Feilding Borough Council

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 46, 5 October 1889, Page 2

Feilding Borough Council

♦ _ A special meeting of the above was held last evening. Present — The Mayor, and Councillors Rutherford, Haybittle, W. E' Chamberlain, Goodbehere; J. C.Thompson, and T. R. Chamberliin. The ooject of the meeting was to confirm the following resolution: — "That Sections twenty-two to fifty-one, both in - elusive, ..Of 'The Rating Act, 1882,' ,aS amended by the • Rating ■'.'. Act, 1882, Amendment Act, 1883,' and r The Rating Act, 1882, Amendment Act, 1885,' shall: apply to to the recovery of all Rates now due or hereafter to, be made for the pur/ poses of the Borough of Feilding." The minutes of the previous special meeting were read and confirmed. , Messrs S. J. Thompson, W.' Watts, and F. Y. Lethbridge, newly elected cpimcillors, made the usual declaration and took their seats at the Council table. The Mayor made a few suitable remarks by way of congratulating the pew councillors, and the new members returned thanks. The business of the ordinary monthly meeting was then proceeded with, and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. correspondence. . From the secretary of .the Railway Reform League, Auckland, a circular re the : objects of the League. From Prior and Cooke, with cheque for £2 from J. Turner, late poundkeeper. From W. Carthew, stating that Mrs E . Wright was in destitute circumstances, asking for Charitable Aid on her behalf. From the Public Works Committee, with accounts .£2l 7s 6d recommended for payment. . „ From the Finance Committee, with accounts amounting to 7s Id, recom mended for payment. From the Clerk of Works, reporting some damage by the recent freshet in: the Makino and Kiwitea streams, and recommending what repairs should be done. .-■:■' From J. H. Stevens, postmaster, re. some stagnant water near the.post office. From John Taylor, re a proposed culvert near his premises in Warwick street. The following correspondence was also read: — 'A.: " Town Clerk's Office, " Feilding, October 1, 1889. " To Messrs P. & J. Bartholomew. "Dear Sirs, — In consequence of complaints which have been made, to the effect that horses passing along South street have been frightened through the washing of flax fibre at the bridge, I am directed to request that you will not erect any more scaffolding or other washing appliances at the site in question.— Yours truly, "Geo. C.Hill, "Town Clerk" " Feilding, 3rd October, 1889. "To His Worship the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Feilding. " We are much annoyed with the letter received from the Town Clerk dated on the Ist October, in which he states that he had been instructed to request us not to erect any more scaffolding or other washing appliances at the South street bridge for the purpose of washing our flax fibre, on account of our work frightening horses. Since the Council stopped ns washing at our mill, it has cost us 14s per day extra for wages, and it appears anxious to stop our flax industry altogether. We have no objection to you stopping ns provided you carry out your principle with all others. As the writer has been nearly thrown from a horse on two occasions by the animal taking fright at a load of gravel on the road side, can we prevent the i 'ouncil or Road Board leaving the gravel on the sides of roads simply because a horse takes fright at it ? As old residents of the town, who have always had the interest of the town at heart, we think we have been badly treated by our fellow townsmen. — We are your obedient servants, " P. & J. Bartholomew." Cr J. C. Thompson proposed, and Cr. T. R. Chamberlain seconded, That Councillors Rubherford, Goodbehere, S. J. Thompson and Haybittle be the Finance Committee, and that all accounts be passed by them ; that Councillors Watts, W. E. Chamberlain, and J. C. Thompson, with the Mayor, be the Public Works Committee ; and that Councillors Lethbridge, T. R. Chamberlain and S. J. Thompson be tlie Cemetery Committee. Cr J. C. Thompson said he thought it very desirable that each member of the Council should have an opportunity Of being on a committee with a view to facilitateing the getting a meeting when required, Cr Goodbehere thought that the Finance Committee, as worked at present, was a farce, because the principal accounts we c now passed by the Public Works Committee. Cr Haybittle spoke to the same effect. The Mayor thought that the Piblic Works Committee report mig". it be revised by the Finance Committee before coming before the Council. Cr Haybittle called attention to some other local bodies in the district who had to do with as many thousands as the Council had hundreds, and yet had no separate committees. He thought all the business might very well come before the Council without previously having been decided by the committees. After some further discussion the motion was carried. With reference to the Public Works Committee's report, Cr Goodbehere Called attention to a former resolution of the Council that the Public Works Committee shoidd not undertake any new work unless urgent, beyond the amount of £5, without the consent of the Council, and asked if a certain work mentioned in the report, viz. : the protection work at the Warwick street bridge, was sufficiently urgent to warrant its having been done by the committee. The Mayor and Cr J. C. Thompson made some explanation, which did not appear to satisfy all Councillors. Crs Haybittle and Rutherford both thought that the Council should know what work was going tobe done and have their sanction unless such work was extremely urgent. The reports of the Public Works and Finance Committees were then adopted. With reference to the case of Mrs Wright, the Mayor said he had ordered her a weekly ration till the Council met. Proposed' by Cr Lethbridge, seconded by Cr T. R. Chamberlain, That Mr Taylor's request be referred to the Public Works Committee to report at next meeting. — Carried. ."-■>:. : Proposed by Cr Goodbehere, seconded by Cr Lethbridge, That the action of the Mayor re relief to Mrs Wright be endorsed, and that the allowance be continued during the pleasure of the Council..-— Carried. The matter referred to in Messrs Bartholomews' letter was discussed. The Mayor instanced one or two cases in which horses had been frightened by the erection mentioned. He regretted having to put the correspondents to any unnecessary inconvenience and expense, but he thought that if something was noV done the Council would clearly be liable in case of any accident..;,; v ; Cr W. G> Haybittle/^bjected- to the tone of the letter from tble^owh. Clerk to Messrs Bartholomew, ahd'lhought it wasacting in a rather high-handed, and arbi .

trary manner, and was like boycotting an important local industry. The Mayor said the letter from the Town Clerk was sent by his instruction, and he failed to see any discourtesy in its tone. Seieral councillors expressed an opinion as to the frivolous nature of the alleged complaint about horses being frightened. Proposed by Cr Haybittle, seconded by Cr Lethbridge. That Messrs P. and j. Bartholomew have permission to wash their flax during'the pleasure of the Council, at the foot of South street, they undertaking to indemnify the Council against damages in case of accidents.— Carried. Proposed by Cr Goodbehere, seconded fay Cr Rutherford, That all outward correspondence relative to matters- connected with Borough aftairs be read at the Council meetings. — Carried. f Resolved, That -the letter and cheque from Messrs Prior and Cooke be acknowledged. Resolved, That the Town Clerk be empowered to draw a cheque of £5 for petty ". ■ cash.' Proposed by Cr Goodbehere, seconded by Cr Rutherford, That the Mayor be requested to interview the manager of the Bank of Australasia re arranging for a continuation of the overdraft.— Carried. Proposed by Cr S. J. Thompson, seconded by Cr Watts, That the services of the present contractor for lighting the street lamps be continued for a period terminating 31st March, 1890. — Carried. Resolved to acknowledge receipt of Railway Reform- League's circular, and inform them that the Council would give ths matter their consideration. Proposed by the Mayor, seconded by by Cr Lethbridge, That the Public Works- r Committee be requested to make cheap and efficient means for foot traffic at the Kiwitea. — Carried. Proposed by Cr J. C. Thompson, seconded by Mr Cr Lethbridge, That a foot bridge be ereited at the site oi' the bridge on the North road. Cr Goodbehere, while allowing the necessity of the footbridges, thought the • Council ought to know wbai, -would be the cost before committing, itself. , *• , He then proposed, and Cr Rutherford seconded, as an amendment, That the . Clerk of Works prepare an estimate of the cost and plans for' a . .foot, bridge. ' over the Makino on'"North.road, to be laid before the Council at the next meeting. The amendment was carried. , Proposed by Cr S. J. Thompson, seconded by Cr Lethbridge, That Messrs Prior and Cooke be appointed Borough solicitors. Cr Goodbehere pointed out that 'on .-such a subject there should be a notice of motion given, or passed with the unanimous consent of the Couniil. -He (Cr Goodbehere) would object for one. It was then agreed that the proposal take the form of notice, of motion. Resolved, That the Public Works Committee report on a certain water course crossing Denbigh street between Grey and Campden streets, with a. view to abate anuisance caused* by flood water. Resolved, That the Mayorand (V Wattss be authorised to consult with the Foresters re the protection of Warwick street. The Council then adjourned.