ROSS NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1931, Page 3

ROSS NEWS

BOSS BOROUGH COUNCIL. (From our own Correspondent). The fortnightly meeting of the Ross (Borough Council took place on Thursday evening last. Present; Mr J. Murdoch (Mayor), Councillors A. Thompson, K. :0. May, A. Hedwig, R. Richards, E. Whittle, J. Thomson, and W. J. [Black low.

An apology was made for the absence of Cr. J. Rea.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and the o,utward correspondence was approved; Cr. May stated be 'wished to refer to the ihanner in which their meetings were reported in the “Argus.” The report of the last meeting was full of inaccuracies’ and clearly showed the reporter to be biassed. He thought that if thp reporting was not done more correctly some steps would have to be taken in the matter.

Several other councillors also spoke in a similar strain.

Cr. Hedwig thought the previous meeting was fairly reported.

Cr. J. Thomson moved and Cr. A. Thompson seconded that if any - misstatements were made by the reporter in future he be not allowed to take notes. —Carried.

INWARD CORRESPONDENCE

From the Manager, Bank of N.Z.. that as the overdraft limit did not seem to be required by the Council same would be cancelled'.—Received and approved,

From the Hon. Premier re Observance of Armistice Day.—(Received. Resolved the usual arrangements be carried out. From Secretary White 'N.Z. League, Pukekohe, asking Council’s support -re carrying out the League’s manifesto, ■which was read.—(Received and to support same. * From Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hokitika, advising the Council was not entitled to any portion of rent received from lease of Crown Lands within the 'Borough.—Received. Resolved to refer matter to the Member for the District. From Treasury notifying remittance of goldfields’ revenue £9’ 5s and subsidy on rates £9 15s sd.—Received. From Westland 'County Council inviting, representation to a meeting held at Hokitika, for the purpose of consider--1 ing .letter, from . Minister of Unemployment and endeavour t° devise a scheme for absorbing to the best advantage th'> unemployed of the district.—Received. The-Mayor reported he had attended the meeting, the result of which was seen in the press reports. From several municipalities explaining i scheme of licensing cattle to graze on roads.—Received and -consideration held over: till next meeting. From P. Foletti re noxious weeds growing through his fence from section adjoining his and asking if Council could have same remedied.—Received and resolved to give owner of section notice to remove same. From Department of Lands and Survey necessity''of - having -men working on •unemployed -schemes covered by insurance agairist'-'accident.—Received. From .Mrs 'McFarlane asking if Corona-

tion Hall' would be available for one

night per week for dressmaking‘classes. —Received. Resolved to grant same free of charge in meantime. From Park and Murdoch asking if Council had been declared a leasing authority.—Received. Town Clerk to reply.

'■ From Minister of Mines and Inspector of Mines re grant for repairs to Donnelly’s Creek foot bridge and asking for further information.—'Received. The Town Clerk to confer with Prospecting Association and supply particulars re-

quired. ; Resolved to employ defaulting ratepayers in -repairing Storm Channel.

The Finance Committee presented accounts to the/,amount of £l3O 7s, which were passed for payment. The Public Works Committee reported •la horse and dray had been employed foi two days placing spoil on .'Recreation Ground and for several days carting gravel to widen the approach to Donnelly’s Creek bridge ; 30 sets timber had been procured and landed at tunnel. The tunnel -•had now. been driven over 140 feet and timbered to the face, rails had been laid in tunnel and a truck procured.—Received and approved. ; Specifications in ;connection with letting of the Borough Reservoir were read and approved and tenders opened as followsT.' Walsh £1 6s per yard; G. Muir £2 1 Jones Bros. £5 5s ; Stuart and Chapman Ltd. £6 10s. The. highest tender was accepted. From P. Douglas tendering his resignation as a councillor.—Received. It was unanimously agreed .to ask Mr Douglas to withdraw his resignation, every Councillor speaking in glowing terms of the 'splendid work being done by him as Chairman of Works’ Committee. 1. Or. J. Thomson reported further fencing had been done on Reserve 210 at Fergusons. Received and approved. Cr. -A. Hedwig: pursuant to notice of motion moved that. “the salary of the Town Clerk'and wages' of day labour man be ‘cut’” Seconded byyfy:. A. Thompson pro forma. . * ! C. Whittle said lie was not in favour of any reduction as both officers were worthy of the “wages paid them. Cr. Blacklow-endorsed these remarks. The motion was put and lost by six votes to two. I/: V

Cr. May stated? that Cr. He'd wig had several times asked the Councillors questions re Town Clerk’s hours, duties, etc.

etc. Any -information of this discript.on can always be got from the Town Clerk’s office. ;f.Sgeipg this question was to be discussed at this meeting he had called on the Town Clerk and looked up some information . which he would like to pass on to the Council for their information. He found the Town Clerk

had this week completed his 19th year in that capacity. He enumerated the duties then set down, the hours being VA per week, (at the present time he believed his hours to be nearer 74 per week). During the 19 years many new duties had been added, such as Town lighting, Manager of Pictures, Secretary Unemployment Committee, Municipal Baths, and numerous others. The Town Clerk's holidays had cost the • Council £5 during the whole period. He had conducted weekly entertainments for some years, the proceeds going to various institutions such as Fire Brigade £3B 14s (for past year), Medical Association £lsl 4s 6d, Library £l2, upwards of £7OO altogether, thus saving the Borough finances to some extent. The picture plant had cost £530 which had been paid off and the plant handed over to the ratepayers free of charge. '

He had saved the Council several hundred pounds by introducing a scheme for removing corrosion from water pipes without having to lift same. Over 3c\vt. of corrosion was removed from about 35 chains of pipes and the pressure brought back to the maximum at the cost of £5, paid to an assistant.

He would now move “That this Council desires to compliment the Town Clerk on the completion of his 19th year in the Council’s service. At the same time they placed on record their deep appreciation of the manner in ■which he has carried out his duties and his devotion to the interests of the ratepayers and the town in general, and beg to assure him of their complete confidence in him.” 'Seconded by Cr. Blacklow and carried unanimously. Cr. May referred to prospectors arriving at Ross, and moved that a warning be given through the press that men at present unemployed should not be led to believe, that work of this nature is immediately "available in the Ross district. That until such time as a definite scheme is actually in operation it would be distinctly unwise for men without means to come to Ross in the hope of "finding work. Seconded by the Mayor and carried.