BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1136, 9 January 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the ah.’ivc Council was held on Monday night. There were present: The Mayor and Councillors Deane, Bright, Aitchison, Paul, Williams and Gower. Cr HEP Adams, the newly-elected member of the Council, signed the customary declaration after which be took his seat. CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read

and approved of. Letters were read, , . From the Cemetery Board asking the Council to dear the furze from the hew formation in Scotland street. The Mayor said he ! had seeirthe place the day before. The part -which was enclosed was all overgrown with furze*, which would,-'in time choke the young trees. He would suggest that the matter he referred to the Works Committee, and that they employ a man. It would save expense in future, ns the furze was small now. The question was referred to the Works Committee on the motion of Cr Deane. From the Palea S.S. Company stating that they would carry 15in pipes at the rate of Is 6d. The Clerk in reply to the Mayor said that Mr Coworn had been asked to make enquiries with reference to freightbut he had not yet replied. Cr Will iams said (hat perhaps they had better wait till they had got an answer from Mr Cowern, The Mayor thought this was a very reasonable charge. Cr Aitchison moved, “ That the off-r of the Palea S.S. Company for carriage of drainage pipes from Wellington be accepted.” Cr Adams seconded. Carried. From B. Jacomh accepting the office of Inspector of Nuisances at a salary of £lO. WORKS COMMITTEE’S RETORT. The Works Committee reported that day labour had been employed during the month at various works in (he Borough at an expenditure of £lO 15s, and drays had been exployed to the extent of £lO Is 9d. The Committee had investigated the alleged nuissneo on Mr Wood’s property, and would report on the matter by next Council meeting. The Committee recommended the r?,paisiting and lettering of the notice boards on the bridge, and also recommended that (he Borough lamp at Mr Taplin’s corner be kept lighted up on dark night’s. The report was received. Cr Deans ; The lamp i.s no good, is it? Cr Aitchison understood the lamptvas defective, but lie thought a lit tle alteration would put it right. Ho thought it would be an improvement if it were lighted up. Mr Tapiin some time back undertook to light the lamp, provided the Council kept it in order. The Council failed to do that, and consequently Mr Tapiin did not carry out his part. Ho understood that Mr Tapiin was perfectly willing to light the lamp if the Council fulfilled (heir part. It would not ho very much trouble to clean and trim the lamp occasionally. Cr Gower said the question was whether it would be cheaper to repair the lamp or get a new one. Cr Aitchison said tliat in other towns it was found a convenience to have lamps. Seeing that,they had this one, surely they -could get it cleaned and repaired, Patea might be different to other towns ; they might prefer darkness to light (laughter, j Cr Deane moved, “ That the report he adopted, with the exception of the clause referring to.the lamp.” Cr Aitchison moved, as an arnondmendment, that the whole report be adopted. The amendment was carried on the casting vote of the Mayor. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES REPORT. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that with few exceptions ho had found the Borough in a cleanly condition during the past month. He had had dead' sheep carted away and two dogs and a horse buried without incurring expense to the Borough. He believed there was an application for removal of furze in Scotland-streot to which he should have seen, only in former instances the engineer employed the necessary labour. The report was received. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:— : H. Locker, £lO Is 9d ; J Kenwortby, 4s 6d ; S Tapiin, 11s 3d; T Eyton, £6 ss; York and Cornfoot, £6 10s Id ; M O’Meara, £9 4s. The Clerk said that Mr Hamerton’s account had not been paid. [“This was an account left over from last meeting for the Mayor and Clerk to examine. J The Mayor said that Mr Hamertun had never attended for the purpose of explaining the account. The Clerk said there was a letter from Mr Hameitou with reference to the account, but it had been received after the lime for receiving communications for the Council had closed. One or two councillors seemed in favour of receiving the letter, but-Cr Bright moved that it be not received. They had refused letters before. The motion was carried. JJie Council went into Committee for the purpose of opening tenders for the construction of sumps. That of R. B. Scott £5 2s 6d for each sump was accepted, subject to any alteration to the sumps considered necessary by the Works Committee. DOG TAX. The Mayor said the Council had to fix the dog tax register fee for the ensuing year, under Clause 2 of the Registrations Act. Cr Aitchison proposed, “ That the registration fee for dogs in the Borough be 10s.” Seconded by Or Bright. Cr Gower proposed as an amendment “ That the tax be 7s 6d for all dogs except those used for shepherding purposes ; the fee for sheep dogs 55.” Seconded by Cr Deane. Cr Aitchison did not approve of the amendment. It the Act allowed them to make the tax £5 he would go that far, and exterminate all the curs about tie place. The town often reminded him of a Maori village. It the inhabitants went in for good, peaceful dogs he would agree to the amendment, but the curs in the town at present were no good except for doing mischief and frightening hj irses. The amendment on being pot was lost, and the original motion carried.

.WORKS (COMMITTER. Cr Denne moved, and Cr H E P Adams seconded, “That the Works Committee for the ensuing year consist of Crs R A Adnms, Paul and Aitchison,” The quorum was fixed at two, and the Mayor was appointed Chairman. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Ci' Deane moved, “ That the Finance Committee consist of the whole Council, five to form a quorum.” Cr Paul seconded. After considerable discussion the Mayor moved as an amendment, “That the Finance Committee consist of Crs Deane, Adnms, Gower, Bright and Williams, three to form a quorum, Cr Briglit to bn Ch- irmnn The amendment was carried on a division. THE BOROUGH LAMP. The subject of the Borough lamp again came up, and two motions were withdrawn before being put to the meeting. THE PUBLIC HALLS. In reply to Cr Aitchison the Clerk said the license for the Harmonic Hall for this year had been paid, but that for St. James’ had not. Cr Bright, said that ho did not know whoso duty it was to see that the means of exit, in case of fire, were sufficient. He thought the means of exit of the Harmonic Hall, in case of fire, were not sufficient. He moved, “ Tliat prior to the issue of new licenses for public halls the means of exit be improved, to (lie satisfaction of the Inspector of Halls.” Cr Deane suggested (hat a copy of the resolution be sent to the proprietors of the different halls. An addition to this effect was made to the motion which was carried. The Mayor proposed “ That Cr Paul be appointed honorary Inspector of Halls.” Carried. CARRIERS LICENSES. Cr Aitchison brought forward a motion for abolishing the clause in the by-laws relating to the paying of fees by carriers. Ho (bought that those who-paid their licenses were not receiving fair treatment, ns others were plying for hire who had no licenses whatever. The motion was not carried. THE SAND IN BEDFORD STREET, Cr Adams brought up the matter of the unprotected sand banks in Bedford street. The Mayor said nothing could be done till winter came when sods could be laid down or else the banks could be protected with ice-plant. DOG COLLARS. Cr Deane moved “ That tenders be called for the supply of dog collars.” Cr Aitchison seconded. Carried. SIGNING CHEQUES. The Mayor said that a difficulty with regard to the signing of cheques had arisen at last meeting. At the rising of the Council’s last meeting Cr Tapiin, who had been one of the councillors who signed cheques, ceased to be a member. As he did not forfeit his seat the Council had risen no one could be appointed as his successor at that meeting. It was necessary to sign some cheques in the meantime and he (the Mayor) had written to the Bank asking them to accept Cr Bright’s signature to Borough cheques. The action of the Mayor was endorsed. The Council then adjourned.