Meetings.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 21, 18 August 1894, Page 9

Meetings.

INVERCARGILL BOROUGH COUNCIL. The meeting of .the Council on Thursday evening was attended by his Worship the Mayor (Mr A. Eaeside) and Councillors Eochc, Storie, Blacke, H. jMair, Batchelor, Goldie, Sinclair, J. Stead, Hanan, Rose, McEwan, and McKeown. It was intimated that the following councillors would retire next month : North Ward, A. Mcßw r an; Second Ward, A. Blacke; Third Ward, John Stead; South Ward, W. Batchelor. John N. Simon was granted an auctioneer’s license. Accounts amounting to L 943 14s 2d were passed for payment. The Works Committee reported, inter alia, that the dredge Alpha had Been returned by the Bluff Harbour Board, and was being put in order at the cost of that body.—Adopted. The Gas, Water, and Einance Committee stated that they had had the letter of Mr J. W. Kelly; M.H.R., re the clock tower 'under consideration, and would report later on, and that re new uniforms for the fire brigade they would make a recommendation at “an early date. —The report was adopted, Cr. Mair saying he hoped the brigade would have the uniforms before the demonstration in ©ctober. —Cr. McKeown said the brigade had been in existence fourteen years, and the Council had never given a uniform. —Or. Goldie held that it was no use voting anything less than LiO. If they did it would simply be banked till the brigade had enough for the uniforms, and they would be receiving, and the council paying, interest on the money. Cr. Hanan, in accordance with notice, moved —“ That owing to the necessity which has arisen for retrenchment in the departments of this Corporation, the Engineer at the Waterworks and the Turncock receive the necessary notice in terms of their appoint-

ment that their services are to be dispensed with, and the management of the Waterworks be placed under the control of the Gas Manager, with instructions to carrj on the Gasworks and Waterworks conjointly ; that the services of the employe (A. Daniel) at thepumping station, also the labourer (A. Garrick), be retained, both to act under the instructions of the gas manager, the gas manager to arrange for the laying of water seyvices, and running off of water (when necessary) by the staff then under him, either by gasworks or waterworks servants; the duties usually performed by the turncock to be undertaken by the gasworks meter repairer.” Cr. Hanan in moving the resolution disclaimed having any personal feelings in the matter —he was simply animated by a desire to do his best in the Interests of the ratepayers as a whole. The Borough was now paying £4OO a year by way of interest on its overdraft; their expenditure exceeded their income ; there was a loss in the working of some of the departments, notably the waterworks, on which there was a loss last year of some £713 ; and drainage and other works were required. The ratepayers were against further taxation, and, under these circumstances they must curtail their The only question was where to begin ? Cr. Hanan then reviewed the worbing of the Gas and Water Departments, and held that the scheme of management outlined in his motion would result in a substantial saving without any impairment of efficiency.—Cr. Goldie seconded the motion, which, if given effect to would save nearly £3OO a year. Ths Waterworks were now run at a loss of about £450 a year, and some people thought they would be better shut up than continue at that rate. Personally he did not understand where the people employed there were putting in their time. —His Worship the Mayor said that if they dispensed with the Waterworks Engineer they would have to get another one in his place immediately. As to the Waterworks, they .were the greatest godsend the town ever got. . Formerly he was paying 70s in the £IOO for insurance—now it only cost him 9s. —Cr. Storie moved, as an amendment, that the motion be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report. According to the motion they were to advance an amateur, and dispense with a practical man. —Cr. Batchelor seconded the amendment. — Cr. Stead favoured the remitting of the matter to a committee ; he had not received sufficient information to enable him to vote on the question that evening. Cr. Hanan should have first brought the matter before a committee. The names of those who should go, and those who should be retained should not have been stated. As it was, men were now making suggestions under pressure; everybody was willing to shed everybody’s blood but his own. He stood second to none in his admiration of the way in which Mr Hawkins did his duty, but before making changes they should take expert advice as to whether it would be wise to have a man in charge of the machinery who was not a certificated engineer.—Cr. Eose did not think the Gas Manager could attend to his ow , work and also take charge of the Waterworks. —Cr. MeKeown said the whole Council should deal with the matter, not a committee, who would probably shelve it. This was only the beginning of retrenchment ; before long other departments would have to be dealt with.—Cr. Roche said there 'were features of Cr. Hanan’s proposals which appeared to be practical, but time was wanted to consider them. —Cr. Hanan said he had no objection to the matter going to the committee, and the amendment was then put and carried.