BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 951, 7 February 1911, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber last niglu, to consider applications for the position of poundkeeper and nightman and general. Prrsent : His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Stiles, Esq.), and Crs Coley, Levett, Ross, Speirs, Gibbs, Adams and Rimmer. An apology for absence was received from Cr Stewart. applications. For the position of nightman and poundkeeper, seven application were received, four of which were informal and could not be considered. The Council went into committee to deal with the other three, and on resuming business it was decided, on the motion of Cr Ross, seconded by Cr Coley, that Mr F. W. Gardes, of Palmerston North, be appointed to the position. The Mayor moved, and Cr Coley seconded, that Mr McKuight be given a fortnight's notice of the termination of his engagement as nightman and poundkeeper. — Carried.

Cr Speirs thought that Mr McKnight should be given an additional £\ per week for the next fortnight. The Mayor and Crs Coley. Adams and Ross did not agree, and the matter was then dropped. TRAMWAY KXTKNSION. A letter was read from the Clerk of the Manawatu County Council, advising that a meeting of delegates from the different local bodies interested in the proposed extension of the tramway to Greatford or Marton would be held at Marton at 10.30 o’clock on Tuesday, the 14th instant, for the purpose of discussing what further steps are to be taken. He asked the Council to appoint two delegates to represent them at the meeting.—The Mayor and Cr Gibbs were to represent the Council. SMOKK AND KIRK NUISANCK. Letters were read from Sister M. Raphael, Rev Father Kelly, and Mr Han-. Audresen, drawing the attention ol the Council to the nuisance from smoke and danger of fires on account of fires lighted tor the purpose of burning shavings and sawdust in Mr Speirs’ yard between Main and Johnston streets.

Cr Ross said that in the course of conversation with Mr Speirs the other day, he had told him how this nuisance was overcome in Invercargill by the erection of a square building with a chimney, and Mr Speirs had promised to have this done.

Cr Speirs said the letters were a little misleading as it was stated that two grass fires had been caused by the fire in the timber yard, whereas only one had been traced to that cause, the other catching from a fire in adjoining backyard. In any case a building was to be erected in which to burn the rubbish, the material for same having already been ordered.

It was decided on the motion of Cr Ross, seconded by Cr Coley, that replies be sent to the complainants advising that Mr Speirs 4 was erecting a brick building at once to abate the nuisance.

noc: registration

The Registrar of Dogs (Mr K. J. Martin) wrote stating that the period for the registration of dogs at the reduced fee having expired, he intended to now visit every house in the borough for the purpose ot searching for dogs. No doubt as the fee was now ten shillings he would in some cases have to make several trips, and therefore asked that the amount received by him for registration should be increased from eightpence to one shilling and fourpence.

The Mayor did not think the Council would be justified in increasing the amount already paid.

Cr Coley said if the Registrar did not go out he would not get the dogs and it would be better for the Council to get ten shillings and pay the Registrar is4d for collecting than get nothing at all. Cr Gibbs, while agreeing with Cr Coley, said he did not think it was a fair thing to other tenderers to now increase the price. He moved that this Council cannot allow the Registrar of Dogs double fee for dogs registered after February Ist and will oulv pay for such in terms of accepted tender.

GAS MATTERS

Cr Ross moved that the Town Clerk see that the gas manager attends to the lighting of street lamps more regularly than is at present done. The motion was seconded by Cr Coley.

The Mayor said he did not think it was the intention of Councillors to reflect on the manager’s work. Mr Stuunell had previously told them that the globes at present in use were unsuitable and the lighting would not be satisfactory until they were replaced by others. Cr Ross said that the lamps at the south end of Main Street had not been lighted for a week, and others also had been neglected. A broken mantle on one ol the lamps to which attention had been drawn some time ago had not yet been replaced. In his opinion the lighting at the present time was not one bit improved to what it was formerly. Cr Coley said he did not think it was altogether the manager’s fault.

Cr Speirs considered it was a good deal the manager’s fault. The lamps had been neglected. They should have been burning

better than had been the case of late. The motion on being put was carried. On account of the engine at the gasworks having “given out” a meeting of the gas committee was h; Id the other day to consider steps to be taken to procure another. The raoat suitable one was a five horse power engine offered by the Feilding Gas Company, and the gas committee in structed Mr Stunned, the local manager, to proceed to Feilding for the purpose of inspecting the engine, and if louud suitable to purchase it. At last night’s meeting Mr Stunned reported that he had done as instructed, and had .Tanged to buy the engine at £x2o. It would arrive in Foxton within the next day or two, and he would immediately proceed with the erection of same.

The action ol the gas committee was approved and the arrangement endorsed. The Council then went into committee to deal with some matter which Cr Speirs signified his intention of brining up.