PALMERSTON NORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 95, 7 September 1878, Page 2

PALMERSTON NORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, 4th September, 1878.' PRESENT. ' " ' " " His Worship and Councillors Roe, Walton, Coleinan,. Ferguson, Marsh, and. Linton. MINUTES. • ' ' .. i After the minutes liad been confirmed, the Town Clerk read the correspondence' of whicu the following is a precis : — From the Secretary of Public Works relative to change of site for Terrace End platform., and declining to accede- to any revision' qf the decision arrived at. Prom the Secretary to. tlie Treasury relative to. license fees not credited to the ; Borough Fund account, . ' From the Chairman of " the County Council relative to same. [ From the District Engineer, notifying (that he had received instructions to dq- ; I certain work to the Terrace E"ikl platform. . From the Secretary of the Public Hall Company, forwarding terms for purchase of ( property. From the Public Works Oflic& refusfhg ;'■ to remove the disused shed. : Cr LiTNTON severly commented upon the : conduct of the G-overnmentj with regard to the passenger platform, stating that: if ,\i.. were erected for the convenience of the Stoney Creek residents, it was a reckless w,aste of money, a* it would, not bo used oneo m a month. He advised that a deputation B liquid see Mr Stewart, and point out to him the absurdity and injusticeof the stop taken. Tho Mayor said he whs quite convinced from the past conduct of the Department that the site was a foregone conclusion, and that Mr Stewart , would, only accept advice just as far ns it accorded witli his own ideas. He condemned m the strongest terms the erection of a building upon a road, which eron at the present time was far too narrow. Cr I/Inion moved", and Cr Mabsh seconded,— " That a deputation of the Council -wait upon the District Engineer on Friday morning, and make a final attempt to show him the necessity for the erection of a passenger platform at the junction of Fitzroy and Main-streets, and that the deputation consist of his Worship tho Mayor, and the mover and seconder." Carried. „ ( A NUrSANCE, j A letter was read from Messrs. Walde- i grave, Metard, and Turner complaining of a I nuisance arising from » pig-sty upon Mr Batchelar's premises. It was proposod by Cr. Lintox, seconded by Cr. Mabsh — "That Mr Batchelar receive notice frcm the Inspector of Nuisance to remove the pig-sty complained of, forthwith." Carried. .;..*,.- --! PUBLIC HALL. A letter was read froiri Mr Keeling, Secretary of tho Public Hall Company, stating that the liquidators had not endorsed the original offer of the directors "for the sale of the property. It was however agreed to sell tho site and building to the Corporation upon tho following terms : — -The purchase money to be £2000, the- payment running; over ton years, with interest at seven per^ cent. .. \' : . ■. The Mayor said that m his opinion the offer was preposterous, and . one : whioli it »as quite oulr of the. power of the Council, to. accept. It would be far wiser, to go along in' the manner m which they "liad been hitherto doing, paying rent, rathor than tie such a mill-stone around their net.-ks. If m the future the increasing growtlrand wants, of the town compelled the erection of a Municipal Hull, they had .plenty of ground, and a bijikKng.t«ottld be erected,;' tho interest of winch would not be more than the [Council was. paying for'tlie meeting room. • .: ■ -..', ; Cr. Lintok snid that he had been appointed one of the liquidators/ without (his consent, a»d at the meeting he had strenuously opposed the te-i i msf just. .read. He was a large- shareholder m the company — one of the largest — still m justice to the ratepayers, be could not recommend the acceptance of the proposal, as he would nob think it honest to do so. He had supported the first offer, because he thought it was a very fair one. Still he. wouldlike tasee the Council make some offer, a3 he felt convinced if the Corporation secured it at even a small advance upon the oi'iijinal sum, it would prove m time a- splendid speculation. Cr. Febgcjsox asked what the original terms were, as they had slipped his memory. . •■ The Tows Ci*ekk replied 'tlyit the bulk sum was £1,500, to bo' paid as follows :— First two ycarSj, £lOi) ; second two vwrs, £200; the next throo year*. . £3vX), au-h of the foregoing sums to be part of tl»6 purchase- money. Further, that ,-,\f • the wiiote sum were paid within the first four year**, arebnleofisJOOshould be mado. Cr. CoitßirAX quite agreed vvitlrt lie view his VVors'uip had taken. af tha matter. He waa prepared to admit that tlia piissessian of a Uoun cil Hull was very desirable, still as it waj not a neccssit \\ •he did not think' the absolute wants oi' die town should be stacritiuod to obtain it, and thw would just ho the case, if they wore to accept the terms offered. . ' ■■..";'. Cr. Feiiotjsos said that when the question wa? first mooted, he »v.-is adrerso to the p.u-cliasj,, but when at the laat incotmg he

hud beard the aorontageous terms on which the building could obtained, lie altered hi* opinion. Now the matter had assumed quite a different phase, and they wore coolly asked to give a sum considerably over £3000, or; double the price. He could come to no other conclusion than that th» previous offer made by the shareholders was feeler to see; how the Council would bite. Cr. IjINTOX, m reply wished to inform th» Council that Cr. Ferguson was mistaken m his surmise. The offer spoken of had coins from, the ; directory, of which he was .a. „, member, and was a fair, honest and legit i-. mate proceeding. There'certainly had been' an omission m not stating by whom the interest upon the loan was to be paid, and that was the reason why at the meeting th» shareholders had not endorsed the action of . the. directors. . * . .. Cr. Mabsh thought that the terms pro* posed were so outrageous, that " m hi* '■ opinion the best thing the Council could dowas to pay; no attention whatever to it. After some further discussion it was proposed by GrVLrNTOtf and seconded by Cr. Rob— "That the BProugb Council decline the terms offered by the liquidators, but ar© prepared to purchase the- hall and site as follows :— ■ -Take over the mortgage and pay . ■the- balance of the>£tso(> m, equal; annual '-■ ; . instalments extending .over a period o|. ten . years, free- of interest:" Carried. ... ' ' .; : ' |V * .."'...''.. ■ ' ' bbpobts.. .. .;■•;•; :'.., •;: ■ The rppsorts of the inspector* of Work* and Nuisances were -thea read, and adopted^ af^r which several accounts were passed for payment. . ■ . ;V "';.'• X-'.. ';. ■ ; .-.. ■■;;..,:.,. • BESIGITATION OF ATOITOB,. . . Cr. Colemak inquired of the Chairman^ if it were necessary for a borough auditor to. resign . that position , before.. contesting k , vacancy m the Council, arid upon: the answer being m the affirmative, the reiignation of Mr Thomas Bang ;*s a«cKtor,:w»B> handed m. •■•-- '■.-■•■ j: i^>l THE EEMOTAI* OFTHB GrOOKS BHBIK . -.. Cr. Marsh wished to ask the Chaiman if the Council had the power td.prd«;ihV J removal of the tiratn way goods, shed? ; • The Mayor said that as had been deenby the correspondence read, it was extended by; . the Public Works Departmehib'Vo'run a shunft ? into it. He said he' felt stronglyupon'the ;•-.. question, "and hadr-written to Mr Blackett- ... , .upon the j matter* but thafe , gentleman hadi ■ ', returned what he supposed w*s<! intended! : : , for ; a polite- snub ; m. fact, insinuated thafe the Council liad better mind its own busi-j- ..'..: 'ness. He (the Mayor) thought the Council! should enter the .strpnges.t protest against . such domineering behaviour,* as' Beenied' toi ' v : exist m that department.- r Th>y. should if necessary; petition b'o6h "Houses -of ■ Parlia-- ■ ; • mont agninsttho. present pbstTUction.anA. ask that ■ a good l goods* 'sheU shoultl be-' •■■■-■ erected upon' the, -site- , originally •>,chosen t> . - v when the line wa3 . m fprmatscfflt Palmers? . . ton could safely lay . elainvtp be. the most .;, important town, between Wanganni and / Wellington, and the- etatioivandsheds werestmply a disgrace. , Martpri, Halcdmbe, and, ; . Eeilding au had^^^ prpper^^^ bi^ldings^ butat Palmerston tlie waggons ; .^ere Kilo wled'tpk. load on, a|nd block up, the main lino, a thing • which would not be permitted m any other district iii tho Coidn-r. : -- f: '-.i :.. "• -' '■■■'"■ '„ Or. IiiNTON asked whether the road uponwhich the old shed stood, waa a Borough; or Government road! ?-i '>'.'■ , ;.„ .■ " * . . The Hayob replied that, according to MrBlackelfs letter the- road belonged to the* . Corporation, and. the shed tib..the GpTern- v men|. . - , . '.' Cr. Mabsh hearlly endorsed, the tvbws.held by thfe Mayor;, and was prepared! to go. to the fullest extent m the matter. .:'. ,:+--&;.>.''l Several otlier Councillors expressed §im 1 liir opinions, and ..finally , Cr. ilABStt moved, and Cr. Liktok seconjled-^" Thnt v the Council again bring under the notice of? \ , ! tho,,(3:overriment; tlio great niecessity tliab exists for tlie removal, without delay; of th» i old disused tramway goods shedi, m order to» ; give the. Council an opportunity of ; puttiiig ! the thoroughfare into good rjppoir;^ 1 arid, fur* ' • ; flier that it is the opJuioT) of Hue Council that?. ' the time- has how arrived whoa 'the Railway authorities should proceed with, tho eroc--. tion of a suitable goods shediu a more convenient pkee, being the one origih(»ilyttponi- ] I the plan of railway.; b*Bldirigs ia Ihe S^uwre.'^ ( Carried^ ' ' ""■ ■^.:.:-\ : ;.\-yi-. . '■'.'..-',.:• '■ ' DAXLABOE.. A very lengthy discussion then ensued a* „ to the advisability of reducing the working staff of tho ..CouncUi. every Councillor ex-. pressing his opinions as the best manner ir* which it could bY done. A motion of theMayor's was withdrawn, and the following , carried ■.unaniriibiisly z-^-" That the-. system : of day labjor be dispensed jwith for the pre- ~:~~. sent-, and' the Council-: re-appoint the^pTe< . . sent Oirerseer of Works :io whe* ppsitipnv : hitherto occupied, by.-him.-*' .; :; ; . :: ; ■ v "'■ ;•'■ stAira^^-TC^^^cKSßik; ',£ -v; : : : . , "The .application of Bobert"" Mackie fbr'ii : ■•-• liceme to slaughter on Section .945^ caiiietl ;.•;■ consuieriible' djsbtissipnv -Howeteri 'it wdis .©vent-H»lly deciU«l,' ; thafc-M theCpundil hack ; committed an error m deiiling with a ; ; ' : foriner 'application, .Mr ._ Mackio should 'hare- ■ a license, to : t,Ue ,^lst of i)ecemberi ';' ;: . . ; On tlie; same grounds the'applicatidn; oE ; Thoinus M6ffa*t^ t* slauglitw voii, eectipu 'f 208 was granted. •;',.•,. "^ | . deputation; 7 ./i.~'--\ ''"'.'.' Mr. Tricklebsvnk .interviewed ti» Cbuncil witb r.(Bgartr t<> Che disjjmceful'siatri pJE^tha- ( ■ road lesidmg to his premises. ' ;; ' . : . TheMAroßacknPwle(lgeitheneee»sityfor ' sometHing b«iing ■"done,: -\«n.d]_'|ofpraidd')MlP*.:.|'*,. • Tricklebauk that the miitter:h»4l)eeQ mentioned m the lMpector'sT^Bp^i^i;.a>^ be attended U> at the first opportunity^ < ' : THE BOBOtfaR U3AN. : . The- Matou IHJd. : upon tlie table a plan of (Jeqrge^stiwtjiapd works whMiJiewdddL' ask the CoiuicU to have carried out 'in thkfc locality. He stated thai' certain bf.the rate*; payers" hod works carried out m front of.. .. their properties^ by advancing la the Ooun*' ' oil th» necessary fiinilstf of^thtjloiierifiouk H' This he now thought was a bad plan, -as he jßonsidered it a mistake i btSf&toH the ratj» ■of th 6 Borough, and dispose of them be■fqfe they becalnejda& r He I»il-» saggjssi^ ... tion fo offer to the .ConVieij.V which ". he-: thought if 'acted^ npoh .wpuUl i not .only^ liavft m a.tcnd.enoy- to h'sVe'necessary > works arid ifti^ ■': provements m the Borough pustied ahead, but. also would have, the; effect of disposing of the Borough Debentures.: If, the Cor- . pomlion would authorise him; to have fivechiiin3 m George-street, metalled, formocl . and kepbed ? with a foo* bridge over the drain 'io" Main-si reety he -would take/tlipi ;v : nmou&t up m debentures. CounciHb^ -; Lin ton liad advanced' ;some &J0 36 the Council for iinproyeTiiQiiita opposite liU rt(si-^ de'nce;; other. ra.M?4iivyei » lwicl. dan& the^s:iiiie>; * and it was quite possibly tli.it t-Uoaegeut-le-" ( jneh^. would he agreeable to.) TJoeive tlieir rmoriay back m the aluipa^f debeiilures." Tle^ 'debeatuny were ; of tlie value of £2o earii, curried sex-eri per cent for seven years, and-Hvtti-e a marketable couVuwdity. ; . If the veAdents on tlie Square wero tafollowout the. plan and take, «p ,soa«e, the SqiiaW* itself ;could beiinpraved, thereby considerably cnhanoinglhe v.nliie af i.liesir praperi iiiis. Cr. JLjINXos was of Oi>inioh fcliiit when ho conuneuced to lend the- Ji>r'oa^lr;?n'puey, he.hi(l'iHKated : a ; 'yb'r-y : Wd-pi»btitie. : vß»wid» it should be remembered that th* wprk^peiformed i» his neighborhooi waa iiJfr fa.* ..the decoration or iuijirovonjeiit of property — » it was a huge necvJ3<ilr. He hi.l very little money wlieu he : ";;nuUe. the' advAivoc, aitxd iS

he toole it out: m debentures, he sfipposed he would hove less. Still if it were a benefit: to the Council to get rid bT its linhilitv m that way, he was quite satisfied to take debentures: With regard 'to f the Square lie Hiouent it an admjrjible eiipgeatibii, as tbe .people m that; quarter hadronds nnrl footpaths made without, even contributing one penny. The (Mayob- would-HKe to remind Coun-. eillora that the ; motiey did riot come out of the ratepayers* pockets. It lind first.come from the Provincial, augment ed by the^overnnient and Highways Board. He did not wish to ask the Council to sanction more than five chains e in- George-street. It would en«9B an increased valuation on the properties m the street, and would coat the Council nothing beyond a small puta for inieresfc. With regard" to the Square improveTnent, he thought the best way would be palled a pnblic^ -'trteeting' of citizens, and rent Hate the matter m that; way. Ifc* wad ywinted but :by the Town Clerk that George-sirieefc was still a, private street,: * -whereupon Councillor Cpr-KMAW proposed, . and.GouncfllofJtoß seconded, "that Gebrsce-' ftreet be [tiakenj over) by the CJouncU." ■ Carried.:--.- ... . . .'•.."-.;... : v V Proposed by Or. Ltntoit, and seconded byGr.HoB, "That the format ion of -George-. street be referred to i the Public Works Committee, anci tenders culled for the same, as soon as possible." Carried.-. " : "' ■ • Projjosed^^by Gr.. ; hisroy v seconded by l Cr. MARSH, "that tne Borougli Council grant debentures' to any property-hoWer advancing money for public works within the'bQTOUffii, such debentures being a part of the authorised load." Carried; r ENDOWMBNT. V' " ITThe Matob stated that he had learned -from Mr Williams, the Mayor of Mngterton, thJAtlmt Borougli had been granted an endolnnent of 2000 acres m the Forty-Mile Bush. -He thought Palmerston should make application to the Gbvernor-in-Councilfor a similar endowment, and considered a block m the Forty-mile Bush almost likely place. . The funds for such subsicles would probably end m tliree years, and/^lHle Boroughs m the South Island were, m pocsession" of grants of between. 6oo, and 5000 acres, they ahouldf not let the opportunity pass without having Vatriiggfo for it. The Council, was . thorough! y^in accord . with the suggestion, and l after 'the Mayor nnd CouncilprLinton "were selected to toke thenecensdry steps,? the Council adjourned^ after a sitting of four-hours.