BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 24, 1 November 1901, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening, to discuss details' ete., in connection .vith the river protective works at Glover's Overflow which the Council decided to do by .day labor. Present Messrs Hursthouse (Mayor) Rankin, Tarrant, Satherley, Simpson Moffatt, WVatt, Ryder and Knapp. The Mayor having explained the business of the meeting, It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Tarrant seconded by Cr Satherley, that the Town Clerk write to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson, acking for permission to do the work by day labor. A letter was received' from Messrs King, Chapman, Boyce, employees of the Council asking for work on the protective works. The Mayor had no doubt they would be engaged, but was of opinion the overseer should not be dictated to as to who he should employ, and who he should not Cr Tarrant thought the men should be given work if they were competent Cr Simpson mentioned that some of those who had subscribed money, had asked to be put oh the job, Considerable discussion ensued and it was eventually agreed to forward the applicants names, together with others mentioned, to the overseer. * Cr Tarrant proposed that the Council employ Mr Edwards as overseer, the remuneration to be ten per cent on the total amount expended on the work. "The mover ieferred to the

factthi.it Mr Edwards had had eon-

sideiable experience of similar woi-ks in Takai a and other* parts of the colony, and he thought it would be advisable to engage him as supervisor Cr Rankin seconded. Gr Moffatt stated that Mr Edwards had told them he would not undertake to do the woik for the money allocated. Cr Wratt said Mr Ed war* Is had no doubt whatever that he could do the work'for the .£450 to be spent. Cr Rankin moved that the Mayor and Crs Wratt and Simpson be appoint ed a committee to confer with MiEdwards during the piogress of the work to facilitate the conduct of affairs; that Mi-" Edwards have . full charge, that he be time-keeper, and that he prepare for the Town Clerk a monthly statement of all the accounts. The mover thought it should be left in their hands, and if anything of an extraordinary nature cropped up a special meeting of the Council could be convened. During his remarks Cr Rankin mentioned that Mr Edwards had stated that if any one-else'was appointed as overseer he wonld be pleased to offer his services to the Council for a few days, free of charge, to assist the person selected. The Mayor- said Mr Edwards had made a study of protective works, and had been the recipient of compliments from persons outside this district. On the motion of Cr Wratt, the Town Clerk was instructed to prepare an agi eement setting forth the overseer's duties. C'*r.Rankin proposed and Cr Ryderseconded that it be a suggestion to the overseer- to employ Messrs KLing, Chap-man;.-Boyce, Sinclair-, Atkin and A. Goodman if, in his opinion, they are competent. ' Cv Moffatt moved and Cr Knapp seconded that the mininum wage be 6s 6d per day, the men to find picks, shoved, :v. v ;oe, <mA grubbepj. -•-. - ~ Cr Tarrant moved and Cr Satherley seconded, that the Town Clerk write re co-operative clauses ; all resolutions I carried to be subject to the granting of the request (permission to do the work by day labor). It was agreed that the committee appointed should interview Mr Tarrant re insuring the workmen, and if .satisfactory arrangements can be made to obtain a cover. It was agreed that upon receipt of a reply from the commissioner of Crown Lands, the committee and Mr Edwards j meet to sign all necessary documents. The Council then adjourned.