FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 22, 7 November 1879, Page 2

FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

Wednesday, November 5, 1879. I The Board met at 330p m. Present — Messrs Gray (Cviairman),Coley, and Easton. The minutes of last mooting were road and confirmed. . HATES. The followiug letter was read from Messrs Joseph Nathan & Co., Wellington : — The Foxton Local Board, Foxton. Gentlemen, — The Manawatu Herald of Friday the 24th October instant, reports a moeting of your Board hold on Monday, tho 20th inst. j In such report the Chairman, Mr Gray, gratuitously makes a most unwarrantable statement that a writtten communication we had direoted to our agent in Foxton, to make some enquiries respecting the rates, " was a mere put off."' Nov, as ifc is the fact, that immediately upon receipt of the information we required, we posted a cheque (the same day that the meetiug was held), und now hold the receipt for same, dated 22nd inst.,) two days prior to the issue of the newspaper,) we thiuk the Board will deem it worthy of recc-rd upo.i its minutes of the next meeting, that such paymont was so made, and that the remark of tho Chairman n*as not pertinent, and also cause the same publicity to bo given, to such minute as was obtaiued for the false accusation. We are, &c, Joseru Nathan k Co. P.S. — We enclose copy of lettor received covering rt-cipt referred to above. Wellington 27th Octobor 1879. Tho Chairman stated he had also received a privato letter from Messrs Nathan k Co. to the samo effect. He asked tho Clerk if the whole of the rates due from Mr Nathan were paid. The Clerk replied that £6 ls was still owing, and had been owing for two years, upon property belonging to Messrs Nathan & Co., formerly in the possession of Mr Beattie, by whom tho rates were unpaid. He had made repeated applications to Mr Nathan's agent at Foxton, und also to Mr

Chapman, who had said he would see Mr Nathan about it. The Clerk was instructed to make a fur ther application to Messrs Nathan & Co.'s Foxton agent, and if the amount wre not at once paid take legal proceedings for the recovery of the amount. FINANCIAL. The Chairman explained that afc present an overdraft existed at the B.inlc. Ho therefore thought that only necessary woi'ks should be gone on with at present. Ifc was no use for the Board to burden itself whh an increased overdraft by carrying on works that could be left aside for a few months, Contingencies might arise whioh would necessitate a considerable expenditure for repairs, and the Board should as far as possible be. prepared for this. The oilier members agreed with these views. koap to bacecouiiße xnr.ii. A tender waa read from Henry Blake, offering to do the work on fcho road from the Avenue Bridge to tbe Itacecourse Hill, for £9. Mr Easton proposed— " That as the Board'h-is no funds afc its disposal, the work cannot be done at present ; but if tho property owners on thut road contribute half tha cost, tho Board will endeavor to have tlie work done." Seconded by Mr Coley, and carried. Mr Blake's tender was accepted, subject to the'forifferTesOiteJ-ian being carried out, by the contribution of half cosfby the pro-" perty owners. The Clerk was instructed to write and lay the matter before those interested, and request them to pay their proportions. THE VALUATION. Tender read from E. S. Thynne, for Thynne, Linton & Co., offering to prepare Valuation for £15. Tbe Chairman thought the price rather high, as the same firai had offered to do the Highways District valuation for tho Foxton ward at £12. Mr Easton thought that as the valuation last year cost £2"), tlie price was reasonable. The Chairfnan replied the cost last year was b&yoiid what it should hava been. Mr Coley remarked th.it the Highways District was not equal in rateable value to that of tho *Local Board. He thought the amount reasonable. Uijiem the motion of Mr Easton, seconded by jflr Coley, the tender was accepted. / IMPROVEMENTS. ' It was resolved that tho Chairman employ labor to carl the stones taken off the Jiaivi-slreet footpaths, aud put them in ruts on Moutoa and Avenue Roads ; also, to placo ti-tree, &c, upon the sandbank fronting the new footpaths. THE HECUEATIOX HESERVE. Mr Loudon at this point lo«lc his seat. The Chairman brought up the question of tlie reserve, and after a desultory conversation tho following resolution was pro posnl by Mr London, seconded by Mr Coley, and carried : — "That the Chairman communicate with tho Colonial Socretary, asking him to be cause to he conve}'ed to the Looal Board, sections 417 and 410, reserves, in terms of " The Voxton Reserves Act, 1878." THE FOOTVATII3. Mr Coley brought beforo the Board the number of persons who were in the habit of riding or diiving across the footpaths without any protection. He thought great damage was done by that menus to the kerbing. He proposed — " That the Clerk be instructed to put a notico in The .Manawatu ITeiiald that all persons riding or driving over footpaths will be prosecuted, in accordance with bye-laws." Seconded by Mr Easton, and carried. ACCOUNTS FAASSED. IT. Savill, for work on Main-street, £3 16s ; Crowther, for goods. £i 2s 8d ; H. Blake, for labour, 10s. SUBSIDY AIUtIVED. The Chairman stated he had just received word from the Bank agent that a cheque for £113 los lOd had been lodged to the credit of the Board by the Government, being half subsidy upon total ratos for year ended March 31, amounting to £J27 lls9d. LAUOUIt. Mr Loudon asked what men wero employed by the Board. The Chairman replied, that pone were on at present. Mr Coley explained that so far r.s the footpaths were concerned, he had upon the Chairman's authority employed a man to improve them, as he thought it necessary. Mr Loudon criticised the action in employing men without resolutions of the Board, and thought no work should bo put in hand without a distinct resolution. Such a course as that recently adopted . would lead to great abuses. Mr Coley said ho had authority to employ the particular person reforred to; ' He had seen the letter in the Herald, and could say that the man ho had employed did a fair day's work, Tho Chairman remarked that now comers were mon that should be assisted. After some furtber conversation, tbe matter dropped, Mr Easton expressing his intention to move at a subsequent meeting that the Chairman have discretionary power up to a cert iin amount to employ labour when necessary. The Board adjourned at 5.50 p.m.