Untitled

Temuka Leader, Issue 1912, 4 July 1889, Page 3

would be ultimately necessary for the board to do the work.

Mr A. K, Allan applied for permission to lay pipes to the road for drainage purposes from his private residence.—Bequest granted subject to overseer's approval. Mr Francis Franks waited on the board and asked the board to form a portion of Eraser Street. It was a simple work and would not be costly. There was not a great deal of traffic, but it was near a principal part of the town, and ha thought it was a desirable work. — the board considered the matter and instructed the overseer to report on the work at next meeting.

oveesebr's eeport

The overseer reported that owing

to unfavorable weather little progress had hitherto been made with the Bhingling. To date 111 yarn's had been spread. A great deal more would be required than waa anticipated, partly owing to the extra wear on roads at the north end of the town. Owing to the late heavy rains he had the drain crossing the end of Birkett street taken up and cleaned. A grating had also been fixed. The terrace at the discharge end of the drain had been scoured, and he recommended the placing there of a few loads of boulders. He also recommended that the water-tables on the east side of Birkett street should be taken to the Vine street drain. The crossings to the grain shed of Messrs Hayhurst and Co. had been completed, and the water-tables put in order. Messrs Hayhurst and Co. had applied for an opening from their premises to the road adjacent the railway reserve, to facilitate the working of the traction engine. He had looked up the GoTernment Gazette for boundary of the township, and also saw the overseer of the Road Board on the subject. To definitely settle the matter he (the overseer) had written to the Crown Commissioner on the subject, and was awaitiag reply. The instructions relative to painting the horse posts, etc., had been attended to with one or two exceptions. That at the PostoUce waa net on Government property. The post had been erected by the Road Board for public convenience. No decided steps had yet been taken by the police relative to the registration of dogs, Ho thought the matter ought to be entirely in the hands of the police, as be could not carry out his duties without causing ill feeling. The rate roll for the current year had been made out. He drew the attention of the board to the fact that the reserve leased by J. Davis was yet unfenced.

It was reselved that the clerk write to Mr Davis, giving him notice to comply with the clauses of the lease relative to fencing. Mr Mason said that his attention had been drawn to the footpath on the north side of High street, leading to the railway. He suggested that it should be shingled. The oyerseer was authorised to have the work done. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £25 10s 7d were passed for payment. The meeting then terminated. LOCAL BOAKD OF HEALTH. The board then sat as a Board of Health. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that a pan had been duly supplied in response to a notice. Also that no complaints had been received re the nightsoii contractor. One householder had ordered the contractor off his premises. The overseer was instructed to take legal action if necessary against the offender mentioned.

Permission was granted to the nightsoil contractor to keep his horse in the Board's paddock.

, the sort of governors we have. It is said that the Fisher correspondence will show that disgraceful language of this kind has frequently been used in Cabinet, Mr Eisher took shorthand notes of the discussions there ; he has reproduced theta in the correspondence, and one of the epithets which one Minister used towards one of the beads of a department is that he was a—- lying hound. Mr Fisher's fisheriads will be funny by all accounts. THE PEOPEETY TAX. The Property Assessment Act Amendment Bill has been circulated. It exempts from taxation all machinery in actual use or wording, and not being stock-in-trade. Provision is made for the remission of the tax in certain instances where collection would cause hardship, as in cases of physical or mental infirmity. Provision is also made for a new assessment of real property on the application of the owner or Commissioner at any time between any two payments of tax, the Commissioner or owner being I required to accept or dispute the new assessment within thirty days. Buildings unoccupied for six months may be exempted, or the taxation may be reduced by the written consent of the Colonial Treasurer. Companies borrowing money from persons not residents in the colony are to be deemed owners of such money, and no reduction or enemption is *o be allowed to debenture holders in such cases. These provisions on the whole are very good, and greatlv improves the property tax. If, in" addition to this, improvement? made by farmerß were exempted it would be much better. Other industries are exempted from taxation, why not the industry of the farmers ? i The first industry the Stout-Vogelj Ministry proposed to relievo was the farming industry. The proposal to tax foreign capital goes a long way towards taxing absentees. We learn from Wellington that the Opposition has decided not to attack the Ministry on the property tax, so there is no fear of a dissolution. The Opposition propose to give Ministers rope enough so that they will hang themselves. , THE QUOTA. The Premier has intimated to Parliament that Government intend to make a proposal as regards the question of qaota, but what it will be has not transpired. The town members are on the tiptoe of expectation, hopeful that the Government will take their part against the country members. Others think that what the Premier is aiming at is to get the town members to vote for the Hare system in consideration of his protection, but the country members | consider themselves strong enough to carry their point in spite of the Premier. We would not be surprised to find that all this would end in the repeal of the bill reducing the number of members,