GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 May 1901, Page 4

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the above j Council was held On Thursday night, i Present—The Mayor, Crs. Thomas, Big-1 nell. Joyce. M'Lean. Giesehing, Petrie, i and .'.leer. The report of the Fire Brigade was read and adopted on the motion of the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr Thomas, as follows : (1.) “That the Captain of the Fire Brigade acted indiscreetly in leaving the No 1 nlanual engine at his shop for three weeks, whilst being ‘repaired and painted. (2.) “That a grave oversight has been committed on the past of the brigade engineer inasmuch as he has neglected to have the steam fire engine overhauled for about two years%(3.) “With regard to placing the engine at standpipes, your Committee are of opinion thac more discretion should be shown, and the engine should be placed so as to get the best results from the steamer at tho fire. (4) “ There should be a brigade practice every three weeks, and a proper test given to the pumps at every practice. The inner valves of the engine should be examined at once, and. the Captain should be directed to make quarterly reports to the Council regarding the efficiency ot the brigade and plant. (5.) We recommend that a telephone be put into the caretaker’s house at the state school and "connected with the fire brigade at night, so that he (caretaker) will be able to ring the school bell at every fire. The Town Clerk to instructed to write to the school committee for this arrangement. (6.) “Your committee are of opinion that it is advisable to form a salvage corps. (7.) “ That a suction shoot should be put under the wharf opposite Albert street. (8.) “After taking all the circumstances into consideration we find that the brigade worked exceedingly well and did everything that jya» possible to be done to check the fire.” Mr Thomas wished to know if it was proposed to get a salvage corps. The Mayor said he would talk with the Captain of the Fireßrigade upon the matter.

Mr Sheedy objected. The- Captain bad quite enough to do already and in his opinion had not done it very welL Mr Petrie moved that a committee consisting of the Mayor, Messrs Thomas, Bignell, Sheedy and the mover be appointed to organise a corps. - Seconded by Mr Thomas and carried. Clause 3 of the Town Clerk's report was read as follows : « X have now got' the upper drainage district ready for construction, and as it will be 12 months at the present rate of going before Clark completes his present order for pipes, I hesitate to give him a second order, and think time would be saved by letting this section by contract, and allowing the contractor to find his own pipes." Mr Bignell moved its adoption. It would give a fair indication of the merits of day labor versus contract. Mr Thomas seconded, holding that it . was necessary to push on the work more urgently. Mr Sheedy thought the work was going on satisfactorily. He would not Be so much opposed to it if the Council fot the pipes when the contracts could e let. Mr Gieseking supported the resolution. It seemed that the Council could not get the pipes, whereas contractors appeared able to get them easily. Mr Joyce supported Mr Sheedy’s view of the question. Mr Lord said it was understood that the main work would be let by contract The present day labor works would last over 12 months and more expedition was necessary. Mr Petrie said that under snch circumstances it was absolutely necessary to have contract in order to get the work done in reasonable time. There would be no dimunition in the number of men employed by the Council. Mr Steer favored following the advice of the Engineer in this matter. If his advice was not followed, they could not hold him responsible for carrying out the work within his estimate, which was very essential. The Mayor took a like view to that taken by Mr Steer. • Mr Bignell said there was no question of depriving the present workman ; the only Reason was to expedite the work. Mr M‘Lean held it imperative to follow the Engineer in the matter. Eeport adopted, Messrs Sheedy and Joyce voting against. The report of the Sanitary Inspector was read as follows: — “Since my last report I have the honour to inform you that I have continued the work of borough inspection, and carefully attended to the various duties appertaining to my various offices “As Sanitary Inspector I have had occasion to serve several notices, ill of which were promptly attended to, save in one instance, where I found it necessary to institute legal prooeedings- « As Inspector of Vehicles, I found it expedient to issue the notices to all ’ vehicle proprietors within the Borough. “In many cases recipients of this notice promptly attended to its requirements, out in msuy others no notice has sas yet been taken. In these latter instances I am preparing to enforce immediate obedience to the instructions of the Council. “ The dog and vehicle taxes are receiving my best attention. The collection of these entail a considerable amount of trouble, worry and annoyance, but are being slowly and surely collected. Owing to the strictness of supervision that is exercised the straying cattle nuisenoe Is being largely suppressed, exoept that an odd stray case is causing annoyanoe, I now receive few causes of complaint. I have also closely supervised the work of the sanitary contractors, who are now well and faithfully attending to the conditions of their contract. During the past two months I have not received a single complaint, and this I take to be the very best testimonial obtainable as to the efficiency of the service." Mr Thomas said a number of vehicles did not carry lights, and this should bo attended to. As also bicycles not carrying lights and riding on footpaths. He moved that the*, attention of the police be called to the matter. \ Seconded by Mr Joyce and carried.

• / The slaughter-honse Inspector reported as follows:“There was killed at the yards Preston ' road during the month of April :-64 cattle, 310 sheep, 54-lambs, 5 calves and 17 pigs” * “Meat from outside the_ Borough fl brought in for local consumption was as : folios:—3l carcases of beef, 115 sheep, 20 lands, 8 calves and 12 pigs.” -'Report adopted. Petition from residents of Cowper ; Street asking for drainage of street. f v Mr Lord said this was a continuation f of the Hospital creek. It was unsightly •V deep and expensive. Referred to Work's Committee tore* ; port on at next meeting*

Petitions fom residents of Preston Eoad and in Lombard street relative to lamps. Mr Lord said that there were a number of places that required attention.

Mr M‘Lean thought the lamp was required. Mr Petrie moved that these two lamps a’ong with all others be referred to the Lighting Committee to report upon. Seconded by Mr Sheedy and carried. Petition from a large number of residents at Greymouth relative to blocking Upper Mawhera Quay with trains. Mr Petrie moved that the Mayor be requested to interview Mr Crombie on the matter, and report at next meeting. Seconded by Mr Thomas' and carried. The Mayor moved the motion given as under: —

« That all resolutions passed by this Council relative to taking a poll for the Town Hall site be rescinded.”

Tho Mayor said that at length they had , got a satisfactory reply from Mr Flannigan, and Boundary street was now eligible for a site. It was necessary to get a vote for money to erect a Town Hall, and this was the only way to do it. The estimate for the hall was what the Town Engineer set down for a suitable building.

In regard to the new ga-ometer it was found necessary to erect a large holder owing to increased consumption. Mr Bignell seconded the resolution.

Mr M'Lean did not sec the necessity for rescinding. Two votes could be taken. He realised that a money vote was necessary. The Mayor said the resolution really did what Mr M‘Lean required. There was no intention to take away from the ratepayers the right to vote on the site. Mr M‘Lean said he was satisfied with the explanation. The rescinding of previous resolutions were then put and carried. The Mayor then moved his resolution as follows:—

“ That a poll of the ratepayers be taken for a special loan for the following purposes, viz : —Town Hall, £4OOO ; gas holder £1,500 ; excess of appropriation for purcaase of gas works, £I,OOO ; total, £6,500.”

“ That a poll shall be taken on the same day as the above loan proposal to ascertain the recommendation of the ratepayers as to a suitable site for the Town Hall."

Mr, Petrie in seconding said that at first he was opposed to the gas item, but after full enquiry he found it was necessary in order to meet the increased consumption. There would 2,000,000 more feet of gas consumed this year than last, and the profit on this increased consumption or new business would pay interest on outlay and leave a good margin of profit. Mr. M'Lean favored the vote for Town Hall being put by itself. In order to get such building with no delay. Mr. Sheedy said he was opposed to borrowing if it could not be shown to bo advantageous. The increased consumption demanded increased storage. The saving that would be effected would mere than pay interest and there would be no ncraased rat ng thereby. As to the Town Hall the rent now being paid would go a good way towards paying interest on outlay. Mr. Steer was averse to loan for gas. Let’the profits out of gas pay for cost. He thought they could scrape along easy enough. The ratepayers would not, he was convinced approve of any loan. It was understood that the gas works would require no further expenditure.,

Mr. Petrie it was not intended to spend money on repairs or for trade possessed at the time the Council took over the works, but for new business that would pay well. It was necessary to do this to keep up with increased trade'.

Mr. Thomas, said that with the consumption as when the works were taken over no increase was required. But with the great advance in the town and increased consumption of gas it was neces sary to meet increased trade. Mr. Bignell doubted if there was much chance of carrying the proposal. The investment was a good one, and as a business extending it was necessary to increase the holding, and he favored it. The only thing was whether the ratepayers .vould look at it that way.

Mr. Joyce said the new accommodation was necessary as a good investment and one that would return more interest than the cost. He would vote for the proposal,

Mr. M'Lean moved as an amendment that the vote for the Town Hall be taken by itself. There being no seconder.

The resolution was put and carried. Resolved that in the appointment of standing committees of the Council no one other than a Councillor be appointed, and that powers of committees be the same as under the old Act. The following committees were appointed as under: —

Fjnancb. Messrs Steer (chair), Thomas and M'Lean.

Public Works— Messrs Sheedy (chair) Bignell and Gieseking. Gas Committee— Messrs Petrie (chair), Sheedy, and Joyce. Fire Brigade —Messrs Ashton (chair), Petrie, and Bignell. Cemetery— Messrs Gieseking (chair) Ashton and M'Lean.

Library Messrs Bignell, M'Lean, Lord and the Mayor. Charitable Aid Board— Messrs Petrie, Joyce, Ashton and M'Lean.

Sanitation and Public Health— Messrs Petrie (chair), Bignell and Sheedy. Resolved that the Mayor be authorised to arrange with the Mayor of Ross relative to public meeting about railway.

Resolved that the removal of Chinese dead be. tinder control of the Cemetery and Sanitation Committees.

Mr Sheedy brought under the notice of the Council the desirability of seeing what would be the cost of having fire appliances tipon the tug. He moved that the matter be referred to Fire Brigade Committee to report upon at next meeting. Mr Bignell had much pleasure in seconding the proposal. It was a real good idea.—Carried.