Feilding Borough Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 59, 6 September 1895, Page 2

Feilding Borough Council.

«. — The regular monthly meeting of the above was held last evening. Present— The Mayor (Mr W. A. Sandiland), Crs W. A. L. Bailey, G. H. Saywell, A. B. Allan, T. R. Chamberlain, H. Worsfold, J. «cu'd, G. W. Fowles. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. An apology was received from Cr E. Goodbebere for non-attendance at this meeting, owing to ill-health. Correspondence was read — From W. B. Barker, reporting he had sold two horses oat of the pound at £10 5s and £7 13s 6d, and handing the balance (£'l4 8s) over cost to Council. From Dr. Sorley, calling attention to state of watertable opposite bis place. From J. P. Cowie, W. Reid, and J. Wilson, protesting against recent election of Councillors on the ground that they were present at the nomination place, with a view to nominating Mr Reid, before the closing time, viz., 11.53 a.m., but that the Returning Officer did not give them a nomination paper until 4 minutes to 12, when one of the candidates nominated said it was 1 minute to 12, and the Returning Officer declared nominations closed immediatly afterwards ; also, several interested parties were present when the nominations closed. From Jas. Wilson, re water table in front of bis premises. From D. McEenzie, asking Council to give him access to his section in Fort street, From Clerk Rangitikei County Council, applying for refund of £6 4s 3d, this Council's share of cost of administering Licensing Act. — Passed for payment. From Finance Committee, recommending accounts amounting to £71 3s lid be passed for payment. — Adopted. From Treasury, voucher for subsidy of .£42 6s lid, balance for year 1894-95 ; also, voucher for 5s fines recovered under by o- laws. From Jas. Troy, claiming the residue from sale of horse from pound, which realised £7 13s 6d, after deducting cost. From Wm. McKee, a declaration claiming £10 53, less coats, received from sale of a horse from pound. From N.Z. Insurance Company, re loan of £900. From Secretary Municipal Association stating conference had been postponed indefinitely. From Clerk Manchester Road Board, stating his Board will not consider any necessary delay in erection of Eiwitea bridge as prejudicing the Commissioner's award. A deputation, consisting of Messrs F. Y. Letbbridge, E. Mills (representing the Athletic Club), and J. Coombe (representing the Cycling Club), waited on the Council, and requested that the Recreation Reserve should not be let for grazing, that a £ for £ subsidy up to £6 be granted for improving the track on the Oval ; or, in the event of not granting the latter request, would they allow the Cycling Club to use the Oval for the next race meeting without the usual charge of £2 2s, which amount they would spend in improvements. The deputation were informed the Reserve Committee had already decided not to allow cattle to graze on the re* serve for the future; also, that the other requests would be considered. The deputation then withdrew af|er thanking the Council. "/; The following return was read, showing the number of attendances of Cpuh* cillors at ordinary and special meetings from October Ist, 1694, to September Ist, 1895, 1895:— Cr A. R. Allan, 12 ordinary meetings, 11 special meetings; CrG. W. Fowles, 12 ordinary, 11 special ; Cr W. A. L. Bailey, 8 ordinary, 10 special ; Cr T. R. Chamberlain, 7 ordinary, 4 special ; Cr Gould, 11 ordinary, 5 special; Cr E. Goodbehere, 10 ordinary, 10 special ; Cr W. A. Sandilands VI ordinary, 10 special ; Cr G SayweU, 12 ordinary, 9 special; Cr H. Worsfold, 11 ordinary, 11 special; Cr J. P. Cowie, 7 ordinary, 4 special; Cr W. Carthew, 3 ordinary, 2 special. Tbe two latter occupied their seats for only a portion of the year. The total number of meetings held was 12 ordinaiy and II special. Resolved, That Dr Sorley's and P. McKenzie'fi applications and Mr Wilson'* letter be referred to Public Works Com* mittee with power to act. Resolved, That leave of absence be granted to Cr Goodbehere for this ingResolved, That the annual statement of receipts and expenditure of this Council as audited and passed by the Controller and Auditor-General be printed and published. With reference to the complaint lodged by Messrs Cowie, Reid and Wilt son, the Returning Officer, Mr Hill, was asked to make an explanation. Mr Hill said that the gentlemen named went to his office on the nomination day at about 10 minutes to 12, whereupon he asked Mr Cowie if he was going to allow himself to be nominated again. Mr Cowie replied in the negative, and nothing more was said for about five minutes, he (Mr Hill) continuing his work. At last, at about 3 minutes to 12, someone said something about a nomina* tion paper and that they wished to nominate Mr Reid. One was banded to the three gentleman making the complaint and they proceeded to fill in the form, being requested to hurry up as the time for receiving nominations had nearly expired. A dispute thereupon arose as to the correct time, a difference of 3 minutes being between his and their time. He asked Cr Fowles, who was in the room at the time, and the latter said 1 minute to 12. Before the form was filled in tbe time had expired. As to persons being in the room, on the day of receiving nominations the office was public and he could not keep anyone out. Cr Fowles corroborated the previous statement and the Mayor considered Mr Hill was not to blame. 4 suggestion was made that for the future Mr Hill should see that he had the correct time, and it was proposed by Cr Bailey, seconded by Cr Allan, That having read the letter of complaint of Messrs Cowie, Reid and Wilson and having heard the returning Officer's explanation and no nomination papers being tendered, the Council cannot interfere. — Carried. Proposed by Cr Worsfold, seconded by Cr Chamberlain, That the application of the Feilding Athletic Club and the Cycling Club be left in the hands of the Recreation Reserve Committee to deal with. — Carried. Cr Bailey reported that Mr James estimated the cost of removing the bell tower to the back of the Municipal building building would be £35 and that a a fire proof door for the strong room would cost £22. He did not approve of the removal of the bell tqwer. The Mayor was also opppsed to, r« ; mqving it. Proposed by Cr Bailey, seconded by Cr SayweU, That a sub-committee consisting of the Mayor, Cr Goodbehere and the mover be appointed to deal with the shifting of the fire bell and the fire proof doors. — Carried. Proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Cr Worsfold, That all rates outstanding at the end of the current month be sued for.— Carried. Prqpoped by the Mayor, seconded by Cr Chamberlain, That after the Ist day >f August in any year no application for expenditure of Borough funds be entersained in respect of any property the :ate3 upon which shall at the time of jucli application being laid before the Council be in arrear— Carried. Proposed by Cr Fowles, seconded by 2r Worsfold, That the work of erecting

the Kiwitea bridge according to the plans of Messrs Biay and Hill be proceeded with and that tenders be called for the work at once. Cr Fowles, in speaking to the resolu- - tion, pointed out the loss in trade incurred through not having a bridge at the site. The plans submitted by Mr Holmes -were out of the question owing to the costliness of the work. He had been informed Mr Bastings had interviewed the Premier, who positively refused to grant a subsidy towards the erection of the bridge. A loan of £4000 would mean that £200 a year would have to be found as interest, while the other contributing bodies would not bear any of the extra cost if Mr Holmes plans were adopted. They could not under take such an expensive work, but should proceed with the bridge according to the plans submitted by Messrs Hill and "r Allan thought there was little chance of their raising the extra cost according to Mr Holmes' estimate. There was no use hanging up the matter any loneer and they should proceed with erecting the bridge on the ongiual P Cr'worsfoia thought the cost of Mr Holmes' scheme was far beyond their powers. They should proceed with the work according to Messrs Hill and Bray s specifications. Cr Saywell supported the motion as the trade of the town was beiug damaged and he did not think they would be doing wrong by going on with the bridge as now proposed. Cr Gould also supported the motion. He asked why Mr Bastings had interviewed the Premier when the Mayor bad been appointed. He thought Mr BastiDgs had acted unwisely m the matThe Mayor was prepared to support the motion. He had requested the Goveranoent to allow one of their Engineer's to report with a yiewto ascertaining the best site. The site proposed by Mr Holmes was almost the same as that suggested by Messrs Hill and Bray. As to Mr Bastings' interview with the Premier, he (the Mayor) took exception to the way he was forestalled. He (tJie Mayor) was delayed from eoing to Wellington owing to the conference being postponed If he had had an interview with the Premier he could have shown him the plans given data and all necessary information, and might have succeeded in getting the Government to consider the application. He did not now feel inclined to interview the Government on the matter. He thought the work as proposed by Messrs Hill and Bray would be effective and at the same time much cheaper. It would be a hopeless task to try and carry out Mr Holmes' suggestions, for which that gentleman deserved to be commended. On being pat to the meeting the motion was carried. The Council then adjourned.