Borough Council.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 401, 14 January 1904, Page 5

Borough Council.

;,_ ■^;^:;; l ;._,>• ■-'■'•" > T V A special meeting of the Alexaodra Borough Oouoefl wm bald on Monday evenfag bat* wheQ:there were present is Worship tbe Mayor (Mr James htehnan), Or Spencer, Laidlaw, Ryan, Baehanan, M*Math, Anderson, Schausaann, and Applstoh, Tbe basineae of the meeting was the fxingol toe Btatutoty half-Holiday for the current jm&fc: '■■% ■ {£*>£ Or Appleton. moved, and Or Anderson secooded—That Thursday afternoon be the statutory half-holiday ■ for 1904.—Carried. '•.'.■: The ordinary meeting of the Conncil waathen hekU^,C: . \ -} The minutes of .the previous meeting were read The outward, oorrespondenee 'was Some discussion took place regarding the driuoage pipe which Mr ►Heeeon was authorised to lay down, and, it was resolved that the Mayor interviewer H aeon and arrange that tbe pipe "be pat in so that it will not pollute : the river, at the place where people are" in the habit of taking water from. '•'..-.:" :. v /.* : "

Inward correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: — —From the Minister of Mines (per Mr Bonnet, M.H.&.), stating before a voucher could be passed for the pay ment of £6OO, voted last session aVa subsidy towards the cost of the Alexandra water .scheme, there must be furnished in detail a statem nt certi fied to by the engineer and Mayor uf the expenditure actually incurred on tiSfi waterworks, together with a detailed ;ejtimateof the sum required to complete the work. It was resolved, on the motion of Or Laidlaw, secopded by Or Bu hanan, that the town clerk be instructed to draw up a statement of expenditure in connection, with the waterworks, and submit to the engineer for his certificate —Carried. —A letter was read from Mr D. WConnochie, junr., offering to destroy -abbits on the endowment, to the satisfaction of the Stock Department, for twelve months, for the sum ot £lO.

Afte* consideration, it was resolved that the offer be accepted. —Mr W B Roes wrotp, requesting to take water from the t,wn 'ace* between Messrs Fawcett and M'lntosh's properties. On the motion of Or M'M-rth, seconded by Or Ryan, it wa& resolved that the Works Committee be in- ; struced to visit the place in question, i with power to act. i —From Messrs Young and Buchanan, in reference to an application for an auctioneer's license by Mr Young The letter pointed cut that the fee under the Act (£10) was too high to allow of any margin for profit to the holder of the license; and, asit was customary in small districts to assist applicants by making a formal appointment in their favour, they asked that this course should be taken in the present case. Or Laidlaw said that he had had personal experience in the business, and he was satiefind that £4O wan much too high a fee in country dis-! tries.

o=her councillors also, spoke in a similar strain.

It was resolved, on the motion of Or Laidlaw, seconded by Or Schau mann, that the application of Messrs Young and Buchtnan for an auctioneer's license be granted, and that a license be issued in the name of Mr Young. - On the motion of Or Spencer, seconded by Or Appleton, it was resolved that Mr F Young be appointed treasurer for the current year at a remuneration of £2O —From Mr T M'Math, asking up«n what terms the Council would supply four heads of water from the town race at Round Hill, for the purpose of working a dredge by water power. After some discussion it was resolved on the motion of Or Ltidlaw, seconded by Or Anderson, that Mr M'Math'e application be left over till next meeting, and that the Mayor, Ore Spencer, Buchanan, and Ryan be appointed a committee to inquire into the matter and report to the Council. The question of the intake at the Borough reservoir was brought up and Cr Ryan expressed the opinion that before anything further was done a legal opinion en the clause, in the agreement between the Council and Mr Rivers, regarding the delivery of the water, shou'd be obtained. After some further discussion, it was resolved on the motion of Or Laidlaw, seconded by Cr Spencer, that the Mayor and town clerk be empowered to get the guage box fixed in its proper position at once. Resolved—That the Council go into committee to consider applications for the position of assistant dayman. After consideration of the applications, G Powlesland was appointed to the position.

The tender of Mr J Rivers for the supply of kerosene, dec., for the ensuing twelve months, was accepted. A request by Messrs Fraser and Pattisbn that a 1J inch pipe be laid to the vicinity of their sections was granted; as also was a request by Mr Ah Wing to be allowed to connect with the mains.

On the motion of Or Appleton, seconded by Or Anderson, it was resolved that a stand-pipe be placed in a suitable position for the use of Mi Halpin and others.

. Or Buchanan brought up the question of procuring a fire bell for the town. Ho understood the members of the Fire Brigade were canvassing for subscriptions for this purpose, but he thought this wag not a proper course to fake. It waa bigty Ltocejary tbat

a fire bell should be procured, but; it wu unfair that a few of the townspeople should be taxed with the cost of a bell, which was for the protraction of the* property of the whole of the citiiens; and the coat should be" charged to the Borough fund. i Crs Spencer, Ryan, Anderson, and Appleton apoke in a similar strain, and, finally, it was resolved, on the motion of Or Spencer, seconded byfJr apple-ton-—That a fire bell be procured for the town, and erected in a suitable position.

The statement of balances was read as follows:—Dr general, account, £619 3s lOd; dr waterworks account, £675 5s 9d ; cr interest account, £468 la 7d; cr charities account, XIIO 19s 3d; cr cemetery account. £54 6s 51; or contractors deposits, £5 15s 9d; cr library account, £3 3s Id; total indebtedness, £552 3s 6d. The following accounts were passed for pajment: Waterworks Account: Robert Hay, £BB 9- 21; Otago Central Foundry. £162 17s 9df A and T Burt, £4l 19s 8d ; total, £293 6s 7d. General Account: J D Thomson, £1 is 9d; PO. Box, £1; EJ Terry, £l2; Theyers and Son, 8a 6<i; J River*; Hfc 61; H T.»bil), £3 ss; R Boss, £3 13; F Young, £l* 6s; J Young, £l6 18s; total, £54 17s 9d. The Council then rose. *