TOWN COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 108, 4 August 1876, Page 6

TOWN COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting* of the Town Council was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. There were present : His Worship the Mayor (Mr P. Mason), in the chair ; and Councillors Hope, Hogg, Doull, Cramond, Tosh, and Dunne. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk reported that all the newlyelected Councillors had signed the usual statutory declaration. Councillor Dunne suggested that the necessary accommodation should be provided for the reporters. — Agreed to. An^ applica tion from Messrs Geddes and Kirn, for permission to lay down a crossing at the footpath opposite their property, was granted, subject to the usual conditions. A letter was read from Mr Canning, offering to give the fees due to him in connection with the late elections as a donation towards forming three chains of a footpath in Cromar-street, East Ward, provided the Council would carry out the work. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. Councillor Hogg reported that be and Councillor Dunne had waited upon Messrs Briscoe and Co., as requested, with reference to the weighbridge, and had obtained a guarantee from that firm that the machine was complete and efficient in all its parts. I The account for the same, £81 Is, was passed for payment. The Inspector of Works reported that the contracts of Messrs Chirnside ' and Gormley, for works in North Ward, had been completed according to plans and specifications. The account for the balance due on these contracts, £66 ss, was passed for payment. The following Committees were appointed ; — ■ Finance. — Councillors Hogg, Hope, and Dunne. Works.— Councillors Cramond, Tosh, and Doull. Councillor Cramond suggested that immediate action should be taken to have the weighbridge erected. The matter had long been before the public, and he (Councillor Cramond) had always urged the necessity for the

machine. He thought some Councillor should give notice of a motion upon the subject, or that a public meeting should be called as to the site.

Councillor Tosh would like to know where the remuneration was to come from for a man to look after the machine when it was erected. It was possible the Council might find that they had built a mill, but lacked water to drive it.

Councillor Dunne thought the matter should be gone into at once. He suggested that tbe standing orders should be suspended, so that tenders might be called for the erection of the machine, and also that a public meeting be called to decide as to the site.

The Mayor suggested that the Works Committee might bring up a report upon the subject, to be submitted at the pnblic meeting. After some further discussion, Councillor Cramond moved — That the Works Committee be requested te examine and report as to the most suitable site for the machine, that the report be laid before a special meeting- of the Council, to be held on the evening of Wednesday, 9th instant, and that a public meeting be called for same evening, to decide the question.

Councillor Hope seconded the motion, which was carried.

The Mayor suggested that at next meeting the Finance Committee should report upon the state of the finances of the Corporation, so that tho Works Committee might know what works the Council could undertake. — Agreed to.

Councillor Dunne called attention to the suggestion that had some time ago been made to rent a room in the Athenceum buildings as chambers for the Council. Ihe institution, he thought, should have all tho support they could give it, and if they removed to that building, the Building* Society, which met in the Council Chambers, would likely do the same. This would be materially assisting the Athenaeum.

The Mayor and several Councillors expressed their concurrence, and the matter was referred to the Finance Committee to arrange and report at next meeting.

The Inspector of Works, in reply to a question, reported that all the principal works \vhieh had been pointed out to him in the township baa* now been completed. There were some small jobs whicli yet required attending to, Hasborough-road would require the labour of a man about a day a week, and other ' portions of the streets would require one or two days a week to be kept in order.

Councillor Hogg asked what .action was intended to be taken with reference to the outstanding rates.

The Mayor said the parties should all be summoned, bufc the question arose as to a solicitor. He always understood Mr Taylor was the Corporation's solicitor.

Councillor Dunne said he was so only when specially employed.

Councillor Hogg said the Council

had employed other solicitors, ancl he understood Mr Taylor repudiated the idea of being solicitor to the Corporation. He therefore moved that Mr Henderson be appointed solicitor to the Corporation. The motion was seconded by Councillor Dunne. Councillor Cramond thought the Council was acting rather hastily in the matter. Mr Taylor had been appointed, and the Council should have his resignation before making another appointment. A discussion ensued, ancl ultimately the matter was left in the hands of the Town Clerk to arrange, and report at the special meeting. After several other unimportant matters were referred to, the meeting adjourned.