PALMERSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume VIII, Issue 367, 4 October 1883, Page 2

PALMERSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the above was held last evening. Present : — His Wor* ship the Mayor .and Crß Linton, Mowlem, Leary, "Walker, McNeil, and Ferguson. The newly elected members, viz Crs E. .W. Perkins, G. M. Snelson, and L. Gr. West, sub* scribed to the usual declaration and took their seats. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. ! Letters were read from Messrs I Thos. King and A. Bentley accepting their appointment as Fire luspec* tors. Messrs Stevens & Gorton were granted permission to erect a crossing near their premises m Rangitikei street, subject to the usual condi* tions. . • A letter was read from Mr Thos. Kins;, treasurer of the Fire Brigade, applying for payment of the sum of £30, amount voted by the Council m aid if the Brigade. On the motion of Or Linton seconded by Cr Leary it was resolved that the amonnt be paid. Mr Ellis James applied by letter for a license to r mtTd nightsoil. The application was discussed at some length ana ultimately the matter was referred to the Public Works Committee to report upon. During the discussion on this ap* plication the matter of damage caused l>y lai'rikins m the town destroying property of various kind* was alluded- to, and it was proposed by Cr seconded by Cr Linton " That the reward of &\ be offered to anyone giving information which will, lead to the conviction of anyone wilfully doing damagtf tortny building fence or ornamental tree m the Borough." . ' x> '."... Cr Perkins moved as an ainehd« meat that the Council write to, the Constable and ask' him to take steps to summon any person found injur« ing ornamental trees, fences, <fee, m the Borough, and to take steps to discover persons doing ;guch injury. Seconded by Or JFejrguson pro forma. After some discussion the amendment was added to the original resolution at the suggestion of Or Snelson and the resolution, was passed as amended. . : Mr W. Park was granted permission to erect a boatsbed on the bank of the Manawatu River, subject to the Council's right to require; bin* to remove it after one month'snptice m writing, the site and mode of erection to be left to approval of the Reserves Committee A letter was read from. Mr Dundas stating he had* been instructed to oommence a standard survey of the town during the month, and therefore applied that the concrete blocks required be supplied. . The matter was left to the Mayor and Engineer to be dealt with, by them. * : The Committee appointed to consider the application of tlie Fire Brigade for pipes to be driven m the Square for a supply of water for extinguishing fires, reported .that, they could not recommend that; the request be acceded to ; and with re» speot to the further suggestion from' the Council that steps ; be taken to secure a sufficient water supply from j private' wells, they reoommended that the Fire Inspectors be inat-ucted to make sucb arrangements with owners of property m this respect as they be able or deem advisable. . Cr West felt sorry the report had come out m that form, as it had been proved m Grey mouth that water could be readily obtained by; this means, and the lay of the country was vety similar. The cost of the expeinment would be veiy small, and there was every reason to believe, it would be successful, as at the time, of sinking the well at the Railway Station it ,was found impossible to take the water out as fast as it came in v He piesumed that the Council would have no objection to allow the Brigade to test the matter for itself. Cr Perkinses an old resident of Greymouth, expressed an opinion that the case of the two towns was not parallel. The river there regus lated the height of the water m the wells. . Ths. report was adopted on. the motion of pr iSnelsoh. seconded by Cr Leary. . .:: '• The Committee appointed to con* sider the formation ol a Benevqlent Society reported recommending that the matter be left m the hands of a Charitable Aid Committee to be appointed by the Council, and that the present Hospital be handed over to it to manage. . * A letter from the Council to Government asking foe information as to best mode of distributing Charitable Aid Was also read together with, reply stating the simplest method was that of relieving cases through a committee of the Council, and receiving $ for & of the money expended. , The report was adopted and on the motion of Cr Ferguson,, seconded by Cr Perkins, the following were j appointed a charitable aid Committee viz., His Worship the Mayor, 'and Crs Suelson, and Walker. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read and received. Cr West drew attention to a nuisance caused by the yards for stud horses being placed within public publlfi view. The Town Clerk was instructed to call the attention of the persons int erested . to the by-law bearing upon the subject. The following accounts were passed for payment: — ; Roadmen, wages,£37 5s lOd ; E. J. Arms' rang, £10 8s M, B. N. Keeling, £1G L3s 4'd ; Standard, ££ 17s 6J ; Milvertou and Sons, i»4 9s ; t^ . Jioffatt, lighting, £4 16s ; Wanganui Hospital, £2 13s 3d ; Library Conimittee, 4s lOd; J. P. Leary, £5 11s; H. Graff, £4 10s. In reference to an account from the Mana.watu Dailt Times for (lie smn pi £o 3s 6d, which had beea

certified by tho Town Clerk as con* rect, Cr Fergusou moved that an item of £1 10s included m it, be not paid. The charge was made for insertion of an ad* vertisement regarding a by-law proposed by Cr Ferguson, and he held that through a very simple error the advertisement had been rendered ■worthless. The error consisted m the year 1893 being printed instead of 1883, and it was possible this might lead the Goifncil i to any amount of litigation and expense, if the Times were the. only paper m m which the by-law had" been published. , i:< ■'.*■< \:>l Cr Linton thouaht newpapera should be treated : like .ahy other contractor. '' If the work was | properly carried out it should, be paidfor and if not payment-should be withheld. If theCoui cillofsdiljl wrong m thtiir public 'capacity, iH£ papers were ready enough- tblcriticise them, and .hq did not see-whyrtlie Coun« cillors should not take- exception to error* on their part..; . i CrLeavy suggested that the mat" ter should be referred^ a i Committee consisting of Crs Ferguson and Linton. .. -. -.-. , t , v -.. Cr Ferguson then moye<k;that tho amount of £1 10s be not\paid» unless it can j.e proved- jbhat the?* error ia iate lies with tl\is,Cou.ncil. i ,.- Seconded by CirMQwjbaLv ■■■ Cr West t nought, thakbe&ge such a resolution was passed it .should be ascertained whether the error was fatal one. Cr ■Perkins said it was really "^" mere question of a printer's; error, andshouldnotbe visited on Mr Busselli who he ;no ' doubt 1 would willingly set the matter^gfrt; The. resolution was then ppt and carried, , _„'.. . '!• On the motion of jGr.Perkitis it was resolved -that consideration of the by«law be postponed till next meeting, and m toe", meantime the opinion of the Borough Solicitor be taken as to whether the publication of the by-law is sufficient according to law, and if not the Town Clerk be ; instructed to advefctise 4 the-l>y~law afresh. . ', It was resolved thatthe Charitable Aid Committee be" authorised to advanoe whatever sums are deemed necessary. ; Cr Linton proposed that ;,, the Government be again requested to coma mence the Square alterations at once ili order ;to •carry 3 | th y e same through during jihe fine weather. Seconded l>y Cr Snelson ami ear* ried. . „-.'■ The Council then wept into Com* mittee on the stivers ' Conservation question; and the' reporters were re* quested to withdraw.