TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2391, 4 August 1892, Page 3

TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above board was heid last night. Present — Messrs ,T. Blyth (chairman), W, Storey, and G. Mason. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as billows :■ — From the Land and Income Tax Depaartment, notifying that the Valuation Roll had been forwarded, and requesting acknowledgment of same. —-Attended to. From Mr M. Mulhearn, asking permission to put crossing over water-table, to give access to back premises of Royal Hotel. From the Land and Income Tax Commissioner, granting permission to make alterations upon roll as schedule. From Mrs Hayhurst, asking permission to erest horse post in front of her residence.—Agreed to. From Mr S. Hewlings’ attorney’s, asking for certain alterations upon the rate roll, —The dork to attend to same. Copies were received of the Factory 3.ct, : and in co.nueotiou therewith the

chairman said it would be necessary for the board to formally proclaim Thursday afternoon a half holiday. In some towns Saturday was the recognised day, but here it seemed better to keep Thursday. Mr Storey thought Saturday the most desirable day. After s nne discussion and consideration of the clause of the Act is was decided to move further in the matter at a special meeting. THE PARK BOARD PETITION.

The chairman referred to the petition made to them at last meeting, relative to the vesting of the Park and Cemetery Boards in an elective body. Replies had been received from Mr Rhodes to communications made to him upon the subject. The clerk stated that a numerouslysigned circular letter embodying the petitioners’ views had been sent to Mr Rhodes, and to this the following reply had been received ;

“ Wellington, July 18th, 1892, “ E. Pilbrow, Esq., Temuka Town Board.

“ Sir, —I am in receipt of your letter of 13th of July, and also a petition from the Town and District of Temuka. I made enquiiies from the Lands Department, who tell me that under the present Act when vacancies occur if possible a public meeting should be convened to consider whom the Government should to nominate. lam very busy at present, but will look thoroughly into the law on the whole subject, but in the meantime I should like to know (1) whether the petitioners think that the present board should be entirely dispensed with, or (2) only future appointments to be made elective Any alteration in the board would have to be by Act of Parliament, and of course if a special Act was put through for your board it would have to be a local one and would have to be advertised in the district. Personally I have always advocated that there should be a large proportion of elected members on all the institutions of this nature. I don’t think that Parliament would let any Bill go through dismissing the present members of the board unless some substantial charges were made against them, but before giving a final answer to the petition I should like to know definitely what is wanted by tne petitioners.—Yours truly, “ A. E. G. Rhodes.”

To this the clerk had written stating that the wish of the petitioners was to make the members elective, a privilege already accorded to Geraldine, Waimate, and other town districts. To this the following letter was received. — “ Wellington, July 21st, 1892. “ Ed. Pilbrow, Esq., Temuka Town Board, Temuka.

“Sir, —I am in receipt of your letter of 19th July, and beg to state that haying received communications from various local bodies concerning this matter, and also a X'equest from the Cemetery Board that I should do nothing until they had had an opportunity of expressing thenviews, I have decided to wait a few days before taking any action in the matter till I hear again from them. Yours truly, “Arthur B. G. Rhodes.”

The chairman stated that he was unaware that the Cemetery Board had communicated with Mr Rhodes upon the subject. He and Mr Mason were both members of the board and there bad been no meeting held. It was stated that probably Mr Aspinall, the secretary, might have written upon the subject. Mr Mason drew attention to what was a misapprehension upon the part of some people. The Temuka Town Board did not desire the control of the domain and cemetery. All that was asked was that the body having such control should be elective.

After some discussion Mr Storey moved —“ That the clerk write to Mr Rhodes asking him to forward the wishes of the petitioners as soon as possible, and that he point out the clauses of the Act under which the Governor-iu-Council has power to make the alterations in the constitution asked for,”—Seconded by Mr Mason and carried, ARBOR DAY, The chairman stated that he had been asked about proclaiming a public holiday UDon Arbor Day, but as the board had received no official intimation regarding the same, they could not well take any steps to celebrate the day. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer’s report was x - ead, and was to the following etfept:—The proposed footpath upon Ewen Road could be made with comparative ease. The drainage at the new footpath near the Saleyai’ds had been satisfactorily carried out. Some additional shingle there would be an improvement. Notice had been put up near the footpath relative to stock trespass. The water upon asphalt footpath had been drained off, and suingle for repairs had been carted as authorised. A little more could be advantageously used, ACCOUNTS,

Accounts to the amount of £39 17s Id were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.