Town Council Meetings
The Eversfield Parade. At the Council meeting, on the 2nd of January, it was resolved that the purchase be made of the Eversfield parade from the White-rock Brewery to the St. Leonards Archway, together with the groins, for the amount of the iron railings and lamp-posts, valued at £261. Also resolved on the motion of Ald. Scrivens that application be made for sanction to borrow £2,500 for repairs and improvements of said parade and purchase of same, roughly estimated at £375; for repairing the breach opposite the Saxon hotel, £625; for another breach at Eversfield place, £450; setting back the wall in front of the Infirmary, £575; for repairing groins, £325; and contingencies £150.
Special District Rate. — The Clerk, in introducing a recommendation of the Finance Committee for a special district rate at 3d., to be levied within the district of the late Commissioners’ Act, stated that the rate was required to pay off the interest of the Commissioners’ debt. Coun. Harvey objected, and in a lengthy and warm discussion which followed, the said Councillor thought it very much out of course for the Clerk to try to put down any member of the Council, and if that gentleman didn’t know his place, he should teach him.
More Dissensions. — At a special meeting on Jan. 14th, the Surveyor (Mr. Putland) having stated as a reason for delay in some of the work that he could not get the co-operation of the Inspector, the said Inspector (Mr. Thwaites) said he found his work much heavier than he expected, and he never anticipated being under the authority of the Surveyor. A long, and somewhat heated discussion followed, in which Mr. Deudney expressed regret that such an altercation had taken place, and hoped the Press would take as little notice of it as possible. Coun. Burfield reminded the meeting that they had been 1¼ hours without doing anything but fix the engine-keeper’s salary. He thought they ought to be restricted in their speaking. Coun. Rock said it was evident that the two officers were embarrassed in their work, but he thought if the Inspector would take his orders from the Surveyor it would go all right. — Coun. Ross agreed with Coun. Deudney, that it was a misfortune for the public to become acquainted with their dissensions thus early, but he could not approve of muzzling of the public press.
Railings and Lamp-posts. Mr. Eversfield and the Local Board having agreed to a valuation of the iron rails and lamp-posts, and that valuation being so very much below what they were supposed to be worth, a letter was received from Mr. Batty, expressing surprise at the valuer’s estimate of only one-fifth of their original cost; and hoping that Mr. Eversfield’s £25 cost of the appraisement would be paid by the Board. This, the -
