Borough Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 276, 30 October 1902, Page 3

Borough Council.

The adjourned monthly meeting was held on Tuesday evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr J, Manchester), in the chair, and Councillors Coltman, Inkster, Cameron, Nicol, Jones, Sinclair and Bitchener, and Dr Barclay. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The surfaceman's report was read and approved. It showed that during the five week 3 he had shingled 18 chains in Michael street and 32 chains in High street. He had cleaned out about 20 chains of water tables in High street. He reported that the asphalt footpaths required immediate attention. It was decided to do the asphalting at once, councilors generally commenting oh the very bad state of the paths. Cr Sinclair reported that the Fire Brigade had accepted the Council's terms for carrying on, and it was decided ta draw up an agreement. Mr A. S. Jone<s was granted permission to erect a verandah in glass and iron in front of his new building in Queen street.

The secretary of the Workers' Union wrote on behalf of the Union, protesting against the Town Clerk holding the position of secretary to the Farmers' Union as well. His Union protested because it was of opinion that the clerk could not faithfully and consistently serve two masters whose interest* were, although they should not be, directly opposed, thus opposition, as the Council must be aware, had been established by the farmers' attitude towards the workers. As a large number of ratepayers were members of the Union and were the employers of the Borough Clerk, the position of secretary of the Farmers' Union was therefore untenable and the Union asked that the clerk resign one or the other of the positions. The writer forwarded a motion passed by the Union to this effect. The letter was received.

Mr G. Manchetter, for the Trustees of the Wesleyaa Church, sent a copy of their reply to the Valuer-General io regard to the Borough assessments. It had been decided to submit the exceptions taken by the Trustees to Mr O'Callahan's letter, in which he attempted to show the groundless natuie of the objection taken to the valuation of Lot 13, Mill Road. This Lot, he said, was held bj the Trustees for speculative purposes. To this exception was taken as being inaccurate. Tbe land was a gilt by the late R H. Rhodes for church purposes, and not for speculative purposes. if it ware, the Trustees submitted it had no bearing upon the assessable value. Mr O'Callahan made a glaringly inaccurate statement that the land was sold at public auction whereas the price was £134, from which must be deducted £l4 for survey, sale plan, advertising and auction charges. It was sold on terms, two-thirds at one and two years after sale. It would not have fetched £IOO cash. The Trustees submitted that in view of the above the sworn evidence of Mr G. Manchester I was correct, and that the statements of Mr O'Callahan were misleading and I inaccurate.

The Department of Lands and Survey wrote approving of the plan showing Victoria Terrace.

Dr Barclay, in pursuance of notice, moved, •' That with a view to assisting the Council in such matters as tree planting and town beautifying, th« Council take advantage of the powers given in the Act and delegate a portion of their powers to ratepayers with special qualifications." Cr Bitehener thought there was too much work of a necessary charaoter to allow of any scheme for spending money on purely decarative purposes. Cr Jones favoured the setting up of a committee when specially required, otherwise it would be continually putting in recommendations that would be thrown out.

The motion was carried as follows : "That with a yiew to assisting and advising the Council on matters of tree planting and other methods of improving the town, a committee be let up, to be called the Beautifying Committee, to

consist of an equal number of members of th« Council and ratepayers noi meixbers cf the Council, willing to be on such committee, no financial liability to be incurred without the consent of the Council."

A vote of thanks was passed to th« Mayor for visiting Balclutha. Accounts amounting to £64 4s 3d were passed.

DOMAIN BOARD. The caretaker's report showed everything satisfactory in the Park. The Studholme Mounted Rifles had been camped there for a week and had left everything in good order and had damaged nothing. Acounts amounting to £4 13s 4d were passed.