BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 222038, 18 January 1900, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Council was held in the Council Cham bers, Domain Buildings, last evening. Present: Hss Worship the Mayor (Mr E. Gallnglier) in the chair, Crs S. L. Bygrave, P. O’Meagher, S. L. Hirst, A. W. Edwards, D. McL Wallacejand J. Mills.

Mr F. Pavitt, engineer, was also in attendance Minutes of previous and special meetings read and confirmed. Inward and outward correspondence was dealt with. Water-works Loan.—From Treasury, instructing that the third and final payment of £ 1000 in connection with waterworks' loan, had been placed to the -credit of the Board. Hal f - holiday. From Department of Labour, re weekly h i If-holiday. Additional Pipes.—From Charles Judd, ironfounder, Thames, stating that as he was now making pipes for the Paeroa water-works, and hearing that the Council were requiring additional pipes, he would be glad to supply Council. Forming Streets.—From R. Mackie suggesting thut Rewi and Wild Sir ets be formed and made fit f*r traffic, in order to avoid risks entailed by driving cat le, etc., through Whitaker-street.

It was resolved on the motiou of Cr Bygrave, seconded by Cr O’Me' gher, that the matter bo deferred until sucli time as the funds of Council were available.

Water works.—The engineer (Mr Pavitt) drew th? attention of Council to various minor matters which required attention. Cr Mills proposed, and Cr Hirst seconded, that the Engineer, have power to get wash-out pipes, etc., fixed iu connection with wa.er-works ; a!s ■ to make best arrangements re concreting overflow. Carried. Overdraft. —Resolved to arrange for an overdraft from the Bank of New Zealand.

Dog Collars.— It was decided on the motion of Cr Mills, seconded by Cr Bygrave, that the Dog Tax collector (Mr J. Guilding) receive 6d per collar, commencing from Ist Jau. Wo: ks Committee. —The Mayor said the next business was to elect a works committee. It was his opinion that two committees should be elected, one for the water-works and one for town purposes. From what he saw in the past he thought the committees should consist of. only one councillor in each case.

Cr Mills : I consider to do that, it would be a risky procedure. Cr Wallace: It is my opinion that one Councillor was quite sufficient, it was far better than have 2 or 3 as heretofore, as he. considered the way the work had been carried out during the past 12 months was a disgrace, and no credit to the Council. (Cr Bygrave : "Thank you.) There had been a great deal of unnecessary messing a bungling, and. said ho considered Cr Mills was responsible for a lot of it. He considered the wafer-works —

Cr Mills here interjected a remark, and said he would like Cr Wallace to keep to the matter of electing the works committee, and not wander off talking of things in the past. Cr Edwards : So far as I seo the late committee have done their duty. Cr Hiret said he objected to one man composing the committee. Cr Wallace : Object to two or three; because what was everybody’s business was nobody’s business. Cr Mills took exception to these remarks, and said other boroughs had two and three on works committees, and he did n >t see why it should not w-rk hero. Cr Wallace : It was your fault, Cr Mills, that things are mixed up as they are. If you had listened to me, and not snubbed people when they spoke, things would not be as they are now. Cr Mills: Keep to the works committee.

Cr Wallace : Well, I am still of the same opinion. Cr Hirst said he thought it rather queer at this juncture for Cr Wallace to step forward and slate the works committee. He considered the works commi'teo had done their duty. The Mayor proposed that one councillor bo works committee for the next six months. Seconded by Cr Wallace. Cr Edwards proposed, ns an amendment, that the works committee be composed of three members. Seconded by Or Mills. On being put, Crs Bygrave, Mills, Hirst, and Edwards vo'ed for the amendment. Cr Wallace and the Mayor voted against it. Cr Bygrave proposed, and Gr Hirst seconded, that Crs Mills, Wallace, and Edwards bo the works committee. Cr Mills moved, as an amendment, that Crs Wallace, Bygrave, and O’Meagher be the works committee. Cr Gallagher seconded. Cr Bygrave declined to act. Cr Mills said that Cr Bygravo had always carried out his work in a first class manner, and should like to See him on the Committee again. Cr Wallace said ho declined to act. Cr Hirst: With all duo respect to Cr Wallace, I think ho is in duty bound to act on the Works Committee. Cr Mills: If Cr Wallace refuses to go on any of tho Committees and do his share of tho work he did not soo why he should keep his .seat on the Council. Cr Bygrave : Yes : Cr Wallace will talk about tho work of others, but refuses to take his shake of the labour ; yet lie professed to know all about

everything, After further discussion it was tuaLly decided that Crs Wallace, Bygrave and O’Meagher be a Works Committee, Water-works Committee.—Resolved that Ci’S Edwards, Hirst and Mills be Water-works Committee. Tenders. The following tenders were received for tenders invited: Contract No. 20 : Construction of water dam at intake, Bygrave and Jackson (accepted), £3O 10s; C. R. Lovett, £33 16s. Contract No. 21. —Laying Sewer pipes in Whitaker-steeU—R. £45; Bygrave and (accepted); W. White £27 17s F. Carines £49. Burying Dead Horse.—The Inspector of Nuisances, who was in attendance. reported that he had. dead horse nuisance, at to|i of street, removed at a cost of The Mayor asked by whose authority the £1 had been given. Or O’Meagher said he had instructed the Inspector to employ Jmen in clearing the nuisanceat £l,and he thought the work- was well worth the money. ■ Cr Hirst Said he was qf opinion Cr O’Meagher had overstepped the mark in giving £ 1 for the job. The Mayer said, not knowing the work was carried out, he had engaged a man to do the job for 10s. Claim f >r Damages.—Thomas Leadbeatter wrote drawing attention to the way in which his strawberry garden had been destroyed through the carting of water mains, etc, through his propertp. As this garden was a source from which he derived his livelihood* he asked for some compensation. Resolved. on the motion of Cr Wallace, seconded by Or Mils, that in addition to £1 already promised, the sum of £2 be givon. Revenue. Memo from Office intimating that the sum of 4s 6d, amouut of Morgautown rents had been placed to credit of Council. Waterworks Contract.—C. R. Lovett, contractor for laying water mains, and asking Council to get pipes as soon as possible, to /enable him to push on ;he work. A Request.— ln reply to a letter from Piako County Council asking the Borough Council for a donation towards opening out drain, running through recently acquired endowment* It was resolved to write stating that Government had given over possession of the Endowment to Council they would consider the matter. Service Pipes.—Decided that inch service pipes be laid to houses of 5 rooms and under, and I ineh if required to hoarding houses, hotels, etc. Cr Mills drew attention to the loose way the concrete work was being carv ed out on the bridge contract, and Ctnught it advisable to get a man to overlook the work, to be under theEngineer. The Mayor said Mr Coutts had suggested to him that this be done. It was res lved that Mayor see and arrange this matter. Accounts.—The following-accounts were passed for p iyment :—Robert Michael, £8 8s; F. Kearns, £1 a- To a ArohaNF.ws, £5 19s 6i; clerk, £3 ; 1 office expenses, 17s 7d; F. Kearns, ■" £72 ; Treasury, iuterest on loan, £2l 0s 3d. Waterworks account-: C. Lovatt, £80; E. Porter & Co., £8 8s ; Treasury, £25 Is 2d; P. Baine, £1 12s 6d; W. H. Littlejohn, £2 lf)s