BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 30, 22 November 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Motueka Borough Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present : Messrs Hursthouse (Mayor, in the chair), Rankin, Simpson, Tarrant, Satherley, Knapp, Moffatt Ryder. Minutes of previous meeting, also special meeting read and adopted. The following accounts were passed for payment : W. Cooksey ss, A. Manoy 13s 6d, Owners Lily .£3 13s, Charitable Aid .£32 ; Govt. Printer 7s. Report of Works Committee meeting held on November i6th.

Present: Messrs Tarrant (chair) Ryder and Satherley.

Resolved that the accounts as submitted be recommended for payment.

In reference to letter from Messrs Manoy and Jordan it was resolved that the Committee recommend the work to be done.

Resolved, that it is advisable to ask Mr Girdler what will be the cost of extra teeth for the jaws of the stonebreaker, his letter having been referred to the Committee by the Council.

Resolved, That the footpath in High Street, and the water table alongside be * ltered.

Cr Tarrant moved the adoption of the Committee's report.

Cr Rankin seconded

Cr Simpson objected to the formation of the footj ath on the west side of High Street. The work was not needed ;if done, the street would be very narrow and it would cost too much to reduce the width of the path on the east side. If money was to be spent it was needed for the back roads which required attention. The present path was enough for the requirements of the burgesses. He moved as an amendment, That the report be adopted, with the exception of the recommendation dealing with the formation tf the footpath. Cr S itherley seconded the amendment. If the recommendation was carr-ied out the path would encroach too much upon the road. Cr Ryder favored the suggestion of the Committee and thought the work should be taken in hand as soon as the Council was in a position to do it. The footpath would be a benefit to the place, especially to school children, who were liable to be knocked down by traps.

Cr Tarrant supported the proposed footpath which would be beneficial in wet weather. There must always be a beginning to improvements of the soit under review and they should carry out the work when funds were available.

The Mayor would be extremely pleased to do the work if the finances

would permit, but had no desire to further increase the overdraft during his term of office as Mayor. Cr Rankin was of opinion that by adopting the report the members were not pledging themselves : the question would have to be dealt with at a later meeting.

Eventually the amendment was lost, Cr Tan-ants motion carried. H Letter received from the Riwaka Road Board, acknowledging receipt of letter covering resolution passed by the Counc : l re small bird's nuisance ; also fr< in the Waimea County Couucil stating the consideration of letter was deferred till next meeting.

Letter r m the Birkenhead Burgesses .Association asking for information as to voting at municipal elections.

It was resolved on the motion of Cr Moffatt, seconded by Cr Ryder, That the Town Clerk forward the information asked for, and that the Council sympathises with the objects of the Association,

Cr Tarrant voted against the resolution.

Letter from Mr Tarrant re insurance of men to be engaged at Glover's overflow protective works. Cr Rankin moved That upon receipt of the Ministers consent to do the work at Glover's overflow by day labor, the Town Clerk write the two Trusts interested asking for progress payment.

Seconded bv Cr Rvder and carried

McKenzie M.H.R. wrote informing the Council that he had supported their request for the lease or purchase of the old Post Office for municipal purposes and had referred 4& the request to the Postmaster General with a recommendation that it be leased to the corporation at a nominal rent. A letter was also received from Mr McKenzie to the effect that the request for a for direct steamer Motueka to Wellington had his hearty support and he had strongly recommended that the petition be granted. He also suggested the circulation of a petition to strengthen the Council's hands.

It was ultimately decided to refer the matter to the Farmer's Union, which body was stated to be in strong sympathy with the proposal. The Department of Public Health forwarded a. number of pamphlets on scarlet fever.

The Secretary Nelson Education Board forwarded resolution passed at the Board's last meeting re alleged nuisance at i ear of teacher's residence in Stafford Street.

A lengthy discussion took place as to whether the ditch was a drain or a natural watercourse. Finally, it was agreed on the motion of Cr Moffatt, seconded by Cr Tarrant, That the Board be informed the Council is only exercising the right given by clause 272 of the Municipal Corporations Act., and that no offensive matter is carried into the watercourse complained of.

A letter was received from Mr A. Edwards re works at Glovers Overflow-, accepting the terms offered by the CouncT and stating his willingness to start when desired.

It was resolved on the motion of Cr Satherley seconded by Cr Simpson, That Cr. Moffatt be the delegate to attend the meeting to be held in Nelson on the 27th for the purpose of electing members of the Charitable .Aid Board.

It was resolved that upon receipt of legal advice from Wellington the Town Clerk proceed against burgesses and others who have ignored the notice to cut gorse and clear off noxious weeds. There being only 5s lOd left of the vote passed for the purchase of bird's eggs it was decided to grant an additional sum of £o.

Cr Moffatt moved, That Mr Manoy

be requested to erect a suitable fence on the frontage of his section next to Mr J. Kings, High Street. Seconded by Cr Knapp and carried. The Mayor stated that without consulting Mr Ryder he had as requested visited the latter's premises and had failed to discover any nuisance. If all the burgesses back premises were as clean as the one ,in question there would be nothing to complain of. Cr Tarrant endorsed the Mayor's remarks.