The Motueka Star. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1903. BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 189, 12 June 1903, Page 3

The Motueka Star. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1903. BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Motueka Borough Couneilwas held oa Tuesday evening. Present :—Crs Ran kin, Ryder, Satherley, Simpson, a,id Thorp. In the absence of the Mayor, Cr Rankin was voted to the chair.

The chairman took the opportunity of extending a hearty welcome to the new Town Clerk, Mr E. F. Johansen, stating that it was gratifying to Crs to secure a man bied arid born in the place for the position. Mr Johansen had many qualifications for the office, and the speaker was sure he would discharge the duties with ability, and as satisfactorily as his predecessors. Mr Johansen briefly returned thanks. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed.

The following accounts were passed for payment :—O. Boyce .£3 17s 9d, G. Chapman £3 14s 6d, H. A. Tarrant £5, Executors late E. Goodman 235, W King 335. Correspondence was read as follows : From T. F. Martin, enclosing a legal opinion ; from Department of Agriculture, re conference on the small birds nuisance ; from Health Department re small pox, and the advisability of preparing for an outbreak ; from Mr E. A. Knapp, giving notice of his intention to nil up the hollow on his section in High Street, and known as Manoy’s. From Mr A. Manoy, as follows:—“I beg to bring under your notice the very poor position the Borough occupies should a fire break out in it, more especially in the business portion. I propose, therefore, that a manual engine (c mcerning which I have made enquiries, and enclose herewith a letterrelating to same addressed to Mr J. Greensill) should be purchased, and tor the Council to give permission for wells t) be dug at intervals from the Insti tute to the Swan Hotel. The total outlay would mean about £45 to £SO, towards which I would willingly give £5. The insurance companies, I believe, would also contribute (such being the custom in most places), and the glance, I think, would be raised by the esidents and ratepayers affected.” [The letter enclosed gave particulars, and cost, of manual engine.] The Fire Brigade question was first dealt with.

Cr Simpson was of opinion that the Council should do all it could in the direction of establishing and encouraging a brigade.

The chairman said such an institu tieu was badly needed, and he thought they should help the thing ah-ng. Cr Ryder favored subsidising the institution to the extent of £5. He wanted to know who would control it. It was stated in reply to Cr Ryder’s

query, that it would be a Volunteer Fire Brigade.

After further discussion, during which it was generally agreed that if wells were sunk they should be secure, with brick or concrete crowns, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Rankin, seconded by Cr Satherley That a deputation consisting of Crs Thoi-p and Simpson be appointed to wait upon Mr Manoy and confer with him upon the subject.

Upon Mr Knapp’s letter coming on for discussion, Cr Satherley proposed, seconded by Cr Ryder, That a special meeting be held, after the return of the Mayor, to discuss the question. Crs Rankin and Thorp deprecated holding a special meeting as being a waste of time.

Cr Satherley considered Mr Knapp should have moved in the matter when he was on the Council and not after he had left it. Then he would have thought more of that gentleman. Cr Thorp considered Mr Knapp quite within his rights. He would have done the same thing without consulting the Council. The speaker said the Corporation had better go for him, as he had done, and was still going to do, what was complained of, namely filling in the hollow on his property. He wanted to know why the corporation did not take action against others (cases mentioned) who had done precisely the same as Mr Knapp. The chairman said he agreed with Cr Thorp. Mr Knapp was quite with in his rights in doing what he did, and he failed to see how'the Council could prosecute him.

The resolution for a special meeting was carried, Crs Rankin and Thorp voting against it.

The late Town Clerk, Mr Tarrant, who was present, reported re outstanding rates, and also re road through Mr Staples’ property to the main thorougfare.

Resolved, on the motion of Cr Satherley, That the ranger and dog tax cjllector be written to with refence to attending to his duties. Cr Thorp reported what had been done at the conference with Mr McKenzie with .leference to to the Wharf Board and harbor matters. The member was of opinion that the district was quite safe undei the present Act but intimated his intention, if requested, of having a Bill drafted in order that the Board should be p-opevly constituted. Cr Thorp said he was still of the same opinion as before as to the present position to take up. He also said they ought to have an elective Board. Cr Rankin also gave his version of the affair and explained his action in forming one of the deputation. Crs generally agreed as to the necessity of placing the Board on a proper footing, and on the motion of Cr Satherley, seconded by Cr Simpson, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the deputation.

Cr Rankin moved the motion standing in his name, “ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that a River Board should be established.” He briefly referred to the River Board Act, showing the necessary formalities that would hav? to be gone through to constitute a Board, and then pointed out the advantages that would accrue if such a Board was established. He contended that had a River Board been in existence years ago protective works which had been erected and maintained at a cost of over a thousand pounds would have been obviated, while if we went on as at present further works would be required to be done, and the money that had been spent would be to a great extent lost. The trouble in the past had been that no one had control over the river bed, so that after a flood trees and other debris brought down the river lodged, and by being

left had formed banks and other ob* structions, which diverted the river in' to wrong channels If we had a Board their business would be to keep the waterway clear, and eventually turn the river into its proper course. He contended that if a body such as a River Board, which would have control of the river bed, was not established there would, at intervals, be calls upon the owners and tenants of property to contribute towards the cost of erecting protective works. He would not be in favor of forming the Board immediately, as he had been told by Mr R. McKenzie, M.H.R., that he had obtained a grant of £soo—and a free one at that—for protecting the banks of the river on the Riwaka side, which grant had never been used, and if the Riwaka people (whom be would like to see in the River Board district), through the controlling body, the Waimea County Council, did not take the money off the Estimates that he would have to. He thought the money should be spent at once, and then when both the banks of the river were protected the Board should be formed. Cr Rankin admitted that most of the land adjoining the river was leasehold, but he did not intend that the tenant should pay the whole rate. He thought that the land lord should, and believed he would, pay the rate on the unimproved value of the land, and the tenant should pay the rate on the value of his improvements, for if he wanted to sell the goodwill of the property he would have the improvements for himself. He referred to the matter of finance, showing that money could be raised under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, whereby the rate to be struck would in conse—quence be small. He urged the Council to carry the lesolution ; by’ doing so they did not commit the ratepayers, for before a Board was formed a petition signed by two thirds of the ratepayers interested would have to be obtained. As Riwaka was interested, and probably lands not under the jurisdiction of either body, he would move “That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that a River Board be formed and that the members of the Riwaka Board and the member of the Motueka Riding of the Waimea County Council be invited to meet this Council at a conference to discuss the matter at a time to be arranged after the return of the Mayor.”

Cr Ryder seconded the motion believing that the formation of a River Board would be in the best interests of the district.

Cr Simpson did not think the people would stand another rate, for himself he was always willing to pay his'share when money was required for protecting his land 4 and tenants could not be expected to pay for protecting the landlords property. Cr Rankin said it was not intended to ask the tenants to protect the land but only their improvements. Cr Satherle3 r supported the motion as he considered after the matter was fully explained to the ratepayers they should have the right to endorse it or otherwise.

Cr Thorp supported the motion which he considered was a step in the right direction, although he was not directly interested he would willingly pay a rate as he considered if the River destroyed lands adjacent to it, it would naturally depreciate the value of land in othnr parts of the Borough, and he agreed with the mover that a few pounds spent at the right time would save several hundred pounds later on. The motion was put and declared carried, Cr- Simpson voting against. It was resolved that a temporary road be made through Mr Staples’ property in order to procure gravel for the roads, This concluded the business.