WANGANUI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 27 November 1908, Page 8

WANGANUI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The adjourned fortnightly meeting ', of the Borough Council was held la~t , evening. . \ PRESENT.—The Mayor (Mr C, E. Mackay), and Crs Carson, Spriggons, ; Poynter, Battle, Purser, Harris, and i Liffiton. |

Leave of absence was granted to Crs Muir and Harkness.

Before commencing the ordinary business the Mayor stated that a rumour had got abroad to_ the effect that the Council meeting., winch should have eventuated last Tuesday (24th), had lapsed for want of a quorum, and that tho Councillors took more interest in the polling than the affairs of the borough. His Worship pointed out that it had been arranged at the last meeting of the Council to postpone the meeting .which-was fixed to be held on Tuesday, November 24th, to Thursday, November 26th.

MINUTES The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed. ST. JOHN'S—A copy of the petition presented for the exclusion of a certain area from the county of Waitotara and for its inclusion in the Borough of Wanganui was received from tho Minister of Internal Affairs.—Received. .

CART ENTRANCE—Messrs Abbott, G. ; Metili, P. Barkman, and Russell and Bignell .wrote asking the Council to have Union Street repaired so as to allow carts to proceed to their properties. —Referred to the Works Committee.

WATER.—Mr A. A. Gowcr wrote stating he was desirous of having water laid on to two or throa houses situated on the main road at Taylqrville.— Referred to the Water Committee.

SWIMMING BATHS—A letter was received from the secretary cf tho Christchurch Swimming Club applying for the use of the Municipal Swimming Baths on Saturday, the 28th inst.— Referred to the Chairman of the Baths Committee to arrange. SPORTS.—An. application for the use of ■'Cook's Gardens for their sports to. eventuate on January 22nd and 23rd was received from the secretary of the Wantranui Caledonian Society.— Resolved that the application be granted on the usual terms

PUBLIC LIBRARY—The hnn. treasurer of the Wanganui Public Library wrote asking the Council for the second instalment of the subsdy voted to tho Public Library for the year 1908.—Resolved that the subsidy be paid ■- . MAP—A letter was received from the Wanganui "Herald" Company in reference to the man of Wanganui a.id its surroundings. Tho map shows a ll the roads in the district and will mnlc a most excellent reference map for all time.—Referred to the Finance Committee.

HALF HOLlDAY.—Official correspond rn°e was received from the Department of Labour relative to the fixing of the weekly half holiday.—Received. The Mayor stated that a conference would be called of the various local bodies in the combined area to d?cido on what day the half holiday shall bo held.

FOREMAN OF WORKS—A letter was received from Mr Gilmour, Foreman of Works, rpsigning his position on the Borough Council. The Mayor moved that the resignation be accepted with regret ar.d that the Foreman of Works be relieved from his duties at the end of the present year. In moving this motion, the Mayor made eulogistic references to the services rendered to the Borough during the foreman's 35£ years of service. Cr Liffiton seconded the motion. He spoke of the excellent services which Mr GJlraour had rendered to the Borough and suggested that Mr Gilmour be asked to take tare of the Okehu water \voi*ks from its source. to the ■town.! ■■■-■■-■-■ ■■* ' " ""■■"■ "

Cr Carson Isaid that Councillors of to-day had no .idea'what Mr Gilmour was when; in his oprime. It was about thirty years $incs,.he. : first had. a seat at that tablet anil he, personally felt great gratitude for the eminent se^ vices rendered toythemiby. the Foreman of Works wpb had for many years saved the Bo|rQUgh f from the expense of, ai: engineer's salary. The Borough should Tecpgniise .the/ services rendered by Mr ■'Gfilnjoiir' ii^the^past. Cr Carson said he hqt'ico(3;j}\ith ;regret that the separation.Jla?d,;tp,'Coine, but he was glad to be;4He<|o>fay; a- few words in connection.,«wijt%' jfche excellent services rendered.to Hhe^Borough by the. Foreman. CiWjPwreef r Harris. Spriggcns and Poynter, •alsb'.niade eulogistic ref-(T-eiices, to Mi- Balmoii'r and regretted his resignatipn.^^Mayor then "moved "That Mi- Uilftirtnr',^' appointed consulting Foreman; "to the; Borough at his present salary and conditions to be laid down by the Works Committee. Seconded by Cr Battle and carried.— The Mayor* also moved that a special mee-bino; of Ihe Council be held <jn Friday y December 4th,' to discuss the appointment or a successor to Mr Gilmour. Seconded by Cr Spriggens and carried.

GONVILLE—Cr Liffiton moved the following motion, of which due notice had been given: "That this Council is willing to soilWestir.ere Lake to tho Gonville Town Board for a water supply at the price the lake and expenditure thereon has ccst the Borough, and that, the Council is willing to receive debentures for the price thereof at 4f per cent, secured by a special loan over tho district, and that if the present state of municipal law prevents this being , done the Gonville Town Board bo askod. to take steps to have a private" Bill passed to legalise the transaction."—Cr Harris seconded tho motion pro forma. . Speaking to his motion, Cr Liffiton said he moved the motion in order to contradict the idea that tho Council was acting as a deg in the manger over the Westmere Lake. The Borough did not require tho lake and as there ig urgent reed in Gonville- for waterhe thought the Westmere Lake could be taken into consideration. Cr Liffiton stated ho was quite willing to withdraw hi=s motion if the Counci lthought it advisable.—Cr Harris paid ho had discussed the water question with residents of ffonvillo and hs thought that the Gonville people would sooner como straight into the Borough to get the water supply. After vorious remarks hsd been -passer! by Councillors relative to the motion, Cr S^riggfns moved that Cr Liffito:i have, leavo to withdraw h's motion. The motion was seconded and Cr Liffiton's motion with

COOK'S GARDENS—The Mayor stated that he had received complaints from persons who trained on tho "bicycling trnr-k in Cook's Gardens to the offoft thai; the rrickol'cr.s were in tho habit of ohstructine the track in vnri-

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oust ways.- Tt was resolved that Mr Copoland ha nsked to pay a visit of inspection ti th-> Gardens each day. CHARITABLE AID BOARD.-The Mayor reported having forwarded thi jiamcs of. Messrs Carson, Battle, and Spriggens to Wellington as rcrnxrentative rnembors of the Wansranni Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. —Endorsed.

TRAMWAYS.-Tho Committee reported having transacted the following business and asked the Council to endorse its action.

Tenders for A mature Jack —D. Murray and Co. £23 4s 7rl, Luke nncl Sin £27 10s, J. Allen £28 14s, Hutchison and Campjboll £35. The above tenders were received: and that of Murr.iv and Co has been accepted. Tools.—The Engineer has boon instructed to procure the following tools : Six pinchbnrs, 1 Wells cil filler, oil

cans, sand sieve, 4 thermometers, taps for oil barrels.—Adopted. FlNANCE.—Accounts amounting to £786 6s lid were passed for payment. The Committee recommended as iolWholesala License.—That the sum of £14 3s 4d be refunded to the Trustees Williams Bros., in respect to the fee for ■wholesale license paid by them to 30th June next, and surrendered, which license was subsequently gran led to and paid for by Burgess Murdoch and Co. on 17th October. Motor Fire Reel.—We recommend that a sum be placed on the nextyear's estimates towards the purchase of a motor fire reel, provided that contributions are received from the .idjoining local bodies likely to be interested—Adopted. No other business coming before the Council, the meeting adjourned