Foxton Borough Council.

Manawatu Herald, 24 December 1896, Page 2

Foxton Borough Council.

A meeting of the above was held at the Library Buildings last night afe 780 o'clock. Present— His Worship the Mayor (J. R. Stansell), and Crs Hennessy, Westwood, Walsh, Border, and Coley.

The minuteß of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Correspondence was read

From H. Blake, sen., custodian of library, applying for one month's leave of absence.

From the Audit Office, returning ba'ance sheet duly certified for halfyear ending September 80.h. Tha Mayor said tbe late Mayor stated that tbe Council was in a good sound finanoial position, but he had gone through the acoounts and was sorry to say that they were not a? represented. When the late Mayor took office there was £H6 8s in cash, against £28 18s 2d now. Against that he had liabilities of only £70 for road work against present liabilities of similar work of £300. The estimated receipts, mci uding all rates, is £467 153 9d to 81st Match, and known expenditure is over £500, leaving us a probable debit balance on 31st Marcb, including itema which must be incurred during next three months, of £150, and compared this with the credit balance of £97 16s 8d which the late Mayor commenced the financial y. ar with. This left the Council with over £500 to the bad so far as uew work=i are concerned. The reason he mado the statement was to place himself iv a proper •;>. -ition with the ratepayers, as tb - remarks of the late Mayor m vght otherwise have led them to view their position in a

better ligbt. He did not consider .t A a Round financial position'' to incur i? liabilities which needed an overdraft/

The following accounts were passed for payment: — 0. Spring, £5; J. McGill, £5 ; W. Nye. £l 16s ; Chas. Collin., d-i ; J. Stewart, £48 9- 8 d; T. F. Gibson, £B sa ; Westp. ood & Co., lOs P Guerin, £4 18_ 4d ; refund lighting deposit, £t; charitable aid to Mrs Boesejj,* £ 2 Os 4d ; D. Twohig. £2. Library aocount : H. B.ake, 16- 8. ; W. B. Rhodes, 7s. Proposed by Cr Border, seconded by Cr Coley, That H. Blake (custodian) be granted one month's leave of absence from December 14th till January 14tb, 1897.— Carried. Proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Cr Border, That a Works Committee be appointed to consist of tho Mayor and Councillors Hennessy and H. Coley. Carried. Proposed by Cr Coley, seconded by Cr Hennessy, That ali drain cleaning be let by tender at the discretion of the Committee. Carried.

Proposed by Cr Westwood, seconded by Cr Walsh, That, the holidays for workmen be Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and the Clerk's holiday be granted for 14 days from January 6th, 1897. Carried.

r roposed by Cr Hennessy, seconded by Cr Border, That John Sullivan be granted two months' leave of absence on full pay, provided it cm legally be done.

There was considerable discussion over this resolution, and it was withdrawn owing to the statement raade thit it could not be paid legally, but th-.j M.iyor directed the Clerk to w ite to Mr Martin and ascertain how the resolution could legally be given effect to, as he oonsidered the p.-yment would not be an act of eh .rity, as some Councillors had suggested, but it was only a right act aa Mr Sullivan had worked 10 years fjr the Borough at one shilling a day less tban that paid to the . th«r dayman, so that tbe Borough h.d saved a sum equal to £150, and the sum proposed was bat a Bmall pait of this amount. Proposed by Cr Westwood, seconded by Cr Walsh, That the tender of C. H. Collins for carting when required at Is per hour for horse, dray and man be accepted. Carried.

Proposed by Cr Walsh, seconded by Cr Hennessy, That the tender of P. Guerin be accepted for ranging afe £15 7s 6J per annum. Carried. Proposed by Cr Westwood, seoonded by Or Coley, That the tender of P. Guerin for cutting and removing all grass on the Cemetery to the satisfaction of the Works Committee be accepted for the sum of £5 7s 6d. Oarried.