FOXTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 930, 13 December 1910, Page 2

FOXTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber last night. Present His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Stiles Esq.,) and Crs. Stewart, Coley, Speirs, Rimmer, Gibbs, Robinson, Levett and Adams.

Correspondence was read from Messrs J. and J. Braddock, England, advising that the material for extra retorts at the gasworks would be put in hand immediately. —Received.

From Reid and Reid, forwarding particulars of manual and steam fire engines and offering to quote for same. —Received.

From the Manawatu County Council, forwarding plans, specification and an estimate of the cost of the construction of the Beach road, which it was proposed to construct under section 119 of the Public Works Act, 1908. Received.

From R. N. Speirs, applying to have gas laid on to his office in Main Street.

The Mayor mentioned that there were also others who required to have the gas laid on, and it would be better to leave the matter for the gas committee to deal with. — This course was agreed to. The pouudkeeper reported that during the month of November, 9 head of cattle and 34 horses had been impounded by the ranger, and driving fees amounting to 19s had been collected. Two cows had also been impounded by a settler. All matters in connection with the gasworks purchase loan were finally fixed and the money will now be available within the next few days. The librarian reported that during last quarter the number [of subscribers to the public library was 27.

Cr Coley brought up the question of stock straying on the roads during the night. He considered a resolution should be passed to take proceedings against the owners under the Police Offences Act.

Cr Speirs said that as the ranger was prevented from impounding stock, it could hardly be expected that he would go out all night in order to keep the roads clear. —No further action was taken.

Accounts amounting to £220 15s 2d were passed for payment. The Town Clerk reported that in accordance with the resolution passed at* the previous meeting he had visited Palmerston for the purpose of selecting books for the local library from those offered tor sale by,the Palmerston Fire Brigade, and had selected no which were now being labelled and placed in the library.

The Council went into committee to deal with tenders and to receive applications for the position of Inspector of Nuisances, and upon resuming business the following tenders were accepted : —Erection of coal shed, Mr P. Sherratt; erection of iron fence, Mr P. Sherratt; carting, Mr W. Nye; ranging, Mr J. McKnight ; dog registration, Mr E. J. Martin. Mr E. J. Martin was appointed Inspector of Nuisances.

It was decided on the motion of Cr Speirs seconded by Cr Rimmer, that the dog tax on all dogs other than working dogs be reduced to 5s per dog on those registered before the 31st January, 19x1, and working dogs 2s 6d, after which date the full fee of 10s will be collected in every case. Cr Robinson moved that applications be invited for the position of sexton. In speaking to the motion he said that at a previous meeting when he had moved that applications be invited for the position of Inspector of Nuisances at the same time as the other seruices he had intended that applications lor all services should be called for at the same time, but apparently his motion was not clear. His particular reason for moving the present motion was that some time ago he had occasion to arrange for the burial of a little niece of his, and upon going to the sexton, who also is an undertaker, to pick out a site, the first question asked by him was, “ Who is the undertaker ?” Upon i being told that it was the othei: local undertaker, he asked when the funeral was to take place. This was to take place at 2 o’clock the following day, and the sexton then said he would b« at the cemetery at 1.30 p.m. the day following for the purpose of picking out the site. The fees he received for the work were not sufficient to pay him for running up to the cemetery at all times to pick out sites. Cr Robinson said he then went to the Town Clerk's office and picked a site from the cemetery plan, afterwards visiting the cemetery and marking the plot. Upon telling the sexton what had been done, that official protested there was not a site available where selected, and put him (Cr Robinson) and the Town Clerk to a great deal of inconvenience before he would be convinced. Hedid notthink that an undertaker should hold the position of sexton.

Cr Gibbs said if the facts as stated by Cr Robinson were correct, it was high time the present arrangement was ended. Cr Coley said that as there was to be a special meeting the following Monday, it would be as well to get the sexton to attend, so that the statements could be made before him, and it would then be seen who was in the right.

Cr Robinson thought Cr Coley’s suggestion a very good one. He would prefer to have the sexton present to hear the charges. Under the circumstances he would withdraw his motion and again bring it forward next Monday night,

Cr Rimmer said he knew of no other case in the Dominion where the undertaker held the position of sexton. The Council rose at 10.40 p.m.