FEILDING BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9100, 20 March 1908, Page 5

FEILDING BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr W. J. 8.-Trewm), Ors. Oobbe, Atkinson, West, Tolly, Bramwell, Goodbehere, Darragh, Fitzherbert, Richmond.

The correspondence was dealt with as follows :

From local Adjutant of Salvation Army, asking the Council to consider the matter of subsidising the Band. —To be considered when the estimates are being dealt with, rrom Wanganui Education Board, asking if Council would contribute to salary of teacher of plumbing.— Held over for further information re the salary to be paid to such instructor.

From Feilding Chamber of Commerce, asking the Council to erect a bicycle stand in front of the Post Office.—Stand for a dozen bicycles to he erected on Kimbolton road frontage. REPORTS. The Engineer reported in favour of the erection of stables for tho borough horses at a cost of £l4O. The final plans' for the mechanical filters had now come to hand and he was making arrangements to get the concrete bed laid down. He recommended placing protective blocks about tho hydrants and sluce valves at a cost of £SO. Two tenders had been received tor kerbiug and channelling on Kimbolton road ; one from Pulling and Lord for £169 14s 3d.

The Engineer’s recommendation re hydrants and sluces was adopted and the matter of stabling was referred to the "Works Committee.

Pulling &_Lord’s tender was accepted. The Sanitary Committee reported that Mr Buckley was prepared to remove the night soil for the foes chargeable (about £l6 per month. )>nd £3 per week. —The terms were agreed to. The committee appointed to consider the advisability of cutting a drain in North street to divert flood water reported in favour of its construction in the form of a concrete invert. —Cr. Richmond, a member of tlie committee, dissented from the report on two grounds : That the report had been drawn up ou the assumption that Messrs Hauiffy land Lull hud reported in favour of such drain and there were no such reports. and second that the relief simh drain would afford at flood time was purely conjectural. In ‘ commotion with the matter, Or. Rich.maud proposed that in view of the urgent need of a comprehensive scheme 'of surface drainage for the borough, including a proper and efficient control of tlie Makino stream, Mr Robert Hay, C. E., of Dunedin, he requested to supply the Council with such a report. Cr. Gohhe moved as an amendment the' adoption of the report and the immediate construction of the drain. It was stated that the estimated cost of tlie proposed work was £IOOO. Or. Darragh objected to "the construction of the drain ou the ground that the effect would he to injure the property of some_ ratepayers to prevent the flooding of that of others.

The amendment having been seconded by Cr. Tolly, was adopted. The report continued : Your Committee begs to report having considered the matter of tlie duties of the various members of the borough staff aud the cost of administration aud recommend as follows: —1. That Mr Tong ho retained to make up rate book and issue rate accounts at a salary of £3 per week during tlie pleasure of the Council. 3. That the Council ask the Engineer to furnish a statement of the work completed by him during his term of office. That the Council also requests tlie Engineer to state whether it is necessary to retain the services of the draughtsman iu view of tlie small amount of office work on hand. 3. That Mr Mickelsou ascertain the amount likely to he contributed by the settlers towards the cost of connecting with’the Council’s telephone'at the reservoir.—Tlie report was adopted. GENERAL BUSINESS.

In the matter, of the claims of the Labourers’ Industrial Union on the local bodies the Mayor stated that it amounted to a claim for a rise of wages of from 4*<£d to 6d per day for labouring work. —It was decided to inform Mr Richardson that the Council would join with the other local bodies in obtaining the services of Mr Pryor at the Arbitration Court in connection with the claims of the Labourers’ Union.

It was decided that a new agreement be made with fc the clerk for a continuation of his services during another three years at a salary of £3OO a year.