TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2396, 8 September 1892, Page 3

TEMUKA TOWN BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above board was held last night. Present— Messrs J. Blyth (chairman), G. Mason, and W. Storey. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read as follows : From the Auditor General, returning balance-sheets of the board duly certified. The same was adopted and ordered to be published. From the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, covering returns of persons receiving Charitable Aid. From the Property Tax Commissioners, stating that a voucher for £42 8s had been sent to the Treasury for payment, the same being subsidy due under Local Bodies Powers and Finance Act.

From Mr N. 0. Nicholas, applying for permission to lay a pipe to the water table near his premises to drain oft" water used in washing vehicles.—Agreed to. From Mr J. M. Twomey, proprietor of Temuka Leader, forwarding declaration under Factories Act.

From the same, applying for permission to remove a crossing from Main street to Wood street

From Mr E. Cutten for, Mendelson s Trustees, requesting that Mr J. Radford's name be rnaced on the roll in respect of property occupied by him.—Agreed to. From the Treasury Department, notifying the payment to the credit of the board of £42 Bs, subsidy as per memo.

From Mr A. W. Wright, asking that the names of J. Harrison and N. Money might be removed from the roll in respect of premises lately occupied by them, and the writer's name substitued. —Agreed

From the Geraldine County and Timaru Harbour Board relative to contribution payable to the latter body, and demanding payment of £4O 5s lOd, the proportion due by the district.—To be paid. From the secretary Temuka Fire Brigade asking the board to pass cheque for hose lately procured for the brigade. — On the motion of Mr Storey, the amount £25, was passed for payment. RATE. On the motion of Mr Mason, seconded by Mr Storey, it was resolved—" That the board, at a special meeting to be held on the 28th day of September, proceed to strike a rate of three farthings in the £, and a nightsoil rate of gths of a penny in the £, on all rateable property in the town district, notice of intention to be given in the usual way." KERBING. Mr Storey moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming board to continue the kerbing on the west side of the Main road north of Ewen road. Mr Mason did not see his way to second the motion, for he was not prepared to dictate to the new board. Mr Storey, as the first mover in the matter, thought it only his duty to see the question kept in view. overseer's report. The ovorseer's report was to the following effect : JSTo particular work had been done except the carting of a few loads of shingle. The want of a pipe drain across Thomas street was urgently needed. A larger pipe was needed at Cass street. More shingle would be wanted for repairs later on. No resolution whs passed thereon, further than that the overseer was empowered to have any temporary repairs effected. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £B6 16s 8d were passed for payment. VOTES OF THANKS. Mr Mason referred to the fact of this being the last meeting pf the board, and moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Blyth for the able and courteous manner in which he had conducted the business of the board.

Mr W. Storey, in a few appropriate words, seconded Mr Mason's motion, and referred to his own period of office as one of pleasure. Mr Blytl} responded. The meetings had been very harmonious, and lie thanked thorn for their kind expressions of opinion, The meeting then terminated, THE PARK BOARD. At tho conclusion of the Town Board meeting, a number of ratepayers, headed by Mr A. M. Clark, attended at the office to discuss matters in connection with the petition re the vesting of tljo Park and Domain in an elective body. The chairman made a brief explanation as to the steps the board had taken and then instructed the clerk to road the oorrespondence which had passed on the subject. (This has already appearod in our columns), Prior to tho reading of the same, Mr Mason said that he understood the board had nothing more to do with the matter but merely to place the petitioners fully in possession of the facts and leavo them to decide what further action if any they would take.

The chairman agreed. The correspondence having been rend the chairinun said ho pi* smiicd the nn!y thing tl;at was required by thopotitioimr* was that an elective body he appointed to control the domain, so that, its proceedings might be bublie. Mr Aliloa asked if the present board had any definite period to resign. The chairman said no, the board were appointed by the Governor. Mr Clark asked for information as to the mode of appointment. Mr Twomuy said, the domain was originally constituthd under a provincial Act. After some discussion Mr Storey asked if it was allowable by tlto Aet fw ii member of ftuoli «• Vsotly {\\ H\& ti» '*' board alsq tal;o a S«Wv *- -ie rendered; tQ ii "'" - ' Tho cli»*- :■ ■ .../man said it was no use going xiito such (questions, the Town Board had, as far as possible carried out the wishes of the petitioners, and could do no more.

After su:;io further discussion M 1 Clark said it was high time that such ' bodies were made elective, especially as • members of Parliament, Road Boards, j etc. were all elected for periods more or i less short. In this instance he must say I he took great interest; he had spent a good I deal of private money in fencing part of the recreation ground, and through a little matter that had occurred thereby he had been induced to make a move in the direction of the board being made elective. Some people seemed to think that he had been actuated by personal motives. Nothing of the kind. He had suggested the matter to Mr Blyth, and he had promised to help if he kad ary thing to work upon. As a result the requisition to the town board was signed, and they had acted most loyally to the petitioners. Under the circumstances the original movers could not do less than stick _to the 120 ratepayers who signed the petition to Mr Rhodes. He was sorry the members of the park board had felt aggrieved. The chairman endorsed Mr Clark's remarks, but said the matter had been talked over two years previously. Mr Twomey pointed out the difficulties in the way. He agreed with Mr Rhodes' view of the case. In this matter there were so many local bodies interested, and it seemed nothing could be done without a special Act, which was expensive. He suggested the present members might be asked to resign, and others could be temporarily appointed until an Act could be passed. Another way of getting over it was to have an amendment made in the present Domains Act, whereby the control might be vested in members of the separate bodies. Mr Rhodes suggested that Mr Rhodes be asked to move in the direction of having a board elected by the ratepayers in the Temuka and Arowhenua Town Districts,and the Temuka Road District. Mr Clark moved—" That the Temuka Town Board be asked to communicate with the Arowhenua Town Board asking that body to co-operate in making the Domain and Cemetery Boards elective." —Seconded by Mr Milea and carried. Mr Mason suggested that the better course would be to appoint a committee to meet the two town boards, and ask their co-operation. Mr Miles moved the following resolution :—" The petitioners who have approached the Temuka Town Board with the view of having the Domain and Park Boards made elective, being desirous of securing the assistance of the Arowhenua Town Board iu furthering their object, would respectfully request that body to meet the Temuka Town Board and a committee of the petitioners to confer at a meeting in the Temuka Town Board office on Monday evening next."—Seconded by Mr Clark and carried.

The gentlemen present who had signed the petition were then asked to act as a committee to meet the two boards.

Mr Miles moved, and Mr Clark seconded, a vote of thanks to the chair, and to the board for the use of the room, which was carried unanimously.