RIVERTON TOWN COUNCIL.

Western Star, Issue 1386, 4 September 1889, Page 2

RIVERTON TOWN COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting ortho Council was held <m Monday evening, the members present being the Mayor, Crs Fraser, Akhurst, and Simpson. Samuel Rogers applied to have ditch in front of his house in South Riverton cleaned out as he wished to put in a box culvert. —The surfaceman to be instructed to attend to the matter. The Under Secretary for Justice wrote asking for information re Licensing elections.—lnformation required' ordered to be supplied. The Southland County Council forwarded resolution adopted, suggestion the following amendments in the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act now before the House, and asking the Council’s co-operation in having same, inserted in the Bill; That tbe Council disapproves of the raising of revenue for Hospitals and Charitable Aid from holders of property only, and that it recorumends' i that tbo funds for such purposes should be taken from the consolidated revenue of the colony, so that all persons in the colony may contribute towards the maintenance of such objects.

That tho Council recommends that a Central Board in each district be constituted for the administration of tho Act, to consist of nine or twelve members, one-third to be nominated by Government, and the remainder by those local bodies within tho district,

That the Council recommends that no Hospital or other Charitable Institution be incorporated as a separate Institution unless ono-half of tho total sum required for buildings, maintenance, and other expenses bo subscribed by the contributors. The communication was received.

Accounts amounting to £2l 13s 2d were passed for payment. An account from the Council’s solicitor for £3 14s, costs in connection with the recent prosecution of Mr Hopcroft for alleged breach of the impounding Act, was held over.—Cr Akhurst said that it appeared to him there had been some technical mistake in the. poundkeeper not demanding the cattle, over which the action arose. If the poundkeeper had stated the case properly, the solicitor should have pointed out any mistakes, and thus saved the Council all the expense. He moved that a committee, consisting of the Mayor, Gr Port and the mover, wait oh Mr O’Reilly to get some information in regard to the instructions he received.—The motion was carried.

Cr Simpson said he saw by the paper that a sum of .£1 13s had been passed for payment, being solicitor’s costs for defending the poundkeeper in an action brought against him for using bad language. He did not wish to say anything in regard to the case, but the Council had really no right to pay the account, and he would move that steps be taken to have the sum mentioned refunded. —Cr Akhurst said the solicitor’s account was ren dered in a lump sum, and at the time the account was passed, they did not understand that any of it was for other than prosecuting in the impounding cases.—Cr Fraser said as far as he recollected, there bad been no particulars given in the account.—There being no seconder to Cr Simpson’s motion, it lapsed.

Gr Fnser moved, that as there was but small likelihood of any exhibits being forwarded totheExhibition from Riverton tbe Council is not justified in contributing anything to the cost of bay; that the County Council be informed accordingly, and tho Invercargill Committee likewise advised.— The motion was seconded by Or Akhusrt and carried.

Cr Simpson suggested that ratepayers should be allotted to cultivate the unsupvcyod portion of the cemetery. He thought if that were done it could save the Council the expense thev are now put to, to keep the rabbits in check-—lt was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the Cemetery committee to bring up report at next meeting. In regard to the petition from ratepayers, re work in Dallas street, Cr Akhurst thought, as the street was in the same position as other streets in South Riverton, the petitioners were justified in getting something done.— It was resolved that the. matter be left in the hands of the Public Works Committee, who were authorised to put the surfaceman ou for not more than three days.

Cr Fraser drew attention to the state of footpaths in Palmerston street opposite English Church, and also the condition of paths in Havelock street. —Ou his motion the Public Works Committee were requested to attend to same. The Council then adjourned.