GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1901, Page 3

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The adjouvncd-mcoting of the above Council was last night at the Town Hall. Present—the Mayor, Messrs M’LeaiyThomas, Ashton, Joyce, Petrie, ShoedyfEignell and Steer. .trotter from Town Clerk, Ross, for--Warding petition for signatures in favor of extension of extension of railway to Ross. Resolved on motion of Mr Petrie, seconded by Mr M’Lean that the Mayor get some one to go round town and got signatures to same. From Ocean Accident Insurance Com' pany relative to covering risks of work men. Resolved that the Mayor, Messrs Thomas, Sheedy, and Petrie be empowered to make the best arrangements with the Company or Government, From Hokitika Borough Council relative to rating mining property. Resolved on motion of Mr Petrie seconded by Mr Thomas that the Hokitika Council be informed that this Council is now disputing the point and have communicated with their member on the matter and asking the Hokitika Council to do likewise.

Resolved on motion of Mr Sheedy, seconded by Mr Thomas that the action of the Councillors in asking Mr Napier Bell to come down and personally look at plans and ground for water supply be approved of. Opinion of Mr Hannan was read to the effect that loan proposals could not be divided. The Mayor intimated that ho would take the poll on Wednesday 10th inst.

There being three applicants for small cottage near Sawyers Creek bridge, there names being Middleton, M’Naught and Stewart, it was decided to draw lots for same when Stewart’s name was drawn by the Mayor. From Commissioner of Taxes, enclosing declaration form for payment of subsidy. The Town Clerk was instructed to fill in same.

Mr Thomas moved, and Mr Petrie seconded, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Hon. Mr Kerr and Mr Guinness, M.H.R., for the assistance given the Mayor while at Wellington in presenting the address to the Duke of York. Mr Sheedy supported the motion which was carried unanimously. The Mayor reported that the address was presented by the Mayor and Mr Kettle, Chairman of tlm Harbor Board, and he acknowledged the services of Messrs Guinness and Kerr in getting the way made clear for presentation. He further explained that Mr M‘Kechnie’s absence was owing to ill health. The Mayor moved that a committee of the whole Council be appointed to accord a welcome to returning troopers.— Carried.

Mr Bignell moved, and Mr Sheedy seconded, that Mr Petrie be required along with Messrs Kerr and Guinness, to interview Mr Ronayne relative to blocking Mawhera Quay by trains.—Carried, The report of the Gas Committee was read as follows

"They "have ordered a telephone to be put on to the works at once for the benefit of gas consumers.

“That the Council go into a department for gas fittings and for lighting the street lamps; fittings to be ordered to the amount of £SO. “ That tenders be called for the office of lamplighter at per lamp per annum for one year. Eeport, after discussion, was adopted. Eeport of the Town Surveyor was read ( as follows “ I have the 'honor to report that I have marked off the Blaketown approach to the lagoon bridge and put on two men to form it as the quarry spoil is tipped down. The timber stacked in Gresson street should now be moved back and the street metalled so that the bridge can be used for dray traffic. “ Disinterment of Chinese.—This work will be commenced tc-morrow, and from legal information I have received it is prelty clear that the Council cannot interfere in the face of the special permit giren to the Chinese by the Colonial Secretary unless a nuisance is committed, and a nuisance is almost impossible if the conditions of the license are faithfully carried out. In this permit the is appointed to superintend, but soldering down of the zinc shell is HfHiost important part of the work, I ||Hst that the Council should employ to supervise this work.” ||H.r Petrie regretted that the Colonial had completely takemthe matof the hands of the Council. The passed at last meeting was imperative, Hlr Sheedy also spoke strongly upon matter. It was monstrous to sup■HMiat these indies, many of them a should be taken stored as proposed. Mr, Bignell wanted to know if the Council had no control in the matter. Ho thought the former resolution should bo enforced. It was a shocking procedure to follow, and , should be stoutly resisted.

Mr. Steer moved that an urgent message be wired to the Colonial Secretary, Messrs Kerr and Guinness entering a firm protest in regard to the mode of procedure. Mr. Sheedy , seconded. A nuisance kttuld undoubtedly bocommittcd if the Jpocess proposM ttro.'Allowed. Messrs Joybe and. Ashton also spoke strongly upon the matter condemning the action of the Colonial Secretary. Mr Petrie proposed, and Mr Steer the following telegram be inter, Colonial Secretary, and Korr : —“ A* l a naeetsitting, it was to protest on behalf against the Chinese bodies eat to those occupied s, and alongside thoroughfares. Secretary be respeehis warrant in so the Council not ■Ri or bo ■lns. The .-.■contion to - ■ exMr Bignell £ V V *-° preventfuture, Mr 3>z- » \ T,:;1

work of Borough inspection. Generally the sanitary state of the town is as perfect as existing conditions will allow, very few complaints have been made, and these have had my immediate attention. In some instances I found it necessary to issue written notices to offenders ugliest the sanitary laws, but in the great ma jority of cases I find that prompt attention is given to my verbal instructions, and the reforms needed are cheerfully carried out.

In the matter of the complaint of Mrs Fairhall, against Mr C. M’Quecn, relative to the desposition of garden manure on the Marsdcn road, upon which I have been specially asked to report I find that no cause of nuisance exists, that the manure is required for Mr M'Qucen’s garden, and that it is removed from the roadway and utilised for garden purposes with promptitude and due regard to every sanitary condition. In connection with the collection of the Dog Tax, I found it necessary, in one instance, to take legal proceedings the offender being fined double the amount of tax and costs. 1 also found it necessary to issue writs in three instances for the recovery of the vehicle license tax. In two cases the matter was settled out of court, in the other the defendant was penalised to the extent of £T 2s Gd. The wandering cattle nuisance is abating considerably, owing to the stringent measures that arc being enforced for its supp ;e. sion. Since my last report I found it necessary in this connection to summons one defendant for two separate offences committed on different dates, the result being fines of 18/ and 15/ respectively, the judgments carrying costs in addition.”