Greytown Borough Council

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1817, 7 April 1886, Page 2

Greytown Borough Council

This Council belli its usual monthly meetin,'? at the Borough Chambers on Monday night. Present—Councillors Varnham (in the chair), Cameron, Colter, Jones, Trotter, 8t George, Maxtou, Armstrong, ami Hum-

phries. Th§ minutes of the previous meeting were road and confirmed, also the minutes of the special meeting. Correspondence outwards was read by the clerk, mainly referring to business tiausaotions at last meeting. C OBKKBPONDENCK. From Property Tax Department, advising remittance of the sum of £132 5s fid, being an advance of five per cent, on account of subsidy under “ Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act.” From Treasury Department, advising s remit of 5s fees and penalties collected during months ending January, 1886, by stamps li. M. Court, Greytown. From James Montgomery, enclosing an account for 255, for deepening well, &c. On the motion of Cr Armstrong, seconded by Cr Varnham, the account was ordered to be paid.

His Worship the Mayor sent an apology for his unavoidable absence from the meeting, having to attend the Wellington Supreme Court Sessions as a witness.

From Wairarapa West County Council, enclosing copies of proposed bye laws for regulating lighting of vehicles, aud regulating abattoirs or slaughter ; houses. Respecting the lighting of vehicles, one clause in the proposed bye laws relating thereto, demands that vehicles having only one light shall carry it on the off side, and in no case, on the left or on side of the vehicle under a penalty not exceeding £3 for each offence in neglecting to do so. Respecting the slaughter house regulations it is proposed by the County Council that no buildiuga be used for the purpose without being duly licensed and registered, and that £1 be charged for each renewal of license, and each owner or occupier of a slaughter bouse shall keep a register ; all buildings to be kept clean, and to the satisfaction of the inepector ; all cattle Jto be watered once in every 24 .hsurs, and no license to be transferred without consent of the Council. The County Council explained that the proposed bye-laws were submitted to the Borough Corporation with a view that the Borough Council might probably alter or amend tbeir bye-laws to accord with those of the County Council. The County Council also invited suggestions from the Greytown Corporation.

A letter was read from Mr E. 8. Mannsell referring to a letter he had received from certain natives, who objected to a road being taken and laid off at fapawai. It was explained by the clerk that the road had already been proclaimed, gazetted, and laid off, and the Council were now about to open it. He bad written to the Chief Surveyor. and had received the plans, which he had deposited, with a copy of the Gazette notice, in the hands of the Borough solicitor to take action if necessary. Or St George said he understood that the

contractor for the bridge at Papawai would take proceedings against several natives, who had obstructed his work.

Lighting of Vehicles. Cr Armstrong expressed bis entire concurrence with 11 sc pioposals of the Council to make the lighting of vehicles on the off side compulsory ; he considered it was very dangerous and misleading to persons meeting vehicles in the dark if they were lighted on the near side only. He would suggest

that the Borough Council in this respect comply with the proposals of the County Council, and compel persons travelling with vehicles at night to light them either on both sides or on the off side. Cr Maxton concurred with Cr Armstrong's remarks. He hoped the Borough would approve of (he County’s proposals. Cr Cameron could not agree with the remarks that bad fallen from the other Crs on this subject. He thought it a rather serious matter for the public bodies to say which side the public should light their carriages. It was in his idea altogether too arbitrary, and he could not see how it would suceeesfully work. For instance if one lamp went out accidentally the other might not fit the off side. In bis opinion the existing Borough bye-law was the most practicable as it allowed a single lamp on either side. Be would move that the County Council be asked to. alter their proposed bye-laws to conform with those of the Borough Council. Cr Cotter seconded He said in a country district like this it would be awkward to endeavour to enforce each a regulation as that respecting lighting on the off side. Cr Maxton thought people should be oompelled to look well to their lamps before going from home, as accidents often hap* pened through negligence, and if the off side lamp went out the other could easily bo shifted into its place. Cr St George said lights shonld be compulsory on the off side to avoid collision, and it would be very awkward if the County had one regulation, and the Borough another. Cr Humphries supported Cr Cameron’s proposition. Cr Varnham quite agreed with Cr Maxton’s ideas.

Cr Cameron's resolution was then put to the vote and lost—Crs Cotter, Jones, Humphries and the mover (or, and Crs Armstrong, Maxton, St George, Varnham and Trotter against.

Cr Maxton moved, “ That the Council agree to the County CouciTs proposals re lighting of vehicles.” Seconded by Cr Trotter, and carried. Slaughter Ho uses. Cr Cottar moved that the correspondence be laid on the table, to be answered that day six months. Cr St George moved that as no complaints had been made of the present system the clerk should reply that the Borough Council have no suggestions to make. Seconded by Cr Trotter, aud agreed to. The Works Committee’s Rsfobt. The Works Committee recommended that Mr Heckler be allowed to erect a bridge over creek at Papawai for the use of sheep, Ac. Adopted, to be subject to the satisfaction of the overseer. The Works Committee also recommended the tender of S, Garrity for filling in of ditch and formation on Kuritiwhiti Street—£3o for 20 chains. Or Humphries thought the tender was rather b. : ;h for tie work. Cr Coil, t said no doubt Cr Huinobiies had not seen I Ire specification. He would make some explanation further on. Cr Maxton said the explanation was due to the Council at once.

(Jr Cotter said liia explanation of there being only one tender for the work was thin— A Councillor advised a would-be-tenderer that there would be no tenders accepted for the work ; lie (Cr Cotter) told the person contrary to that, ns the Council reserved to itself the option of rejecting or otherwise a tender. He understood that Cr St George was the Cr alluded to, and Mr 11. Hawku the iuteuding lendorer.

Lr St George said he could give the assertion a distinct denial. The only remark he hud made at any time was that he questioned if the Council could find funds at present for the purpose. So far from working against f'm interests of any portion of the town he hud alw.y* consistently endeavored to assist iu remedying any want* when funds were ivailable, no matter in what direction, It won'd be extremely narrow minded for any person to accuse him of any partiality. Or Maxton could not see how the remark* made by Cr St George *hould prevent tendering.

Cr Humphries moved that the Work* Committee’* report be adopted with the exception of Kuritiwhiti street contract. Seconded by Cr Armstrong. Carried. Cr Cotter’s amendment that Garrity's contract l e accepted, having been previously put and lost.

Cr Cotter said if he had been misinformed he would be very pleated to be aaeured of

the fact; h> wouM fe I nn-h iiV’iin in accepting C: Rt George's exi> v ati"i>. ilie haoKi re.'or -1 •.n-.:-.- -■■■ Ml* herd of lip citll ' duu: i; ih mm.lh On th# notion of Cr Varnhain, a rat# Of one slnllft'jin the £ was stiuck Messrs Meet and Hm hj, .w leai;' n speelively propiS(.d as auditors l<> supply to* extraordinary vacancy. Mr <_• W. llornblow was elected by a majoiity of 5 t" 5. (intat Fnti'EKiCK Rtbf.xt. Cr St Gccage propose! that To be votad for a footpath on *jrreftt Frederick btreet without kerbinp, u : i much diecussion ooaued thereupon, hut ultimately th* matter wai allow© 1 to stand over until iv xt Council meeting. Cr St George moved that fresh leaders !>• called for the woik on JKuratiwhiti street. Ct Armstrong seconded Cairied. Some discussion here ensued M to the number of insertions it would be necessary to allow for calling for tenders in the paper. One Couacillor suggested one insertion, another two, and ultimately on the Clerk saying it was usual to insert three times, three insertions in the ordinary way wera agreed to. A discussion n<xt arose as to the specifications for the work on Kuriliwhiti Road.

Cr Cameron suggested that they should I • altered, bat on the motion of Cr Colter, seconded by Cr Jones it was carried that the specifications remain unaltered. Main Road. Cr Cameron said the metalling on tbe crown of the road between Humphries' street and Jackson's late saddler's shop should be levelled and spread across or relayed. Ordered to be left in the hands of tbe overseer.