PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 5, 7 November 1887, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The above Council met at their chambers. Egmont s:reet, on Thursday last, when there ware present; Councillors W Symes (chairman), Death, Fleming’, Hunter, Lupton, Paterson, Nicholson, Btrachan and W. C. Symes. Minutes of tormer meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence read and considered. Letter read from Mr Mug’goridge, asking for remission of rates on pro perty at Mauutuhi. Gr Symes moved, “ That this Council cannot comply with the request of Mr Muggeridgo re remission of rates, Second: d by Councillor Hunter, and carried unanimously. Cr W Symes then moved that the following transfers be made on the roll; Kuolfie to Derrett and Blake, section 10; J McLean to W Watkins, section 454 ; Whittem to Muggeridge, Manutahi property exclusive of lease; J Finlay to P O’Neill, sections 15 and 16 ; James Slater and Taplin to Kells and Kearney, sections 260 to 262, and 268 to 271; and that the No. of John Armstrong’s section be altered from 167 to 167, seconded by Cr Death and carried. Cr W Symes said Mr Honeyfield wished to obtain permission to remove a bank now existing on the main road opposite his property, and would un dertake to remove the same uniformly and well. On the motion of Cr W Symes, seconded by Cr Nicholson, it was resolved, “ That this Council give Mr Honeyfield permission’ to remove the bank in the road opposite his property, provided ic is done uniformly from end to end of bank ”

A circular from the Lake County Council relative to a surcharge made on Councillors for expenditure made as far back as 1872, and asking the Council's co-operation in getting the Counties Act of 1886 made retrospective in its action was read. Proposed by Or Fleming, and seconded by Cr Stracban and carried, “ That the circular from the Lake County Council lie on the table till next meeting - . Statement of assets and' liabilities placed on the table showed an available balance of £370. Accounts amounting to £B4, including £So for Hospital, wore presented and passed for payment. The Council then adjourned till 2 o’clock.

On resuming 1 , a letter from Mr Old ham was mad, asking- the Council to assist him to procure a license to slaughter at the intended site of his tinning 1 works, which was within one mile of the borough boundary. Mr G D Hamerton waited on the Council and explained the peculiar uncertainty of the interpretation of the various Slaughtering Acts and Amendments, and stated what Mr Oldham wished to obtain fx-omthe Council. After a short discussion, Cr Hunter moved, and Cr Death seconded, “That this Council hereby grants to Mr Oldham, so far as the functions and rights of the Council arc concerned or extend, the right to slaughter great and small cattle in any locality he may select i within the County.” This was put to the Council and carried unanimously. Cr Fleming then tendered his resignation as Inspector of Slaughterhouses. In bo impossible to carry cut the duties of Inspector of .Slaughterhouses, after ■ the decision 1 dely given by the Magistrate in the case brought before the i court, as if evidence such us that given j at the hearing, was to override the j direct evidence of two Inspectors visit-1 iug together, He was buvq no case]

could bo brought into that court successfully, unless the Council went to the expense of sending twenty or thirty witnesses with the Inspectors* so ns to be prepared to combat th© evidence of all the members of a family, absent or present, and that was too absurd, and would be too expensive. The evidence given by the i principal witness for the defence jvas, of a character, which, he thought should have deprived it of weight, as the witness had sworn, that he kzuSlff him (Or Fleming > in September when he went for slaughtering fees, but, in October when he went to inspect the boohs witness did not know who he was. The same witness had Jalso stated, that he (Or Fleming) said he was satisfied with the inspection, whereas, as a matter of fact, the witness had refused to allow them to examine the book, saying, as the witness admitted in court, that he was not going to allow “ Dick Tom and Harry ” to come overhauling his books.” It was also absurd to think that he (Or Fleming) should have told (lowland he was satisfied with the inspection, and then walked straight down to the Council and less than ten minutes after • the circumstance, have reported th© necessity of taking legal measures against the defendant. The Chairman thought it was a pity for Or Fleming to resign just now, as it was so close to the annual election. tainly there was very good ground for complaint at the result of seeking assistance from court, and if that was a sample of the assisstauce to be obtained, he was afraid it would be difficult to find people who would undertake public duties, but he _ hoped Or Fleming would withdraw his resignation. jjLs Cr Fleming replied, that he must decline to act anylonger, after the decision given by the Magistrate The matter then dropped. Cr Fleming reported that the watering place near Waitotara had been completed in a satisfactory manner. Notice of Motion was given by Councillor W Sym.es, that the next ordinary meeting take place on November 23rd, after the special meeting for election of Chairman. The Council (hen adjourned. A special meeting was then held, same councillors present, to consider the petiion of Waitotara settlers, for the formation of a new Road Board. The opinion of Mr Barton, solicitor was read, and with out any discussion the Council resolved on the motion of Or Paterson, seconded by Or W O Symes, “That seeing the opinion of Mr Barton, solicitor to Council, is so decidedly against granting th© petition of the Waitotara MomohakiJßoad Board, this Council cannot adopt the resolution of September last. 1 ' The Council then adjourned. The Manutalii Domain Board then met, same members were present as at Council. The only business before the Board was with reference to the 'ease of the Domain, for which it was decided to call for tenders. Accounts amounting to £1 8s were passed for payment, and the BcfjjFd adjourned.