BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3782, 14 January 1908, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Special and Ordinary Meetings.

Special and ordinary meetings of the above were held in the Council Chambers lasl night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (B. G. Gower Esq.), Crs Coley, Gray, Wilson, Shad bolt, P. Hennessy, F. W. Frankland and Baker.

At the special meeting the additional by-laws made by special order on 9th December were confirmed. and the weekly halfholiday for the year 1908 was fixed for Wednesdays, CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was read as follows; —

From the Wellington Harbour Board re appointment of a delegate to that body.—No action taken. From the Treasury, notifying that the interest on existing and future loans under the Loans to Local Bodies Act has been reduced by one-half per cent, per annum.

From the Feilding Industrial Agricultural and Pastoral Association, asking that business people be requested to close their premises on People’s Day of the Show. From the Horowhenua County Council, enclosing Council’s proportion of progress payment for construction of Shannon-Moutoa bridge. From the Feilding Borough Council, fixing date (January 15) of conference of delegates from local bodies to discuss river protection matters.

From the Inspector of Noxious Weeds, stating that he had notified 60 property-holders to clear their land of noxious weeds.

From the Patangata County Council re visit of Mr Keir Hardie to the Dominion.

From the Department of Roads re exemption of roads and streets from the operation ot section 117 of “The Public Works Act, 1905.’’ From the Department of Lands, advising that the Minister of Lands has granted as a subsidy ot £1 for £1 to the Foxton Borough Council to assist in planting lupins and marram grass at the Wharangi Sanatorium, to prevent sand drift, and asking what the Council proposes to do in the matter. In reply to Cr Frankland, the Clerk stated that the subsidy from the Government for the Library would amount to from £l2 to Re reduction of interest on loans, the Clerk explained that the Council had only one small loan, and the reduction would mean an annual gain to the Council of 15s sd. A lengthy discussion took place in respect to the Feilding Show Committee’s request that local shopkeepers be asked to observe a holiday on People’s Day of the Show.—-Cr Hennessy objected to any action being taken; Cr Shadbolt said the feeling of the shopkeepers should be tested ; Cr Baker said the request should be treated with courtesy. Cr Hennessy wanted to know where the holiday business was going to end ? If employees were required to wojk an hour overtime, the shop inspectors were down on the employers. He contrasted the number of holidays already observed in Foxton with those in other towns. If a similar request was made to Feilding by Foxton it would be laughed down. He moved, and Cr Frankland seconded, That the request be not entertained. —Cr Coley asked what the train arrangements were, but no one seemed to know. Cr Gray agreed with the remarks of Cr Hennessy. An amendment was finally carried that an advertisement be inserted, asking the local shopkeepers to observe a holiday on People’s Day of the Feilding Show, and to enquire what train arrangements have been made. The Mayor had to exercise a deliberate and casting vote to carry the amendment. On the question of progress payment for the Shannon - Moutoa bridge contract, the Mayor expressed dissatisfaction at the progress made with the work by the contractors. Very little had been done during the past month. He did not think the Council was justified in passing the progress payment. They were entitled to see more for their money. The piles were in, and sheathing done, but no stringers had been erected, and no decking done.—ln reply to Cr Frankland, the Clerk said the Council was not obliged to pay its proportion of cost until two months after the completion of the work.— Cr Hennessy was opposed to passing the payment. The Manawatu County Council had taken a similar stand, but had ultimately backed down. —It was explained that the Council’s proportion of the work was and the time fcr the completion of the contract was March next.—-The Mayor said only two workmen had been employed up till recently, when two more were put in.—Cr Gray said some extra hands had been engaged this week. No further action was taken. In reference to the Government subsidy of £1 for £l, for planting lupins and marram grass at the Sanatorium, the Mayor moved, and Cr Baker seconded: That the Minister ot Lands be advised that this borough has' no power to expend money on the Wharangi Sanatorium, which is in the Manawatu County and some distance from the borough, and that the matter be referred to the Manawatu County. The Clerk- explained . that the Government had previously spent ,£SO in planting at the Sanatorium. —The Mayor suggested that a loan should be raised by those interested through the Manawatu County Council, to get the road put in res pair.—Cf Coley said if, the road wgs metalled it would be affected

by the sand drift. —Cr Hennessy said it would not be long before a Harbour Board would be constituted, and no doubt out of its revenue would assist the County Council and Lands Department in putting the road in repair.—The resolution was carried.

Cr Coley drew attention to the fact that the grass had not been cut at the cemetery, and a fire would have a disastrous effect to fences and grave plots. The Council, he said, had entered into an agreement with Mr G. Barber to get the work done. He said the work should be done immediately by the Council, and the cost of same be charged to Mr Barber, The grass should have been cut three weeks ago.—The Mayor said Mr Barber had requested him to secure the services of Mr Coley to have the grass cut. —It was resolved that the work be done at once, and the cost of same be charged to Mr Barber, and notice to this effect be sent immediately to the latter.

The overseer was instructed to nail up the doors of two privies exposed to the public gaze in Main Street, on the site of the Ranfurly Boardinghouse recently destroyed by fire. The Special Order made on gtb December, authorising the payment of interest and sinking fund out of the general account for the loan, was confirmed. The treasurer’s, overseer’s, and poundkeeper’s reports were read and adopted, ana accounts amounting to 5s pd were passed for payment. v The question of appointment of a Borough solicitor was discussed, and the Mayor and Crs Hennessy and Stiles were appointed a committee to enquire into and report to the next meeting of the Council as to the terms and conditions upon which the services of a Borough solicitor could be obtained. The Clerk was also instructed to obtain information from other local bodies re the appointment. of solicitors. It was decided, on the motion of Cr Frankland, to obtain an opinion from Mr Martin, as to the ruling of the Auditor-General re opening a separate banking account for the cemetery account. The tender of Mr S. Feek for ranging was accepted.

The Council rose at 9.15 p.m.