Town Board

North Otago Times, Volume I, Issue 4, 21 April 1864, Page 10

Town Board

A special meeting of the Town Bord

Was held at the Court-house on Friday

Last, the 15th instant. There were fore-

Sent-messrs gibbs(in the chaer),

Thomp son Shrimski, Dr. Williams,

and Baudinet, Minutes of previous

meeting were read and confirmed.

Correspondence.

A letter from the Resident Magestrate

Was read, as follows:- "Sir,- Having

noticed in the report of the Town Board

Proceedings in the last issue of the

Oamaro Times, that a letter had

Been addressed to the Board by the

Rev. Mr. Gifford, relative to the use of

The Court-house for musical practice

On Thursday evenings, I fear that

there must be some misconception

abroad as to the terms on which the

Town Board has the use of the

Court-house, and I, therefore, beg

of you to bring this letter under the

Boards Consideration.

“ On Thursday Evenings, the parties

Who meet for practice, in justice

have full right to the use of the

Court-house on such occasions,

and the Town-Board cannot inter-

whatever: and with regard to a

-fere with the meeting in every way

Meeting that is held on Tuesday

Evenings by the members of a sing-

powerless.

-ing class, the board is equally

“There are four other Everings is

the week on which the Court-house

is of the services of the Town Board.

but their use of at any time is

merely an act of courtesy on the

part of the Govermment and re-

-vo-cable at any moment.

“ I have the honor to be the

“The clerk to the Town Board

The letter was dated Oamaru,

Mrs gibbs thought that since the

Ist,April 1864,

“ J. W. Parker.

Oamaru.”

to write to the Rev Mr Giffued, in

Board had instructed the clerk

reply to his letter, stating that

the Board would not interfere

With the Thuesday Evening's

muscical practice, the letter was

Dr. Williams thought it quite an

quite uncalled for.

Insult to the Board, that the Board

was put to a great in convencience

at many times through the sing-

-ing-class, and would therefore

more, that the clerk be instructed

to write to mr Parker, informing

him that the Board had as much

right to the Court house as any

Singing Class.

mr Gibbs suggestied that it would

be letter for the Board to say

nothing more about it.

mr Baudinet was of Opinion that

Mr Quarrie moved and Dr Williams

if would be better to put the letter

into a blank Envellope and send,

it back to the writer.

Here the matter dropped.

General Business

Considerable discussion was

then Entered into respecting the

Expense of cleaning the Court

house after the Board had used

it, which ended in the Clerk being

instructed to obtain a fresh bill

from the person Employed to do the

work.

Mr gibbs asked the clerk if he has

the note said to have been read at

the last meeting of the Town Board

asking him to take the minutes of

that meeting. He was sorry to

have to refer to anything appearing

in the Oamaru Times: But he fully

believed that the note in the report of

the Town Board meeting was inserted

to his prejudice, that it made him

till a deliberate false hood.

The Clerk could not produce the note,

Mr Gibbs felt that, as a public man,

his conduct was open to criticism;

but no one had any right to injure

his character. Besides the newspaper

had made many other severe attacks

on the Board in reference to the

state of the Oamaru creek. Persons

at a distance would think on read-

-ing those reports that this place was

a most felting one. The reports, there-

fore were calculated to injure the

Character of Each member of the

Board personally, as well as the

Board as a whole.

Dr Williams thought that the Creek

Was clean above the Bridge. He

Could not see any filth in it. As to

that part below the Bridge, he could

not say anything.

A letter from the contractor for the

Main sewer was read, requesting

payment of the balance of his Con-

-tract. It was accompanied by a

Certificate from the survey or, stat-

-ing, that the whole of the contract

Was completed satisfactorily ex-

-cepting the iron gratings which

had not yet been laid down.

Here mr Quarrie entered, and asked

the chairman why a meeting of the

Town Board was held without a

notice being given. He had not been

summoned to the present meeting.

The clerk Explained that he had

been at mr Quarrie's house to give

him notice, and finding that he

was not at home, left word with his

wife.

Mr Quarrie,-But I did not get

notice.

The clerk.-You did, sir, I left

it with your wife.

Mr. Quarrie- It is a falsehood.

Mr. Shrimski observed that, to

obviate the difficulty in future, he

would move that all future meetings

of the Board be convened by notice,

Either printed or written.

No one seconded the motion it there-

-fore lapsed

The chairman then drew the atten-

tion of the Board to mr Beattie’s

application for money.

The survey or thought him entitled

to £200.

Mr. Shrimski proposed, and Mr

Thompson seconded, that £200 be

paid to Mr Beattie Carried.

Mr. Thompson made application

for £200 on the remainder of his

contract. It was accompanied

by the survey or's certificate, show-

-ing that the contract for fencing

Esplanade had been Completed

Satisfactorily, Excepting the gates

not yet made.

Mr shrimski moved an Dr. Williams

Seconded that it be granted, Carreid.

Salaries of Survey or and staff

for the mouth ending April Bth

amounting to £48.8 S, were ordered

to be paid.

After some desultory conversation.

as to what should be close with the

Roadmen's hut on the esplanade,

Secon ded, that if be sold by public

Auction as it stands, with the old

Esplanade fence.

The chairman suggested that it be

referred to the public works Committee.

Mr Quaarrie believed the Board had

every right to decide the question.

The motion was then put and carried.

Mr Quarrie asked what had

become of a portio n of th e old fence

on the esplanade.

mr Thompson explained that he

took it away, thinking that it was

valueless, but would return if it

the Board desired him to do so.

The clerk read the survey or's report

dated April sth instant:-“To the

Chairman and members of the Town

Board.—Gentlemen,—l have the

honour to report that the levels of all

the streets of the south side of the

Oamaru creek are taken except Avon

and Tamar Street, but are not laris

down on paper, because I have

not an office to do such work in.

“ I have omitted the above - named

streets until I hear from the Board

if they, wish such street levelled.

The above named streets uren over.

nearly perpendicular hills. I have

the honor to be &c &d. Brooking,”

mr Thompson moved that the Board

adjourn to monday, the 18th nistent

at 3 o’clock, to give the public works

Committee time to prepase their

report of what office accommoda-

tion is necessary for the use of the

Board meetings, the surveyor and

clerk, seconded by mr shrimski

and carried.

An adjourned meeting of the Town

Board was held at the Court-house

on monday, the 18th. Instant, Present

messrs gibbs (in the chair), shrimski

Bandinet.

minutes of previous meeting read

and Confirmed.

The chairman drew the attention

of the board to two resolutions passed

at a previews meeting, instructing

the clerk to write to H.J. Miller, Esq.

M.P.L. requesting him to meet the

Board before he went to council.

The clerk said that he had not

written to mr. Miller.

mr shrimeki thought that it was

high time that the business of the

Board was conducted property.

mr gibbs requested the clerk to read

the resolutions and minutes passed

before tha last meeting of council

relative to the grants since made

by the Provincial council to the

Town. He wished to show the public

that the Board had not been be-

-hind on looking after the interests

of the town. It had worked and

gone to a good deal of trouble in

obtaining statestics to show the

Government the necessity and the

right Oamaru had to greater patro-

nage.

The minutes and resolutions re-

-fered to were then read. [They

referred only to the grants obtained

at last session.]

the erection of Town Board, Clerk

and surveyor's offices was then

Entertained.

Here mr falkner took his seat.

mr. Shrimski said that to meet

the requirements of the Board in this

respect, a room 30 feet by 30 would

be required constructed after the

fashion of the court-house.

The Chairman thought, that just

now, Since the Board was not pos-

-sessed of much funds, and as there

Was an uncertainty as to what

Would be granted during the present

Session, it might be better ifthe

Board would simply provide of-

-fice accommodation for the

Surveyor at present.

Mr falkner asked if a place

Could not beleased.

The Sureveyor observed that mr

John lemon would lease his office

to the Board, and that it would

be large enough to accommodate him,

It was then proposed by mr. falkner

and seconded by mr. shrimski,

that the clerk arrange with mr.

John lemon to sent-his office for

the surveyor at a rate not including

75 per work, with immediate pos-

-session for the remainder of the Sur-

-veyor's term.

Notice of Motion.

For falkner gave notice that, at the

Next meeting of the Board he would

more that the resolution passed at

the last meeting of the Board in so

far as it relates to the sale of the

old fence on Explanaded, and the

erection of Town Board office be

rescinded.

Amount for cleaning court House

after the Board had used it,

amounting to £ 1.2.6 was read and

ordered to be paid. mr shrimski

asked the chairman when the salaries

ordered to be ruls Sunday night to be

paid. The cresk informed the Board

that they were paid on monday

morning last.

mr Baudinet asked for the corres-

pondence passed between the

Board and messrs Dalgety Rat-

tray and Co, relative to the merchan-

-dize on the Esplanade.

The Clerk said he had not the litters

by him just then.

that at the next meeting of the

9tiA Jvt&tOtiu/ Mtufou. #<Uy£<h*fi6A.

Board, he would ask to have the

Correspondence read.

This ended the business, and the

meeting closed.