CARLYLE TOWN BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 506, 7 April 1880, Page 2

CARLYLE TOWN BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Monday evening. Present—Mr Milroy, in the chair, Messrs Aitchison, Howitt, and Adams. TENDERS. For filling in Taranaki-street to level up tlie roadway, four tenders had been received, namely, from G. 11. Dixon, for a sum of £32 ; from Peter Lawson, at iil 18s Gd per chain ; from David Anderson, Kakaramea, at iil 15s Gd per chain ; and from John E. Keys, at £2 7s Gd per chain. The Chairman said—Mr Anderson’s tender appears to ba informal, the cheque enclosed for deposit being unsigned, and therefore of no value ; and I must ask the Board to lay down a precedent as to whether an unsigned cheque can be received and treated as a formal deposit. Mr Aitchison moved, Mr Howitt seconded, and it was agreed that Mr Anderson’s tender be not received, the same being informal.

The Chairman—As to (he length, I make out from the map that it would be about 19 chains. This at 35s 6d per chain would amount to Ji33 14s 64. You will see that Mr Dixon’s tender, which is the only one made in a lump sum, would be within that total at pei' chain. The three lowest tenders are very close. Mr Aitchison moved, Mr Adams seconded, and it was agreed that Mr Dixon’s tender for £32 be accepted. engineer’s contract. Mr E. Tregear wrote, proposing to undertake the engineering work of the Board at the rate previously agreed upon with Messrs Fraser & Tregear. The Chairman proposed that the offer be accepted, the engagement to terminate at any time on receiving one month’s notice from either side.—Mr Howitt seconded, and it was agreed to. ENCROACHMENT ON STREET. Mr Tregear sent the following report : —ln laying off the pavement for Meredithstreet, I found the south side encroached upon about 1 foot. I have made several careful measurements, the result of which I have embodied in a rough sketch. At Mr Lett’s garden fence a mistake of a foot has thrown all the other allotments (which have about their right frontage in length) too far towards Meredith-street. The north side of Meredith-street is right within a couple of inches. The result is that Meredith-street will lose a foot of its already too narrow thoroughfare, if the Board cannot arrange it. Mr Adams asked what the Board could do in the matter.

The Chairman —We should send a copy of this letter to each of the parties, warning them of any further onoroaohmont, and stating that the Board may at any ilmo ci»ioo tho present encroachments to he removed. It would be better to warn them so as to keep any further improvements within the proper boundary. No doubt we have a right to cause any building to be removed off streets, but whether wc should be justified in removing any encroached building at present, or whether we should leave it till Meredith street becomes a little more important, would be for the Board to decide. It might result in a question of disputed engineering. I believe the parties would remove back the fence, if asked to do so ; and that would be a great assistance. Mr. Adams —At whoso expense has this survey been made ? The Chairman —When Mr. Tregear was chaining off this work, he informed me he could not find the proper boundary for Meredith street, and I requested liim to

chain it oil and sec where tho mistake was. Mr Lett has got a foot, more than he is entitled to, Ins property being the first occupied ; and each succeeding building has been thrown a foot wrong in consequence of that first error. The other parties, instead of taking a survey, simply measured from the next boundary, and the corner plot is left a foot short. The land being conveyed to us by deed, that protects the inhabitants, and we have power to remove any building and have the boundary set right. Mr Aitchison moved, “ That the proprietor of Carlyle Meat Bazaar be notified of encroachment pointed out by Mr Tregear, also enclosing a copy of Mr Tregear’s letter ; and informing him that the Board may find it necessary at any time to order the removal of the building or fence causing the said encroachment.” The main object I have in view is simply to reserve the Board’s rights to that street, and prevent us from getting into any trouble by allowing it to run on too long. It is just possible that if wo neglect it at this time it may be permitted to run on for years, until there arises a squabble about it at the end. It will be better to enter a protest in tho meantime, and reserve the Board’s rights to the street. Mr Howitt seconded the motion, which was adopted. PROPOSED SUB-LETTING RECREATION GROUND, Mr Ross wrote as follows:—“ Having leased from you about 60 acres of land at 12s per acre, of which some 11 £ years are unexpired, having expended a large smr. in fencing, &c., and having loft Carlyle, and therefore cannot work the place to advantage, I have endeavored to sell my interest in the lease (of course subject to your approval), and am met on all sides by the statement that if I would cut it up into small paddocks persons would be willing to buy. I have now four persons willing to take 5 acres each ; but as I am not empowered to do this, and would entail a survey and separate sub-leases, I beg to make the following proposal to you. In the first place, small paddocks are very scarce in the town, and a good demand still exists for them, and nearly all the paddocks owned by the Board have been leased at from £2 per acre upwards, the n-reat drawback to all being the want of water. I am of opinion that if the Board purchased rny interest, they could im-

mediately re-let the-whole'block in say 12 paddocks of 5 acres each, giving water 10 each one, which would bring in an annual venial, computed at the lowest rate of say 30s per acre, of £9O per annum, being £54 per year more than I now paj, and a sum of about £bOQ on the term tinexpired. I would he willing to accept for vuy interest in the lease the sum of £IOO, which would, only about recouu me for amount expended in fencing and grassseed. On the other hand, should the Board not feel disposed to treat with me for the purchase. I shall feel extremely obliged if you will allow me to sub-let the piupeitv in lots as opportunity occurs, the Board holding me responsible for the rent dm mg the term.” The Chairman called attention to the conditions of Mr Boss’s lease, and said die public bad right of access to the properly as a rec»cation ground. Mr Adams—We intend taking part of it over this winter, so that we may start planting ; and there is also no live fence, as required By the lease. The Chairman—We are not raking tho land over at present, or we might require tiie live fence to be on it. Mr Boss is asking whether the Board will take the land over, or whether we will allow him to | sub-lease into 5-acre allotments.

Air Adams —We want to find out first what part we are going to fence in ; ami I should go against deviating from the original arrangement, except by cancelling it altogether. The Chairman —I think we should not cancel it. Mr Adams—Then I should go against paying any money. If wo commence to cut the laud up, wc don’t know where to do it. The Chairman--We have aotuady allowed several people to cut their sections into 5 or G pieces and sub-let them. Mr Adams—Yes, but this is let out. The Chairman—Whatever we take off, the parly who snb-lets from Ross would get just the same valuation. If the Board were, to take a portion at present, it would encourage Mr Boss to hold on, because there would he a reduction of his rental. Mr Adams —I propose that Mr Boss’s application be laid on the lab.e at next meeting. Mr Aitchison -That might put him to considerable inconvenience. Mr Adams—l should like to see a larger muster of members present before we decide. The Chairman —We might inspect ihe ground during the month. Mr-Adams—l should like also a committee appointed to attend to the Recreation Ground. There ought to be some money expended on it this winter. The Chairman—The money should be expanded on tho streets, Mr Adams—But the money belongs to the Recreation Ground, and not to the streets. The Chairman —We cannot have it on both places. Mr Adams —If that ground is placed m our 1 lands as a public trust, we ought to maintain it as first intended.

The Chairman —The Board is that much in debt to the Recreation Ground, and it would take some time to pay. Mr Adams—Yos, voting it to the Cricket Ground. The Chairman—No, the money was cxponGed in clearing two acres of giound at this end. Mr Unwitt proposed “That the Board cannot sec their way to grant Air .1. Ross s application to cut up the Recreation Ground ; neither to take it over on the terms offered hy him.”

Mr Ailchisoii suggested as an alternative motion, “ That the Board declines to entertain the proposal or grant the request of Mr Ross, seeing that the Board may shortly require tc enclose a portion of the reserve for tree-planting. These proposals not being seconded, Mr Adams moved, “ That Mr Ross s application do lie on the table fill next meeting, till the Board has bad an opportunity of inspecting the ground. This was seconded by the Chairman and adopted. INSPECTION OF NUISANCES. Sergeant Wlielan wrote ashinqr the opinion of the Board on his past services, and wishing to know whether the Board would require Ills services infufure. The Chairman—Would it not be better, now that Sergeant Whelan is not in the Police Force, to pay the one otlicer who takes the trouble to prosecute in cases of nuisance, than to pay the one who does not prosecute ? Impounding cattle should > be bis chief duty, as it is one of the greatest nuisances we have to bear, 'iliis remuneration was given to the sergeant patly on the understanding that the straying of cattle was considered a nuisance, and impounding was to be a part of his duty. Mr Aitcbison—But in the meantime be is simply drawing a salary for doing nothing. The Chairman —I think this letter might stand over for inquiry. Resolved, that the letter stand over till next meeting.

KINANCES. The receipts and expenditure for the past month were reported thus :

The following payments were passed:— To J. Kenworthy, stationery, £1 Os 8d ; to Palea Mail-, advertising, Os; to Sergeant Whelan, year’s salary inspecting nuisances, £7. This concluded the business.

At the R.M. Court yesterday, R. E. M’Rae, of Kakaratnea, had been summoned for slaughtering without a license. Mr Harden did not appear to prosecute, and the charge could not be heard. The civil action of J. Delany against Mr Dale, for alleged wrongful detention of a carriage, the claim being £lB, was adjourned by consent.

LIBEL OR FAIR CRITICISM ? Mr. Joseph Ivess, proprietor of this journal, has been under recognisance to appear at the Supreme Court in Christchurch, on a charge of alleged malicious libel published in the Ashburton Mail. The article complained of was a criticism of tho public acts of a public officer, namely, the Borough Solicitor of Ashburton, and for having condemned certain improper costs charged to ratepayers as unauthorised, illegal, and therefore extortionate, Mr Ivess was prosecuted criminally as a malicious libeller. At the preliminary inquiry, the prosecutor claimed that he was not a public man in the usual sense, and that Ids charge of six shillings c osts for writing notices to ratepayers was legal. The defendant was committed for trial as a matter of form, the justification of the libel being a question for a jury. The trial at the Supreme Court was to have come off this Week, hut we learn by telegram that the _ Cjfrwn Prosecutor has quashed the case, by Refusing to draw up a criminal indictmenton the facts. The Borough Solicitor, who rashly set the criminal law in motion, is now required to pay all the costs.

ii s. d. Balance March 1st ... 1C 6 0 Cash in hand 1 3 G Ruc«ipts to March 31st 93 2 3 £110 11 9 Expenditure to Mar. 31 89 17 10 Cheques not presented 9 11 C Cash in hand 3 4 6 Balance 7 17 11 £110 11 9