BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 155, 13 February 1903, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting or the Motueka Boi-oufh Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mb J. S. Wratt) in the chair. Crs Simpson, Ryder, Knapp, Moffatt, Thorp, and Trewavas. Minutes of last meeting lead and adopted. Apologies for absence were received froui Crs Grooby and Edwards. The following accounts were passed for payment": C. Boyce L2 8s 9d, G. Chapman L2 8s 9d,"W. King 14s lOd, F. Jones L2. Town Clerk 1/5, year's subscription to Charitable Aid Board, Nelson, L6O, commission re bird's eggs payments lis 9d. Letters were received as follows : From W. Darling, offering to sunrly piles for river protective works. Received. From Mines Department, re application for assistance towards prospecting, and enclosing copy of regulations for the information of Council. Received. From Pitt and Moore, Nelson, on behalf of Messrs Everett Brothers and Flowerday requesting the Council's consent to a right of way between their properties' in High Street. It v:as resolved, on the motion of Cr Moffitt, seconded by Cr Ryder, That the application be granted provided the Council has power to sanction one of the width mentioned.

From the Clerk of Colling wood County Council, stating that Mr Lewis' application for assistance in prospecting Lad been forwarded to the Government. Received.

From Mrs Seddon soliciting sub-' scriptions for- the purpose of looking after the graves of those Kevv Zealandders who fell in South Africa.

After some discussion, during which Councillors sympathised with the proposed movement, it was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Ryder, That the letter be received and the writer informed that future steps would be taken in the matter.

His Worship the Mayor moved the notice of motion with reference to the reduction of the number of councillors from nine to six. In doing so His Worship said he did not move the motion out of any disrespect to the present councillors, as they had always worked well together. The meetings were sometimes prolonged through councillors repeating what had been previously said. He noticed that the question of reduction had been taken up in larger centres, such as Napier, Wanganui and Nelson who all favored smaller bodies.

Cr Moffatt in seconding the motion, was of opinion the amount of business to be dealt with could be transacted by a Council of six and the Mayor. Hitherto they had experienced a difficulty in securing councillors ; if the number was thinned down as indicated in the notice of motion, those selected would feel more honored in serving the burgesses. He was pleased the suggestion came from His Worship and he felt sure the adoption of the motion would give satisfaction to the public. Cr Thorp supported, as being a step in the right direction. He was of the same opinion as the previous speaker that they would get a better selection of Councillors if the number was reduced.

The motion was carried unanimously. Cr Moffatt moved : That this Council respectfully requests that, the Wharf Board will take the neces-ary steps to increase the Board's powers by promoting such legislation as will, Ist : Make theßiard an elective body of 5 members representative of the whole district. 2d, Enabling the Board to negotiate loans for reclamation and other necessary works. 3rd :. To provide as far as

possible for future contingencies thus placing the Board as advantageou.-ly as possible in view of future developments of the district. The Council promising the Board support and assistance towards that end.

The speaker said he was voicing the sentiments of a laige section of the public, who favored an elective rather than a nominee Board. The present Hoard acting under the Nelson Harbor Board Act of 1901 and the subject bad been brought under the notice of Mr MeKLenzie, who said that when asked be would move in the direction of placing the .Board on a better and more satisfactory footing. He was taking the present step outof courtesy to the members of the existing Board, as he thought they should be approached through the Council rather than by public petition. Moreover, it would give the Board an opportunity of expressing an opinion on t.e subject. He had introduced the motion at that particular stage because the members of the Council would shortly vacate office and it would take, some time, on account of both bodies meeting at different dates, before they were able to get a reply. Cr Thorp seconded and said he was in sympathy to a great extent with the motion. From what he could hear it would be more satisfactory to the dis tricts represented if the Board was an elective body. He had no fault to find with the members of the Board, but under the present conditions members elected in future for the County Council might not have the same interest in wharf affairs. He thought, decidedly the time had arrived when the districts interested should have representation on the Board. If the neighborhood prospered considerable improvements would have to be effected at the port. They were still working under the Nelson Harbor Board Act and he would like to see the distiict clear of it. It was not discourteous for the Council to bring the matterbefore the Board ;it will be fo~ the Board to reply to the request and if they see any just cause or impediment against it to say so. The Mayor would not object to increasing the number of members to five, but above that he would strongly protest. The only objection he knew of was the expense entailed in electing member and paying them for attending the meetings, especially as the revenue of the Board was not large. Cr Trewavas approved of the increase in the number of members to five.

Cr Moffatt, in reply, said the present Board was responsible for a loan, but they had no power to borrow. The matter was entirely in the hands of the Wharf Board and the public could not interfere just now. The motion was carried unanimously. Cr Thorp drew attention to the fact that horses were still being driven through the streets unattended, notwithstanding the fact that the Council had passed aby law prohibiting it. After discussion it was resolved that the attention of Constable Fitzsimmons be drawn to the fact.

After several minor matters had been disposed of the Council adjourned.