Feilding Borough Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 212, 8 March 1895, Page 2

Feilding Borough Council.

The monthly meeting of the above body was held last evening, in the Council Chambers. Present — The Mayor (W. A. Sandilands), Crs A. R. Allan, J. Gould, G. W. Fowles, G. H. Saywell, W. A. L. Bailey, J. P. Cowie, T. R. Chamberlain. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows :— From F. Towler, J. Challis, W. H. J. Kitchen, and J. T. Hostick, asking that a larger culvert be put in at the corner of Russell and Manchester streets before the coming winter. From J.* Noble, asking for charitable aid. [Noble is a young man who met with an accident to one of his legs about twelve months ago, and is only able to move about on crutches. He has been in tbe Wanganui and Wellington hospitals and discharged as incurable. He is now dependant on a widowed mother for support, who has also to earn her own livingj. From the Commissioner of Taxes, advising the Council that a voucher for subsidy of .£135 had been passed for payment. From J. K. War bur ton, Public Trustee, ; advising the Council that section 715, formerly owned by C. B. Knorpp (deceased) had been disposed of to Mrs Brennan. From H. Pollen, Colonial Secretary's office, re the recommendation of the appointment of Mr F. Flavall to the position of " Inspector of Weights and Measures," and inspector under " The Dairy Industry Act, 1894," stating that PoliceSergeant Slattery, of Palmerston, was Inspector of Weights and Measures. The request for the latter appointment had been referred to the Secretary of Agriculture. From Mr E. Giesen, local Manager of the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation, stating that his directors had agreed to grant the necessary land for a water supply on section 124, Kiwitea, and, also, for the approach to the bridge. It would be necessary that proper plans, showing the proposed reservoirs should be submitted to the Corporation, and the conditions of grant would be that the land be vested in trust for the purposes named. From J. Stevens, M.H.R., re the appointment of Inspector of Weights and Measures for Feilding, stating he would enquire into the matter when he returned to Wellington. The Inspector of Nuisances report was read. From T. F. Martin, solicitor to Municipal Association, a legal opinion re the leasing of land by the Borough Council for the erection of Municipal Buildings for ten years with a compulsory purchasing clause at the end of the term, at a stated price. He was of opinion that it would be illegal for the Council to enter into such a contract, if the amount of the purchase money, plus the overdraft and other engagements and contracts (other than special loans) would at the end of March in the current financial year exceed the ordinary income of the Council for that year. From H. Wisbaw, Dog Tax collector in the Manchester Road Board district in 1894, applying for refund of Dog Tax alleged to have been wrongfully paid to the Council. Resolved that application be left on the table. The Finance Committee's report was read recommending accounts amounting to £92 8s 5d be passed for payment. — Adopted. From A. Granger, a claim for £5 for metal alleged to have been taken from his property by instructions from the Council. Proposed by Cr. Bailey, seconded by Cr. Saywell, That the Clerk inform Mr Granger that the Council has not authorised anyone to take metal from his section. — Carried. Proposed by Cr. Gould, seconded by Cr. Allan, That the application of Messrs Towler and others re culvert be referred to the Public Works Committee to report to the next meeting of this Council. —Carried. Resolved, That the amount of one ration per week be provided by the Council to Mr Noble in response to his request for assistance. Resolved, That one ration per week be supplied to Mr Short during the pleasure of the Council. Proposed by Cr Sandilauds, seconded by Cr Fowles, That Crs Bailey, Fowles, and the mover be a Building Committee to deal with all applications in respect of proposed buildings. — Carried. Proposed by Cr Bailey, seconded by Cr Saywell, That Mr Norman be paid the sum of £2 for use of his ground for the road. — Carried. Proposed by Cr Bailey, seconded by Cr Fowles, That the Mayor take the necessary steps to take a poll of ratepayers for the purpose of erecting Municipal Buildings on the site given by the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation, at the corner of Kimbolton road and Stafford street. As an amendment, Cr Gould proposed, and Cr Saywell, seconded pro forma, That immediate steps be taken by this Council to ascertain the wishes of the ratepayers in reference to the offer of the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation to lay off and beautify the Square and secure a more central site for the Council Chambers. Cr Bailey was in favor of taking a poll of ratepayers for the purpose of raising a loan for the erection of Municipal buildings, even if the money could be raised legally without. If Crs took the matter in hand and worked with a will ho felt confident a poll would result in favor of a loan. He did not think it would cost them any more to borrow sufficient money to build Chambers of their own that it did at present, as they had to pay rent for the premises occupied. Cr Gould agreed that it was desirable that they should have more commodious chambers. He thought that if they could get the unsightly Square improved with a building they should do so. He believed that if the voice of the ratepayers was taken it would be found the majority were in favor of building suitable premises in the Square, which would be the most central site for Municipal Buildings. Cr Saywell would not like to see the Square built on. Cr Allan supported Cr Bailey's moton. The Mayor was in favor of building on the site offered by the Corporation, and not in Manchester Square, as a suitable building would, in his opinion, cost i-2000. He hoped they would be able to borrow sufficient money to build on the site offered. Cr Gould's amendment being negatived, Cr Bailey's motion was put and carried. Proposed by Cr. Allan, seconded by the Mayor, That this Council accept with thanks the site offered by the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation at the corner of Stafford street and Kimbolton road for the purpose of erecting Municipal Buildings for the Borough of Feilding. — Carried. Tho Council then adjourned.