Greytown Borough Council

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2040, 9 March 1887, Page 2

Grey town Borough Council

The Borough Council held its usual monthly in etiug on Monday last. Present—ll“it Udy, Esq , Mayor, and Crs Varnham, Maxton, St George, Fabiau, Cameron, Smith, Cotter, Trotter and Udy, junr. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed, COBBESPONIIENCE. From the Waiobine Eiver Board forwarding a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the Board levying a rate of one shilling in the £ on all ratable properties within the River Board district and payable in one snm on April Ist, 1887.

From same asking that rates now due be recovered forthwith.

From United District Charitable Aid Board informing the Borough Council that their share of the sum required for the support of the various Charitable Institutions was one ninth and amounted to £l9l 4s 7Jd, also asking that this sum be forwarded by cheque forthwith.

A circular about the New Zealand Post Office Directory was received and ordered to be laid on the table.

A letter was read from the Secretary to the Amalgamated Friendly Societies Sports Committee, asking that the Council would appoint the 17th March (St Patrick’s Day) a public holiday. (Application granted.) The ranger applied to have his salary paid monthly instead of quarterly as heretofore, Acceded to. BIVEB BOABP BATES, On the motion of Cr Maxton seconded by Or Fabian, It was resolved that the Clerk take immediate steps to collect the River Board rates. Cr St George moved and Ci Fabian seconded that the rate levied by the River Board of one shilling in the £ be adopted. CHABXXABLE AID. Cr Varnham proposed that the matter be referred to the VVairarapa Charitable Aid Board which meets on Monday next at noou, and pending the meeting of the District Board the matter stand over.

Cr Cutter would like to see the matter fully gone into at once.

Or St George suggested that the Mayor lay the matter before the Board at its meeting. Cr Cotter moved that the Mayor, Crs Varnham and the mover be a deputation to wait upou the Board to fully ascertain the position of the Board in the matter, seconded by Or Maxton and carried. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Works Committee's report was read and adopted. On the motion of Ct Udy seconded by Cr Cotter, this report shewed that the committee had leased the Borough Reserve to Mr H. de Clifton at 80s per acre, FINANCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Finance Committee’s report was read showing an overdraft of L 176 5s 2d. On the motion of Cr Cotter seconded by Cr Udy, jun., it was adopted. THE CEMETERY. The report of the committee that met the cemetery trustees was read showing that the in. l ;-. toes had a credit balance at the time of the meeting of L 3 Is 5d which had now ins creased to Li us sd.

Cr Cotter proposed that the Council take over the liability connected with the cemetery; he said that the income could not exceed tlifl expenditure but it was evident to the Council that bo meant that this was a lapaut Uiii/uk' aud that he intended to say that the expenditure could not exceed the income. Cr .Smith moved and Cr Varnham seconded as an amendment that the matter be deferred until next meeting of the Council for fuller information on the subject, and that legal advice be taken.

Cr Fabian said tnat if the Council were compelled to take over the management of the Cemetery it was no use in delaying the matter.

Cr Cotter said that the fact that the City Council of Wellington were calling for tenders for a new cemetery ground was a practical illustration that the Connells bad to do the work and no legal advice was required. Cr Varnham said that the Cemetery at Wellington was now becoming a public nuisance, and on that account the Council had to take matters in hand.

Cr Cameron thought it was as well to get all the information obtainable, although he did not object to the Cemetery being taken over. The original mction was withdrawn and the amendment declared carried. THE ESTIMATES. The estimates for the year which are published in another column were presented and adopted on the motion of Cr Varuham seconded by Cr Fabian. BOBOUQH RATES. Cr St George moved and Cr Maxton seconded, That a rate of one shilling in the £ be struck upon all rateable property within the Borough. Cr Trotter proposed, as an amendment, That a rate of ten pence in the £ be struck. Seconded by Cr Cotter, pro forma. Cr Maxton would like to know how Or Trotter proposed to work a tenpenny rate. He would like the mover of the amendment to explain.

Cr Trotter, “ After the tenpenny rate has been struck, then it will explain itself.” Cr Fabian said he thought it was only fair to the Council that Cr Trotter should give some explanation of his project. He thought, that as the Council’s proceedings would go forth to the ratepayers through the medium of the local press, Cr Trotter should show how a tenpenny rate would work under the present circumstances. Cr Cotter expected that Cr Trotter would come prepared to uphold his scheme by making a speech that would occupy about half an hour.

Gr Trotter said that there were too many half hours spent in that manner by members of (he Council. The matter did not require explanation uow, as he found Councillors generally were not in favor of his proposal. The amendment was lost. The original motion was declared earned.

ea smith’s motion. ■ mincilior Smith moved, aud Cr Udy sTa'Diiiied the motion of which notice had hem; given, to the effect That the Town Clerk he required to -supply the Council, a return, in a tabulated form, cf all moneys received In- him i uuug tin' live years of his office 'Vlmt guarantee ho has given the Borough Council, i'■ c minim asioat if sufficient lime would li ivi ii 1..V the purpose between that I::i- next meeting

Ci si Ceorgo said lie thought it was giving thi ea li. uu unnecessary amount of work. I . Iny .-aid lie luought it nothing lint J".-: I ■ latopayws that it should bo done.

Ur did not suppose that half a dozen oi the i ".I.ini could say how the money had been ■runt. Hr Umugnt they were in ths luuch ttd i’lio Mayor dpuuu ut . .eceta procevaim-: , 1V ;, ;:'? 0H the UIB thought was (ok, to the case, Hotter Baying they did no. 'fqmre a lecture ou i’otoue aud Crs Canitim and Fabian expostulating. Ihe Clerk said he was prepared to supply whatever information wag required. (Jr Smith said he simply required the information for himself and others interested. Or Hotter said be should support Or Smith’s motion, but if be were the Clerk he should feel very sore at the Mayor’s remarks. Ihe Clerk said be did not think the Mayor s remarks were at all derogatory to his reputation. He would supply what was required.

Cr Maxton thought it quite right that Cr smith should get the information he required. A return was called for, and no doubt it would be Jtrvhjoming. After some considerable discussion not nearing upon the point particuhrlv, (he motion was carried unanimously. wonits commiEE. Cr Maxton, upon some remarks which fell from Cr Colter apologised for not being able

the Works Committee on Cr St That the first new work to the Borough Coun cil should be nHHpun of road near Mr Tioehnrsfs gateT^ffiy Seconded by Of uillv and carried, but it was understood that the work could not be undertaken just at tha present time. BUENISO BCBBISB. Cr Smith asked and the Mayor replied that rubbish could be burned within the precincts of the Borongh before 5 p.m. MAXABAWA BBIDOE. Or St George referred to the forthcoming meeting at Matarawa, concerning tho bridge, and asked if the Council would appoint a deputation to attend the meeting. Cr Cotter said he should attend personally as a private individual, but as the resolution of the Council of January 3rd was to the effect that the Council should await the decision of the residents of the district, be thought a deputation was not in accordance with the resolve of the Council. The Mayor said he intended to be at the meeting. Other Crs also exptoase.: the same intention. Cr Fabian thought ‘bat the Mataraw i people could rely upon the Greytown people assisting them as much as possible in getting their bridge. The subject then dropped. EMOINEEB’g TBOCBLEB. Cr Mazton said at last meeting some Crs had thought the Engineer had blundered, and hod since found that thev were in error. In justice to the Engineer they sboold say that they were misinformed. Cr Fabian acknowledged that be was mis informed in a degree. He heard that the stringers of the Powhatu bridge were not spiked, and he found that they really were not. Ct Cameron made some explanation in reference to the same matter. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr 0 Higgins waited on the Council to ask if the overseer would be instructed to inspect tbat portion of West street between the corners of Wood street and Eastwell street, particularly tbat spot between Mead’s gate and Wood street corner, and to report at the next meeting of the Council as to the best method of carrying off the surface water which generally accumulates at this spot in wet seasons. Mr Higgins said it was suggested by some residents in the neighborhood that the water table there should be raised and the drain deepened, so as to throw the water towards White Pine Creek (below Bishop's). It was also considered that a culvert was required nnder the road.

It was resolved that the matter be attended to. It was resolved that the overseer attend to a calvert on Powhata road.