FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 74, 11 May 1880, Page 2

FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

+ Friday, May 7, 1880. The Board met at 7.30 p.m., at the Athenaeum. Present — Messrs. Gray (Cbsirman), Coloy, Puroell, and Easton. Mr Purcell, the newly-elected Cornmis sioner, took his seat. After the minutes were read, Mr Puroell raised the question of Mr Gray's disqualifi cation, and protested against that gentleman signing the minuteg as Chairman. Mr Easton proposed, " That the minutes be confirmed." Seconded by Mr Coley, and carried. TUB BATE. . The Chairman brought up the question of the rate. He said there was a doubt as to the lega'ity of the action of the Board in passing a 6J rate after they had given notice of one for a shilling He suggested a resolution should be passed giving legal notice of the intention of the Board to strike a sixpenny rote. Mr Purcell said no doubt a bungle had taken place, but he would like to know if there was no means of avoiding the expense of starting at the beginning. He complained that he could not find the Local Boards Art, which had been smuggled from the offioe since he became a Commissioner. The resolution passed on April 28, levying a sixpenny rate was then resoinded. Mr Coley suggested that as they had re* soicded the sixpenny rate, why not have the shilling ? This idea did not fiid favour with the meeting, which passed the resolution giving legal notice of the intention of the Board to strike a sixpenny rate. THE DISPUTED BOAD. Mr Easton then proponed a motion giving Sir Gray notice that at th.o close of one

month his section would not be required fo r a roadway. He said this would settle the whole question at once. MrPurcell said if the Board were prepared and in a position to have the proper road made in the meantime he would vote for the proposition. If Mr Gray received notice to close his section, and thu proper mad were nob made, people at that end of the town would be blocked. Mr Gray said that whether in or out of the Board, he did not intend to shut up the section, unless tho Board gave him notice. If the Board told him it was no longer required, he would at onoe fence it, not otherwise. There being no seconder to Mr Easton's proposition, it fell through. CATTLE IV THE 9TRBBTS, Tho following memorial, signed by 26 ratepayers, was read :— " Wo the undersigned residents of Foxton would draw you attention to tho frequent interruption to traffic on main thoroughfans in Foxton through the driving of cattle, and the rushing of those escaped from crossing at ferry, whereby persons going along 1 the road, especially the school children', are much inconvenienced, and run considerable risk. We would ask you to use your influence with the County Council to provide proper accommodation for drafting cattle from the yards to the river, and also to fix times during which cattle will not be allowed to be driven through the streets of the town, or to take such steps as you may think proper to ensure tho public safety.— Geo. Nye, and 25 others." The following letter from the Chairman of the Local School Committee on the samo subject was also read : — " I have the honor to direct your attention to the danger incurred by the children attending our Board school, owinsr to the number of horses and cattle straying about the Btreuts of the town, atid also from the cattle crossing the ferry. I am requested by the Committea to ask you to enforce the byelawa of your Board vigorously against the owners of straying animals, and that you will confer with the C.mnty authorities so as to devise some means to confine the cattle being swum across the river within some enclosed space. E. S. Thynne, Chairman Foxton School Committee." This matter was discussed at considerable length. Mr Purcell thought it would be a hirdshi;) Jo fix certain hours during which cattle might be driven into the town. When they came in they were tired and hungry, and were quiet, but after they had spent a night in the paddock they were fresh and caused trouble. It was the animals which broke away from the ferry that caused all the bother. The Chairman doubted whether the G>vernmout w ould accede to any byelaw, if one were made, fixing certain hours during which cattle might be driven through the town. Some years ago a similar byelaw was passed, but the Superintendent (Sir W\ Fitzherbert) refused to agree to it. Mr Coley said it might be a hardship to some people not to allow cattle to be driven through the streets at all hours, but they were there in the interests of the people who h:id signed that document, and if they cjuld not do these things when they were asked, they had better not sit. He was In favour of passing a byelaw to nioet the wishes of the ratepayers. Air PurceU said he would agree to puss such a bye law, provided full notice were given, so that stockowuers would not be taken unawares. Proposed by Mr Easton, " That no cattle bo allowed to be driven through the streets of Foxtou between the hours of 8 a.m. nnd 5 p.m., and that the same be added to the Foxton Local Board bye laws ; the same to come into force on the first day of July, 1880 j and that the Clerk be instructed to forward the same to the Colonial Secretary for his approval." Seconded by Mr Purcell, j and carried. Proposed by Mr Easton. seconded by Mr i Purcell, and carried, " That the Clerk write to the Chairman of the Foxton School Committee, and also to the ratepayers who signed the petition, informing them that the Board is taking steps to get tho evil remedied." ROAD WOUK. Letter read from Mr J. Toney, asking that a track might ba cut to his house from No. 1 Line. Tho Board concurred in the request, and took steps to have the work done. ' en airman's disqualification. Letter read from Messrs Conolly & Pitt (already published), statiug that Mr Gmy was disqualified from sitting on the Board. Proposed by Mr Purcell, seconded by Mr Coley, "That Mr Gray leave the chair.! 1 Mr Gray refused to put the motion to the rneetng. A discussion ensued, and after some time had elapsed, Mr Gray left the chair, stating he resigned his position as Chairnvin. Mr Easton was elected Chairman pro. tern., and Mr Gray ihen handed in his resignation as a member of the Board, which wns accepted, and the necessary instructions ordered to be given to the Returning Officer to fill the vacancy. TENDERS ACCEPTED. For Contract No. I—Clearing1 — Clearing out Awahou drain from Uacecourse Hill to section 553 — Denis Ilogan, 3s per chain, accepted. Contract No. 2— Drain on No. 1 Lino— no tender accepted. Contract No. 3 — Deepening the Avenue drain— D. Hogan, 2s 6d per chain, accepted. Contract No. 4 — Drain and road on Stevens' line — J. Guerin, Us per chain, accepted. Contract No s—Drain5 — Drain by Norbiton — C. H. Collins, £4> 18s, acoepted. Contraot No. 6— Drain and footpath on Moutoa road — no tender acoepted. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £3 9s 8d were passed.