KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6508, 5 January 1882, Page 6

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of this Council was hold on Tuesday evening; present— Tho Maror, Councillors Pmohmg, May, Fraeir, Woo .ford, Mathews, B. Moore, and Stanton. COBBESPONDBNOK. Letters were read from the Kaiapoi Yolun-t-eer Fire Brigade, acknowledging the vote for the display ef firoworks, and inviting the Mayor aud Council to luncheon on the day of tho display. . From the Colonial Treasurer, enclosing vouober for £4B 16s, being amount of subsidy on general rates at the r*te of 7s 6d per pound, alter deduoting tho amount of £2O Awards charitable aid, and £44, the Council's proportion towards tho support of the Hospital. FINANCIAL Couaeillor Fraser stated the receipts for the nast formight to huvo been £52 15s, and the overdraft it the bank to be £SS 12s Bd. Aooouuts amounting to £3O 19s lOd were passed for payment. SUBTSXOB'S EKrOBT. The Surveyor reported that the contractor for shingling the Beach Boad had completed 15i chains, and wanted ;o draw £lO. Ho recommended that the grass be out from the various side-channels, and these cleared out. Ho also reported that the work on the Beach Boad, consisting of gorae outfang, &0., bad been completed, but tho gorse had not been burnt on account of the winds. Oounofllor May drew the attention of the Surveyor to tho state of the Peraki Street lide-ohannel between Kidd's and Monks Pinching asked the Survoyor if tho asphalting by Oram's was passed P The Surveyor replied that it had not been pas-rd, as it had not set. The Council directed tho Surveyor to re-

port on the asphalt, and also on the Peraki street channels. .■,... Councillor Woodford enquired if the contribution towards the concrete channelling nea'- tho bridge had beeu paid, and also that a Black street. The Surveyor replied that the former one had not been paid, as there was more to be done to it, but the latter had been paid. TEE BRIDOB. Councillor Pinching asked if the new rope that had been procured for the bridge could bo protected in any way from falling into the water, as it was a matter of considerable expense to be procuring new ropes so often. The Surveyor said he was about to have a chain attached to the river end. Councillor Matlevrs drew attention to the state of the swing bri -ge, which, he eaid, wanted oiliag, and he moved that the bridgekeepjr be directed to have it oiled. Tiio Mayor drew the attention of the Congou to" the awkward time at which the bridjr-i was sometimes opened, a 8 when the Jlgr.fd dropped through the bridge had been opened for just an hour at train time, which was a great inconvenience. He was of opinion that it might be an instruction to the bridge-keeper not to open the bridge at such an awkward time. He thought that before long, however, they might do something towards getting a new bridge, and would surest that the Works and Finance Commit toe should meet and discuss the matter. Councillor Moore thought that the best way would be to see if tht> Government wore going to do anything in the way of making the tramway, and he would advocate writing to the Minister for Public Works to see if they were going to do anything. He would, therefore move—" That the Clerk be instructed to write, urging on the Minister for Public Works the necessity of the siding for fete**." , , , The Mayor suggested that the member for the district should also be communicated with. Councillor May seconded the motion. Tho Surveyor, in reply to a question, said that the third trussle could not be placed as intended, as the water was too deep. He was going to consult the Works Committee on the subject. The motion was put and carried nem con. THB OBHBrEBT BB3EBTE.

Councillor Pinching asked if anything had been done aboat the cemetery reserve. The Mayor said tbattbe ex-Mayor had not been able to see Mr MaT?hman, but ho would endeavour to do so bofore next meeting. THE CLBKKS SALARY. This question came on for discussion, upon which it was suggested that tho Town Clerk bs requested to leave the room, which was done. Councillor Fra.=>er, Chairman of the Finance Committee, then moved the motion of which he ha.d given notice, to the effect that for the future no commission be paid to the Clerk on the rents of the reserve, merely remarking that they as private individuals would not ps,y a sum of £22 10s annually to any one for the simple duty of receiving four chequss a year. He left the matter in the hands of the Council. Councillor Moore seconded the motion. Councillor Woodford supported the motion. Councillor May asked what salary the Clerk received ? Councillor Eraser said he believed it was about £l3O a year. (Other Councillors here gave their opinion as to the amount, but none seemed to speak with assurance, as the amounts stated ranged from £BO to £150.) Councillor Pinching said he was sorry that the question had been brought up, especially from the source it came, as if the Chairman of the Finance Committee had attended to his duties be must have seen that this commission had been paid for some time, and if the resolution were carried the Clerk must receive three months' notice before the alteration took effect. If it was thought that they paid their Clerk too much, they should take into consideration the amount of work he had to do, and the fact that he saved them all the expense of professional services, being cornpeter t himself. If those had to be paid for they would cost double what was now paid. He could not support the motioD, as if carried, they would havo to make np tho Clerk's salary somo other way. If they commenced to cut down tho salary they would get an inferior man, and have to pay extra for skilled work. Mr Dudley was always willing to do their work, and the manner in which he looked after their flood-gates and

took tbeir levels was very creditable to himself and useful to tfaem ; £l3O a year was not much, though it might seem a large Bum in proportion to their receipts, but whether they paid it in salary or by commission, they should at any rate pay as much as they were Uf paying. Councillor May would oppose the motion on similar grounds. They would frequently have to pay a surveyor £3 3s a day and expenses if they had not the benefit of Mr Dudley's services and experience, which were very great. Councillor Stanton said he had heard Mr Dudley say tfcat the salary was as good as £l5O a year. Besidorf whiob, he had the use of the room for his private business. Councillor Mathews would opposa the motion on the ground that he failed to see how they would be improving their position by removing the commission and putting it on the ssjury. It would take a long time for a now coiner to moke himself' so woll acquainted with the work ; beaidos Mr Dudley had kept theit correspondence in a most admintSie manner, and their accounts were all well kept, Mr Dudley being a skilled accountant. The salary ho was receiving wat certainly not too much, if enough. Councillor Moore said he looked upon this question as a matter of duty. If Mr Dudley was qualified &Dd so forth it was no reae-m why they should pay him more than they covli afford. He proceeded to argue that the ealory was adequato, as be contended the v.-ork could be done in a very short time. Be considered it was wasting the ratepayers* money to be paying th s commission, and thfro were several who had a difficulty to pay their rates, therefore they should be careful how they spent it. He did not like to s'-'o their rates oil got! g to pay office exposes. 'lhe Mayor said he should oppose tlio motion on different grounds to any of the Councillors who had spoken. It would have been a more proper and straightforward way to have brought down u motion to cancel the

former agreement, when it wonld have been optional for any Councillor to hate any single item altered in preparing a now one. At anyrate, they were liable for this amount for three months, and ho should opposo it, to allow of it being brought forward in the proper way. At anyrate the Chairman of the Finance Committee ehould have oomo prepared with the necessary information respecting tho salary paid, and not havo been guided by conjecture. He had not given one item, and appeared to know nothing of the finances at all. .j 4 u » v. Councillor Fraser, in reply, said that he took exooptior. to havin? to give throe months* notice, as it was, he considered, never intended to pay commission on tho rent or the rcsorve, as they had no reserve whon the egreement was mado. As for giving tho particulars of the salary and fees roooived by the Clerk, he did not think there was a separate account kopt of that. Tho Mayor: The Chairman of the Fwanco Committee ehould know all about that Councillor Fraser: You aro a member of tho Committee. The Mayor: No; I bog your pardon ; not The motion was then put, and lost by tho casting vote of the Mayor, tho votes being— Ayes : Councillors Fraser, Moor*, Stanton, and Woodford. Woes: Councillors Pmohing, May, Mathews, and the Mayor. NOTICES OF MOTION. Councillor Fraser intimated his intention of giving notice of motion for next meeting, relative to the Town Clerk's agreement. Councillor May also intimated that ho would give a notice of motion relative to tho duties of the Chairman of the Finance Committee, and calling upon him for a return of all monies paid to tho Town Clerk. The Council then adjourned.