Fending Borough Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 3, 3 July 1896, Page 2

Fending Borough Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Feilding Borough Conncil was held in the Council Chambers last evening. Present — The Mayor (W. A. L. Bailey), Crs. J. Bramwell, W. Reid, T. R. Chamberlain, W. G. Shearer, H. Worsfold, E. Goodbehere, G. H. Saywell, G. W. Fowles, and J. Gould. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows : — From Inspector of Nuisances, a report From the Finance Committee, a report recommending accounts amounting to £245 178 6d be passed for payment. — Adopted. From Treasury, voucher for £100 ■ on account of Eiwitea bridge loan. From secretary Red Star Football Club, asking permission to charge ad- ■ mission to Oval when they were playing matches. — Permission granted. From W. Heald, offering to supply . 18-horse power for the purpose of i working dynamo for electric lighting ) purposes at a cost of 3s 8d per hour, i ) From secretary Wellington Harbor > \ Board, re electric light loan, and offer* ; ing £3000. from New Zealand Electrical «Syn- . dicate, Wellington, asking for an opportunity to tender for electric lightt ing plant. i From D. Donald, Masterton, on be- ; half of an American firm, offering to ' supply electric lighting plant, aud stating a rough estimate given him for j 1000 lights, dynamo, wires, poles, &c, i .was £1600, without motive po**er. i From C. A. Ulrich, on behalf of ' Nuremburg Electric Co., offering to 1 supply electric plant. 1 From the Brash Electrical Engins eering Co., offering to supply estimate . of plant, I From W. Darling, Wellingtou, on • behalf of an English firm, offering to - supply electric light plant. From W. B. Barjcer, poundkeeper, [ enclosing 275, surplus from sale of heifer out of pound, r From S. Sidet, drawing attention to ; the state of road opposite his place, ' and requesting tbat the watertabies be ■ cleaned out. [ From J. Toy, requesting the Coun- [ cii to do something to drain opposite . Temperance Buffet to carry away sur- * face water. From Treasury, voucher for £3 17s, » fines collected in Magistrate's Court, ' From chairman Rangitikei County Counci], re petitions to Government , re purchase of Manawatu railway line. From C. Carr, poiuting ont that the road opposite his yards, Warwick 1 street, required widening to its full [ width, and agreeing to pay a share of ) cost. — Referred to Fublic Works Com- - mittee to report at next meeting. From clerk of Manchester Road [ Board, enclosing detailed account of | cost of erecting bridge over Mangaone stream on Feilding-Ashurst road, the [ total cost being £661 16s 10d, this i Council's share being one-fifth 7s 4d) ; also, cost of repairs to Men-, ' zie's bridge amounting to £131 Msld, ' this Council's share being £65 17s, and ! asking for cheque for amount. Cr Goodbehere wanted to know where the Public Works Committee's report was, and thought they sbould submit a report to tbe Council at every meeting as to what bad been done in matters referred to them. Cr Fowles, chairman of the Public Works Committee, explained tbat matters referred to them had been attended to. In referring to the Finance Committee's report, the Mayor said the £45 additional cost of the Mangaone bridge came as a great surprise, also tbe amount for repairs to Menzie's bridge. With reference to the former, he thought the Manchester Road Board should have advised them that the original amount would be exceeded, so as to enable the Council to provide the money out of loan account, whereas now they could only get another £8 on account of the loan, and the balance would have to be paid out of general rates. They would not be able to undertake any new works for some time to come, as their overdraft stood at £710 2s lld, and they would hare to exercise care over their expediture generally. Crs Goodbehere and Gould also considered the Manchester Road Board sbould have notified this Council earlier that the cost of the Mangaone bridge would exceed the estimate. Resolved, That the following alterations be made on rate roll : — J. Gould in place of F. Y. Lethbridge, for section 181, suburban ; H. Bailey in place of G. Taylor, for section 505 j W. Dixon in place of M. Hastie, for part section 112; J. Toy in place of J. Wilson, for part 271. Proposed by Cr Saywell, seconded by Cr Goodbehere, That the return of amount of cost of forming footpaths (now outstanding) be laid on the table at next Council meeting. Proposed by Cr Fowles, seconded by Cr Good b. here, That the correspondence relating to the electric light be referred to the Electric Lighting Committee to consider and report on. — Carried. The Mayor stated that Mr Turnbull, electrician, of Wellington, had paid a visit to Feilding on Wednesday, and with Crs Goodbehere and Fowles, went round the portion of the Borough they proposed to light by electricity. Mr Turnbull made various notes, and and would prepare specifications, which he would send up by Monday next, and they would be placed before the Council at its next meeting. Referring to the loan, he felt sure they could get the money at 4£ per cent. Proposed by Cr Shearer, seconded by Cr Saywell, That the clerk be instructed to inform Mr Brooks that unless he makes provision for his family's support this Council will prosecute him in accordance with the law. — Carried. The tenders for work on Port and Fergusson streets were not opened on account of there not being sufficient funds to warrant the Council going on with tbe works, and it was decided to return the tenders. The Mayor, reviewiug the work done at the Municipal Conference, said they threw out the Local Government BiU without discussion. The large boroughs were all in favor of tbe bill, but the smaller ones were against it. The conference proposed that the area of boroughs should be limited to two miles and the minimum population

to 2000, but in an interview the Premier wouldn't go lower than 3000. The Premier said there was no prospect of the Local Government Bill coming forward this session, but a Municipal Franchise Bill would be introduced, which would give every householder a vote and limit the maximum votes to three instead of five as at present. The Council then adjourned.