BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2066, 12 August 1885, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The orainary.tortnightly meeting ot the Borough Council was held yesterday evening.

Present.-His Worship the Mayor, Cra Perry, Bacon, JVluir, Johnston, Gapper, Hessey, and Heron. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, focndkmper's report. The poundkeeper's report showed receipts £1 15s 6d for the month, there being an actual loss for the time. THE MANGAONE ENDOWMENT, , Messrs Keester and Harding asked that they may be given compensation for improvements on the block of land in the Mangaone which they have leased from the Council; also that they might be allowed to treat the land as one block, so that they might fall- the bush in the one •patch, His Worship did not ' think that the Council could do anything of tho kind. Or Gapper thought they had let the land at a mere nominal rental, and the lessees could scarcely expect compensation for such work .as bushfalling and fencing, Buildings were a different thing. He moved that tho matter be referred to a Committee consisting of Cra Heron, Johnston, Perry, and the mover, the Committeo to report at next meeting.—Carried. DEPUTATION. ; A deputation consisting of Messrs Woodroofe, Russell, Mutrie, and others attended, and presented a petition representing 138, votes, praying that the boundariesof the borough may be reduced. Mr Woodroofe said he had been impressed with the advisableness of separation for some years, as the fact of being included in the borough pressed very heavily on some people, He argued that the separation could be effected by the will of the people, if the Council consented. He said that we did not live in the days of the Medes and Persians. The Mayor said that was travelling rather far away. Ho should be very glad if Mr Woodroofe would confine himself a little closer to the subject. Mr Woodroofe continued to speak at some length and went into the questions of oppression, emigration and others, Those who opposed the petition were only actuated by covetousness, He appealed to councillors to remember their oath to act impartially, and do justice to them. They were nearly all past the meridian of life, and could think the matter out. The Mayor said it was scarcely the thin? to present a petition and then lecture the Council. A petition with such a number of signatures, was sure to be treated with every consideration. ' '"Mr'J. Russell pointed out /that while they had such a large borough they would always have'contentions'between the centre arid other parte. The deputation then withdrew.

. . The Mayor moved; That' Crs. Gapper, Heron,' Bacon, Perry and the mover be a Committee to consider the matter, three

.to form a quorate, Co'tnniittee to ■have poVerto obtain legal advice. 'Seconded by" Or ( Muir, and carried. RF.FORIS. ' '

The report of the Works Committee was lead.

Or Heron, jn moving the adoption of the report,,said that with regard to the formation of Worksop road, the Committee believed-that the residents wanted footpaths formed, and it would perhaps be as well, if they ascertained that before they called for tenders. : Cr Bacon thought that Short Btreet had got as good a claim on them.

Crs Muir and Hessey thought the work in Worksop road should not be proceeded with for a month- or two, as the wet ground ;would cause contractors to tender higher.

Or Johnston said they could do the work cheaper now than in the summer. The Mayor thought that they might go on by degrees and undertake a little more work. Thanks to the great care exercised by the Works Committee, they had got into a very' satisfactory position. They might prepare a supplementary schedule of works .which they could carry out, He moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Cr Gapper and carried. The Finance Committee recommended the payment of accounts 1 amounting to £26 3d. The Inspector of Nuisances recommended that the creek running through the centre of the town be cleaned out, . The report was'adopted. THE GAS LOAN.

The Mayor brought up the, following report of the Gas Committee The Committee met on the 6th inst. The Mayor reported that he had interviewed Mr Luckie and the Association's solicitors, and gone fullyiuto the matter. That Mr Luckie stated that the Borough was to blame for the failure of the loan' but tho Mayor showed that Mr Luckie had overlooked the fact that the Association has no power to lend money to local bodies except 1 upon the security of special .rates, and yet he had agreed to lend this £IO,OOO, provided a special rate for interest only was struck. Mr Luckie acknowledged that this was correct. A letter was also read from the Association's solicitors to the effect that they could not dovise a way out of the difficulty, or advise the Board to lend under tho plan adopted by the Borough, but hoping that further negotiations might be entered.upon, It was resolved on the motion of the Mayor that the Association being unable to lend the money on the terms required, the negotiations be closed, and that tenders be called for the required amount, in debentures of LIOO each, at a minimum of 98, bearing interest at the rate of six per cent per annum; tenders to be lodged at the Bank of Australasia,

In moving the adoption of the report the Mayor said that the Committee had a lot of work to get through, and they had now got into this unexpected position. The money was first offered at percent, and then granted at 6 per cent, When the first sum of £2,000 was to be paid in, they got a reply to the effect that there was something amiss, and they were asked whether to have a special Act passed or. go back to the ratepayers. Their, own legal adviser had informed them that this was not necessary, and that they had done every tiling in a perfectly legal way. When he finally saw the Manager of the Government Life Insurance Association their solicitor admitted that tho Council was right. It was, however, found that the Association never had the power to lend them the money. What they proposed to do now was to put the debentures on the open market through their bankers. Cr Bacon seconded the motion. Tho report was adopted without discussion. FUTURE WORKS. The Mayor moved, That a supplementary schedule of works to be undertaken be prepared by the Works Committee, and submitted to the Council at the next meeting, the works not to cost more than £3OO. Cr Heron seconded the resolution, which was carried. SIONE-BKEAKING. The Mayor said it would be advisable to empower the Town Clerk or Overseer to place men who applied to the Benevolont Society to break stones at current rates. Ho moved that the power be s;iven to the Overseer. Secondod by Cr Gapper, and carried. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr Heron moved that Messr# Drummond & Co, be paid the price of the plan prepared by them subject to the'approval of the works Committee,—Carried, It was resolved that Mr Kingdon's request for the payment .of abonus of £2O be not acceded to, Messrs Cole, and Wrigley presented a plan of the street through the late Michael Dixon's Estate. Referred to the Works Committee. The Council then adjourned.