KUMARA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Kumara Times, Issue 281, 29 August 1877, Page 2

KUMARA BOROUGH COUNCIL

The first meeting of the Kumara Borough Council was held at noon yesterday, in the Warden’s Court. Present—-His Worship the mayor (in the chair); Councillors Anchor, George, Dungan, M‘llroy, Pearn, Bulstrode, Hanna, Cornfoot, and Quinn.

The mayor opened the proceedings by making the formal declaration required by the Act. The tfmncillors then, each In his turn, made a similar declaration. The mayor read an address, In which after alluding to the severance of Kumara —the most flourishing township of New Zealand—from the County of Westland, he stated that it was unfortunate the borough had been unable to prepare its own assessment roll. Although all the licence fees had been paid to the County, he believed an equitable arrangement could be made with the County Council and the Road Board. As to the appointment of officers he recommended the amalgamation of town clerk, surveyor, and treasurer, at a salary of £3OO per annum and a percentage for collecting the rates. Applicants should be invited by advertisement in the New Zealand papers. An inspector of nuisances might be appointed at a salary of £ls. With this appointment that of poundkeeper might be amalgamated. The borough auditors should get £lO a year each. A commencement of drainage might be made at once by the removal of O’Hara’s lagoon. The draining of Main and Seddon streets would cost about £BOO. Until they knew what arrangements would be come to with the County and Road Board, they could not know how much money they would have to work with. The Act did notallow them to procure an overdraft. They might, however, raise a loan, repayable by special rate, in seven years. This would have to be determined by the burgesses themselves. The levels of streets would have to be fixed, as a guide to those intending to build, and for drainage purposes. He referred to the formation of foothpaths and to a water supply, the appointment of fire inspectors, the choosing’ of borough offices, the regulating of office hours, the appointment of a bank, and other details ; also, to the procuring endowments. The rateable value of property in the borough was £9,842, From the Road Board he thought they could get £3OO for rates up to March last. The Council could strike a rate which would bring in £4OO net by March next. The subsidy from Government would be £7OO. The Council ought fairly to refund £I,OOO out of the £,1,500 received for licences. About £l2O had accrued since the proclamation of the borough; and from auctioneers’ licences, dog-tax, &0., he calculated £2OO would be derived. The total revenue for the current year he estimated approximately at £2,720. The expenditure he estimated as follows Town clerk, surveyor, and treasurer, £350 ; auditors, £2O; inspector of nuisances, £ls ; rent of offices, £SO; law expenses, £SO j election expenses, £SO; printing and advertising, £SO; "'tlngencies, £so'; public works, £2,08’ total, £2,720. His Worship conduced his address by declaring the Council open for the transaction of business. Cr Dungan moved that a Standing Order Committee, consisting of his Worship the Mayor and Ora Cornfoot, Hanna and the mover, be appointed. Ho moved also that the standing orders of Hokitika and Greymouth be referred to the above Committee, and that when they had made a code it should be submitted to the Council at its meeting, on Monday next. The Mayor stated that he had telegraphed to Hokitika and Greymouth, and had received from the former the standing orders of that Council, which he had laid on the table; from the latter he had not yet received any reply. Mr Hanna seconded the motion. Mr George moved as an amendment, that the Hokitika orders be adopted pro tem. The Mayor pointed out that no byelaws could be adopted until the steps ordered by the act had been taken. The name of Or, Ancher was added to the committee nominated by Or Dungan. The motion was carried. Or. George moved that applications bo called for, from persons willing to undertake the duties of town clerk, borough surveyor and treasurer. Cr. Ahcherseconded the motion. The Mayor thought it would save time if they named the salary at £350 per aneum. The same person to act as 1 rate collector for a percentage to be agreed by the Council. He moved accordingly, and that advertisements be Inserted in the New Zealand papers. Cr. Dungan objected to so many offices being combined. The office of Treasurer should, he thought, be distinct. Mr George thought it premature to fix a salary. The amendment was carried and put as a substantive motion. Or. Hanna moved that the financial position of the Council be ascertained before the Council decide upon the salary, also that the treasurer be not combined with clerk and surveyor. Cr. Hanna’s amendment was not seconded. Cr. Dungan moved, and Councillor Quinn seconded, the omission of the word treasurer. Carried. The Mayor moved the addition of the . words “ applications to be sent in before the 30th October.” Cr. Dungan moved, that tile salary be £3OO. Cr. Cornfoot seconded Cr. Dungan’s amendment. A division was called for. Ayes ; Cmmfoo f , Dungan, Qiinn, Mcllro y and Bnlstrode. Noe*: Ancher, George, Pearn, Haims; and Mayor. The Mayor gave his casting vote, with the Poes and, declared the amendment lost, ’ The- motion was *h m carried, ' '. The Maror proposed and Cr, Anchor sec jaded, that Mr James Wylde fulfil the

permanent officer is appointed. Carried. ~.*5 The Mayor moved that Mr Wylde act as treasure pro tem. at a salary of 10s per week. Cr, Anchor seconded the motion. Carried. The Mayor moved, and Cr. George seconded the appointment of Mr Wylde as returning officer for the ensuing elections. Carried. Cr. George moved that steps be taken for the selection of a Borough seal. Carried. The Mayor moved that the office hour* be from 9 till 4, on Monday, Wednesday* and Saturday, and the .same be publicly notified.) Carried. The Mayor moved that Or. Ancher, the Town Clerk, and himself be empowered to rent offices. The motion was agreed to. The Mayor moved the temporary appointment of the Bank of New Zealand as the Borough Bank, and that applications be invited from the Banks for terms on which they would deal with the Borough. Or. Hanna seconded the motion. Carried. The Mayor and Cr. Cornfoot were authorised to sign cheques: Crs Pearn, Hanna, Ancher, and the Mayor were appointed to sign contracts.The clerk was directed to invite applications for the post of Inspector of Nuisances at a salary of £l6 per annum. Cr. George thought the salary should be £3O, Mr King, the Mayor, Crs Cornfoot, George, Hanpa, and Bulstrode, were appointed Fire Inspectors. The Mayor moved as a conference committee to meet the Council and Road Board under the 32nd section of the Act the following : The Mayor, Crs Dungan, Cornfoot, Ancher, Mcllroy, and Pearn. Cr., George seconded the motion. Agreed—three to form a quorum. The following were appointed a Finance Committee'; .Ora Cornfoot, Hanna, George; Pearn, tmd Mcllroy. The Public Worfca'Oommittee was constituted of Anoher, Quinn,Vßulktrode and the The Clerk was arrange for a conference with the and Road Board. The salary for at £lO each per annum. W Jhe Mayor moved that box drains be at i made for the “ OHara Lake.” Agreed, Cr. Dungan argued, that no time should be lost in getting a map of the Town. A committee to select' sites for endow- • amenta was appointed, consisting of Crs, Cornfoot, Dungan, Bulstrode, *»nd Pearn, The Mayor said he had received a communication from the Fire Brigade asking permission ' to erect a temporary <■ belltower on the waste ground between Roster’s and Spindeler’s Hotels. O'*. George thought the site most unsuitable. The request was granted. The Mayor was about to decide by lot, according to the Act, whether Or. Dungan or Or. Pearn should go out previous to the forthcoming election, they having polled equal numbers, but the matter was postponed till the close of the meeting. The Town Clerk was instructed to write to the Colonial Treasurer requesting that the License fees be paid to the Borough account. It was decided to hold meetings on Thursday evenings at 7-30. Gr. Dungan moved that the Town Surveyor be instructed to prepare a map of the Town at as early a date as possible. The motion was seconded. The Mayor would vote against the motion as it would be unadvisable to give the temporary surveyor the duty of fixing levels &0., which would have to guide his successor. Or. Cornfoot by permission, expressed his desire that the mover should hold over the motion till next meeting. Cr, Dungan withdrew the motion. Cr. Dungan moved that the levels'of the various streets now in Kumara be taken as early as possible. Or. Hanna seconded the motion, Cr. Ancher called attention to the corner of Seddon and First Streets, and moved that steps be taken to divert the water into the middle of the latter street, the Publio Works Committee to be empowered to spend not more than £lO on the work. The motion was agreed to. Or. George proposed and Or. Quinn seconded that the Mayor's salary be £6O a year. Or. Hanna opposed the motion as Mr .Seddon had declared that he would take no salary for the first year. The Mayor said he would take no salary bat would expect the Council to make good the calls made upon his parse as Mayor. He would accept the charge of disbursing £6O for philanthropic purposes. The motion amended to suit the Mayor’s views was put and. Or. Cornfoot opposed the motion as premature. Cr. Dunjnn thought it would be better to wait until the Council knew to what extent the May it was out of pocket. The Mayor ooj acted to being obliged to report to the Council what he had subscribed for various purposes. Or. Ancher was in favour of voting a sum at on ce. Cr. Hanna proposed that £3O be voted, and should more be required £3O more be. .voted. Or. , Pearn seconded the amendment and the original motion was withdrawn in its f ivour. Cr Q iinn called attention, to a water, b'tle 8 taet dean near Mr Kienan’s in the Main-road. A child had been nearly dniwrVfd in it the or her day. Cr. George called attention to many other jdangerbiis holes. • The Clerk was directed to ;.write to the Waste Lands Board requesting

them to vest the Cemetery Reserve in the Borough Council. Cr. Dungan here gave in his resignation as Cr. and left the room. The Mayor said he would under the circumstances take a legal opinion as to the forthcoming elections. Mr Perkins was chosen as legal adviser to,the Council. Cr. Hanna was nominated to the Public Works Committee in place of Mr Dungan. , r '/ The Council at 3.26 adjourned till Thursday week.