PALMERSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 54, 5 July 1879, Page 2

PALMERSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, July 2, 1879. present — His "Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Colerann, King, Walton, Jenssen, Ferguson, und Marsh. APOLOGY. An apology was read from Councillor Linton, . who was confined to the house by a severe fit of indigestion. MINUTES. After the minutes of past meetings were read and confirmed, the Chaibman read the following correspondence : — ■ A BEQUEST. From Mr. Eliot Warburton, requesting to be furnished with a' list ofjthe assets and. liabilities of the Local Board on the date of the incorporation of the Borough. The Town Clebk intimated that he had acceded to the request, and had heard nothing more of the matter. "• ' PATHS "WANTED. From Mr. Turner, manager of the Bank of Australasia, Broad street, diawing attention to the state of the footpath, and requesting to have it formed and raised the proper height. Moved by Councillor Jenssbn, seconded by Councillor Mabsh — "That the applination from th« Bank of Australasia be granted, provided the money for the work bo advanced to the Council, one half to be refunded in-December next.'V — Carried. FRE3. From the Treasury, intimating that the sum of five shillings, being the amount of fees, fines, &c, for the month ending 30th of April, collected by .means of stamps at the Palmerston Police Court, had been placed to the credit of the Borough. A befund. From the Customs' Department, intimating that, m the ab3f>nee of advice with regard to the formation of the Borough, and of the appointment of a bank m which the Borough fund was kept, the sum of £10, received for licenses, had been paid to the County Council. The Town Clerk was instructed to apply to the County Council fop a refund of the amount. COMPENSATION *OR DAMAOB. From Frank Laurence, stating that, on the 17th of June, he had met with certain injuries by falling into a' drain which was being constructed for the Corporation, which drain had been left m an unprotected state. He enclosed a certificate from Dr. Maclachlan •m proof that he was unable to work from the injuries received, and consequently he applied to the Council for compensation. ; . . The Mayor said the culvert having.been still m the hands of the contractor, and the .Council had nothing to do with the contract until .completed, he could not see what claim Mr. Laurence had upon the Borough. Councillor CqTjBM-an suggested that the letter phouM be referred to the coatWiCtw,

Mr. Laurence to be informed that the Council acknowledged no liability m the matter. HOSPITAL SUBSIDY. ~ : From the Colonial Secretary, - acknowledging the receipt of 'declaration to the effect that £6 17s. had been subscribed towards the .funds of the Palmerst-on North Hospital, for the quarter ending 31st March! last. A request -was made for a return, of the list of subscription, when the us&al subsidy of. £. for £ would be given; i: . Tli^Toynsr Glebk stated, that the >ubIscripttdn" list had been forwarded,- a's : requested. • WIDENING MAIN SifaEET FOOTPATH 3. . .. From Dr. "Lemon, the General Manager of. Telegraphs, with regard to the removal of the telegraph poles m Main street^ announcing that, m conformity with the<requesfc of ihe Council, when the oonti-act foi % the Palme. -ston-Woodville line was taken m hand, the necessary alterations would be made. — No reply necessary. AN APPLICATION. From Mr. James Caivoll, making applicplion for the formation of a footpath rotnjd the Clarendon Hotel, from Cuba stwet to Dcmond's, stating that be was willing to bear half the cost. — The general ■ opinion of the Council appeared to be that if the formation of the footpath were gone on with, that was all that was necessa.'y at pi-esent, leaving the kerbing until a f atu-'e time. . ■ ■ Mored by Councillor Ferguson, and seconded by Councillor King—" That the footpaths be formed, m accordance with M»*. CjitoH's application, and the whole of the road filled up, provided that the whole of the cost be advanced by M?. CarroU, and tl'at, m December next, the amount be refunded to him less thp proportion provided by the Act to be borne by him." — Car.-ied. A GOOD OIFEE. -Application from Mr. Amesbury to have a portion of Amesbury street, leading to the residence of Dr. Marriner, formed and gravelled, he offering to advance the necessary funds, providing that the Council refund one half the amount m December next. Proposed by Councillor Jenssbn, seconded by Councillor Walton — " That the request of Mr. Amesbury to have about three chains of footpath m Amesbury street foraied, metalled^ and kerbed, be acceded to on the terms mentioned m bis application, namely, to advance the money required, and be refunded by the Council' half the amount m December next." Carried. CUIVEET BEQOIBED. From H. Wollerman and others, draw : ng attention to the necessity of having a culvei'L constructed at t r .;e junction of Fitzberbevt and Ferguson street. It was stated that the b"ii'ge at present m use was coustructed by those living m the locality, at their own cost. Councillor Jenssen stated that that bridge was almost one of the first wo..'ks which had been ordfered to be done. A sum of £5 would have the work done. The Mayob suggested that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee, with the view of having the work done. BQUABB DEHENTUBES. From Councillor Jemsen, treasurer to the Council, drawing attention to the fact that the debentures intended to cover the expense of the Squaie improvements have not been taken up, as promised, and that m con-equenco £87 10s. has been advanced out of the general funds to meet the contractors. Councillor Jenssen suggested that as the money was urgently required to prov'Ue engagements already entered into, the matter should be referred to a committee appointed by the properly-holde-s m the Squnre. The Mayob stated that as a member of the Committee, he ,was sorry to say that some of t lie persons who had put the'r names, down tor debentures, upon application being made for the money,' refused to honor thoir own signatures. He might mention Mr. Waldegrave as one, nnd My. Robert Johnson us another. The former had p-omised to take up. two debentures, but had taken up but one ; while the latter dem'u "red to carrying out his promise on the plea that his affairs were embaivassed. The document was not, of course, stamped, and it wns merely a matter of honor. , Coimcillor Febguson asked why : the banks hid not taken part m the movement. The Chairman said he did not think there was any person with power- to acfc for the banks ; but the suggestion might be acted upon. Councillor Ferguson suggested that the Committee which had acted m the matter before he asked to confer among themselves, and fake the step's which, they deemed best for raising tfie required money. PUBLIC "WOBK3 COMMITTEE. : " We, your Public Wo?-ks Committee, have the honor to report that the Engineer, who, with his Worship the Miyoi", was deputed to arrange the site for a nuisance pit, has recommended a portion of the reseive on the ea^t side of Fifczberberfc Road, but thsfc' it would require from £10 to £15 spending upon it before it would be available. We have therefore authorised him to spend the amount upon it required, not, however, exceeding £15i We have likewise authorised a sum, not to exceed £3, to be spent m deepening, the ditch from Mr. M'Neil's to the Kawau Bridge. We have passed for payment the amotint due upon the contracts for metalling Duke and Albert st reets." The report was received and adopted. BISPOBT OF THE LIBBABY COMMITTEE. " I have the honor to inform you that, m accordance with your .request, the following gentlemen consented to be the com mit tee of management of the Palmer3ton North Public Library, namely, Messrs. Mitford, B. teasy, Gtoeen., Wray, CoJeman, Kinjr, nnd Dungan. "The number is not so large as that named by your Council, but it is considered that a less number will be no detriment to its working, and I . would ask. you to confirm the above-named Committee. "The Committee Ins, pending your.approval, appointed the Town Clerk as librarian, as had previously been arranged by our predecessors. The hours during which the raiding room is open, and for the issue of br>oVf, remain the same. " A code of regulations has been drawn xip which I would ask you to confirm or amend: — a copy for . your information is attached. " The late treasurer has prepared a statement of receipts and expenditure, and of nsppfcs and liabilities, which I likewise attach. " The Committee propose to expend the sum of £15 m procuring requisites for the reading room. If; is. thought better to only obtain what is actually required, leaving other very necessary matters to another year. <c I hare the honor to b*j " Gentlemen, | M Tour obedient servant, " John B." Dungan, " Chairman." Proposed by Councillor FebguSQN, ae\ conded by Councillor Walton— *• That the , report of tne. Library Commifcbea be; re-' oeived and adopted."—^Carried. i DAMAGE TQ THB BQUABB. The Chaibman said he wished to bring: prominently before the Council the frightful havoc -which was being don©- to the Square by trespassing hpraea. Night after night the place wns being trodden down, until m some portions it had becom,e scveri-. table quagmire v while, a number ibf posts ! had. been dragged, outaf tUe grouad iv the

efforts of the animals to get either m or out. The fad. was that unless a- heavy, penalty were inflicted, the amount expended m the improvements would be completely wasted. He would suggest that a representation should be made from the Council to the Bench of magistrates, pointing out the total inadequacy of the fines inflicted, to meet the damage done. Councillor King said he heartily endorsed the remarks of his Wors.hjp, as it was only a few mornings before that be had gone round to the police station "to reportto the. Constable, and get him to turn out about half a dpzea,_ Councillor Jenssen thought if the Constable were to impound the animals first and summon the owners afterwards, it might act as a wholesome check. . t • The Chairman replied that that was exactly what had been don*; but that as the trespass fees were only one shilling, and the fine might be fire shillings, the costs were seven. From that it would be seen while the, damage ( was done to tbe property of the Borpughj they; got but the smaller sum, as the Government obtaiued the costs.. . '/ ■ „ -„.; , : .. , .. ..■- ,_. 'Councillor CotEMA* asked -what was the highest penalty attached to a breach of the bye-law? The Chairman said ;85. N ,/ The matter was then discussed .at considerable length, as was also the very preva-, lent practice of riding and driving on footpaths, and it' was unanimously decided to press upon the Bench the infliction of the maximum penalty. Tbe Town" Clerk was further instructed to haye a notice of the bye-law printed, and placed m prominent places throughout the town, as. ' a warning to trespnsser3. . ■ ■ , THB "WANTS OF THE TO"WN. The Matob said that, as the time was near at hand for the meeting of Parliament, lie thought, there were a few matters which should be brought p.-ominently, under the attention of their. member.. These were an enlargement : of "the Post Office, a station more fitting to the wants of the town, and the erection of a District Court. He felt bound to admit that Mr. Johnstone had not been unmindful of the wants of the district m the past, but the great bug-bear was the trouble of visiting them; Still he felt sure if a resolution of the Council were forwarded to him asking him to .take -action m any matter, it would be found that he would do so. . o- „ ..; „. . : . , y, -„ Councillor Fergtts6n asked if/it were'to be taken for granted that the promises. of Messrs. Ballance and Macandrew were not to be fulfilled ? .-.- , ,- '■■ '^ The Matob said he did/ not think so. For instance, a promise bad been made that the Manawatu Bridge should be painted, and he believed t,h« work would have been done, were it not that.it, was too lale. The two crossings and the filling m of the ditch were to be done;, but it might, be r«membered that with regard to tb» Station and' the Post Office, but conditional promises were given, and. the deputation was asked. to wait until next year.. : : Councillor Mabsh -aid that the Council could not do better than leave the matter m the hands of the ' Public Works Committee, so that they confer before writing to Mr. Johnstone. „."•' Councillor Jenssen said he wo iJ ld be happy with the other members of the Committee to meet his Worship for that end. - THE BOfiOtTGH HOSPITAL. Councillor Jensskn drew the attention of the council to the fact that a number «f young men had taken possession, of the hospital cottages, and the property wan getting injured and the windows broken. Councillor COI.EMAN §aid that a» treasure, of the Hospital he had 'spoken to Const«>ble and given him orders to. clear the intruders .OUt v / .. ._ ,'';, v , /„' :. .;. . : ';■ ." ... PEESBTT Xi^IAW SOIBEB. ". _ „ ' Couneillprs Kiira arihounceCthat he nad been requested by the Presbyterians congregation to request" the use of the-Libmry room for the 7th of next month, That body were about to hold a soiree upon the occasion of the induction of the Rev. Mr Wright, and. they thought, the room asked for was the most suitable m the town. The Chairman intimated that personally he was most favorable to the application, but he rather questioned that the Council had any power, to grant the request. That room and its contents were hnncjerk over t,o the Library Committee irho,\ were responsible for its conduct and management, pnd he was of opinion that it yraai to that body that the request should he jprefcrred. ;,: Councillor I£in6 : could see the correcness of the .remnrks, but he .would ask the Council to give authority to the Library Committee for such auction. Upon the motion of Councillor, Jenssen it was unaminouslycarried tnat/ so fttr a* they hkd power," the Council gave, tfee' 4»* sired permission. > ** >^ : '■■!■■ SANGEBOTrsoßossnrck „ Councillor > Mabsh drew 'attention': to the dangerous state of the road; at the . crossing by the school m Main : street. ! If- was, so. narrow. that frequently vehicles were going down into the ditch beside it. Although the danger, was great 'the remedy was easy; for a few., loads of stuff would makt the matter right „ . i. ' At the suggestion of the Matob the matter was left to the Public Works Committee. •■ ' I)ITOH AT TEBBACE END. Councillor Mabsh complained of the dangerous ditch alongside the rbadat Terrace En<l, : bat as it appeared thdt the Engi- : neer had already taken, or wa« about; to take action m the matter, it was allowed to and. ; ■ • .-■; ■'•! ' -J ■ The Council then adjourned. : •