TOWN BOARD.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 445, 12 February 1890, Page 2

TOWN BOARD.

The Ordinary monthly meeting of Te Aroha Town Board was held on last Saturday evening in the Palace Hotel. Present: Messrs Ed \v. Gallagher (chairman), Lipsey, Heathcnte, Harris, and Mills.

The Clerk, Mr C. Alder, read the minutes of the la>t monthly meeting, held on Jan-

ii nr v 17th, (adjourned from January 11th j to January Isth..and then to 17th), which w,ere then confirmed,. An Illegal Meeting; Mr Harris said before piocteding with the ordinary business lie .wished'to ask the Chairman if the special meeting referred to in the Minute Book as being Held on December 28tfi (when No. 2 attempt to Levy a rate was ipade) was really held . Chairman : I forget just now. Mr Harris ; I was not then a member of the Board and therefore was not here, but 1 understand by the provisions of the Town Districts Act, it is necessary before a special meeting cap be field that each member shall receive notice in writing of such meeting seven days before it is held. Wjtfi respect to the meeting referred to, this had not been done., some of the members not being aware the meeting was to be held grjtil the day previous, the notifications issued by the Clerk (by post card) being iiqsted qn 21th December, the curds being dated December 23rd. . That being so I want to know if a special meeting vyus realty Ifeld, and if so how it could haye been legally jlield under those circumstances.

Clerk : A special meeting was held on December 28th, as shown in the Minutes. Correspondence ; Offensive Drainage : From the Clerk Hot Springs Domain Board, drawing attention to the great nuisance existing by the offensive smell from the drainage down the road side past the Domain ; and requesting the Board to at once have it rectified.

From Mr Winstone, Agent Bank New Zealand, also calling the Board’s attention to the sewage from the Hot Springs Hotel being carried down the road side and through the Bunk property, and stating this condition of things had been a source of great anxiety to the writer and his family for some time past. The Chairman said with reference to the nuisance complained of he wished to state that he had taken it on himself to have the drain cleaned ont, and the stuff Carted away. He had also arranged with the Inspector of Nuisances, John Dare, to sweep out the drain every day, and flush it every morning with fresh water for Is Gil per week additional pay. Mr Mills moved : That the action of fhe Chairman with respect to the nuisance complained of be approved. The motion teas not seconded. Mr Lipsey said it would be necessary to adopt some other course than that proposed by the Chairman for dealing with this matter. Mr Harris said lie did not think the ratepayers money should he spent in keeping clean any man’s drain for him ; and moved as an amendment tout the account for the expense incurred in removing the sewage referred to be sent to the occupier of the hotel ; and in the event of any member not caring to second this proposition he requested that Ids protest be at least recorded in the Minutes against the ratepayer’s money being uli - Used for paying the account. Mr Hoathcote said he was also of opinion it was not right that this work should be done at the expense of the general body of the ratepayers ; besides if they commenced doing it for one they would have to do it in any other cases that might arise. Chairman : The nuisance complained of is simply water from the laundry (!!) Mr Lipsey : Thc best way would be to have any person from whose premises a nuisance arises notified that they must take the necessary steps to at once rectify it.

Mr Heathcnte approved of Mr Lipsey’s suggestion, and mrved : That notice be sent the occupiers of any premises where a nuisance is found to exist detrimental to public health, that such must be at once discontinued. Seconded by Mr Harris and carried. Clerk : You had better enumerate the persons you wish these notices sent to, Mr Henthcote. Mr Heathcnte : We are paj’ing an Inspector of Nuisances —that’s part of his work. MrLipsey : This resolution should cover all pigs and other nuisances in the township. Clerk : I will send the Inspector of Nuisances a copy of the resolution, and ask him to furnish me with a list of the names of offenders. Anxious to Get it Over : At this stage of the proceedings the Chairman most abruptly declared that was all the business, and that the meeting was now closed. Mr Harrjs addressing the Chairman, said, before the meeting broke up be wished to ask the Chairman was the special meeting convened for Wednesdaj', January 15th [the Chairman having given notice that at such special meeting he would move that a general rate of 6d in the £ be levied] and Adjourned to January 17th, ever held. The Chairman replied he should refuse to answer that question ; Mr Harris could refer to the Minutes. Chairman to Mr Harris; Considering you are only a new member you are taking a great deal already upon you. It would be better for you to criticise your own transactions a little and not ours (!!) Mr Harris to Chairman : Thank you sir for your courtesy. MrLipsey : Mr •Harris may he only a new member, Mr Chairman, but he is a member of the Board all the same, Some further questions being asked re nuisance, the Chairman then proposed that the Board go into Committee to discuss this drain question. Ibis was promptly seconded by Mr Mills. Messrs Lipsey and Harris oojected to going into Committee, as there was np good reason for so doing. As only Messrs Lipsey and Harris objected, the Chairman then declared his proposition carried, by bis own casting vote (Mr Heathcote not having voted). Mr Harris : I aslc for a show of hands on the resolution. For the resolution the Chairman and Mr Mills held up their hands; against, Messrs Lipsey, Harris, and Heathcote ; the proposal to go into Committee was therefore lost.

At Mr Harris’ request The Public Health Act was then produced, and various clauses therein discussed at some length ; but when it was proposed to take some further action relative to abating nuisances and for the maintenance of public health, the Chairman intimated nothing more could be done on that occasion, and sqid he had declared the meeting closed long since, and tjiey. were only sitting there wasting time, ' This was all the business and the meeting roe.