GERALDINE TOWN BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2720, 4 October 1894, Page 2

GERALDINE TOWN BOARD.

The first meeting of the new board was held on Tuesday evening. Present Messrs H. B. Webster. J. M. Sutherland. J. W. Pye, G. Ward, W. H. Walton, and A.White. THE CHAIRMANSHIP. Mr H. B. Webster proposed, and Mr W. H. Walton seconded—« That Mr A. White be re-elected chairman of the board fo..' the ensuing term." , Mr J. Sutherland proposed, and Mr Geo. Ward seconded an amendment — " That Mr W. S. Maslin be chairman of the board."

On being put to the vote Mr Webster's motion was carried. Mr A. White thanked the members for having again elected him chairman of the board. As Mr Sutherland had mentioned, he (Mr White) at first did not intend to stand this term for the chairmanship. But, seeing that Mr Maslin's parliamentary duties necessitated his being away from the district the best part of the year, he (Mr White) only on this account stood for the office against Mr Maslin. He had had a fair term of office and he hoped it had been served with success and credit to himself. He also. hoped that during the next term of offioe with the new members on the board they would work as amicably together as the old board had always done in the past. They never had much bickering amongst them, and he looked forward to the continuance of this state of affairs. Of one or two subjects that should claim the particular attention of the new board at a early date, one, he might say, was the question of the pan system for the removal of nightsoil. At the present time the system was' not working in any was with satisfaction to the board or the ratepayers. He advised the board to take into consideration the need of some alterations in the method of carrying out the financial arrangements of this system. The board's credit balanoe in the bank at the present time was £168165, and the fixed deposits amounted to £460. Besides this, the domain board were in debt to the town board to the extent of about £lO. So that they had a very |fair balance sheet, and the town, he thought, had received every attention. He did not think the town was retro* grading in any way; he believed it was advancing. New buildings were going ap and the population was increasing. With these few remarks he would again thank the board for electing him and take his seat. RESOLUTION RESCINDED. Mr Webster proposed—" That a previous resolution with regard to allowing Mr T. Herlihy six months' rent be rescinded." —Seconded and carried. Mr Webster proposed in place of the rescinded resolution—" That the sum of £2 10s be granted to Mr Herlihy for the purpose of putting fences in order, and grubbing gone to the satisfaction of the works oommittee." Seconded and carried. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was received and dealt with : From the manager of the Bank of New Zealand that on September 16th, 1891, he wrote to the board requesting them to put his name on the ratepayers' roll in respect of sections 4 and 5, Geraldine property of the Bank of New Zealand occupied by the writer. Iu the Geraldine Guardian, October Bth, 1891, a report appeared showing that the request stated had been granted. At the next election he voted as occupier of the above-named sections, the rateable value of which was £looo* Last year he purchased a section in Geraldine rated at, he thought, £2O, thus giving him two votes. At the last election the returning officer would only allow him one vote, viz., for the section purchased by him since the former election. He would like to know whether the compiler of the present roll had the board's authority for striking his name off the roll for the bank property, and' if he was justified in doing so on his own responsibility. Mr C. E. Sherratt, returning officer, produced the roll signed by himself and the chairman of the board from which Mr Winstone's name was excluded for the bank property. Mr Sherratt stated that on the strength of a letter received from the clerk of the county council he had called the chair* man's attention to the fact that according to the Aot Mr Winstone's name could not appear on the roll for the bank, so the name was not put on the new roll for the same. Mr Hawkins's name for the Bank of New South Wales property was also on the roll in error. Mr Sherratt read the sections of the Aot dealing with the matter.—Mr M. B. Webster eoutended thai the section did not apply at ail in the present instance, in fact, it showed that the board had power to determine who is owner and who is occupier ; of property. He thought that the name should not have been struck off the roll at all. At any rate one banker's name should not have been left on and the> other taken off. He (Mr Webster) suggested that the matter be thoroughly gone into, and a new rate roll be compiled before next election.—Resolved that Mr Webster's suggestion be carried out.

From the Returning Officer, giving the results of recent poll.

From Mr H. R. Pratt, applying that the road leading to his house from in front of the Roman Catholic Church be formed 24 feet wide. Abo that 10 or 12 Gin pipe* be supplied to carry off water in front of his land. He would be willing to give labour to put down the pipe*, and also to have gorse cleared away which was brought to his property by the board's shingle.—Left in the bands of the works committee to deal with.

From Mr Thomas Sherratt, giving notice that he would not require the services of the board's night cart after present date, aa he strongly objected to contribute, to the night-soil fund while a large portion of ratepayers and householders were not compelled to contribute to same.—Resolved—" That the night soil man be allowed to continue his work for another month ; that a special meeting of the board be held on Tuesday, October ICth, to consider the pros, and cons, of the night-soil question." From the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, enclosing statement of accounts.

From Mr William Willoughby, informing board that their portion of his salary as clerk to the Rangitata Licensing Committee was £o 18s per annum from May Ist 1894. —To be paid half-yearly. From Messrs Smithson, Raymond, and Smith, stating that the amount of the judgment given against th« board in the case of the Timaru Borough Council v. Sherratt and the Geraldine Town Board was £45 10s, and requesting a cheque for same.—Mr Webster thought the late board acted unwisely in not taking a legal opinion before attempting to defend the case.—Mr White said the late board defended the case in the interest of the ratepayers, as a precedent for future years, but as they lost their case they could not help it. They had done their best.— Resolved that tho amount be, paid.

WORKS COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr Webster, seconded by Mr Pye, the following works committee was elected, viz. : Mesßrs Ward, Walton, and Sutherland. FINANCE COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr Sutherland, seconded by Mr Walton, the following finance committee was elected, viz.: Messrs Webster, Pye, and Maslin. overseer's report. The overseer's report was read, which recommended that the new footpath formed be gravelled at once ; also that the board call tenders for the cutting of a drain, the whole length of Wright street to take off surface water. Resolved that the matter of inspecting and reporting on the gravel put on footpaths be left in the hands of the works committee. GORBE. Mr Ward drew attention to the fact that dead gorse was left lying cut on the road sides at one particular part of the town to the danger of the public. On the motion of Mr Sutherland, it was resolved—" That the various owners of certain property at the back of Riordan's Bakery be requested to grub and burn gorse off the roads near their properties." GERALDINB FIRE BRIGADE. Mr Walton brought up a matter with regard,to the Geraldine Fire Brigade as to whether it was not desirable that persons be appointed with authority to protect the brigade. He did this because at the late fire a man drove over the brigade's hose in spite of opposition from members, although the latter were quite willing at. the proper time to uncouple the hose and allow the party past. The brigade had since moved in the matter of bringing the offender to justice, bat they found that no action could be taken except for damages. ' The chairman : You should have turned the hose on him. (Laughter.) Mr Webster thought it a pity some example could not have been made of the offender. Mr Walton said that they had been advised that the only way to obtain protection was by getting the brigade members appointed as special constables. Mr Sutherland suggested that six members, of the brigade be sworn in as special constables. IH BOARD'S MEETINGS. Mr Webster thought the business brought before the board at its meetings was very badly arranged. He suggested that the clerk prepare a kind of order paper of the business to be gone through arranged in proper order. Such a thing was very desirable, and with it he was sure the board could get through their work more expeditiously. PAT-SHEET. Sundry accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.