CRUMBS FROM THE COUNCIL TABLE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12593, 6 September 1905, Page 8

CRUMBS FROM THE COUNCIL TABLE.

_: <*— Beforo the usual business was taken, tho Mayor said he had to welcome to the tablo Mr. L. Cohen, who had been elected to fill the vacancy caused by tho resignation of Cr. Bridge. Before doing so, he wished to say he was very sorry to hear that Mr. Bridge was again indisposed. Councillors knew of Mi. Bridge's worth, and felt very keenly the loss the Council and the town wero losing by his i-esignation. While on tho Council he was influenced by nothing but the public good. The Mayoi- could only hope that Mr. Bridge would again be able to take a seat at the Council table, ov, at any rate, act on some other body associated with the CounoLl. Tho Mayor then welcomed Cr. Cohen to the table.—Cr. Cohen, in acknowledging tho Mayor's remarks, expressed sorrow at Mr. Bridge's illhealth, and said that he would to the best of his ability endeavour to follow in Mr. Bridge's footsteps in assisting the Mayoi' and Councillors. "We have always made it a rule not to forego charges," said the Mayor, when referring to the Salvation Army's request, "and I think it would bo wrong to do so in this case. It is not: that the object is not meritorious, but or,co a precedent is established we shall have continual applications of this sort. As, the object is a good one, I shall ask Adjutant Thurkettle to allow me to pay the fee, and that the Army's funds shall not suffer." "There are a good many derails that will have to be arranged before we can carry this suggestion into effect."— Tho Mayor referring to the standard receptacles for rubbish.. "Is the license for thje motor or the man?" asked Cr. Cohen when referring to Mr. Atkins' application for a motor car license. A long discussion ensued, all sorts and conditions of possibilities being suggested by Councillors, but it was ended Jby the intimation that Mr. Atkins must precure a driver's licenso before using the car for hire. The Audit Department wrote asking that certain alterations be made in the Council's balance-sheet. The Mayor (holding the Department's document): "Immediately the balance-sheet reaches Wellington all sorts of trivial alterations that no one can see any reason for are wanted. For years things have been passed by the Auditor-General, and now ho says they are wrong. What make 3it more annoying is that the balance-sheet has been re-written two or three times, simply because of some little tinpot thing- Now the AuditorGeneral has sent back these alterations. Io is absurd that we should pay £40 a ■year to have out1 books audited and then have th<3 balance-sheet as certified to pulled to pieces. We are not the only local body that is worried. .1 think nearly every one has the same complaint to make. It is impossible to know what tho Auditor-General wants. I don't think he knows himself." The hot baths are now ready for use, so that it will bo necessary for the Baths Committee to meet to fix the charges.—Tho Mayor. Cr. Johns asked whether the Council was getting full value from the Hylton estato as ?, gravel reserve. As thei-o was a large quantity of play on tho estate, he thought tho advisability or starting brick and tile making should bo considered, and ho moved, "That samples of tho clay he forwarded, with c. view to ascertaining its practical value, and obtain information as to utilising it.—The Mayor pointed out that tho Council could not engage in thn work, but stated, in reply to Cr. Johns, that there could be no objection to private persons doing so. As to the valuo the town was receiving from the estate, ho pointed out that 5000 yards of metal wero obtained last year, and that Is. 6d. was gained on each yard, comparing it with the price which qbteined previously. There was practically an unlimited supply of gravel, and, personally, tho Mayor was pleased with the Council's purchase. Cr. Johns moved that the Council put fivo additional seats on the River Bank Espl-viade. The summer wasjnow approaching, and the demand for seats was greater than the supply.—On the Mayor's' suggestion, Cr. Johns said he would endeavour to get five seats by public subscription on condition that the Council also provided five.