BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 156, 6 July 1877, Page 6

BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

A meeting of tho Town Council was held m tho Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. There wero present : His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Hog<r, Cramond, Dunne, Tosh, Hope, and Doull. j -MINUTES. j The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. UON.F_-lir,:v-OH OF MAYORS. A letter was read from the Town Clerk, Christchurch, suggesting a conference of .Mayors at Wellington, with reference to the large amounts deducted by the Government from tho subsidies payable to Municipalities for the maintenance of charitable institutions. After a discussion, it was agreed to request Mr Thomson, member for tho district, to represent the Council afc the proposed conference. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:— J." Sinclair (wages), L3l 4s; Dayman's wages, L 3 Ms ftd ; Town Clerk (salary), Lll 5s ; Galloway and Dronnan (sundries). L 5 17s 3d ; 'bridge account (men's wages), LIT 7s lid. TKXDI-.K!**. I Tenders for culvert in Hasborough Road wore opened, and the lowest— Adam -Nelson, at -Is per yard— was accepted. ST AMFOI. D-STRE EX. The debato on Councillor Hone's motion, for a culvert and cutting in Stam-ford-street, was resumed. The Mayor said the debate had been adjourned for a report of the Works Committee as to cost of the work. He had called a meeting of the Committee to inspect tho work, but only one member attended, and there was no report. The culvert, he said, would not cost, much, but the cutting would be rock, and would be i expensive. ; Councillor Hogg said they should have a report- as to cost. Councillor Hope expected thero would bo a report laid before tho meeting, and was much disappointed that such was not the case. Councillor Dunne said the dayman could do what, tilling up was required. The work would be a great convenience to the inhabitants.

Councillor Hogg : Only one inhabitant.

Councillor Dunne seconded Councillor Hope's motion to have the culvert made and the cutting done. Councillor Cramond could not see what would be the use of the work. If it would be of any service to anvouo it would only be Councillor Doull. To make the gully passable would be very expensive, and would only be throwing away money, as the work was not required. Councillor Doull, in rcnly to Councillor Cramond, said that Mr Paterson had said he would appreciate the woi k. Councillor Cramond said if Mr Paterson required a street to his house, the Council should make the street leading to his house, and not. tho one leading 3 to Councillor Doull's house.

Councillor Dunne deprecated introducing names into their discussions.

Councillor Hope estimated the cost of tho work at- from Lls to L2O.

Councillor Dunne said LlO or Lii. •would put in the culvert, and the iilliii"--up should be left to the (laymen.

Councillor Hogg objected to the dnvman being employed at such works, nnd reminded the Council of a standing rule that all works amounting to L.LO be carried out by tender.

After some further discussion, the motion was put and carried— Councillors Doull, Hope, Dunne, and Tosh voting halt, and Councillors Cramond and Hogg against. ao Tim WETCinnnooE. Tlie Mayor said that Councillor Hoirg and he had waited upon Mr Moxhay, anil had arranged with him to pay LG a year rent for the weighbridge.. — Approved. CH ARLOTTE-S'rß EET. The Mayor inquired who was to be the engineer for the work. Councillor Cramond moved that Mr Robert Grigor be employed to -mako a survey, and prepare plans and specifications. Seconded by Councillor Hogg, and carried. G OP-DO -ST AND DOUGLAS-STREETS. Mr B. Grigor submitted plans of these streets. — Accepted as submitted. ELIZABETH ASD EE^EREW-STREBTS. On the motion of Councillor Cramond, seconded by Councillor Hogg, the standing orders were suspended, when Cramond moved that tlie Works Committee be instructed to havo Elizabeth and Renfrew- streets repaired with gravel. He pointed out that [there was a largo traffic upon these streets by foot passengers, and that the streets were getting very .middy, and frequently covered with pools of water. The cost would be L 7 or LS. Seconded by Councillor Dunne, and earned. . WILLIAM-ST REET. Councillor Hogg moved that the Work's Committee have -William-street gravelled to the river. He pointed out that the expense, L 5 or L 6, would be more than saved upon the other gravel contracts, as at present tlie road was impassable for the drays. Seconded by Councillor Cramond, and carried. DRTOrCLOG-STREET. Councillor Dunne pointed out that although this street had recently been formed no provision had been made for letting off tlie water, and the street was simply a pond after a shower. He moved that the Works Committee have the matter attended to. He also pointed out several other spots within the township where a few hours' work would be of very much benefit. Seconded by Councillor Hogg, and carried. THE ELECTION.-. Tlie Mayor pointed out that it was necessary for the Council to fix the day of nomination, and make other arrangements for the annual elections. ft was resolved that the nomination for Mayor and Councillors take place at the Council Chambers on Monday, 16th July. The following were appointed tlie polling booths :— South Ward—Council Chambers : Angus Boss, Presiding Officer. North _. Ward—Later Council Chambers, Clyde-street : John Gow, Presiding Officer. East Ward — House lately occupied by Mr Gavin : Councillor Hope, Presiding Officer.

CONFBI*,*.TS T OI-.. Mr J. W. Thomson was then introduced to the Council. The Mayor explained the' request from Christchurch as to tho Conference of Mayors, and that the Council had resolved to ask Mr Thomson to act as delegate. Mr Thomson replied that ho would be happy to attend on behalf of the Council, and do his best for their interests. He had, he said, waited npon the Council to ascertain the wants of the -Municipality so that he might attend to those as far as possible in his place in ihe House. As to tlie deduction from the subsidy, applied by tho Government to charitable institutions, he wonld hnd out exactly the reason. He thought if tho Government retained the management of the Benevolent Institution in their own hands, tho Government should provide the funds for its maintenance. The Mayor pointed out the necessity for a new Courthouse and Police Camp. ' The buildings now used as such were erected upon a street, and were utterly unsuited for the. purpose. Mr Thomson thought the claim was so reasonable, that there wonld belittle .difficulty in getting ifc passed. He would give the matter his attention, and thought he would succeed.

The .Mayor informed Mr Thomson of the largo amount of ground the ft ovomucin, were taking from the Lower Reserve for railway purposes, and the loss and hardship this would entail upon tho Municipality and a largo number of the inhabitants individually. Mr Thomson replied that application should be made to the Government for a reserve in lieu of the ground being taken. If the Council could point out io him any piece of Crown land convenient to the township, ho would endeavour to get ifc for them. -

Councillor Dunne suggested that a petition should be sent loathe Government, signed by tho inhabitants, setting forth their case.

Mr Thomson approved of tho claim, and if carried out would endeavour to get the compensation asked.

A long conversation then ensued with reference to the position in which the township was placed iv regard to reserves, aud many suggestions were made as to what should bo done, with a view to placing the township on an equality with other townships in tho matter of endowments. It was ultimately resolved that a full memorandum of all such matters should be forwarded to Mr Thomson at Wellington, and he promised to do what he could to give effect to the wish of the Council.

Tho Mayor then thanked Mr Thomson for attending the meeting, which then adjourned.