Waihi Borough Council

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1166, 9 December 1904, Page 2

Waihi Borough Council

Tilß usual fortnightly meeting of fcho Wui. hi Borough Council was held last evening. , Thore were present His Wowhip the Mayor (in the chair), and Crs. Foster, Nowtb, Sloyin, Donaldson, Hendorson, and Saunders. GOLD PURCHASE The manager of ihe Bank of New Zeaand notiQed the purchase of 1451 ounces of bullion, TBLEPHONK EXCHANGE _ The Inspector of Telegraphs wrote stating, in reply io tho Council's memorandum in reference to a telephone oxchange for Waihi, that the matter would be taken in hand as soou as funds were available— The lottor was received. DAMAGE TO A SECTION 0. H Huxtable, of Tauranga, wrote complaining of damage to his section in Waihi through tho water from a culvert, and asking for JEI damages, The Engineer reported tint noarly all the damage hid bsen done by wator from other soottona.—Tho loiter was received. OA3 PII'HS CONTRACT W. II Phillips and Company wrote stating their willingnoss to postpone the supply of gas pipes in accordance with tho wish of the Council. II tlio prico of pipes or the freight or cartage increasod in the meantime tho Council to be charged oxtra; if there was any decrease tho Council to have the advantage,— The letter was received and tho conditions accepted, REMOVAL OF SAND J. A. Thompson, manager of the Ohineraiiri Rivor Syndicate, wrote complaining that the Council had romovod sand from tho river and knookod down the notices warning people against tho removal of tho same. Tho Engineer reported that tho sand had boon romoved from a borough road, i but he had sinco loaraod that tho Warden , had granted a claim on the road as well as in the rivor. The letter was roceived. I COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS i The Government Insurance Department I (accident branch), through its Auckland agout, wroto as follows : " Ro Policy No. Al9llo—Accident to P. I Monk.-Our Auckland District Manager j has referred to mo tho correspondence regarding Mr Monk's olaim (orcompensation. "There is apparently some misappre- ' hension of our position in this matter, In i tho first place I may point out that tho i polioy was effected to cover tho Council in rospoot (inter alia) of its liability under " The Workers' Compensation Act, 1900," and Amending Aets, which Acts provido that the compensation payable in respect I of total incapacity is to bo based on the average weekly earnings for the previous twelvo months whilo in tho service of the same employer, and if not so long in his ornploy then for anv less period, and it is this liability tho Department has under- \ taken to pay on bohalf of tho Council, i e„ the compensation not to exceed 50 per cent of the average weekly earnings, l "In Mr Monk's case, as ho was working 3 irregularly, his earnings on the average " were loss than 48s per week, but apparent- ' ly they might have exceeded this amount, ? and in either case the compensation woulc 1 . havo beon assossed on tho amount actually 4 earned, * " I might also point out that tho pre* mium is assessed on the wagos actually 1 paid by tho Council, and without all tho ■ casual labourers aro included in tho wago s sheet at 8s per day throughout tho year 3 tho Department could not have assumed I this as tho basis in sottling claims. , "In regard to the statement that the ' New Zealand Accident Insuranoo Company adopted a more liberal basis in «et> j iling claims, lam .assured by the Acting- ' General Manager that tho company never r knowingly paid on any othor basis than the j avorago wages actually earned, any settlement to tho contrary by the company's Auckland branoh manager having been mado undor a misapprehension, which would not havo been confirmed had tho I oversight beon noticed '■l may ndd that I am, of oourse, anxious to save you as much trouble as possible, aud in order that I might be in a position to explain matters fully to you I havo postponed sonding a definite reply until this yoar's amendment of tho Work'ors' Compensation Act had been finally I disposed of by Parliament. Tho Amendment Act was passed at the termination of Parliament, and I am now consulting with i our solicitors as to what is tho aotual position."—The letter was received. ARTHUR DRITTAIH Arthur Britain wrote asking when tho Council ordered its stona-cruahor. —Lottor rrceived, FAILING ACOTTINO H, G. Siinmonds, manager of the Grand Junction,, wroto that the work of railing off tho cutting at tho battery site was proceeding, and would soon be finished,— Letter roceived, THE EXTRA MAIL W. Groy, Secretary of the Postal Department, wroto that tho application for an afternoon miil for Waihi would rccoive attention. LAND TITLES H. J. Elliott, Dnder-secrotary of the Mines Department, wrote as follows:- " I am directed bv tho Hon. Minister of Mines to acknowledge receipt of your letter of tho 31st October last, transmitting eoyy of tho following resolution passed by tho Borough Council of Waihi on the 27th of that month: 'That tho Minister of Mines bo askod to appoint a Commission : jo take into consideration tho question of betterment of land titles in Waihi. inelud- ■ iiiß tho matter of endorsement of licenses,' I "In reply, lam directed to inform vou I thai tho Minister is of opinion that if the I following suggestions aro adopted there l will bo no necessity to appoint a commis- \ sinn as requested. Tho suggestions aro as 1 follows: "1. That machine and speoinl sites at l present held in connection with mining v "lamis bo resorved undor tho Mining Aot c lor the purposes for which they aro at present ho'd in the ovout of the olaims v being surrendered. r .

_ '2. That persons who hold residence sites with conditions for resumption endorsed on the licensos shall in tho first in"tance npply to tho Mining Companies who hold tho ground as claims, for their sanction to tho removal of tho conditions, and in tho event of the cnuipnnios rofusinif. application to bo mado by tho holders of tho lioonses to tho Wnr'en for tho companies to show causo why tho conditions should bo rolained.

" 8, That future leasos bo grunted under the provisions of Section 4 of 'The Mining Aot Atnondment Act, 1904, a copy o which is enclosed for tho information of tho Borough Counoil. "I am to add that thoro is n'olikelihood of freeholds being permitted to be acquired over any Undi which may be presumed to bn Runfooiu, or which may ultimately bo required for mining purposes," ' Tho litter was roferrad to tho Financo Committee. INTEREST ON LOAN . TllP TrM9 «ty w ote asking that tho interest on tho waterworks loan bo paid on tho Ist February. CLAIM FOIt DAMAGES J. Hanlon wrote that if tho olaim of £2 for injuries caused by road obstruction were not paid ho would tnkeprooeediogs.— Referred to the Finance Committee. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, Thomas Grant wrote asking the Council

1,',.' 'f'/ ■ '• .''j- ■, ■.. ' . toprevpfrfjoodjwater -[mining into hi Hcctioh, ■lt 'Wi'washing away, his property, nmj w ( »s a danger to children. Or, Foster,,eald-it was a dangerous place, and was getf%'worso ove'ry'day. • Considerable dnmago had been done. The Engineor said that, tho work would , be taken in hand almost immediately,' 1 It was resolved that tho work be put in handassoonaspossiblo. RAILWAY CROSSING. J, J, Hay, resident engineer, Paoroa, j wrote as follows; " The formation of Victoria-street; now in progress, where it crosses the railway line, is at an unsuitable level for an ovoH ' head crossing. Tho street level as taken 1 out Is only 10.5 below railway formation r level—this will only give about 8.8 head 1 room instead of 14.0, the standard allowance, The street formation would require to bo lowered 5.4 btlow the present level • to give tho foquired hoadroom. If this r 3 conid bo done now it would save tho in,. a convenience of reforming the crossing." ' Tho Engineer reported : " Thoro is no pUn showing tho railway I lino crossing, Victoria-street, and until a receipt of above letter I was not aware of l_ anything to interfere with tho grading of the street in the ordinary way, To lower tho road, as suggested by Mr' Hay, will not o only bo very costly, but will be exceed-* e inply inconvenient from n drainage point o oi view. I would suggest that if tho i 8 Government havo designed a lino at suoh e level as will clash with borough works i; they be informed that any alterations must 0 be mado by them and at thair cost to tho » approval of the Borough Engineer." It was decided to act on tho recommendation of tho Engineer. )■ WATER SUPPLY . * j* J. Lungford, manager of the Waihi Gladg stone mine, applied for a wator supply for ' tho Gladstone battery for mixing cyanide solu lions. , Tho Engineer reported favourably. A Tho request was granted, tho wator to • ' bo supplied through a meter, '" Charles Harley applied for a water Bup* ply for his boarding-house. It was decided to furnish the supply when the present seryice was finished. QUESTION OF COMMISSION "J Max D. King wrote asking for payment id of io as commission in reference to tho sale of a property he had offered to tho P. Council, and which the Council had er bought through another agent, e- Cr, Donaldson supported tho application, n. He thought lur. King had a moral claim e- tor the commission, and moved that the tn amount bo paid, lio Or. Saunders thought tho proper parson in to pay was the seller, er Or. Foster said ho uover knew till tho I," previous evening that tho seotions had not do been bought through Mr. King, Ho be* !ct Hovod it was 60 decided at a meeting held he to consider the matt6r, < us Cr, Nowth said he also thought that he Mr. King was tho agent through whom ij a the sections wero bought. ' > is Or. Slevin seconded the motion. It jr. wasoiviug to tho information supplied by b„ Mr. King that the Council heard about at tho sections, and he thought he was enabled to commission. v nR Or. Fosier suggested altering tbe amount g 6 to 5 per cent of tho purohase money, H. Cr, Saunders protested against a fee it. ( being paid, The commission ,»hon!d be ,1,? claimed from tho seller, not tho buyer. [|y The seller should have paid two commissions instead of one, Ho movod as an e » amendment that the lottor bo received 1 ||y and that Mr. King bo recommonded to h 0 apply to the seller. g 0 The Mayor seconded tho amendment,' ar Ho said he had doalt a good doal in scrip S( j and other things and tho seller had always paid the commission, |] o Cr, Doiulsun said he did not thin k that n . if tho Mayor wore offered a property by t> ono agent ho would go bohind that agent „. and buy through another. He Drought tho w opposition to the claim was contemptible. ]e The Council saved money to the ratepayers „. undor tho peculiar oircumstancos. ,', Cr Newthsaid the whole thing was m done in the way it was for a special reason, , n and Mr King was entitled to tho oommisio Bion - i Cr Donaldson accepted the suggestion ;e that tho amount be altered to 5 por cent, J3 and tho motion, on being put, was carried \ by four to three, 1 A RESIGNATION Iv if. Harry M. King, tho Council's cadet I wroto tendering his resignation, j. The resignation was aocoptod with roof gret, and the Town Clerk was authorised ,|, to employ temporary assistance till other jl arrangements wore made. WATER CHAHfiBS 0. Short, inanagoi' of tho Coaching io Company, asked for information as to ic water charges for tho stable, The Town Clerk stated that this was a special oaso, in which the Council would need io fix special oliargos This ought to d be done immediately, as the present supply g would he cut oft on Monday. )• Or. Slevin asked how tho consumers - whose present supply was to be cut off would bo affoeted if they wero uotoonnectod with the new supply. The Engineer said they would be il without water till orders for tho new n supply wero given and payments mado. d Tho letter was referred to the Finance Committee, FINANCE COMMITTEE e Tho Finauco Commilteo's report was fis follows; f 1. That tho mode of rating bo ohanged r from oapital to annual valuo. I 2. That notice be given to tho urosont j valuer and colleotor oi rates that the arl rangemont with him terminated at 81st • f March, 1905, andthedutyofoolleoting the i rates devolve on the Town Clerk. f 3 Owing to the noar oomplotion of tho .* water works scheme it w fl| be necessary , 1 that some trustworthy man with a knowledge of tho water works should perform ' tho duties of 'urncock j the prosent foreman of works if approved by tho Engineer, would bo a suitable person and should have this duty assignod to him, 4. The assistant Engineer and Building Inspector should tako on tho dutios of valuer and carry out the work Mr MaicoluHon has dono hitherto. , 5. 'That a clerk at £l3O a year be advertised for who can assist is collection of ratos and office work genorally and relieve tho Engineer's department of the oloncol work now porformod therein. 6 goneral £503 Is 4d, water works, £40217 a Id, have been examined aud pa6sod for payment. ' Bank balances stand thus: district fund acocuni, 1725916s 6d; aooounts presented, £503 Is 4d; dr, 47788 17« 10d; waterworks loan account, cr.. £1869 6s2d; ao 1 counts presented, £40217s Id; £966 9a Id, Clauses 1, 2,8, and 4 wero odoptod without discussion, On olauso 5 Or, Saunders said that the appointmont of a clerk was creating another billot, Before the appointment was made ho would like a list to be furnish ed showing tho number of officials from top to bottom, what thoy did? and how much thoy got If a list was suppliod ho thought tho aaonnt would beoonsiderable. There should bo a boiling down. - A Bettor results would thou bo obtainod for - f

less uionoy. Or. Foster asked if m office boy was also to bo appointed. He thought, with Or. Saunders, that the work could be rJODO .without another official. The liability of tho Counoil for subsidies and inteiost on borrowed money wan astonishing. He was doubtful if any othor borough of tho same size approached tho liability. Ho believod that tho poundkeeper was auxious to be relieved of hispouudkeepmg duties, If he were so relived he would have plenty of time to do the collecting, At present the whole ol the inepeotor'a

work rtastyten By-'hla having to look: alter the iiiijJbiijWilng, > Undor the present system there should l» no difficulty in supervising borough work. Ihoy hadoompotent \Vho when putou B job wore oaptflevbf carrying it through without supervirion; Cr. Donaldson said that the question of appointments hadcouio to ahead gradually. The matter had been considered at a special committee meeting. The question was gone into thoroughly, and he thought the recommendations ought to be approved byithe Oounoil. There was more engineering, work now than at iny previous time. Mere' wero tho waterworks, gasworks and abattoirs, The Foreman of Works had been made lurnoook, and tho assistantengineer would havo to Bhouldor tho responsibility o! tho Foroman of Work's position, To get in tho rates and do tho valuing properly would take tho wholo of a man's tiuio. What had been dono by the Committee had been done in tho host of faith, and he thought tho proposals could not be bettered by fresh ones, Too Mayor supported the proposed up- ' pointinont, and disapproved iho uotion of Councillors who did not4ioml Committee meetings, but oamo to the Council and criticised what the Committeo had done.

Or, Foster said that tho last committeo meeting was the onl? one he had missed, and that was through a mistake. JReports of oornmittocs wero not intended to be accepted wholosrtle simply becauso committees had passed thorn, and tho Mayor ought to know that, Cr Saunders moved that before tho appointment is niado a list' bo furnished of tho Couucil ofiioials with thoir ducios and salaries. Ho thought the remarks of the Mayor with reforouce to non-atteudanco at committee meetings wero two strong. As ft»ir; as he was concerned somo of the meetings wore oalled at an hour at wbioh ha could not attend. Tho Mayor had stated before tho election that ho would do - bis Uestr' to keop down oxpenscs, and now that he (Or Saunders) was asking for a list wi|h that viow, the Mayor was opposing, The' Mayor said that if they cot down expenses too muoh they would havo to cut down tho work, Where so many men wore employed it wanted others to supervise the. work. Cr Slovin said that tho nnmborof works now being undertaken necessitated a number ofc officials. It would be found that tho re-arrangenient would bo a saving to the borough, and not a loss, Or. Foster said that tho water supply would be a heavy burden on tho borough, Ho seconded the motion, which was lost' by sto 2. Tho voting was: For the appointment; the Mayor, Ors Donaldson, Sleviu, Henderson,' Nowth; against: Ors.Fostor and Saunders. Clause 6 was adopted, without disoustiooi ACCOUNTS, Tho following accounts wore passed: -Timbor, £62 4s Sd; carting, £5 7s; hardware,&ll7s4d: dustcart, £2 ss; Babbrdge,' consultation, £5 ss; survey, £1Id; H. Harper, handles, 10s 6d; printing, &', oolleotor otrates, £5 9s; sanitary service, 15s; fire brigade, £1 ; musio hall rent,.i£6los; stationery. <£2 2s 2d; travelling iSlSsBd; carting and spaHJU6493lod; breaking, £312; cooperaUve pnrtios, £17812s 4d; wages, £12515s 9d; Salaries, £2O 6s 6d. ' Waterworks Loan Account.—Carting' pipes, £sßlßs;' valves, £7 } analysis, £8 8s; carting, £Bl6s sd; firewood, ±7 7s 6d; freighi, 14s 9d; castings/£sl Os 3d; wages, ■£M4.Bi lid; bricks, £ll7s 61; lead etc, 4pi2s9d. '

ENGINEERS 1 REPORT

The Engineer reported:— "Stone breaker—Tho istono breaker and oil engine are working thoroughly weil and provo a first olass plant, Although working under a'omo disadvantage owing to tho shape of tho ground at tho pound quarry, tho metal is only costing 2sßd per cubic yard, including quarrying and breaking, as against 8s 9d previously; and whon everything is going steadily and men get used to the work, the cost, will be fncthor reducod, Tho output of metal is botweon 35 and 40 cubic yards per day of 8 hours. " Gas Plant—Tonders received for tho supply of this plant having beon considered too high, fresb tenders aro now invited and will be reoeivoQ up to 2nd, March 1905, "Tho now specifications I proparedfor this contraot are a modification of tho first, and havo been approved of by experts in tho construction and use of such plant." Tho report was adopted, the Mayor stating that he had Beon the stono orushor and found it working satisfactorily.

Tho Council thon adjourned,