BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1109, 7 November 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the above was held on Monday night. Present the Mayor and Crs Bright, McCarthy, Aitchison, Williams, Deane and Barton. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were rend Prom W Back asking permission to transfer his gravel contract to Mr H Locker. Cr Bright thought that if Mr Back wished to surrender his contract lie should say so. The carting trade was dull like all other trades just now, and other carters in the town might want to know why the Council transferred the contract without giving them a chance of tendering for it. He had no objection to Mr Locker getting the contract only the other carters might think it unfair. The transfer was agreed to on the motion of the Mayor. From Messrs Young Bros, Engineers, Wanganui, offering their services to the Borough, should they bo required. From the Town Clerk, slating that there was no insurance on the Patca Hospital. The Mayor stated that the position was that the County Council had insured the building in the past, but they had thrown the control of the Hospital np, and the Hospital Committee not having taken it over they could not insure.

In reply to Cr Bright the Mayor said the Hospital was vested in the borough, and had been leased to the County Council. The best thing he thought the Council could do would be to insure the building, and if the committee took the matter up they could refund the amount. If the committee refused to tnko the Hospital over the Council; would have a claim against the Government for the amount. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr that the Hospital be insured for six months. From A. and P. Association, asking the Mayor’s influence towards having Thursday: afternoon, (be day of the show observed as a half-holiday. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Mayor. Cr Aitchison observed that it would be well if the Mayor would only invite the citizens to observe the half holiday instead of commanding them as it wore. He noticed it was the practice sometimes to “ proclaim ” a holiday. The notices were often made in rather an arbitrary way. 1 From D. Smith, drawing the Council’s attention to the bail state of the road leading to the rubbish-depot, and stating that rubbish was being deposited on his run, also asking that the road bo made passable, and that the Council gel some other rubbish depot. The Mayor said that there was about a foot of water on the road in question (jibe continuation of Victoria-street) which it was. impossible-to get through, and that consequently a few loads of rubbish had been deposited on the run, about five or six hundred yards from the depot. The matter was referred to the Works Committee, on the motion of Cr Deane, seconded hy Cr Aitchison. OBSTRUCTIVE VERANDAHS, A letter was read from T. North, in reply to a notice from the Council with reference to his verandah which was not of the proper dimensions, asking Council allow it to remain till a new building was erected or some alterations effected, and giving as a reason in - support of his application that he had got the width of the verandah from the oliLTqwn Board; The Mayor said that the resolution drawing Messrs North and Howland's attention to this matter had been passed twice. The verandah encroached about two feet and'the Borough were really answerable for any damage. Cr Barton : There are other obstructions in the town, such as the steps at the‘old bank of N. Z.

The Mayor: That will he rectified. Cr Barton'said that he agreed with Cr Aitchison’s statement that they wore making- the £SOOO hot for the people. The Council had cut away the roads in various places, and caused fencec to topple over, and so put people to endless expense. They had done more damage than the £SOOO was worth. Instead ol being a benefit it was a curse.. He would propose as only fair that the resolution relating to Messrs North and Gowland’s verandahs be rescinded. The Mayor thought Cr Barton had really misrepresented the matter of the loan. Pences had come down, but they had been all rc-crectecl at the cost of the Borough. Cr Bright thought from what he saw some people had got better fences than they had before Cr Barton : Did the Borough erect another storey in the case of Odgcrs Hotel? The Mayor i It is impossible to carry ont improvements without some damage.

Cr Barton; The removal of these verandahs is entirely unnecessary. Cr McCarthy : Is the motion seconded yet ? It is no use wasting all the night. No seconder being forthcoming the motion lapsed, Cr Aitchison moved “ That the carrying into effect of resolution No 2 of Oct 11 be postponed for the present.” He moved that because ho did not see that it was nccosary to force needless expenditure upon persons. A point was also mentioned in the letter, viz., the width given by the Town Board. The width given by the Town Board was ten feet and several verandahs were erected accordingly. Ho had erected one himself, that at Gowlnnd’s shop he thought, and he had got the width from the Town Board 'us ten feet. It seemed hard to him that they should enforce the removal of the verandahs at present. Of course the time would come when it would have to bo done. Ho did not know whether the action of the Town Board gave people any legal claim, but it gave them a kind of moral claim. There wore either coses of a different nature where people erected obstructions on the footpaths when they had the proper levels, but he did not refer to them.

Cr Barton seconded the motion. Cr Deane was very much under the impression that Cr Aitchison’s speech might have been made when the first resolution was passed. Ho thought it would bo very unwise to carry the motion after the two previous resolutions. It would bo unfair to Messrs Odgcrs and Tonncnl who'had obeyed the mandate. Or Bright moved as an amendment “That in fairness to the ratepayers who have removed similar obstructions Mr North he informed that the Council’s request must bo complied wlih.” Ho thought it decidedly unfair for Councillors who passed resolutions; to oppose their being carried into effect. Had ho boon present when the first -resolution was brought up ho would not have voted for it, but the lawabiding persons having attended to it ho thought the Council were acting ij| an undignified manner not to see it carried out to the end. Cr Barton ViipqglH an exception should be made m the case of people like Mr North who had got a certain width from the Town Board relying on its being coreect. The Mayor, said ho erected a verandah about eight years ago ; some time before Mr North’s was put up ; and bo had got the width as 12ft. Or Aitchison replying to Crs Bright and Deane, said both had made remarks

that they would have voted against the first resolution and evidently blamed him for voting for it. He wished to tell the Council that he was no more in favour of it then than he was at that moment, but by Councillors not being present, and neglecting their duly [Cries from Crs Deane and Bright, No, No; wo were not Councillors then] he noticed that the thing would be carried in spite of anything he could say or do, and so he did not call for a division. The amendment was carried on a division, Crs Aitchison and Barton voting against, WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. The Works Committee reported ns follows:—The principal works undertaken hy day labour during the month have been (he repairing and temporary formation of footpath in Egmonl street north, making alterations to water ways and sundry protective works at lower et'd of Bedford street, at connection with the bridge, together with filling in ruts and cleaning out water courses throughout the town, at a total cost of £2O 6s 3d,

The contract for a drinking trough in Bedford street has been completed. Tenders hnvc been called for fencing in the Borough section and,, erecting a small building for a tool bouse nnd store. Tenders wore also called for carting «t per day, and .that of Mr H. Locker being the lowest, was accepted by the committee. Owing to the absence of one of the Committee the resolution regarding Mr Wood’s claim had not yet been carried out. Two members of the committee visited Mr Smith’s tile manufactory that morning nnd found only some 50 or 60 12in pipes available, but a large quantity were ready for burning nnd looked well in the raw state. No 15in pipes had been attempted but a die for moulding that size bad been procured and it would be for the Council to say whether the Committee were to wait for that size or procure them elsewhere at once. After a long discussion on drainage pipes which eventually merged into a consideration of the drainage scheme ns regarded several streets the report was adopted.

INSPECTOR OP NUISANCES’ REPORT. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that he had found but few causes of complaint during his inspection of the borough for that month. He had made several owners of properties with furze fences comply with the by-laws, and others without the district had given their promises to set their fences, right. Report received. TENDERS. The Council went into committee to consider tenders for fencing, and the erection of a shed in the Borough section, anil, on resuming, reported that the tender of Mr U. B. Scott, £25 18s 6d, had been accepted for the work. BALANCE SHEET. The report and Balance Sheet for the last half year were laid before the Council. ■ „ ACCOUNTS. The following accounts wore passed for payment: —Patea S.S. Co 13s fid; S Tnplin 8s; Mahony and Co £1 2s fid ; W Dixon 9s fid ; H Locker £8 Hs; D Smith £6 Os 5d ; York and Corn foot 6s lid; JR Watts £1 6s; Mrs Carradns 15s; O’Meara and others £l9 Os 3d ; P Neilson 10s; J Kenworthy £1 11s fid; W Whitcombe, 1 Is’.

WORKING FOREMAN. Cr Bright moved “ That application bo made by advertisement for tenders for the position of working foreman to the Council at a salary of £2 10s per week, applications to be in by next meeting of the Council. The motion was lost on being put, the majority of councillors being of opinion that the present man engaged by the Borough was quite competent to undertake any work that might bo required. A CHIEF magistrate’s DUTIES. Cr McCarthy speaking to the Mayor said that he thought as he was the chief magistrate of the town he should take steps to put some stop to the breaking of windows in empty houses. There was an empty house in Story town in which not a pane of glass had been left. Cr Deane : What has the Council to do with that ? The Mayor: Would Or McCarthy direct me what to do ? Cr McCarthy ; Your functions are in the book before you. The Mayor: It is a matter for the police. Cr McCarthy; You are chief magistrate.

Cr Barton: But not chief policeman. THE DRAINAGE QUESTION, Cr Aitchison moved, “ That a committee consisting of the Mayor, Crs Deane, Bright, Barton, and the mover, bo appointed to consider the drainage question in connection with what money is still available for that purpose, and ascertain if possible whether the amount will bo likely to cover the cost of completing a main drain in Leicester, Bedford, and Middlesex streets. Should the funds available be considered insufficient to complete the whole, the committee to say which of the streets they consider should be undertaken and which to undertake first and report at next meeting. Three to form a quorum.” Seconded by Cr Williams and carried. It was resolved on the motion of Or Bright to complete crossings at the intersections of Cambridge and Egmont and Bedford and Egmont streets when funds were available. This was all the business and the Council then adjourned.