FOXTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 16 March 1909, Page 3

FOXTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last night to consider the steps to be taken re petition to reduce size of borough, and general. Present His Worship the Mayor (B. G. Gower Esq), and Crs Coley, Hennessy, White, Jenks, Stiles and Frankland. The meeting was called by Crs Heunessy, Stiles and White. Cr Heunessy said his reason for asking for the meeting was that he understood the Minister for Internal Affairs had written to the Town Clerk advising that it. was necessary for the borough to state the reasons for their objection to the petition being granted. The Clerk then read the letter from the Minister lor Internal Affairs, acknowledging receipt of the Council’s letter containing resolution passed at the meeting held on the Bth inst., protesting against any further reduction in the area of the borough, and enquiring whether the borough is prepared to state the ground of their objection to the petition being granted. Cr Jenks asked iflhere was anything in the Act to guide the Council in this matter.

The Clerk read the lollowing (i) The boundaries of a borough may at any time be altered in the manner following : Provided, however, that no alteration shall be made whicli would have the effect that any borough if so altered would be without any one or more of the qualifications as to area, population, and otherwise required by this Act. (2) A petition in accordance with regulations, signed by not less than one-fourth of the electors of any area proposed to be included in or excluded from a borough, praying the Governor to include such area in the borough, or, as the case may be, in a county or some other district, shall first be presented to the Governor. (3) The Governor may gazette and also publicly notify a notice showing the proposed alteration in boundaries, or an approximation thereto, and, in cases where an

area is proposed to be added to a divided borough, stating into which ward or wards such area is proposed to be included, or whether it is proposed that such area shall constitute a new ward or new wards, and calling upon all persons affected to lodge any objections in writing to or petitions against the proposed alteration within one month from the first publication of such notice. (4) After duly considering the original petition and the written objections so lodged, if any, the Governor in Council may make the alteration prayed for by the original petition, or any other alteration involving the severance from the one district and inclusion in the other of part or parts only of the area mentioned in the original petition ; or the Governor in Council may appoint a Commission, and delegate to such Commission the powers conferred by this subsection. (5) Any area included in a borough or any other district' under this section shall thenceforth form part of that borough or district alone. (6) No such alteration shall destroy the entity of any Corporation. The Clerk stated that the area of the portion referred to in the petition was 456 acres, if it were cut out the area of the borough would be 784 acres. There were 32 boroughs in the Dominion with a less area than that.

Cr Hennessy moved and it was seconded by Cr Jenks, that the Clerk be instructed to prepare a petition and obtain signatures to same, protesting against any farther partition of the borough for the following reasons. Firstly: The borough is already of limited area and should any further arsa be cut off it would considerably hamper its finance. Secondly : The borough has incurred liabilities on the strength of its ’present size such as official expenses and lighting; and any other strong objection that may suggest itself to the Clerk when framing same. Cr Hennessy in speaking to the motion said that the Council had incurred certain liabilities that they would not have done if the borough was smaller. If this ,£l6O worth of rates were cut off it would be necessary to raise the rates or to curtail expenses. He was not speaking as the “man with the grievance” and was ijuite prepared to pay his share of the taxation. He considered he would have more to growl about if he had nothing to pay taxes on. The Mayor said the Clerk would have to forward copy of resolution as passed. Cr Stiles thought it would be better to leave the Town Clerk to add any turther argument he might think of to the motion. The main reason of the objection was that they had contracted certain liabilities that they would not have done if the borough had been smaller. The rates must be raised if we keep going as we have been. The Mayor pointed out that the rates during the last four years were higher than usual, owing to the extra expenditure. . During that period concrete culverts had been put down in Main Street and the Avenue, and the kerbing and channelling had been done. This was all paid for out of the general account. Two years ago a lower rate had been struck and had been altered when it was found that the Whirokino bridge had to be repaired. He considered that most of the heavy work had been done, and in future it would not be necessary to strike as heavy a rate as at present obtained. There was a good deal of reading and drains in the district proposed to be cut off.

Cr Hennessy said that the rates from the properties in the district

would uot be expended on the roads and drains. Cr Frankland said he understood the liabilities would be transferred to the County if the portion was merged into it. Cr Jenks said he doubted if the County Council would take the land if there was any burden on it. Cr Heunessy said that though certain liabilities would be transferred, any work that had been paid for out of the general account could not be transferred. He instanced the culverts that had been put down. The resolution on being put was carried. Cr Coley alone voting against it.

It was proposed by Cr Stiles seconded by Cr Frankland, that this Council reply in the affirmative to the letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs, and that the Council authorise the Town Clerk to reply in full stating the objections that the borough has to the partition referred to. —Carried. The gas lighting agreement was received from the solicitors, and it was decided that the seal of the Council be affixed by Crs Coley and Frankland.

The Mayor said that Mr Goldingham had again approached him re permit to store kerosene. The chief reason they had refused permission was that they thought it would affect the insurance. He had since found out that it would not do so, and considered they should now give the permit asked lor. Cr Hennessy said that Mr Goldingham had informed him that he could store any quantity in Palmerston. His reason at the last meeting for objecting to permission being granted was that he thought it might affect the insurances. He now found that this was not so. The building where it was proposed to store the kerosene was 1y 2 chains away from any other building and he was now quite agreeable to permission being granted. Resolved on the motion of Cr Stiles seconded by Cr Coley, that Mr Goldingham be given permission to store kerosene as asked for, the term to be 12 months.

Proposed by Cr Hennessy seconded by Cr Frankland, that the Clerk be instructed to order from Palmerston N. gravel pit 200yds of metal and tenders be called for 250yds from the local pit. Tenderers to give a price for carting Palmerston N. metal. Penders to close on the 24th inst,, at 7 p.m. —Carried. Owing to next month’s ordinary meeting falling on Blaster Monday it was decided that the meeting be held on Tuesday, April 13th. The Council rose at 9.30 p.m.