TOWN BOARD.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 93, 25 September 1863, Page 3

TOWN BOARD.

iiH l*i '■•■'• «f the Town Board was held |H§ of «g~jgj£-i t three o'clock, IK Wednesday for .general me^- ?^rS:Si G. k K. Clarke, :;< M<lvoiy Garthwaite,, W^^Se^o&Jast meeting werereadj £Mal>sence oi m iiSeEssafßSi . : : - ., M T .wc«-Pre read from Mr &. B.Monfcman ;■ letter he duties of Assessor to di-cn per a nnuni j fron rMr> Bwj^ g O nly lands, and £47 10s. '{■°SS> tor * an d tenements,; from Messrs j -WP J rt and Co. for £95, the ! performed - "by Mr j *B« u^ y^n and a gentleman in his office, of; --■ €X Killersaid that in the appointment of {MH ' nr S they had to consider two things., «Se4erience in the. allocation of moneys, /j lB^!i i second a residence for some time in the IMCn He thought that Mr Ogg, as a -new WKLer bad scarcely the requisite knowledge. j ißSrSonknian having assisted the Board -; Hbcforein .assessing, was, from experience, a ; suitable man. £■ Mr M'lvor thoHght Mr Ogg was very cora■netent for the duty. Engineers and Sur■Jevors would have the best knowledge of the "' ■ value of sections. , ■ -Vir Garthwaite was inclined to the favor- ■ aLle consideration of Mr Monkman's tender. ■ Mr M'lvor objected to Mr Monkman, be■xause he was an Auctioneer. ■ Mr Giller did not 'advocate Mr Monkman s ■ cliim from any partisanship, but because he I considered his qualifications the best. What "M-thev h^ to look t0 in an ftPP 0 ™ 1 ™ 6116 of thls Blharacter, was not.tlie cheapest candidate, but ■ the one who was likely to render the most , ■ Valuable services. He would move that ' H Messrs Monkman and Nutter be apppmted ■ As3 essors to the Board. Mr Beaven J H jj r M'lvor moved as an amendment, that H Mr Oss' s name be substituted'for that of Mr ,H Jlonkman. H The original motion on being put by the j H :C]iau'i nan Wf is carried . j H APPOINTMENT OF SOLICITOR. j H Answers were read from various solicitors, ■ to whom, letters had been sent, inquiring if, -H upon being elected, -they would accept the i ■ office of solicitor to the Board, at 1.100 a ,-Hjrear. Messrs M'Donald and Russeli, and ■ Messrs Harvey and Stuart wrote, declining ■ ihe honor ; Mr S. M. South and Mr T. S. j I Weston would accept, if elected. ■ Mr Giller moved that Mr T. S. Weston I deceive the appointment. j ■ Mr M'lvor thoughtthat though they had de- ■ -clined, Messrs Harvey and Stuart should be ■ .elected, for, as the oIS solicitors to the Board, i ■ justice had notT^een done them, in not giving j ■ .them the solitary refusal of the office. 2a I ■ advertising for solicitors, they should not ■ proceed, as if it were a -doctor or a butcher ■ they wanted. ■ Mr Giller suggested that Mr M'lvor was : ■ out of order. It was not for them to force I I an office upon gentlemen who declined to acI ceptit — besides, it was an act of injustice to ■ the other -professional geßtlemen, who were ■ willing to give their services. ■ Mr Garthwaite begged to second Mr j I Giller's motion. I Mr Mclvor had to propose Mr Soiith. Mr Garthwaite said that Mr South, as an elderly solicitor, would not like to be dictated to ; and that they must have a law adviser, whom they should not be afraid to instruct. Mr Giller thought that Mr Weston would be a suitable solicitor to the Board, and that, ...as a new comer, he would be able to devote moie time to their interests. i The original motion and the amendment having beenpu*, the motion was carried. TRAP IN COHON STREET. A letter was read from Mr Puettelkow requesting permission to construct a trap in the footpath of Conon-sbreet, by which he might lower goods into a cellar belonging to ; 'his (the Provincial) Hotel. Mr Lockhart moved that permission be granted, as if it were not, Mr Puettelkow's 1 business would be seriously affected. Mr Mclvor thought permission should not he granted, as traps were dangerous to the public and an interruption to traffic. Mr Lockhart said that footpath traps were allowed in all cities. Mr Kobertsou objected to the whole thing. ■ If Mr Puettelkow had a trap, he (the speaker) must have a trap also. After some discussion Mr Giller seconded the motion and it was carried. FOOTPATHS IN KELVIN-STHEET. ; Tenders were read from various persons offering for this work. The tender of Messrs : Bargoyne and Son, £149, was accepted. engineer's retort. The Engineer (Mr Marchant), read the following report : — To the Chairman of the Town Board, — Sir, — I have the honor to report, as data for fixing the special rate for the construction of the .' footpaths, and gratings in Tay-street, that the cost of the entire work in connection with these footpaths, on their completion, for the entire length from Dee-street to Doon-Streefc, on the north side of the street, and from Z<ith-sfcreet to Ness-street, on the south side of the street (exclusive of provisions for right-of-way), will be £3333 103, being at the rate of about 13s l£d per foot run of sectional froDtage. In accordance with further instructions receivpd ot the lost meeting of the Town Board, I have also to report that the works in progress are as follows . —

As the Board will immediately be taking into consideration the works to be executed during the ensuing summer, I beg to report, that the approximate cost of forming, . kerbing, and grating the footpath& on one side of each of .the following streets :—Galn, Leet, Yarrow, Spey, Don, and Esk

streets, 'westwards to Dee-street} Kelvin, Deyeron, Jedi and Boon streets throughout, : would be '^ll^^or about. 9s l£<i pertoot of sectional front* age adjoining the footpath.-^; ■, ,: :; ■ The division of the Puni* Greek should be immediately cut to , give drainage; to, the southern portions of. the town, and after this is .done;. the approximate cost of forming, kerbinsj, and grating thefootpaths on one side of Forth, Tvne, Eye, and Tweed streets, would v be ; : £6793, or about 10s per foot of sectional frontage adjoining thefootpath. The approxin ate cosj of Jormmg, kerbing, and grating the footpath on one >ide .of each of _the following streets as stated :~JX$* and .Ythan streets ,through»ut; Conon and M?opn streets to Tweetetreet ; "Ettrick and Crinan streets to Annan street; and Biggar- street: to Clyde-street, would be £9323, or about 10s per foot of «ecti6»al frontago adjoining the Footpath. "... „ It seems probable that the owners "$f property in the several streets mentioned or in others may combine in an^application for 'the construction ox a footpath on one side at least of each street, under a special rate to be levied on the #.nole street in. the manner provided in clause' s 2 of t.be Ordinance'; if they do so, and divide the expense df the footpath, which if is proposed to construct on one side only; then the cost of construction per foot of sectional frontage to the twfesides of the street would average 4s 9d per foot. The construction of a pitched and metalled roadway of 16 feet in width in the centre of ench street for .which one footpath is estimated, would amount to about £32,584; and it might be within the resources of the Board so to construct the street wherever satisfactory security was given for the outlay required in tihe construction of the footpath, and as such a system would be a test of the probable progress of the street, at the same time that it would relieve the Board of responsibility and probable accusations of favoritism. I beg to submit it for consideration. The estimate given assumes probably the largest amount of work the Board can at all ho.pe to execute during the ensuing summer, and -would involve the outlay of £27,641, to be raised on the security of srecial rates to be secured *the Board for the construction of footpaths ; these rates, at 30 per cent, per annum (10 per cent, for interest and expenses, and 20 per cent for a sinking fund), 'would give Is s£d per foot on the tohole street frontage. As stated, I saggest for the consideration of the Board, that the further amount of work which is included in the £32,584 to be provided for construction of the street roadways, should be expended proportionately to, and in connection with, the footpaths, wherever guarantees are given to the Board enabliug it to provide for their construction. E- M. MAEcnANT, Engineer. As it is very desirable to construct the gratings entirely of Tasmanian timber, which will entail two months delay, I would suggest that measures be •immediately taken to ascertain what extent of footpath would be applied for under the required guarantee. — R. M. M. In reference thereto, Mr Giller said the report was very satisfactory, but for the amount of expenditure^ would involve in order to the -facilitation of public works, he would move that clause 52 of the Town Board Ordinance, 1863, be printed on hand bills and posters, and circulated everywhere. Also, that it be advertised in the local papers, for the space of one month. Mr Garthwaite seconded, and the motion was carried. TAY-STREET GRATINGS. Mr M'lvor moved that the heavy gratings for the centre of Tay-street be put down, instead upon the crossings in that street and in Esk-street. Mr Beaven would second the motion. The gratings on the footpath in Tay-street were to a certain extent useless, when at every crossing, one had to sink knee-deep in mire. Mr Lockhart was of opinion that the middle of the road ought to be the most considered. The Engineer thought a few might be applied to the crossings, and the rest used for their original purpose. The motion was carried. Mr Giller said that whilst on the 'subject of road making, they ought to make up their minds t© do away wilhiascines, as, from a sanatory point of view, dangerous. The meeting agreed with him. HIGGAR-STREET AND PUXI CREEK. In reference to letters read at former meetings from the Rev. Mr Tanner, and from Mr P. L. Francis, as to the drainage of this locality, Mr Giller moved that the Clerk reply to them, that nothing could be done until the Board heard from his Honor the Superintendent about the diversion of Puni Creek. The motion was •carried. FIRE ENGINE. Mr Giller alluded to the necessity that existed for establishing a Fire Brigade, with a suitable engine. By the 42nd section of the Ordinance, they were authorised and required to provide a Fire Engine. In this, the interests of every one were involved. In the event of a large fire, every one would be affected, some directly and others indirectly, all by the consequent stagnation of business. He moved that a Committee be appointed to consist of Messrs Beaven, Garthwaite, M'lvor and the mover to take the necessary steps to procure a Fire Engine, pipes and the proper appurtenances. The Clerk should be instructed to ascertain from Government, Insurance Companies and the Banks, the amount of subcriptions they would give towards the organization of the Brig«ade ; and subscription lists should be opened at the Banks. Mr Beaven said that subscription lists had already been sent out to get money for a Fire Brigade.. It was the intention of the Committee who had sent out those lists to apply to the Board to ascertain how far they might counton their assistance. Most of the Insurance Companies, and principal merchants had severally put down their names for a subscription of £10 10s, He thought the Board had quite enough to do already, and might leave the matter to the Brigade Committee. Mr Giller did not see how the Board could over ride the 42nd section of the Ordinance. Mr Lockhart seconded Mr Giller's motion, •&ri& ifc was carried. FINANCIAL. The Clerk read the following financial report, which upon the motion of Mr Giller was referred to a Committee of Finance, to be appointed at an early period. Income and Expenditure of the InvercargiU Town Board, for the year ending the 18th dav of September, 18G3.

A man being overtaken by a shower, sought shelter from the rain in the house of a negro fiddler. On entering he found the negro in the only dry spot in the house, the chimney corner ; as happy as a clam, fiddling most nierrily. Our traveller tried to keep dry, but the rairi came in from all quarters. "Jack," said he, " Why don't you fix your house?" "Oh, cause 'er rain so I can't." "But why don't you fix it when it don't rain ?" " Oh, when 'er don't rain, "er don't need no fixing !" The ancient Greeks buried their dead in jars. Hence the origin of the expression, "He's gone to pot."

Dr. income. £ b- d. To balance at Bank (N. S. W.) ... 221 16 10 „ Loan, Provincial Government ... 1000 0 0 „ do „ „ ... 1200 0 0 „ Deposits on Contract ... ... 240 0 0 „ do on Sale of Sections ... 63 11 2 „ Assessment collected ... ... 778 19 5 „ Cash balance 2 17 „ Overdrawn account at Bank of New South Wales 3323 19 2. £0830 8 2 EXPENDITURE. CV. By sundry Contracts ..,2018 7 4 ."„ Contract, Campbell &Co ... 1640 4 9 „ do Burgoyne 1533 0 0 „ Labor 463 7 11 „ Sundries 205 G 9 „ Salary — Engineer, 6 months and 7 days 207 13 8 „ do Clerk, one year ... ... 179 3 4 „ do Messenger, 8 months ... 77 0 0 „ Provincial Government ... ... 200 16 0 „ Interest on Loans ... ... 87 13 8 „ Printing, &c 47 18 11 „ Solicitor 67 14 2 " Office, furnishing 66 1 6 £6830 8 2

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