BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 161, 10 August 1877, Page 6

BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

A special meetittg of the Balclutlia Town '''Council was held in the Council Chambers, on Tuesday evening. There was present : Bis Worship the Mayor (Mi- M'Neil), and Councillors Cramond, Hogg, Dunne, Macdonald, Doull, and Canning. 'INTRODUCTORY. Thelßlayor said it was customary for a "newly elected Mayor to address Ji few re"nmrks to the Council, explaining his views upon municipal matters, and the requirements of the Corporation. As, however, that was a special meeting, he would not ' detain them. He would simply mention that 'he believed that matters of great importance would come before them during th-j ensuing year — matters of as much importance as ever had been before them in the past, or was'likely to be in the future. He had no doubt Councillors would give all matters full consideration, and that they would work harmoniously together for the good of the township. He re- j jf rred to the new Municipal Corporations Act as one which required the careful •study of Councillors. He pointed out that legislatures do not go to the trouble and expense of framing and passing laws in tho expectation that these laws, after •being passed, should be ignored. The Government expected the laws, when .'passed, would be given effect to, and no "doubt, after consideration, the Council 'Would see the propriety of adopting the Act referred to. The matter of the Muni- '• cipal reserves was another one which re- - quired looking into. He believed Bal--4 clutha was as poorly endowed a Municipality as was to be found in the Colony. ' The only reserve they could call their own was now being much destroyed, and the 7 peculiar benefits hitherto derived from it by the inhabitants abolished through the • cutting up of the ground by the railway. This matter should at once be taken up, and he had no doubt that upon a proper representation being made to the Government, the full endowment provided for '■"under the new Municipal Act would be ; - given. One strong reason for Baiclutha receiving the full endowment was the burden that had been cast upon the ratepayers by the bridge having been handed ;over to them. No Municipality had a burden of anything like this in magnitude. No doubt the bridge might be self-sup- ". porting for a short time, but it must ulti"mately be a serious burden, and there " was thus all the greater reason why the Municipality should be liberally endowed. There were other matters to which he might have referred, but he would not detain them then.^ The special business for which the meeting had been called was to appoint the standing Committees, and to open tenders for works which had been called for and received by last Council. His Worship resumed his seat amidst applause. StNANCIAL. Councillor Canning asked that an approximate statement of the funds to be at the disposal of the Council be laid before them previous to opening the tenders. Councillor Hogg pointed out that it was quite out of place to "ask for such a return at the first meeting. After the Committees were appointed, that on the Finance Committee could bring up such a ■ statement as asked. Councillor Macdonald Said the tenders 'had been called for by the late Council, which no doubt knew there were funds for the execution of the 'works. The late ' Council had left over the opening of the ' tenders out of courtesy to the new Coun- • cil, and it would be -very discourteous on their part not to deal with them at once. Before new works Were undertaken, it would be advisable for the Council to have " a report from the Finance Committee. Councillor Dunne, as a member of the -old Finance Committee, said they, as a matter of course, had satisfied themselves -as to the sufficiency of the funds before - agreeing to the works. The matter then dropped. TENDERS. Tenders for the following works were then opened : — Charlotte-street, re-f orm&tion and gravelling. — George Bain, £137'; A. 'Chirnside, Douglas and Gordon-streets, 'formation 'and gravelling. — G. Bain, £171 ) A. CKirn- : Bide, £117 7s. John-street, .gravelling.— G. Bain, £5 '7s per chain j A. Chimside, £57 5s lid A (15j chains). • CHABLOtfTE-'StREET. Councillor Doull asked that a report by " the late Mayor as to the probable cost of 1 the works on-Charldtte-street ''be laid on the table. • The Clerk reported that the late Mayor 'estimated the c cost Of the; Work at £38. Councillor Cramond did not think the , /Council would accept the tender for Char- ' lotte-street, as it was much higher than ■ had been Expected. had no doubt a mistake had occurred somewhere. Tenders had previously been called for, but "■were not accepted, as the plan provided for more work th&n £he Council hfed wished done. The -plan was returned to the engineer to be reduced 'to what the Council had ordered. It now 'appeared . that this 'had not been attended to, but that the 'plan was in 'the same condition as 'when returned for modification. He 'moved "that the -matter be referred to 'the "Works Committee to see the engineer, and liave th&plan altered. The lowest tender, "he believed, was pretty reasonable for the of work the plan provided for. 'Councillor Canning seconded the motion, Wliich was carried. •GORDON, DOUGLAS, ftftD JOHN-STREETS. In reply to Councillor Sogg, Councillor Cramond said he had not "previously examined the plans of these 'works, but they seemed pretty correct. 'The plans were to have been submitted to : a meeting of Works Committee, but he had hot got notice of any meeting. Councillor Dunne Said impression "prevailed that the works Were too extensive, and should be modified, especially so j far as .'gravel was concerned— that the : <lepth should be e'iglit inches instead of twelve niches. This would 'effect a considerable 'saving of money, which Was much wanted in other parts of the town. A long discussion ensiled, in the course •of which most of the Councillors expressed their concurrence with Councillor Dunne\s "remarks. Ultimately, Councillor Dunne moved that the tenders for Gordon, Dougla3> and John*

streets he referred to the Works Committee, with a view to a modification of the works— the Committee to see the lowest tenderer, and endeavour "to arrange with him for the execution df the modified works. The Committee to report at next meeting. Seconded hy Councillor Cramond. Councillor Macdonald moved that the tenders he referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. Seconded hy Councillor Hogg. The motion was carried. COM MITT RES. Councillor Macdonald moved the appointment of Committees as follows : — Works : Councillors Cramond, Dunne, and Doull. Finance : Councillors Hogg, Macdonald, and Canning. Reserves : Councillors Hogg, Macdonald, and Canning. Seconded by Councillor Hogg, and carried. MAIN SOUTH ROAD. Councillor Cramond called attention to the necessity for at once having the metal spread upon tho main south road at the southern boundary of the township.. It was resolved that tho Mayor give instructions to have the work done. The meeting then adjourned.