BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 64, 8 February 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

Present : — The Mayor, Crs Ferguson. Walker, iVlowlem, Linton, Leary, McNeil. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Treasury, remitting a fine of 5* for breach of bye-laws. Invitation to the Mayor to attend the reception of the new Governor. The Mayor said he happened to be m Wellington at the time the Governor was expected, but could not be present (though he received a most; cordial invitation from Mayor Fisher) as he had to leave Wellington the day before the Governor arrived. His visit to Wellington was not to meet the Governor, but on private business.

From Mr Ward asking if the Borongh Council has paS3ed a resolution to adopt the Hating Act, 1882. Reply read stating that no resolution had been passed. From Nathan and Go , enclosing L 25, proportion of cost of street formation-, the matter of rates to be attended to afterwards. From Clerk of Wanganui Borongh Council notifying thai the [next meeting of the hospital delegates would take place on Wednesday the 14th instant. An opinion was expressed that as the Council had decided not to contribute to the proposed new hospital, it. was scarcely necessary that a representative of the Council should be m. attendance. From ratepayers m Ferguson St. asking to have a portion of the . street metalled, (so far as Princes St.) as m wintfir it would be impassable. Referred to Public Works Committee, with power to act.

SPECIAL APPLICATION. Letter read from Mrs Coleman ask* ing to have rates remitted due by her late husband, owing to her inability to pay same. The clerk said the amount was about £5. Cr Leary moved that the request be granted. Cr McNeil said he hpd no objection to put down half the amount himself, but he objected to the principle and precedent. He was sorry to oppose the motion, as the late Councillor was one of their best Councillor?. On principle ha could not support the motion. Cr liuton endorsed what Cr McNeil had said, and almost wished the matter had not been brought up. He would prefer that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to deal with privately. The motion was withdrawn by con. sent, and Cr Linton's suggestion embodied m the form of a resolution and carried.

RANGITIKEI STREET. From U G. West asking permission to erect a verandah, and to have footpath constructed, on condition that the Borough bore half the cost. It was resolved that the application be granted, subject to the work being done to the satisfaction of the Kngineer, similar to the footpaths adjoining, and on Bimilar conditions. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT. We, your Public Works Committee, have the honor to report that we have accepted tenders as under. Drainage and formation m Fergusonstreet, H. Stevens, £64 18s. Drainage and formation m Kairanga and Featherston-streets, N. Mortensen, £242 9s6d. Formation m College-street, H. Stevens. iOwing to tha cost and difficulties 1 likely to ensue with the settlers, we have thought it wiser to decline the tenders for the drain at the Kawau, and to recommend the Council to instruct the Engineer to report upon the feasibility of carrying tho water along Botanical Road. Should this ba done, the drain m -Main* street will bo of no value, consequently we have declined tenders for it likewise. With respect to College-street West, the cost of forming appeared to us so high that we decided to let the roadmen make a practicable road for a few chains, which would suit the requirements of Mr McAuulty for the present, We have considered tin Engineer's monthly report, and would draw the attention of the Council to his remarks upon the formation of the upper part of Main-street East.

POUND COMMITTEE'S REPORT. We, your . Committee, appointed to investigate into the management of the Borough Pouud, hare the honor to report that we met on the 23rd of last month, having previously notified by advertisement our intention to do so, so that any persons having complaints to make, would have an opportunity of having the same enquired into. Ne person, however, appeared at the time appointed, and m the absence of complaints, we had to take it for granted that so far as the public were concerned, the management was satisfactory. We elicited from the officials that one source of complaint was the charge of driving — as it is not included m the schedule of fees exhibited at the Pound, it was by many deemed an unauthorised charge. We wild recommend that the schedule be added to> to this extent. The Poundkeeper requested that certain repairs should be made, and some matters provided to make the Pound more complete, and we have inspected it, for the purpose of reporting to the Council, as to the necessity of the same, and with the exception of some repairs to the inner stock -yard, we think the matters referred to might remain over for the present. We would likewise recommend to the Council to take into consideration the feasibility of farming the Pound similar to the ftegistration of Dogs. This would relieve the Council from the nepessity of mating these continued ro - pairs, as it might be a stipulation with the successful tenderer that he keep the yards t»nd fences m thorough repair. When the Poundkeeper's report was under discussion, Cr Linton said he considered the complaint was not against the Poundkeeper, but against the ranger, of whose alleged partiality he had himself heard many complaints.

He again referred to the danger from bash fires m the dry season, a foreUste of which they had bad a few weeks a?o. He revived the old idea of renting tha grazing of the waste places to owners of sheep on terms to be arranged. A considerable discussion followed. Cr Linton questioned the right of the Counoil to lee or farm the Public Pound, and for many reasons the proposal ,m his opinion, would not prove satisfactory. It was resolved, that the report be received, and that the same committee be asked to obtain further information on the subject, especially m reference to the Council's legal rit»hc to farm trie Pound, and to frame rules for working out their suggestions. Cr Lin ton's name was added to the committee. . poukdkeeper's report. Cattle impounded, . altogether,. 50 ; fees received, £7 13s ; poundage fees to ranger, £3 11s; half driving fees to ranger, £l 0s 6d j balance to Council, £3ls6d. ....-• • A number of accounts were passed for payment.

AIT ILLEGAL CLAIM. The Wangauui Hospital had for-, warded an account for maintenance of a patient. The case was that of a man named Burgess, who had b°en aa inmate of the Wanganui Hospital. Cr Linton said he had given an order for admittance last August, bat the man ; had afterwards been discharged and re-ad mitted,though no farther order had been given. The Council decided that the main* tenance claim by the Hospital must be substantiated by the production of the order for re-admission. THE PUBLIC HALL. " Or Li a ton brought up the condition of the Public Hall, which was begin* ning to look very dilapidated both outside and inside. He remarked that the painting of the Bank of New Zea« land had made the Hall look worse than ever. He thought something i should be done m the matter. He moved that tenders be invited for painting the Town Hall, and re»papering of the rooms throughout, also repairs to the roof. The Hall Committee to be asked to undertake the supervision of. the work. ; ..,.' '■> 1 Cr McNeil recommended, that architect be employed; which he always did m his private works. , •~- -•; It was pointed out that the Borough Engineer would doabtless discharge that duty, as he had done on former similar works. c \ ; v ; [The remainder of the report is held over.J