TOWN BOARD.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 308, 17 October 1888, Page 2

TOWN BOARD.

The first ordinary meeting of the newly constituted Town Board was held on featurday last. There were present : Corns. Gallagher (chairman), Ebert, and Mills. Minutes of the special meeting held on the 29th September wore read and confirmed. Inward correspondence : -l^rorn the Paymaster-General, informing Board that the amount of 4s had been placed to the Board's credit on account of commission on golclfield's revenue. Banking Account : The advisability of making arrangements for a bank overdraft to meet existing liabilities was discussed at some length. The Clerk stated the Board's account was now overdrawn to the extent of £17, and there was also an unpresented cheque to meet of £4. The interest on the amount was 10 per cent. The present accounts against the Board amounted to £32 (Is Gd. The Chairman said these accounts would have to be paid, and if they had no money in hand they would have to borrow again. He asked the Clerk if he could get in sufficient of the rates to meet the Board's liability. The Clerk stated that 107 had paid for £108, and that there were 121 to pay for £73. The Chairman said the ratepayers would have to be stirred up in some way, and suggested that an advertisement demanding payment would be effectual. The Chairman instructed the Clerk to read the accounts, which were as follows : W. Hetherington, formation work, £S 19s ; L. IT. Newton, lighting post-office lamp, supplying oil, &c, 12a lOd ; R, Michael, supplying road metal, £15 13s Gd ; H. Crump, fee as Returning Officer, £1 Is ; J. Dare, quarter's salary as Inspector of Nuisances, £2 10s ; J. M. Murray (Clerk), salary, office necessaries, etc., £3 15s 2d. Com Ebert, referring to Mr Dare's account, said he did not think it should be paid in full, as he was away during the quarter for over a month, without, he believed, the permission of the Board. As Com Ebert did not press this matter, it was allowed to lapse. Resolved : " That the accounts as read be passed for payment." Com Ebert then moved : " That the Chairman and mover interview the manager of the Bank of New Zealand with leference to an extended ovei draft being granted the Board." The motion was duly seconded nnl carried. Watertable : The Chairman drew attention to the necessity of constructing a water table in front of the entrance to the Domain, as the footpath had already been considerably damaged. Upon the motion of Com Ebert it was resolved that the Chairman and mover inspect the spot indicated, and make ariangements for a water table being constructed at as small a cost as possible. Engineer's Report : The engineer furnished a report dealing with th^ works required in the township, etc. He recommended that a contract be let tor the spreading of the GG yards of metal supplied by Mr R. Michael for the main road, and diew attention to the bad condition of the roadway between the townshipand the racecourse, reconvi lending that it be repaired as soon as possible. The report closed as follows: — "I bog to report that horses and cattle tint are running at large in the town are injuring the footpath*, and would respectfully suggest that a by-law be framed (if not already in force), to have this nuisance stopped. " Com Ebert moved that the report be received, and that the Inspector of Nuisances be requested to summon all offenders against sub-section 2 of By-law No 2. The motion was carried. It was resolved not to lett'ie contract for the spreading of metal on main road until the Board had more funds in hand. Post Office Lamp : Upo'i the motion of the Chaiiman, it was resolved to discontinue the lighting of the post-office lamp during the summer months. Poundkeoper's Report : The poundkeeper's monthly report, was submitted and received. A commission of 2s Gd was forwarded with the report.

During the last session of the New Zealand Pailiament, a Bill, introduced by the Hon Mr Stevens, a meinl> u r of the Government, to amend the l.iw in regard to Government Life Insurance, was passed. One of the most important provisions in tliis measure was that which A-ested all the property, and all the interest of the Government Ineuiance Department in the Queen, in just the same manner as if Her Majesty had been a private person, and carried on the business of the department on her own account. The Queen may now, through her servants, the Government of New Zealand, for the time being, realise on mortgages by way of foreclosure She may purchase the mortgaged property if hei Ministeis think that this course would be judicious; in shoit, the properties or the securities in which the Government Insurance Dcpaitment is interested are to be treated as if they belonged to Victoria Regina an a private pcrsoi. AH the provisions sketched above are to be deemed to have been in force on and after the Ist October, 1886. This m.iy be objected to as retrospective legislation, but the alteration of the law will inflict no real hardship on anybody. At Waiorongomai preparations are being made for building on the residence sites recently granted by the Wai den. Mr P. Moraritv will shoitlj' erect a cottage on his allotment, and Messrs P. Rice and T. Neiland are actively engaged in fencing work. Mr M. Murphy has also commenced fencing. I Advertising pays m every way. A tradesman in another colon}', who advertises extensively, was thereby recently discovered by his wife in England, from whom he had bolted several yoais ago. Advertising, therefore, not only advances business, but promotes morality as well.