Patea Town Board.

Patea Mail, 9 December 1880, Page 3

Patea Town Board.

The monthly meeting was held on Monday. Present: Messrs Milroy (in the chair), Adams, Sherwood, Dixon, Howitt, Aitchison, and Taplin. WORKS REPORT. riUVATE Oil PUBLIC FOOTPATH? The Works Committee presented the following report: “Tenders were called for works authorised on Derby and York ■streets. That on Derby-street was let to Mr John Mouri at 12s per chain, and is nearly completed, and that on Aork-street to Mr McLoughlin for £lO 10s, and is now about half completed. The contract on Dorset-strect, which was let to Mr Tuke, has been completed and taken over. Eight days’ labor has been employed in clearing water-ways, clearing footpaths, &c. In compliance with instructions received from the Board, the fences which encroached on Mercdith-street have been removed, with the exception of that enclosing the Meat Bazaar property, which has also been removed, but not sufficiently far back to clear the street. A stable or shod belonging to same property is still encroaching on footpath. The Committee would recommend that the footpath on Derby-street be continued across Middlc-sex-street, and returned about 2-A chains southward on Middlcscx-street, Captain Wray offering half the cost. An offer has been made to do the work forGs per chain. The Committc would also recommend that tenders be at once called for work authorised on Stafford-streot.” The report was signed by Messrs Aitchison, Milroy-, and Adams ; and by Mr Slierwood “ with an objection to continuation of footpath on unopened street.” Mr Sherwood moved that the report be adopted, with the qualification noted by the mover. He objected, on principle, to make a footpath to a private house in an unopened street. Mr Taplin : On same terms, 1 second that. Mr Aitchison : That street is the Board's property, having been made over to it by deed. The mover says ho would be willing to do the paltry piece of work, which will cost Us. or 10s., if the money to bo expended would bo an advantage to the public, or if the public really required the use of that street. It seems to me verystrange if Captain Wray is not one of the public. I think be is, and also a ratepayer. I presume that Captain Wray purposes opening up that portion of the street, else of what use would that footpath be to him. If we are to check enterprise and progress in that way for such a paltry sum, it seems to me that Mercdithstreet itself is not a through street, and this street can be opened through whenever the public demand it. Chairman : I move as an amendment that the report as read be adopted. It is proposed to continue the pathway about three-quarters of a chain, and then continue it at a right angle to give access to Captain Wray’s new house. I think it will be found a great benefit to a considerable number of people. Captain Wray is the Government officer in this district in reference to public business, and there is a considerable number of strangers coming here daily enquiring after land and other things, and they have to find their way to his property. I think he is justly as well entitled to have a few chains done towards his gate as the footpath in Dorby-strcot as far as Mr Tennent’s and the property bey-ond. The length would be about throe chains altogether. Mr Adams : I do not think this footpath is required in the meantime. I would not be in favor of continuing it with the present fence across the road. Mr Sherwood : What will bo the cost ? Have the levels been taken ? Chairman ; Yes. Mr Aitchison : I second the amendment. It is not intended to form any part of this footpath on private property. Mr Dixon ; I do not think it is wise to continue this piece of a street. It is not actually a question of cost. It is a bad precedent. It is quite sufficient to go as far as the population lies—the end of Dcrby-sircet. Mr Howitt : I don't think it is right to carry a public footpath into a closed-up place. Mr Sherwood : I am exceedingly surprised at the objections raised to my resolution by the Chairman and Mr Aitchison. One says the sum to be expended is a %nero nothing. The Chairman makes use of the extraordinary argument that Capt. Wray is the leading Government officer here, and in that capacity he has got to receive people at his private bouse. He has a public office in which to transact public business, and that is the place to

receive people, and not at liis private house. This is to all intents and purposes a private entrance to a private house. Mr Aitchison : About the Hospital road ?

Mr Sherwood : The Hospital is public property, and it is very unfair to bring that up. There is no analogy. I can at any rate sink personalities. When I was Chairman of the Town Board, I gave it the use of my office two years, and made the footpath in front of my office at ray own expense. I say this road is not opened. There is a fence across the end of it. If this is a public property, whydoes Captain Wray offer to pay half the cost ? This is but the thin end of the wedge to work up to a larger expenditure. If this is a public road, let us ask Captain Wray to open it up as a public road. If this expense is paltry, I say every sixpence of the ratepayers’ money is to be considered by us before it is expended. Instance the new cutting in Dorset-streel. We shall soon have to clay and protect the sand from drifting away-. That paltry expenditure was to be £2O. We were led away there. I go dead against the principle. The Chairman put his amendment to the vote. It was lost by 7 4 to 3. Mr Sherwood’s motion was put and carried by 4 to 3, those against being the Chairman, Mr Aitchison, and Mr Adams. This negatives the footpath. men fo no- sTitK ft n rain, KXCTIAN&H Of CTOII-LIMENT.S. A letter from the County-Council notified that unless the Town Board carried out their undertaking to conduct the storm-water beyond Devon-strect in the event of its becoming a nuisance, the Council would do the work and charge the cost to the Board. The water now causes a nuisance by accumulatiug on Mr A. Wood’s section, on the (lat below Mr Jackson’s cottage. It formerly flowed off the road into the pond near Mr Jackson's, and the County Council agreed to carry it past that point, to do away with the pond, on the written undertaking of the Town Board that they would continue the water in the event of its becoming a nuisance by- accumulating on the lower flat. The discussion on this subject was lively. Chairman : I move that this letter from the Council do lie on the table. lam not prepared to say- whether I should vote for the expenditure of drain tiles or not. The water will do no damage for several months. Possibly- we might run some drain tiles through the sandhill before the winter sets in. Mr Dixon : I second that.

Mr Taplin : I think wo ought to face this at once. Are we responsible for that water running on to Mr Wood’s property ? Chairman ; I cannot answer that question.

Air Taplin : I think it is the duty of the County Council to take the drain on the main road to whatever is the proper outlet. Chairman: It was led on to Cornwall street by permission of the Board. The Board stated to the County Council that if it became a nuisance on Cornwall-strect, it should bo removed.

Air Aitchison : To carry it on to the river would be beyond our means at present. Air Taplin : I call for the letter that was sent to the Council, to see what our obligation is. Chairman : 1 put the thing to the vote. Those who want the letter called for say

Mr Sherwood : But is this voting necessary- ? Chairman : If Air Taplin bad been here, ho w-ould have hoard the letter read. Ho is absent 8 meetings out of 12, and when business comes up he knows nothing about it. It is nonsense to call for letters on every paltry question. Mr Taplin ; I beg your pardon, sir, but I have been here as often as you. Chairman ; You wore not here last meeting.

Mr Taplin : You’re wrong, sir ; I was here. I have attended as often as the Chairman.

Mr Sherwood ; 1 protest against a member being prohibited from having a letter read. Any- member of this Board has a right to call for any- letter relating to the business.

Air Taplin : If you come and sit here as Chairman, sir, you must do the business of the Board. You call this a paltry tiling—a matter that may put ns into a hundred pound damages. Air Sherwood: A motion restraining him from having that letter put on tho table ought to be out of order. The Chairman has called for a division, with no motion before the Board,

The letter from the Board to the Council, dated Blh June, was read. It stated “ that the Board accept the offer of the County Council to run the water on to Cornwallstrect, the Board agreeing to cany it from thence, should it become necessary.” The Council’s letter to the Board, to which the above was an answer, stated the matter in the form of a resolution thus • “ That the Chairman bo empowered to confer with the Town Board re storm water at the top of Bed ford-street, and the Council will consent to lay the box culvert, as proposed by the Engineer, if the Town Board undertake to carry the water from thence.”

Mr Sherwood : I am glad these letters have been called for, and I cannot join in saying this is a paltry- matter. It seems wc have an explicit engagement. Whether we can do it is another thing. As to whether we ought to do it there can be no question. The legality- of it is set aside by that explicit engagement, that if the water is found to do any damage, it will be removed. To claim shelter behind any legal quibble would be mean and paltry in the extreme. 1 support the resolution that the letter lie on the table on the distinct understanding that it does not shelve the question. Jt would be very unworthy for ns as a Town Board to try- to get out of it upon any legal technicality. Mr Taplin ; The County Council said that if wo don’t do it in a fortnight, they will charge us. If the work has to be done, it would bo better to take it under our own supervision than allow it to be done by- another body-. It is evident w-c have committed ourselves to take that water off that private property, if required. Chairman : In moving that this letter lie on the table, I bad no idea of shelving the question. Wo arc not in a position to dea* directly- with tin's question. As to giving the County Council permission to run il on to private property-, wc did not do so. Wc gave them permission to mu it on to a street, but wo did not undertake to fence the water on to that street. If wc can make a good bargain with the County Council, we should do so. Air Sherwood : You have exprcsscdjyourself as being so thoroughly acquainted with these letters. Here is part of the resolution sent to the Council, that “ the Board agree to carry it from thence, should it become necessary,” After that, 1 wonder how anybody can say we have not engaged to do it.

Chairman : 1 say wc engaged that if it became a nuisance on a certain street, wc would carry it farther. They have thought fit to run the water on to a private pro perty.

Air Taplin : Would it not be better for one body or both to remove this water, rather than stand the racket of damages which Air Woods will have against one or other of the public bodies directly. Whenever any heavy rains conic, the floor of bis bouse is under water.

The motion to let the letter lie on the table was adopted. MINISTERIAL ENGAGEMENTS. Air Sherwood ; Have yon received any communication from Air Bollcston as to a visit here. He promises to let ns know by telegram, and then he passes through without letting ns know. Air Taplin : I was disgusted to hear he had passed through in the coach. He knew wc wanted to interview him. Mr Sherwood : I am not surprised at it. It seems to bo the practice now to take no notice of public bodies. Air Adams : It was not a deputation. He need not have been frightened of us. ROAD PAST THE HOSPITAL. Chairman : In reference to proclaiming a chain road past the Hospital to the town boundary, Mr Trogoar has prepared a plan here, and if the Board adopt it, it will bo necessary- to appoint some solicitor to take the necessary action for having the road declared. If a slight error is made in the details, it might put the Board to considerable expense. Air Tregcar has sent an account for £4 16s. Mr Sherwood : Has the continuation of Aliddlcsex-strect and Dcrby-stroct been proclaimed ? Chairman : They arc vested in the Board. Air Sherwood : You caauot take these roads and use them as roads without thenbeing declared under the Acts. Air Milroy vacated the chair, having to leave early-. Air Sherwood was voted to the chair. After examining Acts to ascertain procedure in taking land for a public road, it was agreed that nothing was required but to carry out the previous resolution, to the effect that the Board take the necessary action for proclaiming a road past the Hospital. This was left to the Chairman of (he Board to carry- out.

RECREATION G HOUND LEASE. Mr Taplin urged that the question of appointing trustees should be settled without farther delay-. At present there was no means of preventing damage. No less than six horses were put in the Cricketground cn Sunday. Mr Sherwood ; The cricketers might put a lock on the gate, and erect a turnstile for passing through. The lease of three months has expired. The present lessee is keeping the fences in repair, and I move that the present lessee be allowed to occupy for three months, on (he same terms. This was agreed to. The question as to trustees was allowed to drop. Til AX 8 FJOU OF LEASH. Application was made for transfer of sections 2, 3, and 4, block 10, from G. A. White to W, Dale, jun. Mr Dale also asked that the levels be taken, as the land was wanted for building. Mr Sherwood : Tin's really means taking the level of the whole street. It brings us back to the old question that it would bo far better to take all the levels. It would involve a large expenditure. You would have to tie all the cross streets. The application as to levels was referred to the Works Committee. The transfer was granted, NUISANCE. The Inspector of Nuisances “ called attention to the dangerous practice of some shopkeepers in blocking up the footpaths, not only in the day-time, but after dark, to the detriment of life and limb ; having had a narrow escape myself.” Mr Adams : What sort of things docs he mean ? Air Sherwood : Oh, drapers' cases, and things of that sort. The Board passed accounts, and adjourned.