BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 989, 9 May 1911, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The first ordinary monthly meeting of the new Council was held in the Council Chamber last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Stiles, Esq.), and Crs Adams, Carter, Chryslall, Coley, Gibbs, Greig, Rimmer, Speirs and Stewart. Correspondence was read from Mr G. Puillips, local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Co., Ltd., asking that the road in front of their sheds be formed aud metalled as arranged for some time back.—lt was decided, on the motion of Cr Coley, seconded by Cr Stewart, that the Shipping Company be informed that the road will be put in hand at an early date. From the Valuer-General, advising that the new roll would be forwarded as early as possible. —■ Received.

From the same, asking the Council to appoint an assessor to represent it on the Assessment Court. —Mr A. Fraser appointed.

From H. W. Climie, expressing regret that the matter of putting distances on Borough map had been overlooked so long, and promising to attend to same as early as possible if map were forwarded to him at Hastings. — Received. From the Secretary of the Palmerston North Hospital, advising that the levy for the ensuing year was qs gd in the capital value, and that the Foxton Borough Council’s couliibutions would be ,£3B xos 2d for Hospital Maintenance and £3 7s 6d for Charitable Aid.—Received. From Messrs Jensen and Bak, offering to do the work of forming, etc., in connection with Baker Street Extension, ou the same terms as offered by Mr W. S. Carter. —Town Clerk to report. MUNICIPAL HALL. A letter was read from the .Secretary of Hayward’s Ltd., asking tor full particulars iu reference to new hall, aud staling that if these were satisfactory, his Company would consider the advisability ui liking a permanent lease. Mr E. Bubb, of Wanganui, also wrote, asking terms of Hall for picture entertainments. It was decided ou the motion of Cr Coley, seconded by Cr Rimmer, that Messrs Hayward’s Ltd., and Mr F. Bubb, be informed that the Council are shortly to arrange a schedule of charges, aud when this is done the inlormaliou asked for will be supplied. Cr Speirs moved aud Cr Adams seconded, that the Council buy a .section of land, about 30U., adjoining that ou vvhich the Town Hall is being built, if the same can be bought for £2 per foot. Iu speaking to the motion Cr Speirs said he thought it desirable to purchase the section referred to as at the present time there was only a 10ft right-of-way on the eastern side of hall, and if this section were purchased it would make qolt from any building. The Mayor said that the general rates amounted to about ,£9OO, aud with only a mouth gone, /300 had already been Sj?eut ; then there was a difference of £195 iu the Town Flail contract, being the difference iu the architect's estimate aud the contract price. If a further £6O were expended ou the purchase ol a section it would make practically £6OO expended out of the to be received tor the year’s rates, aud he thought that by doing this they would be “ over riding the constable.” There would also be the necessity during the coming year to get another estimate prepared for a water aud drainage scheme. Under the circumstances he did not think the Council could afford to purchase the section.

The motion on being put was lost.

Cr Speirs then moved, and Cr Adams seconded, that the Town Clerk enter into negotiations for the purchase of the section. The mover said that as it was intended to have the caretaker residing in the cottage at the back of the hall the section should be purchased to give him something of a yard. Cr Greig considered that the Borough finances were not in such a position that money could be expended needlessly. He did not know if there was any real need for the section, and before doing anything the Council should find out if there was real need lor the section. Taking into consideration the straitened finances, he thought it would be belter to leave the matter as at present. The motion was carried, it being pointed out that it did not bind the Council to anything. Mr C. F. Beaston made application for the position of caretaker of the new hall when erected. —It was decided to inform him that applications for the position would be called for at a later date. TIIK -BOROUGH BAND. Cr Coley asked if the Borough Baud had disbanded. It so the Instruments and uniforms should be called in at once. The Town Clerk said he had not received any notice from the secretary of the baud to that effect. He was in truer 1 to make enquiries, and it the band was defunct to at once call in the instruments and uuifonus. THi-: co.-.uv 1 The 10110 v:n•: ■ainuttees for the ensuing erm c; • set up : Public W ;ks Crs Coley, Gibbs, Speus, Ran. an-1, Carter aud Adams. Library : Crs Aai.'s ChrysUll, Gibbs, Greig and _ Reserves: Crs Coley, Stewart and Car 1

Hall; Crs Adams, Greig, Gibbs aud Rimmer.

Gas works : Crs Coley, Gibbs, Greig and Speirs. The Mayor to be on all committees ex officio. FRKK HOSPITAL. Mr W. G. Pearce's Free Hospital scheme, discussion on which was held over from a previous meeting, was again before the Council. The Mayor, Crs Speirs, Adams and Chrjrstall spoke against the scheme. The Mayor mentioned that in Mr Pearce’s circular it was stated that the voluntary contributions received from Foxton averaged only £S per year. He knew from personal experience that this was very much below the mark and in fairness to Foxton should be corrected. He moved that the Council does not consider it advisable to support the free hospital scheme as laid down by Mr W. G. Pearce and would suggest the consideration of raising the present fees. This was seconded by Cr Speirs and carried. GKNKRAL. Ou the motion of Cr Gibbs, seconded by Cr Stewart, it was decided to have a gas lamp over the door of the Council, to be lit when necessary. The mover stated that the need for such a lamp had been brought under his notice on election night, when a large number of people were awaiting the result of the poll. Mr H. Coley wrote asking why he had not been offered the first refusal of the old Council Chamber. He stated that when tenders were called for same he was the only tenderer and the Council considered it was too low and decided to shift the building to the back of the present chambers. Instead oi doing that the old building had since been sold to Mr Claud Speirs for The Mayor explained that the matter had been left in his aud the Town Clerk's hands to deal with, and the only tender received for removing the building was that of Mr J. G. Speirs at and they did not consider that at that price the building was worth moving, aud having received the offer of £ls lor it decided to accept it. It was decided on the motion of Cr Gibbs, seconded by Cr Adams, that Mr H. Coley be informed that the matter of removal of old library building was left in the bauds of the Mayor and Town Clerk with power to act. Cr Gibbs mentioned that there were some books on the library shelves which in his opinion should not be there.—The matter was referred to the Library Committee.'

Messrs Broadbeut and Clemett wrote taking exception to a letter sent them iu connection with arrears for gas.—The Town Clerk said the letter iu question was a circular one sent to others iu similar cases. The Council decided to apprise Messrs Broadbeut aud Clemett of this fact, an amendment that the correspondence be ignored being lost. Accounts amounting to is were passed for payment. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that the Borough was fairly cleau at present. He pointed out that there is no by-law affecting fowls, geese, ducks, turkeys, weasels, etc., aud believed that these should be kept as far away from a dwelling as a pig. The pouudkeeper reported that during the mouth of April 17 head of cattle and 13 horses had been impounded by the ranger aud driving lees amounting to 19s had been collected. It was decided to order a further 100 yards of Palmerston metal. The Council rose at 9.45 p.m.