BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 38, 20 December 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Motueka Borougn Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present : HisJ Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Messrs Wratt, Simpson, Ryder-, Satherley. Tarrant, Rankin. Thorp, Knapp, and Mofiktt..

Minutes of previous meeting read and adopted. The following accounts were passed for payment : G. Chapman £1 8s 9d, King, 8s 6d, C. J. Boyce .£1 15 9d, A. Miller 3s 6d, R. J. Trewavas L 3, C. J. Bartlett L 3 18s. J. Limmer, L2 9s 2d.

Letter received from the Department of Labor re half holiday to be fixed in accordance with the Shops and Shop Assistants Act 1894. Letter received from Mr McKenzie, acknowledging receipt of Council’s resolution appreciative of his services, for which he tendered his sincere thanks.

/yThe Mayor stated that Mr H. E. Gilbert, Postmaster, had asked him what rent the Council was prepared to pay for the Gld Post Office. After some discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Tarrant, seconded by Cr Moffatt, That the Council offer the sum of £5 per year as rent for the building, provided it is allowed to remain on the present site. The Town Glerk reported that the agreement between Mr A. Edwards and the Council re work at Glover’s overflow had been signed by the Mayor on behalf of the corporation, anil Mr Edwards. The making of the wire netting was being proceeded with, and a staff of men would be put on to do the other work at the beginning of the New Year.

In reply to a question by Cr Moffatt, as to what had been done about the new sets of jaws for the stone breaker,

The Town Clerk stated that an order had been sent to Australia for a set and two full sets were being obtained from England.

Cr Moffatt asked the reason why the matter had been delayed. Cr Thorp in explanation said the delay had been caused through his illness.

Cr Moffatt, who expressed pleasure that Cr Thorp Lad recovered from the illness, said it was unfortunate Cr Thorp did not report his inability to transact the business to the Council or that the other two members of the Committee set up had not taken action. In his opinion it was utterly impossible to procure the jaws from England in time for next season, which they stood a chance of losing through the delay. The Council had been made to look ridiculous ; they had been called a set of muddlers and they would continue to be until a responsible person was appointed overseer. At present, what was everybody's business was no one’s. Cr Thorp said the Council knew perfectly well of his illness, and he was not in a fit state of health to communicate with them. He related what he had done in connection with the ordering and making of patterns for the jaws. He was not aware until - lately that the original jaws weie made in Melbourne. They were good now and in better order than the last ones fixed. He asked to be relieved of Committee work in connection with the stone breaker, as his time was now fully occupied. Cr Rankin also explained the reason of the delay. He was still of opinion they ought to have an overseer.

The Mayor said Ci Thorp’s illness was to be regretted, but; the Council could not expect a sick man to attend to pubhc business. He saw no reason why the jaws should not reach Motueka in time.

In connection with the future working of the stonebreaker, the Mayor suggested that the Town Clerk should prepare a plan of what was required to be done. This was agreed to. Cr Tarrant suggested that the large stones on the main road near MiGreen’s and from Wilkies old store to the Council chambers should be broken. The stones would not bind and drivers avoided those sections of the road. It would not take a man long to break them. He moved that it be done. Seconded by Cr Wratt and carried.

The following notice of motion was tabled by Cr Moffatt, That the Council at its next meeting take into consideration the desirability of appointing a Town Cleric and Overseer (combined office).

In reply to Cr Satherlev, it was stated that the amount owing to the Waimea. County Council was still unpaid. The Corporation was paving hank interest.

Cr Simpson drew attention to the fact that traps and bicycles were allowed to pass along the streets without lights ; fully two -thirds of them broke the by-laws.

Cr Ryder also spoke to the same effect and said the bicycles were more dangerous to pedestrians than traps, because they could not be heard.

The Mayor said the proper action to take would be to worry the police. Ci- Thorp said it was getting to be a nuisance and should be stopped. He mentioned that he siw an elderly gentleman knocked down the other night by a bicyclist who carried no lights. He moved, That the attention of the Inspector of Folice be drawn to the continual violation of the Borough by laws through traps and bicycles not carrying proper lights. feecoiuh d by Cr Simpson and carried. In reply to a question ‘ from the Mayor, Cr Moffatt said that in connection with the Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board election, which he was deputed by the Council to attend he had looked up all the Acts available and could find nothing about the expenses of delegates attending the meeting. He had also consulted the Mayor, on the Saturday previous to the date fixed when he suggested they should

get some one in Nelson to represent them. Mr Hursthouse, however, thought it hardly fail- to do that; however, it was agreed they should have a further consultation on the show giound. If he was elected to represent this district on the Board he was not in a position to lose both time and money and so far as he could learn the Board only paid actual travelling expenses. On show day he saw both Mr Talbot, Mayor of Richmond, and Mr Henry Baigent, Mayor of Nelson, and they discussed the position. Nelson by the Act, had power to elect three members, leaving only one for the Boroughs of Richmond and Motueka. Mr Talbot asked him if he knows of any jusu reason why Richmond should not be represented on the Board as heretofore and he had replied in the negative. He also saw Mr Hursthouse on the ground who did not reply to him when he spoke to him on the matter. Mr H. Baigent had offered to drive him into Nelson to the statutory meeting, but as nothing could be gained by going he stopped where he was. He had also conversed with Messrs Piper and Best who thought they should make application to the Government for a seat on the Board.

Cr Thorp said that personally he was dissatisfied with the way the affairs of the Board were administered. He thought they should apply for representation.

His Worship the Mayor said the bur’ den of Cr Moffatt’s remarks was that there was no money. Cr Moffatt had undertaken to go, and he thought he should have gone an 1 trusted to the honor of the Council to re-imburse him of expenses out of pocket. When he (the Mayor) undertook a job. he saw it through. He would accept Cr Moffatt’s statement re the Show ground and was sorry any misunderstanding had arisen. He was acting as an official of the Association from seven in the morning till half-past six at night and was kept busy. Cr Moffatt should have gone with the Mayor of Nelson and protested against the unfairness of the position. He (the Mayor) thought they should have on the Board a man from this side of the Bay, with a local knowledge of the requirements of the district.

. Cr Moffatt in replying, justified his action and said the Mayor’s treatment of him showed that the Mayor was indifferent as to the borough’s ‘requirements, and lie thought lie was justified, under the circumstances, in acting as be did. Had he been paid £1 a trip the charge on the fund would have been too great, being 20 per cent of the borough’s total contribution ; he further thought no other councillor would have taken the position under such conditions, eveu if He had a chance of being elected, and the Mayor of Nelson declared that he had no option, as matters stood, but to vote for Mr Talbot, Mr Baigent, the Nelson delegate having four votes, which made him master of the position. Finally it was resolved on the motion, of Cr Moffatt, seconded by Cr Thorp. That application be made to the Government for representation on the Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and that Mr McKenzie be asked to support the request. In reply to Cr Ryder, the Town. Clerk said the hulk of the dog tax had been collected. The Council then adjourned, the next meeting to be held five weeks hence.