BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1724, 3 June 1886, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

» . I LAST NIGHT. j Present. — The Mayor, Cra Snelson, West, Hawkins, S. Abrahams, Stewart, Wood, Rush, Grace, R. S. Abrahams, Waldegrave, and McNeil. The minutes of last meeting were read . Cr Rush drew attention to the difference m the amounts of the Standard and Times advertising accounts before the minutes should be confirmed. lc was pointed out to Cr Busli that the matter before them was merely the acceptance or rejection of the minutes as correct records of the meetings taken place. He could refer to the matter later en if he wished. The minutes were then duly confirmed. The correspondence was read and received. Cr T. King's resignation was considered, and it was pointed out by the Mayor, that a resignation from a Cr could not be accepted. A Or, if absent , four consecution meetings, his position would become vacant. He had only been absent two meetings. .Re his resignaim of Fire Inspector, resolved that same bft received with regret. Re Milverton's application for damage done to his property, by flooding of Mangaone and Kawau streams. Grass seed, just sown, washed away, and crop of potatoes damaged last year, complainant had sustained a loss of £80. If something was not done, to avert further damage, the writer, threatened to sue the Council, for damage already done, and that which mifht be done. The Mayor fstated that he had seen Mr Milverton about the matter a few days back, and if what he represented was correct, he certainly had a grievance. Possibly some of the Crs would recollect what had been done before m the matter. Cr McNeil remarked, that a report had been brought up by Mir Armstrong, stating that it was desirable to cut off the water from the town. Certain action had been taken by the engineer for the Borough at the time, and he (the speaker^ could not see how he could have erred. Cr Snelson remarked tbat the Mangaone water did not reach the town until 2 sections below Mr Milverton's place, and, if the stream overflowed, and the water came down on to the property, it would be an act of providence. Cr Stewart considered that the applicant had grounds for complaint, and that the damage did not arise frotn natural causes. Cr Rush considered that Me Milverton had a grievance and a ffreat one too. He explained the nature of the oyerflow of water, and the origin and cause of such overflow. Cr S. Abrahams remarked that he would not support the. referring of the ! matter to the Public Works Committee. It had been before them long enough, and the complainant himself had no objection whatever if the damage came from natural causes. Cr Hawkins supported Cr Abrahams. He hoped that some independent surveyor, or competent person, would be engaged to examine into the matter and report to the Council, so that if a court case did come off, they would have some reliable person to back them up with his opinion. The Mayor read the various resolutions relating to the subject passed at previous meetings of the Council, and requested Cr West to rend a newspaper j report of the letter received from Mr Milverton at the time. Cr West remarked that if he remembered rightly the owners of the land were written to to know if they would maintain the bank if it was made by the Council. Mr Milverton replied that he would be satisfied with anything which would keep the water out. This happened m July last. Cr Grace moved that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. In reply to Cr R. S. Abraham, the Mayor stated that everything had been done excepting the construction of the bank, and that this was the whole cause as alleged by the complainant of the water overflowing and damaging his , property. I Or Hawkins moved as an amendment — That the matter be referred to a competent engineer to be selected by the Council not resident m the Borough, to report to the Council on the whole qv63tion. Seconded by Cr R. S. Abraham. The amendment was declared lost. Cr McNeil proposed a f urther amendmeot as follows .•—'That Mr E. J. Armstrong be consulted before this Council takes action, he beine the engineer whose advice the Council followed m the said drainage, Cr Stewart proposed an amendment .which he withdrew by consent, and proposed as a further amendment — That the Council take immediate steps to close up the culvert across the Rangitike Road on the north side of Boundary Road. During a heated discussion on the subject various Crs were called to order. Cr Snelson moved a further amendment — That the Mongaone and Kawau streams be cleared of all debris and the channels made so as to relieve the storm water complained of. Seconded by Cr McNeil. Cr McNeil's amendment was put to the meeting and declared lost. Cr Stewart's amendment was then pat to the meeting and declared carried by 7 to 4 votes. Cr Grace's motion therefore fell through, and Cr Stewart's amendment became the motion. Another amendment was made by Cr West — That tne Council close up the culvert across Rangitikei-street m continuation of Boundary Road, and that the beds of the Mongaone and Kawau streams be cleared out and made large enough to carry the water away. Cr Snelson's amendment was put and lost after various opinions had been made by Crs. Cr R. S. Abraham pointed out that the proper amendment m his opinion had been allowed to go by, viz., that of Cr» Hawkins, to refer the matter to a competent outside party to report on. Cr West's amendment was put and lost. Cr R. S. Abraham moved a further amendment as follows : — That the question be adjourned to a meeting to be held m fourteen days, and that a special committee consisting of Messrs West, McNeil, Snelson, and the mover be appointed to look into the matter and report to that meeting. Seconded by Cr Grace. The amendment of Cr R. S. Abraham was put to the meeting and carried by 7 to 5 votes. The amendment of Cr Snelson then became the motion, and was declared lost. The matter of Richter and Co.'s application, regarding the forming and metalling of Terrace and Featherstonstreets, was then considered. Cr Snelson moved that the request of Messrs Richter and Co. be acceded to m terms of their letter, and that the work be done at once. Cr S. Abrahams remarked that he would object to the granting of any such request as that made by Messrs Richter & Co. They had based their estimates of revenue for the ensuing year on the return of rates, and if they allowed rates to be used m this way it would altogether upset their financial position. Besides this, the Council had a resolution to go by to the effect that all works m the Borough should be taken m their turn. Cr Rush remarked that he considered that the mover wished to have his motion carried, simply because Messrs Jenssen & Co. belonged to the "upper ten," while those pernons who lived m Collegestreet and Other places, were to wait to have their wants attended to. Bat of course it y»»3 Mr JfiJWWOi ft»4 that w«g QRQUgk,,

Moved as an amendment by Ci* S. Abrahams, seconded by Or Stewart— That the work be attended to m it its turn as per the list. O Abrahams said he was personally sorry to have to go against Messrs Richter & Co. m this way, but while at die table of the Council he would act without fear or favor. Cr McNeil said he did not see where the remark came m, he hoped that all councillors attended m the same spirit. The amendment of Cr Abrahams was put to the meeting and carried, and be came the motion. Cr West inn veil as a further amendment — Tluib Messrs Richter & Co. be permitted to form the road m question, provided that the road be let by tender, and that they find the money for the • cost thereof as an advance against rates and the work to be done to the approval of the Council. ! Seconded by Cr McNeil. ! Various opinions were expressed as to the right of the Council to grant the request or not. The amendment was put to th« meeting and lost. Cr Abrahams' motion was then put and declared carried. _ ' Re Evans' application for uermission to sub-let 3 acres, part of lot 2, section 1536, to Mr F. Jenssen, at an annual rental ; also stating that granting the request would not interfere with the rights of the Council. Moved by Cr S. Abrahams, seconded by Cr Woods, and carried — That the matter be referred to the Reserves Committee,, and a report be submitted at the Council meeting to be held m 14 days. The Foreman of Works report was read and received. The following report from the Fire Brigade was read : — Sir, — I am instructed by the Paltnerston Fire Brigade to convey to you the terms of a resolution passed at the last meeting of the brigade to the following effect : That unless the captain of the brigade is appointed a fire inspector the brigade will resign m a bedy. Cr S, Abrahams moved that the report be received, and no notice be taken of it. > Seconded by Cr Hawkins. Cr Rush considered that the Council bad offered a. direct insult to the brigade, by not appointing their captain fire inspector. The brigade did their best, and he gave them credit for resigning. Cr Wood m his experience had always known captains appointed inspectors. Moved by Cr Grace as an amendment — That the matter be held over till the next meeting. Seconded by Cr Rush. The amendment was declared carried. Be Stratton's application for new burners for the street lamps, and instruc tions to have the cisterns repaired. Moved by Cr S. Abrahams — That the request bo referred to the Public Works Committee to attend to, and that they bring up a report at rtext meeting also a statement where new lampposts are required and their cost. Seconded by Cr A. Stewart, and carried. LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The following report was read : — To the Mayor and Councillors ot the Borough of Pahnerston North. ' Gentlemen — I beg to report to you concerning action recently taken by your Library Committee m the matter of excluding certain papers from the Beading-room tables. It havine been reported to the said. Committee that the Liberator and Rationalist, two Free-thought journals, had been, without permission, placed on the Reading-room tables, I, as Chairman of Committee caused them to be removed, whereupon application was made to the Committee for the re-place-ment of the said papers upon the tables. At a meeting of your Library, Committee held May 25th to consider this application, the following resolution was passed nem con :— " That all books papers, and periodicals advocating Free-tnought, Infidelity, or any particular sect ot religion be excluded from the Public Reading Room." Previous to holding the meeting your Committee received the following replies m response to telegrams sent. Wanganui. — All religious and Freethought publications are excluded from Library.— C. E. Hylton. New Plymouth. — No authority given by Committee for admission of Freethought journals. — Jas. Padl. Also the following telegram from the Mayor of Christchurch, which arrived too late for the meeting. Christchurch. — No Free-thought journals have ever been placed m the Reading- roon^. — A. Myers. It will thus be seen |that m the only three Reading-rooms to which your committee applied for information, all of which are important and populous centres and are similarly constituted to the Palmerston Reading-roum, the practice is m harmony with that initiated by the above quoted resolution passed by your Library Committee. As your Committee exist under your appointment T deem it my duty to report their action m this matter for your approval or otherwise. — I am &c. R. Leaky. Chairman of Library Committee. Proposed by Cr Snelson, 2nd byCr. R. S. Abrahams. That the report be received and adopted, PUBLIC WORKS REPORT. Present — Crs McNeil (x?hair), Grace West, and Rush. The letter from Mr J. P. Armstrong re his contract for level charts referred from the Council was considered. ' Cr L. G. West proposed, and Cr Grace seconded, That the Council be recoin mended to accept Mr J. P. Armstrong's offer to supply longitudinal sections of the street levels m lieu of the Fitzherbert level extension at present, provided that the Raugitikei Line and Moneane left bank level extension be completed at once. Resolved, That tenders be invited for the supply of oats and oaten hay. Resolved, That the Council bo recommended to expend a sum not exceeding £20 m stabling for the Borough horses.. Resolved, That the Council be recommended to authorise the placing ou the list to be done m its turn, the metalling of Ferguson St. from Powell's gate to Fitzherbert St. Resolved, That the Council be recommended to authorise owners of private streets to take gravel from the Borough pit. BOROUGH POUND REPORT. Impounded. — By ranger, 40 ; by property owners, 4 ; outside Borough, 43 ; total, 87. Fees received, £13 18s 6d Paid property owners, 11s; Council raster, £3 9s; Manawatu Road Board, 12s 6d. Fees to pnundkeeper — 5 notices, at 2s Ga, 12s 6d ; 43 head of cattle at Id, 3s 7d ; driving fees to ranger, £2 2s. Credit balance, £6 7s lid.