TOWN COUNCIL.

Western Star, Issue 945, 6 May 1885, Page 2

TOWN COUNCIL.

An ordinary ffieetiripr of the Borough Council was Held Monday evening; There were present: Crs Gh Robertson, Collins, Port'-andPahkhurst. Cr Robertson whs voted to preside. Minutes ot previous ordinary and special meetings were read and confiraied. . . . Letter read from Messrs Merryweather Sous and Co., London, enclosing catalogue of fire extinguishing plant:—Received. A' telegram was i received 'from Sir J. Vngel, as follows:—"It is under cons'deration to. increase the rating limit within boroughs fromfdtp id in pound oh the capital value in order to give boroughs as large an income from rates as they : possess ! urider the system of levying Is in the £ on the annual I should, be glad to learn the v : e«*s of your Council on, the rfuestion arid also to know whether if the law werealtered in ithis the .Councilwould be willing to adopt the Rating Act, 1882 and rate on the capital value, thereby saving the present; annual cost . of: valuation. Early answer will, oblige."—On the motion, of Cr Pahkhurst, it was decided that, a committee consisting of Crs Port, Robertson and mover be appointed to enquire, into how : the proposal would affect the revenue and ratepayers * to, report at next meeting.. The Cemetery Committee reported, that Mr Simpson had offered to repair dividing fence if the Council supplied 100 stakes ; tbeyxecommended that the offer be accepted, also th.itL.the. .drainage be properly finished and tether posts erected outside the fence, and notice board placed on the street. —Cr. Collins also suggestsd that,a

number of trees slioultl be planted at the back of the grounds, which sugges!ion, along with the works recommended in. the .report, were, approved of. and the''Committee authorised to get them carried out, Accounts as folldws were passed for payment:—P.-Grant (Clerk Licensing Committees), £5 ss; J. Eveleigh, £6;...8..5imp53m;9.3;- W Eobertson. £G 17s; «T„ H, Roberts, £l3 17s; J. J. Gilmour, £5 3s 3d.-r-In reference to the last account (for carting gravel), dr. Port (as a member of ihe Works Committee) said he could not vouch for the work, as he knew nothing about it, not being informed of what

was being done by the Committee. He contended that the Works Committee should meet and decide what works should be done, and repirfc to the Council, with a view to getting its sanction before any .works He objected-to being a member ptji committee' and not being informed of what was being done. He was of opinion that the work could be done much cheaper by contract, as the surfaceman would necessarily be idle a

good deal of his time while waiting for

the return of the driv to be loaded. — The Chairman said if there were any works of importance to be done he agreed that the Committee should first report to the Council; but in the case of filling in bits of holoa here and there and placing a small quantity of gravel in another pla '6, he thought it absurd to meet and report before such trivial matters . were attended to; be for one could not j-pa-e the time. Such works could not be let by contract. It was a mistake to suppose that the surfaceman was idle at the gravel-pit, as bis practice was to strip a sufficient quantify and then attend to other duties.—Cr', Port submitted that, the gravel used was useless, and contended that it ought be scrpened' before being laid down —Cr. Collins seconded the motion for payment of the account, but thought there should be some alteration in the mode of dealing with such works - ' ■'*

The lea-e of corporation section held by J. "Williamson having expired, it was decided to offer. same by auction for a period of three years on same terms as formerly. Cr. Willett's seat having become vacant through non-attendance, the Clerk was instructed tD write and ask

if it intention to attend to his duties.

Cr. Port moved to the effect that instead of u-ing gravel in Palmerston street, broken blue metal should be laid in future. That pUn would save labor, as the water tables would not be filled up in the manner they were hy the present method.—At the suggestion q£ the Chairipp, Qr. Port agreed

to give notice of the motion for next meeting. Some repairs to the pound fencing were authorised. The Chairman said he thought it would be advisable to try and obtain the services of a steady sober man at a night watchman, say between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. in winter and 4 a.m. in summer., That would be a preventive to people who were inclined to incendiarism, and if it did not altogether prevent fire, it would be advantageous'in. calling attention before much damage was done. The, appointment was one thVt" might fall more Within tha scope of private enterprise, but perhaps the Corporation might five some assistance or undtjrv take the duty itselF- He had spoken to two or three private individuals on the matter, but nothing definite/wtw arranged. He brought' the matter be ore the Council with a view to obtaining its opinion upon it.—Cr Collins: We have got the police and th« insurance companies.—ln answer; to a? question, the Clerk said.the, insurance-, companies would give no assistance ini the matter.—lt was also remarked,.thiit ; the police had already enough'to My and could not be expected, tor work both night and day. —No motion being made on the subject the discussion dropped. Eefereucn was nude to the new railway time table which comes into. force.to-day, and by which 'the direljl through service from Dunedin will'be sacrificed. The proposed alteration was unanimously condemned, and it was resolved to iiistruct the Town [Clerk to write to the Traffic Maoager poiuting out the inconvenience expense the alteration would, entail, and expressing a hope that' the old time table would be adhered [ to. v " " c ' ■'* The Council then adjourned; l > ! 3£ir