COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 544, 10 July 1880, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Patea County Council was held on Wedndsday. Present, Messrs Dale (chairman), Horner, Milne, Winks, Gaue, Hunter, Brewer, and G. S. Bridge. sut wixcucomb’s accounts. A letter from Mr Winchcomb, who had been licensed to issue dog badges at Waveiley, on behalf of the County Council, stated that he was unable to render any account of fees received for badges, his records and some cash having been destroyed by the recent burning of bis office. It appears that no security had been taken on his appointment, and no money had been rendered to the Clerk,who (speaking from memory) had issued 130 badges, and none had been returned. M r Milne : Something should be done. He says he kept no account, and I am aware ho has received certain sums of money for badges. If he cannot furnish an account and pay over the money he has received, this Council ought to take legal proceedings against him. Mr Ganc : If we take action it will be a caution to others, if it docs no good in bis case. Mr Brewer : The first man we took action against eluded us by filing. Mr Milne : I move “ That unless Mr Wincncomb furnishes the Council with a correct report of the number of dogs registered by him up to the 31st March of the present year, and pays to the Council money for same, this Council take legal proceedings against him.” Mr Horner seconded pro forma, and asked : Are wc in a position to take proceedings against him ? Mr Bridge : Before doing that it will be as well to teke legal advice. I don’t think the Council can proceed against him for embezzlement. We should have to show that he did not lose that money, and then wc must proceed for embezzling a certain specific sum. 1 think we ought rather to demand a statement from him, and if he cannot render it satisfactorily, wc could leave the matter in the hands of the Chairman to take legal advice and report at next meeting. Mr Ganc : Certain parties have received badges from this Council, and if ony owner of a dog can prove that he paid for a badge and got it from Mr Winchcomb, and Mr Winchcomb fails to account for that money, I think that would be embezzlement. There is a principle in this question, but it is surrounded with a legal fog. A legal opinion ought to be obtained. Chairman : Several letters have been sent to him by the Clerk, and Mr Black has spoken to him about these badges. Mr Bridge : 1 think we have nothing to do with the collector. This is a matter between him and the clerk. Chairman : Any proceedings would have to be taken by Mr Black, who appointed him. Mr Bridge moved an amendment, “ That the Register of Dogs be requested to require from Mr Winchcomb a correct statement ot the amount of dog tax collected by him

to March 31st, to be furnished by 21st instant; failing which, that ho take legal advice whether Mr Winchcomb can be prosecuted for embezzling the same. ” Mr Gane seconded, Mr Milne withdrew his motion in favor of this, and Mr Bridge’s motion was adopted. DONATIONS TO LIBRARIES. A letter from the Carlyle Institute and Library solicited a donation of £SO from the Council for new books, a similar stun having been given to the Hawcra Institute. Mr Bridge : In the present state of the Council’s funds wc are not in a position to comply with this request. I think the grant to Hawera was wrong. All these institnt.es are in a position to be self-sup-porting ; and the ■money received by this Council is strictly' 1 for County purposes. Chairman : I quite agree that libraries ought to bo self-supporting. I proposed the grant to Hawcra, and I am now sorry it was done. Mr Bridge moved, Mr Winks seconded, and the Council agreed, “ That in the present state of the funds of the Council, they are not in a position to comply with the request contained in the letter from the Secretary of tiie Patca Institute,” QUADRILLE ASSEMBLIES. The Carlyle Harmonic Society applied for permission to use the Council Chamber for a series of quadrille assemblies, taking every care of the property. The Chairman said he had observed an advertisement in the Mail announcing that quadrille parties were to be hold, and he iijfoTiued the Society that they could not be held in the Council Chamber, as he presumed was intended. Two other parties had applied to him for the use of the chamber for dancing, and he had also declined. The Council, after a conversation, endorsed the Chairman’s action. GRAVEL CONTRACT DISPUTE, A dispute having arisen between Mr Dudley, Waverley, a contractor engaged in Council work, and Mr James Allan, Waverley, owner of a gravel pit, concerning the price of gravel, Mr Allan now claimed from the Council £l7 10s for 500 cubic yards of gravel, at 6d a yard, and £5 for damage to ground. Mr Brid b o said : There lias been a dispute between Allan and Dudley, in this way. Dudley bad to take out 1000 yds for the County Council, and he took out 500 fiom Allan’s pit, anil 500 from Johnson’s. He gave the latter 6d a yard, but Allan wanted Is. Dudley refused. Allen afterwards said be would take Gd, but at that time Dudley refused to pay anything. I will propose “ That Dudley be requested to arrange with James Allan for compensation for gravel taken from his land, in terms of his contract” Mr W inks seconded ]jro forma. Chairman : Unless Dudley came to this Council for notice, to enter on Allan’s land to take the gravel, this Council is not concerned in this dispute. if we had given an order to go on the land, we should have been liable, but as Allan allowed Dudley, by arrangement, to take the gravel, they should settle the dispute mutually. Mr Bridge : I do not agree with that. Dudley could have forced his way into Allan’s land, by an order from this Council. '

Chairman : I take it that, as Mr Dudley has not applied to the Council for such a notice, he has made a personal matter of it. Mr Horner : Yes, he has made a personal matter of it. Mr Milne : I do not think it is advisable for tins Council to interfere between the men. Mr Bridge : I wrote the letter for Allan, applying to the Council, but I am not biassed for him, I consider that Allan has a claim on the Counail for the gravel that has been taken off his land. The motion was adopted. WATER NUISANCE IX PATEA. The Chairman explained, in answer to Mr Gane, that the Town Board had accepted the offer of the Council re the storm-water nuisance in Bcdi’ord-strcot, Patea, and that the work was being completed. HOSPITAL STEWARD. A letter was read from Mr D. Donnelly, lately cook at the Albion Hotel, Patea, offering to take the duties of hospital steward, himself and, wife, at the same Avages as paid at present, namely 7s a day, including Sundays. The Chairman said the present steward is acting temporarily, and is not a desirable serA'ant for the position. A lengthy discussion ensued as to the economy of having a steAvard and stewardess at the same rate, there being the extra cost of board. It was urged on one side that a woman ought to be on the premises to do Avashing and attend to occnsloiinl female pntieiits. Other members thought a married couple could be got at a much lower rate than 7s a day—for £SO or £75 a year - . Mr Winks proposed that tenders be invited at £75 a year. Mr Horner proposed that the Chairman be empowered to accept Mr Donnelly’s offer subject to conditions to be recommended by the Hospital Committee. The Council ultimately agreed, on the motion of Mr Brewer;■-•■seconded by Mr Hunter, “That the Council advertise for a married couple to take charge of the Hospital, and that applications be sent in by next meeting of the Council.” avater nuisance at avaverley. The OA'orfloAV of storm-water from the County road on to priA r ate land near the TPrcsbytcrian Church at Wavcrley Avas

discussed at some length, upon a letter of complaint. Mr Bridge said the water lodged because the owner of the land had put a fence acioss the natural run of the water.

Mr Milne proposed. “ That the foreman of works const met, by day labor, a drain to remove storm-water from the main road opposite the Presbyterian Church at Waverley, according to the plan before the Council, but before commencing the work he shall get the written consent of the owners through whose laud the drain will go.” Mr Bridge seconded pro forma , and after much discussion ns to the policy of doing this work, the motion was agreed to, HOSPITAL REPORT. Ur Croft, the retiring surgeon, reported that the indoor patients arc ;—W. Brown, nicer on leg ; 11. Baistow, wound on leg ; G. Bennett, lumbago ; J. Kershawo, epilepsy. ANOTHER PALTER. The Chairman said a man was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, and being unable to work, his hand being injured, he asked for relief. The doctor had discharged him r.s cured, so far as medical treatment could do any good to his hand. He is a cooper, but cannot use his right hand at present, and is practically a pauper. What should be done with him ? Mr Bridge : Arc wc to establish a poorhouse here ? It would bo far better to close the Hospital altogether and send our patients to another hospital than keep this up at the present expense for an average of live patients. It was agreed to allow him temporary lodgment, with destitute rations. DR CROFT’S HILL. A bill was received from Dr Croft, claiming £8 os fox* medical attendance on an out-door patient, in addition to bis payment as surgeon to the hospital. The Chairman said he had given a memo, authorising Dr Croft to attend on this poor woman, but was surprised to find so heavy a charge now made for attendance and medicine. Dr Croft was entitled to £SO a year for five hospital beds, and £5 for each extra bed. The Council agreed to let this account lie over till tbe Chairman could see Dr Croft as to the apparent excessive claim. clerk’s duties. The Committee appointed in this matter presented an ad interim report to the effect that they could not make a definite recommendation until the increased duties which the Government proposed to put on County Councils were known in detail. Mr Gano proposed I hat the report be not received, in order that a new committee might be appointed, to the extent of adding Mr Bridge to the present number. Mr linn ter seconded. Mr Horner protested that this was an implied censure on the course the committee had taken, and ho declined to sit again if the motion were carried. Mr Bridge and Mr Milne endorsed that view. The motion was negatived, and the report adopted. REPORT of works The Engineer reported : —“ All (he con- , tracts let this season are completed with the exoption of No. 51, depositing gravel at Waverley, and contract No. 58a extension, breaking stone at Manaubnpn, which arc still in progress. In accordance with your instructions, a drain lias been formed in Bedford-stroet, to carry tbe surface water beyond Mr Jackson’s property. A plan of drain at Waverley, suggested by Councillor fliilne, will be laid before you, which I would recommend be adopted, as it will be conducive to the health and comfoit of tbe inhabitants of that town, and the cost trifling. The contract of 1000 yards of metal has been spread at Manaubapu, which is now metalled to the top of tbe bill. I have bad the horses and men from their work for a few days repairing the road between Manauhapn and Carlyle side of Manutabi Gorge. 1 may here remark that with few exceptions, where the road has not been gravelled this year, the crust has broken through with the traffic this late wet weather, and will likely be a bard matter to keep in good order during the winter season. There is not a gravel pit to my knowledge between Tongaboe and Messrs Heron and Kennedy’s, a distance of about eight miles. Seeing that gravel will likely have to be carted more than half that distance, I would suggest that the men bi*caking stone on Manauhapn be employed at a price, or tenders bo called, to break stone in Messrs Heron and Kennedy’s gravel pits during the winter months, in order that wc may have pure stone to haul such a distance, instead of two-thirds sand and one stone, ns may be considered the general proportion. I have notified to most of the residents on main road regarding furze.” RIGHT to inspector’s fee. A LIVELY DISCUSSION. Mr Gane said : The Foreman of Works has been appointed inspector of slaughterhouses, and he has been sending in claims for fees. I did not understand that tbe producers were to be taxed at a halfpenny per bead per sheep. The boiling-down companies, since receiving these notices, have had to charge a halfpenny per head extra. I consider that very unfair, that we should appoint this man merely to take the money from the settlers’ pockets. Mr Milne : I also consider that it is a very unjust thing. The Foreman has been engaged at a certain salary : why should be augment bis salary by putting these fees into his own pocket ? Mr Winks ; If he persists in collecting that money I move that he receive three months’ notice.

Chairman : I informed him that lie was entitled to these fees, under the bye-laws. I was not aware that the late Foreman and inspector had not collected them. Mr Brewer : The fees would be worth n great deal of money to this Council, through the large amount of boilingdown. Mr Gaoe moved that the fees be taken by the Council. The Chairman ruled this motion out of order, because the bye-laws gave the fees to the inspector, and until tbe bye-laws wore altered be must rule that tiie inspector receive the fees. Mr Bridge said the collector received the momy as the Council’s servant or agent, and should hand the money over to the Council.

Mr Gano then moved, ami Mr Hunter seconded, “That Mr Harden’s appointment ns slanghtor-houso inspector bo rescinded.” The Chairman ruled this also out of order.

After much talk, the following resolution was carried. Moved by Mr Hunter, seconded by Mr Brewer, “That the Council do not have confidence in the ruling of the Chairman with reference as to who should retain inspector’s fees re slaughtering large and small cattle, and desires the Chairman to get legal advice.” WAVERLEY RECREATION GROUND.

The Council resolved, on flic motion of Mr Bridge, seconded by Mr Gane, “That Councillors Brewer, Milne, and the mover be appointed a committee to recommend in what way the money now to the credit of tbe Waverley Jtecrcation Ground shall be laid out upon improving tbe ground ; two to bo a quorum, and to report at next meeting of tbe Council. SUPPLIES TO HOSPITAL. The tenders of Mr Taplin and Mr Gibson, for supplying the Hospital with stores during (he year, were opened. That of Mr Taplin was accepted. . After some other unimportant business, the Council rose at a late hour.