Feilding Borough Council

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 84, 6 January 1891, Page 2

Feilding Borough Council

The ordinary meeting, which was postponed from Thursday, was held last evening. Present — His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. G. Haybittle), Crs. S. J. Thompson, Watts, Sandilands, Rutherford, J. C. Thompson, Goodbehere, T. E. Chamberlain, W. E. Chamberlain. The Minutes of the previous ordinary meeting and also two special meetings were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From F. McLeod, drawing Council's attention to grass smothering young trees in the cemetery. From Colonial Secretary's office, asking for particulars re election of Mr John Gould as Councillor, which the Council required validated. From C. P. Mai, requiring permission to erect a verandah in front of his new shop in Manchester-street ; also asking the Council to make an approach to the same. From the Audit Office, re payment of £5 for auditing Borough accounts ; also returning Borough balance-sheet. The report of the Public Works Committee read as follows : — " Your Committee beg to report that they have inspected Pharazyn's street (Palmer's road), and find that in order to make the road passable during winter it will be necessary to form about 43 chains of it, leading from the North road. The Committee also think that it should be metalled the whole distance. - The Committee recommend that a ford be made; over the Makino stream at Denbigh street ; also a cheap footbridge on trestles, — The Committee haye also inspected Sherwill street, and are of opinion that as soon as funds are available something, should be done to open up the street for traffic throughout its length (1 mile) by the construction of culverts, fords, &c." Report of the Finance Committee recommending accounts for £44 10s 8d was also read. The Mayor also read the half-yearly balance-sheet. Proposed by Cr. W. E. Chamberlain, seconded by Cr. S. J. Thompson — That the report of the Finance Committee be adopted. — Carried. A discussion ensued on the various recommendations contained in the Public Works Committee's report, but was stopped by the Mayor stating it would be better to take the items singly and pass separate resolutions for the carrying out of each work, instead of embodying thewhole in one motion, which was proposed. Proposed by Cr. J. C Thompson, seconded by Cr. T. R. Chamberlain — That Pharazyn's-street be formed and culverted for 43 chains from the Kim-bolton-road. Cr. Goodbehere thought that if the road was only formed and not metalled it would be of no use, as there was a deal of heavy traffic on this particular road. A considerable sum of money had already been entirely wasted on formation work, and he would only be too happy to support the motion if the road was to be metalled afterwards. He was given to understand that as soon as the formation work was completed the Council would then be able to decide whether the road should be metalled. Cr. Rutherford and other Councillors considered the work was necessary, and if funds were available the metalling should be let as soon as the formation was done. The motion was put and carried unanimousy. Proposed by Cr. S. J. Thompson, seconded by Cr. Sandilands — That a footbridge be formed over the Makino stream at the site of the bridge in Denbigh-street, as suggested in Public Works report.Carried. Preposed by Cr. Watts, seconded by Cr. S. J. Thompson — That a ford be made at Denbigh-street, near the site of the old bridge. In speaking to his motion, Cr. Watts dwelt upon the convenience to the public generally the proposed work would accomplish. He considered there was no danger of a flood doing damage to private property by the banks being cut down. Cr. Goodbehere strongly objected to the proposition, for when the banks were cut down, and any damage was. done the Council would certainly be made liable, which likelihood must be averted. Cr. J. C Thompson said' that he had a thorough knowledge of that part of the stream, and he ventured to assert that no damage to property was likely to happen if the ford was made. The banks were strong, and as the stream was extraordinarily wide at the place the water would not come down the stream with yery great force. He instanced several cases of inconvenience which the blocking of the road had caused. In answer to a question the Town Clerk said he thought that there would be danger, as there was nothing to protect the banks, such as willows, &c. Cr Sandilands did not think the work was necessary, as he had heard no public complaints to justify making a ford, and in the face of laying the Council open to an action for damages, he would oppose the motion. Besides the Council should be guided by the Clerk of Work's opinion. The voting: resulted as follows : — Ayes : Crs J. C Thompson, S. J. Thompson, W. E. Chamberlain, and Watts. Noes : The Mayor, Crs T, R. Chamberlain, Sandilands, Rutherford, and Goodbehere. The motion was therefore negatived. Proposed by Cr J. C. Thompson, seconded by tbe Mayor — That the sum of V be passed for payment for auditing of the Borough accounts. - Carried. Proposed by Cr. S. J. Thompson, seconded by Cr Watts— That the request of C. P. Mai re verandah be granted subject to inspection of Clerk of Works; the approach to Mr Mai's store to be made providing he bears half the cost of same. — Carried Proposed by Cr Goodbehere, seconded by Cr Rutherford— That the matter referred to by Mr McLeod re grass in Cemetery be referred to. the Cemetery Committee. — Carried. Tbe opinion of the Council appeared to be that something should be done in this matter. Proposed by Cr Waits, seconded by Cr J. C. Thompson — That Beattie street bridge be repaired and made fit for dray traffic. Cr Sandilands said the bridge would take a large sum to repair, and it was useless in tinkering with such works. The bridge was not required, and besides the Council could not afford to do the required work. Cr Goodbehere followed in the same strain m speaking against the proposal The work was never wanted, and it was a mistake in ever building the bridge. Cr Watts explained that as the bridge stood at present it was useless and rotting whereas if the Council would only spend £40 in lengthening it, the bridge would be a boon to the travelling public. Cr J. C. Thompson considered the present bridge was a monument of carelessness and neglect on the part of the Council. He was adverse to the " stick in the mud" policy which he alleged was being carried on in connection with public works ; the Borough, he continued was " going to the dogs," and was pointed at all along the coast by the manner in which things were at present. (Laughter) On the motion being put it was nega-

tived, only Crs J. C. Thompson, S. J. Thompson and Watts voting for it. The Mayor brought under the Council's notice the amount of rations distributed in the Borough, and thought that some of the cases should be struck off the list. The item for Charitable Aid was steadily increasing, and he instanced cases where aid from the Countil should not be required. Rations were being distributed to the following : — Mrs Evans, Mrs Chapman, Mrs Wright, Mrs Archer, Mrs and Miss Thompson. The two latter cases ought to be looked after by their son and brother respectively — Mr Fairfield Thompson — and he certainly believed that if the latter knew that his mother and sister were being assisted he (Mr F. Thompson) would immediately have it stopped, and look after them himself, Proposed by Cr S J Thompson, seconded by Cr Sandilands, That all Charitable Aid rations be discontinued from the end of the present week except those to Mrs Wright, and the account of rations supplied to Mrs and Miss Thompson be sent to Mr Fairfield Thompson requesting payment of the same. — Carried. Proposed by Cr Rutherford, seconded by Cr Goodbehere, That all outstanding rates be sued for without further notice. — Carried. Proposed by Cr J. C. Thompson, seconded by the Mayor, That the balancesheet for the last half-year be adopted. — Carried. Proposed by Cr J. C. Thompson, seconded by Cr T. R Chamberlain, That the Mayor be added to the Public Works Committee, and that the members of all coiurnitt 'es be re-appointed, and that Cr Sandilands be added to the Finance Commit.ee. — Carried. This was all the business and the meeting adjourned.