Borough Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 104, 5 February 1901, Page 3

Borough Council.

The adjourned monthly meeting was held" in the Council Chamber? last evenTng, ' there bding present His Worship the Mayor (Dr Barclay) and Councillors Sinclair, .O'Oorinor/Philip, Mann, Inkstec, Dean, Xloltman, and Jones. After. ihe. minutes 'had been confirmed His Worship said r with

perial troops, he had wired: to the. Bluff if the troops had arrived,_ and had received a reply that they had not, and that the programme with regardto their journey had been postponed for twenty-four hours. He haMlso wired to the Mayor of Timarurif iti was correct that childreiSV e£cu,rßion trains were to be run, bfit ; had received'' no reply. Hq had also wired to t the Minister, of Rial ways with' regard to the' time of arrival in, Timaru, asking for an excursiontrain about 1 p.m. from Waimate, and, if that were not possible, for. a train to .meet the-troopers' t rain it the -junction. To this he had not yet received a reply. ; A. J. Cox applied for permission to put down pipes under the footpath leadingEroui hisprqperty in street. A discussion ensued as to the!; carry away of water in the side channels!

On the motion of Councillors Philip and cided unanimously that permission be given subject to the water flowing through the drain being only in counection with the business, and provided _ that a r nuisance,iff .not created.

J. H. Bateraan applied for permission to erect a scaffolding in Queen street.The Town Clerk said he had granted the permission conditionally, and his action was endorsed. H. Saunders applied for the part of town belt next his place, for which he was willing to pay a reasonable rent.

As some doubt exists as to the Council's power to let the section, it was decided to leave the imtter in the Mayor's hands, to report to the next meeting. W. J. Wills wrote, stating that he was not aware that he had broken the building by-law, but, owing to the peculiar nature of the bnilding he was unable to build any other way without considerablo loss.—letter received.

Major Steward wrote with reference to the Council's desire to have clause 2 of the Municipal Corporations Act made optional, saying that he had forwarded the Council's application to the Acting Premier for consideration.

A circular was read from Dr Mason, the chief health officer, askiug the Council's co-operation ■in carrying out the- provisions of -the new Public Health Act Received.

W. L. McClear and Co. wrote' giving details of the traction engines they are agents for.— Received.

J. Williams was appointed dog tax collector for the ensuing year on the same terms as last year.

Mr J. Watt, who was ,to have interviewed the Council that evening on the subject of water gas, wrote apologising for not being able to be present, as he had been called north suddenly. He forwarded a report oa the subject. ; r On the motion of Councillors Coltman and Inkster it was decided to hold the matter over for a month.

As the Rating on Unimproved Value Act had now been applied to the borough, it was decided to procure the Government valuation roll at a cost of £2 10s. A letter was read from Mr J. R. Clement with regard to the ritfht of the Council, as trustees, -to allow the library to sell their freehold. Councillor Coltman was against the Council, as trustees of the library, paying the £123 they had belonging to the library. A discussion took place regarding the Council's position as trustees of the library, and finally Councillor Mann moved and Councillor Coltman. seconded—- " That the opinions of the two local solicitors be got, and if they should differ, to forward them to Mr Martin, of Wellington." This motion was withdrawn by consent of the Council, and Councillors Coltman and Inkster moved—« That Mr 'Clement's letter be refei red to the Library Committee."—Carried. Councillor Sinclair moved arid Councillor Dean seconded- " That Mr Clement's letter #e referred to the 5 borough solicitor, for his Councillor Coltman moved and Councillor Dean seconded—" That in the event of the borough solicitor's opinion differing materially with Mr Clemenfs, the two be forwarded to Mr Martin r solicitor of Wellington, for his opinion." The Mayor and Councillors Dean and Coltman were appointed a committee to consider the opinions and forward them if necessary.

His Worship read the resolution,, passed at the meeting of ratepayers' 1 with regard . to the getting of plans for the proposed town, bail, a»d the taking ot poll thereon. Though ha was in favour of the motiodat the meeting, when he found the cost ojE plans and the'Jafcingjfof ihe i together n«hfr system ofrating he thoqghtifc -wojald jb&Mtter. to, Mm', wisn&tf-of £J übjift

meeting held regarding the erection of a combined building in Waimate,. and also the already expressed determination of the library subscribers, the A. and P. Association, the Caledonian Society, arid other societies, to join' in and assist the movement for improved public accommodation, this Council now resolves to issue a circular setting forth the chief points in the scheme, with a memo of the rates each person will probably be called on to pay under the Rating on Unimproved Value Act, If a poll were carr'ed in favour of erecting the building, and each rateyayer be provided with a 'printed slip, ou which h« will be asked to record his opinion, and to return the same to this office?'

Councillor Philip seconded this. Or Goltman opposed the motion. Or Mann moved and councillor Catneron seconded, as an amend-' menfc, " that thiscouncil, while not approving of the scheme, take a poll on the question on the last Wednesday in April, the day of the election'; of councillors."

Cr Mann said the Mayor had hoodwinked the '-combined public meeting with regard to the revenue that would be expectefl from the section next to the borough chambers, but >he need not think that he could blind councillors' eyes. The speaker then •went on to abuse the Mayor, making some very uncalled-for references. The Mayor said councillor Mann would be in "keeping with the dignity of his position if he refrained from such insulting remarks.

Cr Mann said he meant all he said. He could tell a great deal more.

Cc Inkster opposed the motion from the first and had seen nothing to alter his opinion. He thought the majority of the ratepayers opposed the scheme. The Mayor aaid that some of the councillors could do nothing but abuse the scheme, and would not criticise it fairly or help in any way! to better it.

Cr Inkscer said they had never had it before the council. He was not afraid to criticise the Mayor's balance-sheet of the town hall scheme.

.Cr Colfcmau: Yes, trot out your balance-sheet, I'll discuss your balance-sheet.

The Mayor: That opportunity was given at the combined meeting. -Cr Coltman-S You made tools of us there.

Cr Jones: 1, for one, was made a fool of.

Cr Mann: Perhaps we thought it was such utter rot that we would not discuss it.

The Mayor: You do not add to your dignity as a councillor by such remarks. 1 Cr Coltman: 'Bring out your balance -sheet; bring a blackboard and -we'll discuss if. Cr Jones thought they were getting away from the motion. He did not think the taking of such a vote as the Mayor proposed would do.

The Mayor Baid he only wanted the expression to save expense. It would only cost about £2. Councillor Mann said that his party had got their backs up because the scheme was tried to be forced on them.

The Mayor said 'that they all knew this was untrue. There had been friction in the Counqil, arid the qpposition was.against him, not the scheme. Councillor O'Connor approved of the scheme. The amendment was put and lost. Councillor Coltman moved as a further amendment, Councillor Dean seconding—" That a poll be taken on the question at once." Councillor Coltman was against the scheme, but he would move this to defeat the Mayor's motion. Councillor Dean was always in favour of the 3oheme. Councillor Inkster thought it would be -better if they went into the scheme as a whole, and saw if they could improve on it. The Mayor -V That is jusfc what,l have been asking you to do. Will you da it? ■:<-.■■■i Councillors Coltman, Mann, and Jones would, n6t, ! ' and another acrimonious discussion dhsued., ; Finally it was decided to withdraw all motions, and the matter -ended, The Council adjourned, it being 11.80 p.m., till this evening. <■■• - <i'A.