BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 58, 7 February 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Council took place last evening. Present— The Mayor, Crs. McNeil, Walker, Perkins, Mowlem, Leary, Linton, and West. Mr Stewart, the newly-elected Councillor, having signed the usual declaration, took his seat. Correspondence. From the Colonial Secretary's office, enclosing copies of correspondence and petition re dividing the town into Wards. From Mr McAnulty again calling the attention of the Council to the state of College Street. It was ordered that the work should be done by the Corporation workmen. From Wanganui Town Clerk, stating that a meeting would shortly be held re Wanganui Hospital, and asking delegate to be sent. From Messrs Dore, O'Neil, Freeland, and F. W. Haybittle, asking the Council to form a footpath in Churchstreet west. The application was granted on the usual terms. The work to be performed by the Borough workmen. From Messrs Hankins and Baker,

asking for transfer of a lease from Mr Carrol to Mr Templeton. The application after some discussion as to the legal form in which the resolution should be drawn, was granted. The Division of the Borough into Wards. The Mayor lead the correspondence which had been forwarded by the Colonial Secretary regaining the division of the town into wards. The first was a letter signed by G. W. Russell, J.P., enclosing a petition signed by 147 ratepayers, requesting the Borough should be divided into four Wards. Mr Russell stated that the petition bore the requisite number of signatures, and was signed by the Mayor and a majority of Borough Councillors, and by two ex-mayors— men who were well fitted to give a sound opinion, and under the circumstances urged the Government to grant the prayer of the petition, The reply from the Colonial Secretary to Mr Russell acknowledged the receipt of his letter, and asked for a plan of the proposed division of the town to bef rwarded. The Mayor stated that he had received a requisition from Messrs Kerslake, Abrahams, and others, requesting him to call a public meeting to consider the manner in which the town should be divided, but he had waited until he could lay the matter before the Council. He had not objected to the petition, but it was the manner taken by the movers to attain their object that met with his disapproval. After stating in their letter to the Council that the petition would be forwarded to the Clerk, to be transmitted to the Governor, it had been sent through another source. Cr Stewart believed the petitioners were under the impression that the Council was hostile to the object they had in view. At any r te it was useless to further discuss the subject, as it was now too late to stop or attempt to frustrate the division of the town. Cr Linton although not opposed to the petition, complained of the lack of courtesy shewn to the council. The mode of sending it to the Government was extremely objectionable, and con sidered that the ratepayers chosen by the people to look after the affairs of the Borough were far better qualified to state how the town should be divided than the very zealous patriots who had come forward on this occasion. After some further discussion it was agreed on the proposition of Cr Perkins — That the Council should go into committee to consider the whole subject at a later hour in the evening. Engineer's Report. The Engineer's report called special attention to the state of Kawau Creek, which was filled with fallen timber, which affected the drainage of Rangi-tikei-street. With reference to the state of the Pound, he found that little work had been done by the late poundkeeper (Mr Goodison). The fence was in a bad condition, especially at the entrance. That no well had been sunk, and Mr Goodison had not fulfilled his contract with respect to a pump or drinking trough. The Mayor explained that the Engi neer had been requested to report on the state of the Pound in consequence of an application made by Mr Goodison for a refund of £3. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Mowlem, seconded by Cr McNeil — " That the application of Mr Goodison be not entertained, he not having ful filled the conditions which he undertook when he accepted the duties of Poundkeeper. A discussi n arose as to the state of Kawau Creek, and it was eventually resolved to have it cleared. It having been mentioned by the Engineer that damage to some of the drains was occasioned by cattle grazing on the roads in charge of lads, it was resolved to insert a notice in the papers notifying to people that an action for damages would be taken against owners of cattle which did damage to drains. Inspector of Nuisances Report. The inspector of Nuisances reported that he had visited all the places he had been referred to, and found that his orders had been fulfilled in every respect." He considered the general health and sanitary condition of the town satisfactory. Ranger's Report. The ranger reported that during the month 38 head of cattle had been impounded, 31 by himself, 2 by private parties, and six on private land. The poundage fees had amounted to £3 16s. Pounding on Private Land. The poundkeeper desired to know whether he could retain the fees arising from poundage on private proporties, seeing that the poundkeeper had to atend and was responsible for their condition. Cr Linton thought it was very well to support a pound for the Borough, but he did not think that the poundkeeper,'s services should be at the disposal of people from the Gorge and Fitzherbert. If these settlers desired pound cattle let them bring them to the pound. Financial Position. The Mayor stated that before passing the pay sheets it would be necessary to revert to their financial position. As he states at the public meeting the financial state of the Borough was thoroughly sound up to the 31st of March. The Bank, however, would not give an advance, and it would be neoessary that Councillors should sign a promissory note for L150 to meet their liabilities. (Sensation.) The note would become due on 31st of March, when the rates due would be sufficient to meet the bill. Cr Linton : And what after that ? The Mayor : On Friday, a special meeting of the Council would be convened to strike a special rate of 9d in the £, to meet the interest. on the present loan, and the ordinary rate of 1s in the £ would also be required to be then struck, which would be payable in May. Their position was no worse than it had been in former years, but he had been hopeful the ratepayers would have obviated the difficulty by accepting one or other of the proposals made for a loan which had been laid before them. Mr Stewart : What is the money wanted for? The Mayor: To meet the liabilities which amounts L150. They had done it before. Cr Walker thought it was unjust to those who had paid their rates, that defaulters were not made to pay. He understood there were L300 of out-

standing rates, and he considered these rates should be got in. The Mayor said there was no money at present to pay what was required. For the credit of the town, and in order to obviate a dead-lock, they should have to do as they had done before. Cr Linton was sorry to see that they had to fall back on the old mode of procedure, and regretted that the Bank of New Zealand would not honor their cheque for L150. He would put his name on the bill, but if asked again he would resign, and let those ratepayers who had had so much to say have an opportunity of displaying their abilities, in taking the Borough out of its difficulties. The Mayor in replying said they had no other alternative if they wished to save the Bor ugh from collapsing. Unless they did so, it would give those outside people (who had contributed to bring about the present state of affairs), an opportunity of gloating over the ignominy of the town. Cr West enquired whether the position of the Borough was such that they could not remove their account from the Bank of New Zealand to a more liberal banking institution. The Mayor doubted if they could. Cr Linton: We must keep up the credit of the Borough. They were debts for which they were all liable personally and must be cleared off. The Mayor: Very well, gentlemen. The Town Clerk will wait upon each of you to-morrow morning with the bill for you to sign. (Laughter.) Payments. The payment was then read as follows :—

The Mayor said the items for adver tising were held over for rectification. Retrenchment. The Mayor moved that the amounts for Laurensen be reduced one-half, viz., £1 1s for returning officer, and 10s 6d for copying rolls. Carried. Cr Mowlem thought as economy must now be the order of the day. He would move that in future Borough advertisements be only inserted in one paper, each having three months' advertising, and that the first three months be given to the Standard. Cr Linton seconded the motion. Cr Leary said that the Council would make a mistake if large public works were going on, but under present circumstances it would not so much matter. After some further discussion, the resolution was agreed to. The Last Straw. The Mayor said that a question had arisen as to whether they would obtain money from the Government under "The Roads and Bridges Construction Act." It would appear that they had the power of applying for the money and the Government had the power of refusing. He bad received that afternoon, the following telegram from the Government:— "Am directed by Minister for Public Works to inform you that the Government have given the subject every consideration, but cannot see their way for entertaining application for the class of work referred to in your letter of 26th ult." The tenor of the telegram shewed that the Government had the power to grant the money, but could not see its way. Cr Linton : This is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. Weights and Measures. „ In reply to a question, the Mayor said that Constable Gillespie had been appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures, but was unable to fulfil his duties owing to the Government not having provided any standard weights and measures. It was resolved that Constable Gillespie be appointed Inspector under the Adulteration Act. The new Main-street. Cr Linton complained of the manner in which the railway authorities were metalling the street opposite the Standard office, and the Engineer was instructed to look after the formation. Special Meeting. The Mayor announced that a special meeting of the Council would be held on Monday, at three o'clock, for the purpose of striking a special and ordinary rate. The Letter Book. Cr West complained that the outward letters were not read, and he was therefore in ignorance of the business of the Borough. He refer ed particularly to the letter sent by the Mayor to Mr Linton as to the proposed Loan. The Mayor said there was no such letter in existence, and stated that it was not the custom in other local bodies to read outward correspondence. After some further discussion, the mater dropped. Committee Works A long discusssion took place on the motion of Cr. West ! " That the Public Works Committee be abolished and the work now performed by that body be done in open Council." Cr Leary proposed an amendment; which was seconded by Mr Perkins: That the members of the whole Council form the Public Works Committee, five to be a quorum. The amendment waa declared carried. Similar resolutions were adopted with regard to the Finance, Hospital and Reserves Committees. Further Retrenchments Cr Perkins gave notice of the follow ing resolutions :— "That the services of the Inspector of Nuisances be dispensed with and that the Town Clerk fulfil the duties. "That the Borough Engineer's services be dispensed with." " That one of the workmen be discharged, and that the foremanfufil the duties now done by the engineer. The Council adjourned at 11:30.

Weekly wages ... ... £38 9s 6d Engineer ... ... ... ... £10 8s 4d Town Clerk (salary) ... £16 13s 4d do Stamps &c, ... £4 10s 6d Moffat ... ... ... £9 12s 0d Inspector of Nuisances ... £11 0s 0d Ranger ... ... ... £4 0s 0d Library Committee ... £5 0s 0d Miiverton & Sons... ... £1 1s 0d Returning Officer... ... £1 1s 0d Laurenson... ... ... £2 2s 0d do ...„ .... ... £1 0s 0d