RANGIORA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1690, 21 July 1879, Page 4

RANGIORA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of this Council for dispatch of ordinary business was held on Fridny evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr Blackett), Ors. Gone, Burt, Luxton, Lilly, White, Johnston and Boyd. Letters were read —From W. Vaughan, as trustee in estate of 0. Ff. Pemberton, forwarding claim for £l7 10s, balance due for making the borough nay, and his authority for acting aa trustee by sixteen creditors. From.Mr W. Eeltersley, protesting against the amount being p id to the io-caHed trustee, as he held judgment against Mr Pemberton. From Matson, Buss and Co., protesting that the wholo of the creditors were not included in the meeting which was held privately, and it was not a leg \\ assignment, aUo claiming payment of an order of £6 ss. From O. G. and C. J. Chapman, presenting an order of £8 17s 6d against the amount due for the map. The Mayor stated that the map was not completed, as there were about twenty omissions. Cr. Cone urged that the Council ought to transact ita business in an upright and downstraight manner, as the public were already making uncomplimentary remarks in reference to the Council in this matter. He urged that the orders ought to be paid and have done with the matter. The Mayor considered Cr. Cone's statement an abominable libel; it was Dot the fault of the map committee or the Council that the passing of the map was delayed. He pointed out that the persons holding orders had no claim on the Council. So soon as the map was finished, then the Council, if it wished, might obtain advice as to the proper persons to whom the balance due should be paid. Cr. Cone agreed with the latter proposition, and was sorry the Mayor should think he had libelled the map committee. The Mayor said the map was in his office. Or. Lilly asked if Mr Pemberton had been advised that the map was not finished. The Mayor said it would be the clerk's duty to inform him. Or. Lilly moved, Cr. Burt seconded—" That the clerk request Mr Pemberton to complete the map." Carried. Cr. Cone moved—" That the letters he consider*d at next meeting." The Mayor—And that legal advice be obtained as to whom the balance be paid. Cr. Cone agreed to add this. Cr. Lilly seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Buss asked the Council if it would recognise his order when the map was finished. The Mayor said the payment would abide the advice of the legal adviser. Personally, himself and the Councillors had no objection to pay over the money to any person legally entitled to receive it after the work was finished. The map had beon in hand over six months, and ought to be fairly completed. From Postmaster-General, stating the Department was unable at present to favourably consider the Council's application for a lettercarrier. Cr. Burt, who had previously moved that application bo made for a carrier, regretted that the Postal Department was " hard-up." The Mayor observed that as thero was every probability of a new Ministry coming in it would be well to represent this matter to Mr C. O. Bowen. Cr. Burt advised that the Council might wait till next meeting to sea what Bort of a turn-out the Ministry sustained. From Mr J. W. Heath, poundkeeper, stating that Or. Burt's charges at last meeting were without foundation, the animals were well fed and watered. As the floor of the enclosure was lower than the surrounding land it was impossible to drain it so aa to promote the comfort of the beasts impounded. Or. Burt said the statements made by him were on the authority of persons residing near the pound, and, further, wore generally correct, according to his own experience. Cr. Lilly thought the floor of the pound required cleansing and shingle put down. Cr. Cone considered it a disgrace, and cruel to place animals in the pound at present, and trusted the matter would be seen to at once. He moved—" That two compartments of tho pound bo made warm and dry for stock, and that the poundkeeper provide good fodder." Cr. Lilly seconded the motion. The town clerk explained that a motion to the same effect as the foregoing having been recorded, he had to explain that the wet weather had interfered with the work; in addition, it had been decided to erect a straw shed. Cr. Cone considered that the floor should be renewed and part roofed in. Or. Lilly—And make a Hash stable, as an inducement to put cattle in. This he did not see was at all required. The Mayor saw no necessity for the motion, the question having been formerly decided, and it was a waste of time discussing it. The votes on the question being declared equal, the Mayor gave his casting vote against the motion. The surveyor's report wus read, and tho report of the drainage committee. The committee met on 7th, and having commencod inspection at the junction of Victoria and High streets, offered the following recommendations:—That 12in. pipes be laid from west side of Good Btreet through Good's garden, thence across High Btreet to level in Victoria street; to lower crown of road opposite Junction Hotel right-of-way an inch below level of kerbing; to take up pipes and put an open paved ford at junction of Good and High streets ; to convey drainage of Blackett Btreet through Messrs King and Kobcrt's property to gravel pit; to lay 12in pipes from west side of footpath of King street in conjunction with the present pipe across High Btreet crossing King street south at an angle coming on the east side ; to leave open ford to gully on Church street north and 7ft footpath on Mr Gulliver's side of road; to take up present' pipes in White street and put in 12in ; to pull up pipes on Siddon's road and leave open ford to channel. In reference to culvert opposito Plough hotel, to put in 9in pipes under the roadway, box culvert south side, and 6in pipe under path north side ; to put open ford crossing John Btreet to conduct flood water from Luxton's corner down South town belt; to make a ford acroa tho sarno street to conduct water down Green street,; to allow Mr Atkinson timber, and he to put down a wooden culvert at his gateway. The pipes at Mr Bramley's gato to be taken up and permißaion given to lay larger ones, tho Council hero to put 12in pipes under tho footpath to the creek, and 9in pipeß put in tho trap opposite O'Connoll's. Many of the small pipe drains in the bush also required lifting and larger ones substituted, and the ditches generally wanted cleaning. The occasional men had been employed on road formation, footpaths and stone breaking. On a part of Green street the gorae roots must be grubbod, and Jamesstreet required clearing boforo tho men could proceed with formation. Some of the men might be put on tho draimige works. Tho stone breaking gave tho men, including harrowing, breaking, and stacking, 3* 5d per day. Mr E'ng had undertaken to shingle the roads off Ashley street at sixpence per yard, which offer had been accepted. Ttie majority of the Council, in reference to the report, were opposed to taking pipes through private land. It was decidod, on tne motion of Cr. Burt, that clause 2 be disallowed, and the crown of the road not lowered. Or. Cone was strongly opposed to the fords being made across the streets, as being likely to lame horses and Injuro the vehicles passing over them. It v t decided that intersections of pipes bo made in angles. It was resolved that Mr Atkinson be a3ked to give tho Council permission by letter to take control of drain through his property.

On the adoption of the report being proposed Or. Oone asked if an estimate of the cost of the works had been made. The Mayor replied in the negative, adding that the committee hod recommended none but necessary works. With reference to the gorse roots on J ames street Or. liilly observed that the owners of sections abutting on to it would-be adverse to clearing it, especially those who made use of it as a cattle run. He moved—“ That James street bo not formed.” Or. Luxton seconded. Carried, an amendment that the owners be served with notice, proposed by Or. Birt, being lost. On the motion of Or. Johnston, seconded by Or. White, it was decided—“ That the unemployed to be engaged on drain works be paid 5s a day.” Or. Luxton trusted that the preference would be given to men with long families. A further offor of halt an aero for a gravel pit, from Mr McGrath, at £l3O, was received. The question of the offers was allowed to stand over till next meeting, the committee to report on same. It was decided that a section of land opposite Sir M. Le Fleming’s be tested for a public cemetery, and if suitable an offer to purchase same be made. The question of shingling Victoria street footpath was again deferred. The Or. balance in Bank was £745 4s lOd, the receipts, mostlv being from fees and licenses, £3OO ; fines, £2 sp. Accounts amounting to £39 12s 61 were passed. On the motion of Or. Burt it was resolved—“ That the inspection committee meet on Monday at 2 p.m.” The Council then adjourned.