Foxton Borough Council.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3611, 13 February 1906, Page 2

Foxton Borough Council.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Foxton Borough Council last evening was attended by— His Worship the Mayor (B. G. Gower, Esq.), Crs Stiles, Moore, Frankland, Shadbolt, Gray, and Baker.

The minutes of the previous ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed.

All accounts as read were passed for payment.

REPORTS

The Poundkeeper reported having impounded 65 head of cattle and six horses during the mouth. The Inspector of Nuisances reported having instructed certain persons as to different works, during the month, and now declared the Borough to be in a cleanly state.

The Borough Overseer repotted on works done during the month, and suggested the following “That the in-let and out-let at Avenue culvert be opened up and banks turfed; also a concrete apron and two low walls be put in the outlet; that the Telegraph Department be asked to shift their telephone post at the corner of Johnstone street; some settlers are grubbing their lupins and others are neglecting them ; that the owners be asked to trim quick hedge in Avenue Road ; that Mr Deßidder be asked to prevent pine roots breaking-up tarred footpath in Clyde street; that Mr R. N. Speirs be asked to repair crossing at his timber yard in Main street; the sand hole in front of Mr E. Sullivan’s in Avenue Road is in a bad state, and immediate steps should be taken to fill it in.” The Borough Treasurer reported that since last monthly meeting of the Council the sum of £lO6 17s 3d had been paid into the District Fund Account, and that the Bank balance stood this day at ; £6os 2s qd to credit. After last night’s meeting, the separate accounts stood at; —General, 7s 6d; Library, £6O os id ; Reserves, ,£143 13s rod; Interest, £l5O os 7d ; all at credit. And Cemetery Account, £5 x6s 2d, at debit. The reports were adopted. A DEBATING SOCIETY ORDER. . The Foxton Literary and Debating Society wrote ; Town Clerk, Foxton, Sir, —At a recent meeting of the above Society I was directed to inform the Library Committee of the following resolution passed : ‘ ‘ That the meeting bring before their notice that, although it was arranged to procure a supply of books other than novels, not more than half-a-dozen standard works have found their way into the Library; also that Mie Library Committee be asked Gr a reason why the books asked for have not been Society leels bound to take this course, as they have been charged with the fact that they have not increased the number of subscribers as urns promised.—Yours faithfully, L. Tenks, Hon. Sec.” This letter acted as a thunderclap to most Councillors, and when they did regain their breath some wanted explanations from the members of the Library Committee, and the latter in turn wished to know how many members of the Debaters were subscribers to the Library. It was generally agreed that the Debaters’ letter overstepped the mark, that their were few of them Library subscribers, and it was frtuher explained that the books selected by the Library Committee could not be orocured. The outcome of it all was the passing of the following resolutions Proposed by Cr Stiles, seconded by Cr Franldand, That the Library Committee empower the Town Clerk to select the balance of books still unordered. I

Proposed by Cr Gray, seconded by Cr Shadbolt, That librarian furnish the Council with a list of paid-up members of the Library to date.

Proposed by Cr Stiles, seconded bv Cr Frankland, That the letter o c the Debating Society be received and an answer be forwarded to them stating that several more books are still to be ordered and will be to hand shortly. THE MAIN STREET CULVERT. Council went into Committee to consider tenders for the. Main street culvert. The tenders received were considered out of all reason, and after emerging from committee it was decided, That fresh tenders be called, the same to be advertised in Wellington, Foxton, and Palmerston papers, tenders to be in by Monday, 26th hist., at 7.30 p.m. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr J. Stewart wrote asking whether the Council could grant a longer time than the month for the £1 he paid for use of shooting gallery.—Councillors seemed inclined to agreed to the request, but by-laws prevented .them, and

it was eventually resolved lon the motion of Cr Stiles, seconded by Cr Baker, That the Council cannot accede to the request of Mr J. Stewart.

Mr T., Nye, “ Sunny&ide,” wrote complaining of the No. 2 Bine being used as a stockyard as Hi —Proposed by Mayor, seconded by Cr Baker, That Mr Symons be asked to prevent his cows making a stockyard of the road opposite his yard.—Carried. Mr J, Fulton, Wellington, wrote re payment of preparing plans. &c., for Wirokino Bridge.—Agreed to, A telegram was read inviting Council to be represented at Palmerston Post Office opening ceremony,—The Mayor explained the telegram was received too late to allow of representation.' Mr Wilson, returning officer, wrote stating he would be in Foxton to-day to confer with Council representatives re licensing business. Much other minor correspondence was read and dealt with. GENERA!,. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Baker, it was decided, That the Council cannot grant Mr Lyttle’s request to gravel the entrance to the creamery, Cr Baker brought up the matter of lupins over-spreading Borough property, and slight discussion took place. Eventually it was resolved, proposed by Cr Frankland, seconded by Cr Stiles, That overseer furnish Town Clerk with a complete list of offenders under Noxious Weeds Act, and that Town Clerk submit same to stock inspector for action. ELECTRIC LIGHT. Cr Stiles revived the matter of lighting the Borough to some extent. In a confident tone, he contended that it was possible to light the town with electricity. Cr Stiles mentioned that he had been in conversation with a member of the lighting firm of Andrews and Manthel, whom he had induced to visit Foxton that afternoon to have a look round the Borough. The expert, as a result of his visit, had explained that the light would more than suit our wants. It was electricity, giving 1 good light, and could be worked cheaply, while the light could be provided at cheap rate. Gr Stiles certainly thought probable coaj/tM installation and working coulobe derived from the firm on application, and, without implicating Council at all, he thought they should try and find out such information. Cr Stiles himself had great faith in the scheme, and oroposed “That this Council instruct the Town Clerk to write Messrs Andrews and Manthel, of Wellington, asking them to give an estimate for lighting the Borough with e l eetric light, and that the matter be brought before the Council rft its fir*t meeting on an answer being received.” This was seconded by Cr Baker, and carried, the Mayor remarking that if the cost of running power could be reduced from £2 odd to 4s, the lighting question was beginning to come within the Borough’s means. THE WATER QUESTION. To open discussion on the vexed question of water-tanks and fire-extinguishing services, the Mayor proposed : Council place before the ratepayers proposals to borrow £IOOO for the erection of new offices and for concrete tanks for fire extinction uses, also the purchase of fire engine and erection of shed, etc.”

This brought forth a query as to where the money was to be raised in the event of ratepayers agreeing to the proposals. Cr Frankland dealt at length o» modes of obtaining money, and contended that in the meantime efforts should be made to ascertain on what terms such loan as required could be obtained. Other Councillors agreed, but it was generally thought that the matter should be placed before ratepayers first to see whether they favoured such expenditure. The Town Clerk explained that the whole facts of the works would need to be advertised for one nionth before the ratepayers meeting, and then the polling would take place. Finally, the Mayor’s motion was seconded by Cr Baker, and carried.

The question of the size of the wells to be used in the water scheme was dealt with, and Cr Franklaud proposed, and Cr Stiles seconded, That the number of wells be six, and that their dimensions be 10 x 10x7 feet. Carried. The Council rose at 10.15 p.m.