Hastings Borough Council.

Hastings Standard, Issue 194, 11 December 1896, Page 2

Hastings Borough Council.

o. MONTHLY MEETING. The adjourned ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last night. Present —His Worship the Mayor (chair), Cvs Beecroft, Dennett, Hughes, Williams, Linney, Murdoch, and Wellwood. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. liOAT> overseer's REPORT. The Road Overseer's report was read as follows : I have the honor to report that White's contract for fencing the new quarry, also Halmforth's Southland road drain contract are both satisfactory completed. The footpaths repairingas authorised last meeting is now done. An application from Mr S. Pattison to connect his new house with the drain just opened in the woollen factory reserve will be laid before the meeting this evening. He had already asked my opinion on the matter, and I replied that I did not think it a -wise thing to run sewerage into it unless there M as sufficient water flowing along the. drain to carry it away. In this case there is not- sufficient water to reach Paiiway road, as it all sinks into the shingle, this being so, I am afraid it would become a serious nuisance. DAIRY INSPECTOR'S RETORT. The Inspector's report was read as follows : I have the honor to report that during the past month I have visited 10 dairy farms and where they had a dairy found it clean and in a very satisfactory condition, most- of them however were sending their milk to the factory. Also at the same time I examined individually ItiK cows, 104 of these were in milk and 64 dry. On one farm I found 4 cases of what appeared to be actinomycosis in its early stages, the swellings being just perceptible, and another suffering from tubercolosis I believe ; at another farm I found one cow with a large lump at the side of each knee and other lumps down the neck. This complaint Mr Parkes, the Government Veterinary, has decided is harmless, although there are many in the district affected with it. At the same place I found a cow with a sore in the udder, caused it was thought, by lying on the ground in wet weather at the time of calving. I also found a similar case, but much worse, close at hand; bodily these cases are otherwise healthy. At present I have not had an opportunity of seeing Mr Drummond, but as soon as he is home again I will refer them to him. With these exceptions the balance of cows were very healthy and in prime condition. SLAUGHTERHOUSE REPORT. The Inspector's report stated that all the slaughterhouses were in a clean and satisfactory condition, and that 41 head of cattle, 308 sheep, and 18 pigs had been slaughtered during the month. DISEASED CATTLE. The matter of diseased cattle was discussed at considerable length. It was suggested by Cr Linney that a sub-inspector should be appointed to assist the Inspector, as his duties in this respect would be considerably increased during the summer on account of the increased number of cows in the district. A motion to that effect was moved and seconded, but was subsequently withdrawn. Cr Hughes brought up the matter of a diseased cow that was permit-ted to live after orders had been given for its destruction. Cr Linney said that the Inspector had done all he could, but was powerless in the matter. Cr Wellwood said that similar diseases were prevalent in every district in the colony, and in order to successfully cope with the case it was neccessary to have a thoroughly nullified man as inspector. Cr Beecroft concurred with the previous speaker on the matter of qualification. Cr Williams said Mr Drummond is the recognised authority in the district. Cr Dennett agreed that an Inspector was necessary, but failed to agree with Cr Linney re appointing a sub-Inspec-tor, as that would involve extra expense on the Council in the end. After father discussion the matter was allowed to drop. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Fire Brigade re extra tanks and sluice-gates.—The Mayor said that the recommendations made in the matter was at present beyond the finances of the Council, with the exception of the man - hole near Caulton's corner, which had been attended to. From Mr O. Heighway re road formation.—Resolved that thcuiatt-ec be left in the hands of the M;>,yc*rsand Cr Williams. From the Taranaki Charitable Aid Board r>- charitable aid and source o£ revenue. —■ Moved by Cr Murdoch, and seconded by Cr Williams, That the Council communicate with the Taranaki Board and assist in the cooperation to reasonably obtain the reforms suggested." Carried. From "Mr S. Pattison re drainage.— Permission was granted, subject to the Overseer's approval. AN EXPLANATION. Before proceeding with the ordinary business. His Worship referred to his absence from the Council at the last ordinary meeting. He regretted that he had omitted to send in an apology

for *:is n.»:: ■i , * T v.. b-" •■{ that it was perch" ;;n «,v. r-ight on hi.* part, a.- he »a.' very bit<y at t': • :mr i'i anotber \j.-trwrt. and triHt- i Isi-J remark* w«mi<t - ~>.-fy th- (Vtmci* f'>-" what v. • rani. ■ o-.er iu';c. The- t> .i.eii i 11.I 1 . May n-'s. cxplan.:.:.- w:; i ,itt..ui:!n. • • ;rr>r>si" lion. <»\K The luattf r of formation of Oik Bead came up for dUcus*ion. The Mayor said the owi.. r- of property on the road had l—.-n notified in the tuaUer, but had : ik» u no heed. It"ftmeTore r> r in.d f..r th* Council to do the work ami then charge the property-owners. The majority were willing to pay. A<c> .rdin.r to ~tl.section 2 of - ■tins 204 of thMunicipal 0> y : ':■>n - Act rh« Council were legally j - ~tits»«l in proceeding with the work and afterwards charging the cost to owner-; of proj* rty o>t the road. Cr Wtlhvood thought it unfair to charge some and allow others to go free. In answer to the •pn-:ioti of the nnmbor of people holding property adjoining the road, Cr I>• urn tt was informed that ther. r. :•!'.. Cr Hughes thought that if th* iwere one or two people really miabhto pay, the Council should make the amount good. Cr Williams moved. and Cr Murdoch, seconded •' That th.- Council undertake the work, and that the property owners pay the co«t." —Carried. OENKKAJ. M'SiNE-S. On account of the Xmas holidays, the next meeting of the Council wa> fixed for the second week in January instead of the tir-t. Referring to the expenditure of Fire Brigade Fund, His Worship said that there had in > n .1 large increase in the Fire Br.ydi txpendimre daring the past 1J ii.onth- He was of the opinion that th'.. Biiga-L'should be called upon to furnish the Council with regular statements of such expenditure. He had asked for a state merit r, the plant and accoutrements of the Unmade, but had never been furnished with it, ! and thought that this was a matter for the Council's attention. The Mayor stated that rates, amounting to £'4oo, were outstanding on HOth November last, and on his motion it was resolved that the Town Clerk be authorised to take the necessary steps for their recovery. Cr Beecroft suggested that the Police be asked to do '-il within their power to prevent larrikiuism on New Year's Eve.—Cr Mtrrdock said that the damage clone to property last New Year's Eve was disgraceful, and he hoped that souiethiu:.' v.- .:«l I! <• done to prevent its rep* tiiio.'. The Mayor said that he had written to Ihe Department for an extra policeman for Hastings. His application was fully endorsed by inspector Kinerson. but so far nothing had been done in the matter. -Moved by Cr Murdoch, seconded bv Cr Hughes : *- That the Inspector of Police for the district be communicated with o the necessity of extra police supervision for Hastings."—Carried. On the motion of Cr Hughes, -< con - ded by Cr Beecroft, accounts amounting to &>8 Sa 4u were passed for payment. The Council's lank overdraft now stands at £2,7:10 12s Od. The Council then adjourned.