GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 April 1901, Page 4

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meetiDg of the above Council was held last night. Present — The Mayor, Crs Shcody, Petric, Ashton, Joyoo, Gieseking, Steor, O'Kane, Bignoll, and M'L'ean.

The special order relative to taking over water courses in the Borough was finally adopted. From the returning officer notifying the re-election of Mr Matheson as Mayor.

Mr Petrie congratulated the Mayor upon his re-election unopposed. It was in his opinion a high honor, and possibly was given on account of his connection with the public works policy. Mr Sheedy said Mr Matheson deserved the recognition at the hands of the ratepayers for the part he took in getting a water supplj and drainage scheme. The Mayor acknowledged the compliment paid him. He felt proud of being returned for the third ye.ar, and his fifth year in all. He said the Council had always given him a generous support, for which he heartily thanked them. Letter from Department of Public Health as follows: — " I have the honor to acknowledge the recoipt of your letter of 16th February in which you ask that a Health Officer should be appointed for the Borough of Greymouth under the Public Health Act, 1900.

"In reply I have to inform you that the District Health Officers provided for by the Act will be appointed to take charge of districts of very considerable area, Greymouth for example will be included in tho Nelson-Westland district. . " I would, however, point out to your Council that they have power under section 338 of the Municipal Corporations Act to appoint a Borough Health Officer of their own, and I should be very pleased to hear that such an officer has been appointed. "Borough Councils are still responsible for the sanitation of their respective areas, and it is intended that the District Health 'Officer shall be more in the nature of a referee in matters concerning which the local authorities may bejn doubt as to the best course to pursue." Left for new Council to deal with. From Audit Department as follows : "With reference to the provisions of section 164, it appears to me to be desirable that, as nine months of such financial year has been rendered in the form required by the Act of 1886, the balancesheet for the whole financial year should be kept if the Act had not been passed; and in these circumstances I would ask that such balance-sheet may be prepared by the Borough Treasurer accordingly." From Mr Napier Bell asking that details of water supply be forwarded on to be checked and advised upon. His fee would be 50 guineas. As he was well acquainted with the locality, his personal attendance was scarcely necessary. The Mayor moved that the offer be accepted. Seconded by Mr Sheedy, holding checking necessary. Mr Bignell would like to know if Mr Bell was thoroughly acquainted with the spot for the reservoir which was the most important point, and essential that it should be thoroughly examined. Mr Lord said Mr Bell had a look at the hill when he was here before. Eesolution put and carried. From the A.M.P. Society returning Tedeemed coupons. Keceivcd. From Mr. D. Flannigan, agreeing to terms of Council conditional, upon no fence being erected, and Flannigan to have the right of entrance. • The report of the Committee was to the effect that a fence was to be erected, but no building was to bo erected thereon, the ground being the property of the Council. The Mayor pointed out that there was a material difference between the Council's offer and Mr. Flannigan's letter. The latter practically demanded the ownership of the 20 feet.

Mr. Joyce thought the offer was a fair one and should be accepted. The Mayor was against any open gpace being left, and would not concede anything beyond the £IOO. Mr. M'Lean said that the letter was evidently Mr. Flannigan's final offer and should be put to the ratepayers. He did not think he was unreasonable. Mr. Steer preferred to see a right-of-way left. Ifc would be 20 feet wide and could be kept clean. It could bo submitted to the ratepayers with the right-

of-wayr The Mayor was not prepared to wave so important a point, which would involve the Council in endless litigation. Cr Petrie was against the Borough sanctioning narrow right of ways and streets which by want of air space become insantary. He moved that in the opinion of this Council it is inexpedient to sanction the creation of streets and right of ways contrary to the Municipal Corporations Act; and further that this Council declines to depart from its offer of £IOO made in letter of March 14th. Mr Bignell in seconding said that if the Councils final offer was submitted to Mr Flannigan he doubted not but that he would agree to it. Mr Steer held that the letter now received was Mr Flannigan's final offer and shonld be submitted to the ratepayers. The Mayor said that Mr Flannigan did not accept the Councils offer, and it was not possible to proceed till Mr Flannigan accepted same. Mr Sheedy would not extend a fraction more to Mr Flannigan than the £IOO. He was determinedly opposed to leaving a narrow ally-way, or handing over portion of the street to Mr Flannigan. Mr Gieseking desired to see the conditions fairly set forth and then allow the , ratepayers to decide. Mr Steer moved that the vote be put to the ratepayers with a public right-of-way «M feet wide. ~ Mr Ashton in seconding said it was not right to block up Boundary street. Tho difficulty of narrow streets had to bo coped with in other parts of the town. Mr Joyce said the Council was raising quibbles to delay the question and hoodwink the ratepayers. Mr M'Lean declared the intention of some of the Councillors was to throw -Boundary street out altogether. Mr Petrie individually did not favor Boundary street, but that did not matter as the question was to bo left to the ratepayers. He was determined that the Sovracil should not be subject hereafter to expensive litigation with Mr Flannigan through any feverish haste of Councillors to nut an incomplete resolution to tho ratepayers. They must have a direct tome for the ratepayers to deoide upon. The «nendment was then put and lost, and Mr. Petrie's resolution carried on the following division :-Ayes: Crs. Petrie, Sheedy, Gieseking, O Kane Bignell and the Mayor. Noes : Crs. Ashton, Joyce, Steer and M'Lean. Mr Petrie then moved that tho reso- ' lution be at once telegraphed to Mr. Flannigan, and he be asked to return an immediate reply so that the poll can be taken forthwith. He said he had been the first to propose submitting the ques- . tion of site to tne ratepayers, and he was determined to see the poll carried out on a direct issue. Mr Sheedy, in seconding, said that ,uch' resolution would probably show I 3£t they were quite as anxious to get the

vote as Mr. Joyce. But they were also determined to safeguard the Borough. Resolution put and carried. Tho finance committee's report showed that accounts to the amount of £lOl7 18s 6cl had been passed for payment. The borough fund nccount stood with a debit of £3432163 3d, and the loan account wifh a credit of £3B Os 3d. The committee had no recommendation to make re extra pay to sanitary contractors. —Adopted. The works' committee reported that Messrs Keating and Duffy receive a bonus of £lO as an extra for unforseen difficulties in their tunnel contract- Also that the sum of £8 be expended on Puketahi street footpath on tho north side next Mr Hannan's residence to where a new dwelling is being erected. —Adopted. Eesolved in conformity with Act that that the National Bank of New Zealand be tho Council's bank. Mr Steer drew attention to the fact that the street leading to Mr Hambleton's residence had not been asphalted. This led to some discussion, one Councillor stating ho had been accused of blocking same, which was untrue. Mr Lord said the question of asphalting that section had never been before the Council. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Bignell to have the work done. All footpaths at present were stopped for want of tar.