BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 410, 14 July 1908, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Special and ordinary meetings of the above were held in the Council Chambers last night. Present: The Mayor (B. G. Gower Esq)., and Crs G. Coley, Gray, L- W. Wilson, A. E. Shadbolt, F. E. Jenks, P. W. Hennessy, F. W. Frauklaud. Apologies for absence were received from Crs Baker and Stiles. special meeting. At the special meeting the balance sheet as received from the Auditor-General, was adopted, and ordered to be (printed. Proposed by the Mayor, and seconded by Cr Gray, that in pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in it in that behalf by “ The Local Bodies Loans Act 1901” and “The Public Works Act 1905 ’’ section 118, the Foxton Borough Council hereby resolves as follows: To raise a loan of ,£4OO irora the Colonial Treasurer for the purpose of rebuilding a portion of the WiroI kino Bridge over the Manawatu River, such loan to be for a period of forty-one years and that the interest to be paid is at the rate of y/z per cent per annum. The cost ot raising the loan and the first year’s interest to be paid out of the loan. In reply to Cr Frauklaud, the Mayor stated that the cost re work to be done at the Wirokino Bridge would be borne in the proportion of one-third each by the Borough Council, Manawatu County Council, and Horowhenua County Council. Proposed by Cr Coley, and seconded by Cr that in pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in it in that behalf by “The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1901,” and “The Public Works Act, 1905,’’ the Foxton Borough Council hereby resolves as follows : “ That for the purpose of providing the interest and other charges on a loan of ,£4OO for 41 years, at yA per cent per annum, authorised to be raised by the Foxton Borough Council, under the above - mentioned Acts, for rebuilding a portion of the Wirokino bridge, the said Foxton Borough Council hereby makes and levies a special rate of 1-16U1 of a penny in the £ upon the rateable value of all the rateable property in the borough of Foxton, and that such special rate shall be an annual recurring rate during the currency of such loan, and shall be payable yearly on the Ist day of July in each and every year during the currency of such loan, being a period of 41 years, or until the loan is fully paid off. In reply to Cr Frauklaud, the Clerk said the rale proposed to be struck tor the above would return .£l4 per annum, which was 16s or 17s over the margin. Cr Frankland said the rate of interest on the loan was very small and very reasonable. Proposed by the Mayor, and seconded by Cr Coley, that in pursuance and exercisee of the powers vested in it in that behalf by “ The Local Bodies Loans Act 1901 ” and amendments, the Foxton Borough Council, hereby notifies its intention to borrow from the Colonial Treasurer the sum of £3OO for the purpose of forming and metalling the following streets :—Futler, Gladstone, Hetta, Liddell, Watson streets and Raveusworth Place. Such loan to be for a period of forty-one years, the rate of interest to be three and one-half per cent, per annum, the cost of raising the loan and the first year’s interest to be paid out of the loan. ORDINARY MEETING. Correspondence was read as follows : From Messrs Moore and Barnard, advice re an impounding case. From Valuer-General, re certain valuations. From the Treasury re proposed loau of ,£3OO for constructing streets and asking if any of the said streets for which the money is required have ever been previously metalled. The Clerk had replied in the negative. From the Foxton Chamber of Commerce asking for a contribution to the funds of the Chamber as heavy expenditure bad been incurred in connection with the development of the Foxton Harbour Board. From A. R. McDonald asking the Council to transfer all leases held by him from the Borough to Messrs Coley and W. Bock, In reference to the opinion from Messrs Moore and Barnard in reference to an impounding case, the Mayor said it would be better to drop the case. It had been ascertained that the driving fees had not been tendered to the ranger. Cr Coley said if the Council would not uphold its ranger, then the best thing to do was to dispense with his services. It appeared to him that the solicitors were acting for both patties. A resolution was passed at a previous meeting instructing the ranger to go on with the case- Why didn’t the Council stick to its resolution instead of chucking the rates away. The Mayor said fuller information convinced them that the facts of the case were not as at first stated. Further discussion was then stopped. In reference to the Chamber of Commerce’s application for a grant, the Mayor said he thought it was a reasonable request. He appreciated the Chamber’s efforts to secure a Harbour Board for Foxton. Such a Board, if constituted would be of considerable importance to the town and district. The Council should assist the Chamber. The application did not mention any sum. Cr Coley; Fifty guineas. The Clerk said the amount at the Council’s disposal for contin-

gencies was limited. A grant of £2O had been granted to the Technical .School. Cr Wilson moved and Cr Shadbolt seconded that a grant of £2O be made to the Chamber for Harbour Board purposes. Cr Wilson said he was sorry the Council could not see its way to double the amount, as the constitution of a Harbour Board meant great possibilities for Foxton. Cr Hennessy stated it was impossible for the Chamber to bear the expense connected with putting the Bill thiough Parliament out of the Chamber's limited funds. Members of deputations, etc., had, up to the present, paid their own expenses. But there were heavier l abilities to meet. The port under proper control was fraught with great possibilities for the town and district. Cr Frankland concurred with the previous speaker’s remarks. The motion was carried unanimously. Reference was made to the great convenience and saving of time effected by the recent standard survey pegs put in by the Department throughout the Borough. A plan, showing same, is also in possession of the Council. The Mayor said the pegs would be of considerable assistance to those desirous of making private surveys. I'he transfer of Borough leases from A. R. Macdonald to Messrs Coley and Bock was sanctioned. Cr Frankland called attention to the necessity for street repairs in the Avenue. The Nuisance Inspector reported the borough in a sanitary condition, and asked for an increase in salary from ,£2O to ,£24 per year.—On the „ motion of Crs Wilson and Frankland, the increase was granted. The poundkeeper reported the impounding of 62 head of cattle and asked that certain improvements be effected at the pound. — On the motion of the Mayor and Cr Coley, it was decided to erect an additional yard and shelter shed at the pound. The following resolution was received from the Clerk of the Manawatu County Council, and asking the Council’s support thereon :—“That this Council appoint a deputation to wait upon the Prime Minister in the early part of next session of Parliament for the purpose of urging the Government that the scope of “ The Local Bodies Loans Act ” should be extended, to enable Local Bodies to borrow for the construction and renewal of tramways and the purchase of rolling stock and machinery such as stone crushers, steam rollers etc., and that Local Bodies on this coast be asked to send representatives to join the Deputation.’’ On the motion of Cr Hennessy seconded by Cr Jenks, it was decided to support the resolution. The minutes ot the Library Committee’s meeting were read and adopted. On the motion of Crs Wilson and Shadbolt it was decided to effect certain repairs to Liddel Street. Remits for the municipal conference were received from the secretary of the association, and the Council was asked to appoint its delegate. As the date when the conference is to be held was not staled, the appointment of a delegate was held over. The Clerk stated that a further payment of had been made by the Council to the Horowhenua County Council, for the erection of the Foxtou-Shaunon bridge. A final payment was yet to be made. The Mayor said he had interviewed Cr. W. Barber, in reference to the Manawatu County Council paying cost of street lamp at the corner of Purcell and Patrick Streets, and he had stated, that, as the lamp was on the boundary line between the borough and county, he would not recommend his Council to pay the whole cost, but he would recommend his Council to pay half cost of same. The roadman’s report was read and adopted, Cr Coley called- attention to the bad state of the footpath near the Post Office during wet weather, which called forth a facetious remark from a councillor that a new building was shortly to be erected near by. Cr Coley: The people are told those sort of things near election times. Cr Jenks was of opinion that .£IOOO would not cover the cost of a very striking edifice. Another councillor stated that since Foxton had been talking about the erection of a suitable building, Levin had managed to erect two post offices. Another councillor : But then, we haven’t got a Field ! Other councillors were of opinion that the Government had not treated Foxton fairly in this particular. Cr Jenks asked what arrangements had been made with the gas company in reference to the erection of street lamps.—The Clerk stated the Council had., not yet received official intimation from the company. Accounts were passed for payment, and the Council rose.