as suitable gravel sections, or on any more unfrequented road* ; if Councillor* tbonghl it wag the most suitable place, of court* they would aot accordingly. Cr Maxton said it would be advisable to invite tenders for the offer of snitsble land for a gravel pit. He moved, aa an amendment, that tenders be invited. Seconded by Cr Armstrong. Cr Cotter said the Conneil would not bo benefited one iota by calling for tenders. They might be mandated with tenders from Cotterville, and m the end have to revert to the place he proposed. The Mayor put the question to the vole, and it resulted iu a tie—four Councillors voting each way.

The Mayor then gave tho casting vote in favor of the amendment, and sail) that in doing so he was actuated by a desire to give every ratepayer who had suitable land a chance of submitting his section to the Council, as he ('he Mayor) thought in spending the ratepayers’ money they should all have an equal opportunity of offering their land to the Council, if they so desired. He thought it also only due to the Council on both side* that he should make that txplaoation. Cr Cameron concurred ; be thought that nothing should be done in the Council without calling tor tenders. The Honoroh Sibeen. Cr Varnham said he would like to know if tho streets in the Borough were officially named. The Clerk replied that the street* were not officially named en the map. Cr Varnham then gave notice that he would wore the question of the naming of the streets on the occasion of the next Council meeting.

The Mayor and Councillors present were generally of opinion that such a step was necessary.

The Council then adjourned