WAIMATE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2157, 17 February 1880, Page 2

WAIMATE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the above Council was held yesterday. Present —The Mayor, Crs. Middleton, Goldsmith, Hayes, Black, Evans, Cameron, and Price. CORRESPONDENCE. From Chairman Insurance Association, Christchurch re subsidising grant to Fire Brigade. From Trustees, Temperance Hall, asking that the licence fee for hall be made as small as possible. From Captain of the Fire Brigade in reference to shed and transfer of section 88.

From the Colonial Secretary, re registration of clogs. The following resolutions were carried :—“ That in consequence of Mr Finn having resigned his position as Town Clerk, Mr E. H. Gibbon, be gazetted collector of dog tax. “ That the application of the trustees of the Temperance Hall be deferred for consideration until after the passing of the bye-laws, and that they be allowed to use the building as usual until that time.” “ That the Council regrets receiving a reply from the Assurance Association in which they object to assist the Waimate Fire Brigade, as the recent action of the brigade fully warrants some help from the Insurance Companies combined with the assistance of the Borough Council; and that the Clerk forward a cop}’ of this motion to the agents of the several Insurance Companies interested in Waimate and respectfully request the association to reconsider the matter.” “ That the trustees of the Oddfellows Hall be granted permission by this Council to let the Hall for public purposes as hitherto, pending the byelaws coming into force.” FIRE BRIGADE STATION. A lengthy discussion took place as to whether it would be most profitable to build the Fire Brigade Station of brick or wood, during which Cr. Price said that rather than have it built of wood he would pay for it privately in order to have it built of brick. The following resolutions were carried : “ That the Clerk be instructed to have plans for the Fire Brigade buildings in brick prepared, and that alternative tenders be called for in brick or timber. It was resolved that the Clerk prepare plans and specifications for a new pound ; not less than [four compartments to be erected on the old pound revenue.” WATER PRIVILEGES. The Council decided that the natural water-course was being stopped, and the water thereby diverted, and seeing that according to legal opinion and the opinion of the Council’s Engineer, parties injured thereby can claim damages from those who stop such watercourse, Messrs Martin and Finlay son be advised to act accordingly. THE NEW RATE. Councillor Goldsmith proposed and Councillor Middleton seconded —“ That a rate of one shilling in the pound be struck on all rateable property within the Borough. The Mayor read t h clauses of the Act bearing on the question and pointed out that the County Council had lost the last rate which it struck through not having a complete rate-book, and that if a rate was struck it must be on the County rate roll as the roll prepared for the Borough had not passed the Assessment Court. He al o submitted that a statement of the proposed expenditure must be gazetted one -week before the striking of the rate. This statement had been prepared, but the incorrectness of the roll presented a difficulty. . Or. Hayes dul not sec that the incorrectness of the County Council s ratebook could affect the Borough Council or the roll. It was the rate-book that was wrong, not the roll itself. His Worship replied that the Borough Council had no rate-hook whatever,_ and therefore they were in as bad a position as the County Council was last year. It might be argued that the Council could now make a rate-book, but persons not paying within the given time could not he forced to pay before the 31st March, Again, the rate-book must be signed and advertised open for inspection so as to allow persons to object. Cr. Hi lyes said that his idea of the rate-book was, that it must be an exact copy of the rate-roll, and therefore it was id ready prepared. The book could he made oiit to-morrow, and the noticees of inspection .and for the strii<ing of the rate, could he advertised in the next issue of the local paper. His Worship asked what money there was to the credit of the Council and was informed that there was £1639, or taking off the fixed deposits, a running account of £389 at the Bank. The Mayor then said that the Council must be in a position to expend more than this amount within a given time or the rate would be bad. After further discussion the resolution was passed with the following addition ; “ provided there is no legal obstacle ; the Mayor and Cr. Hayes to consult Mr Clement on the matter at once.” TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL. It was resolved, “That the Government be respectfully requested to have the Tiiuaru High School Act so amended as to allow a "representative from the Waimate Borough Council a seat on that Board also, “That the Mayor call a special meeting for Thursday next to consider the bye-laws.” ACCOUNTS, Accounts amounting to £OB 8s 3ld were passed for payment. The meeting then adjourned.