GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 January 1903, Page 2

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting cf the Borough Council was held lass night. Present: The Mayor. Crs M'Lean, Bignell, Steer, Gieseking, Joyce, Pctrie and Sheedy. The Mayor said that the meeting was to consider the modified plans proposed by Mr Lord, and come to some determination thereon. Mr Lord then read tho following amended report: "Acting under your instructions I have carefully examined the town hall plans with a view to modify them, so as to bring the cost within the sum voted by the ratepayers for this work, I find as follows : (1) "That it U impossible to reduce the internal finish of the building to effect a greater saving than about £250. (2) "Tnat the general plan of the structure cannot be reduced sufficiently to effect the reduction required, without cramping the accommodation, and rendering it perfectly unfit for the purpose for which it is about to be erected. (8i "At the poll of the ratepayers taken on the 10th July, 1901, £5,000 was carried for the erec ion of a towa haU proper, and on 16:h July, 19C2, anothtr J poll w&s taken authorising "£4,000 for municipal buildings, and in order to keep faith with the ratepayers the Council are bound so erect these structures. The only way to reduce the cost without spoiling the structure would be to leave out the library wing for which no vote has been taktu—putting in the foundations only at present. The library wing contains 14 rooms and corridors, and if left out will reduce the cost by £2,753 and brin;* ho cost of the town hall and chambers down to £7,000. "I wish to draw atten'ion to the fact that the present design was adoptdby resolutton of the Council after mature consideration, and if that resolution is rescinded and fresh designs called for it will only add to preliminary expenses At the cost of necessary room and space. "In conclusion I beg to point out tlat it is impossible to reduce the ground plan. A town hall should be made large enough to hold a meeting of the ratepayers, and the Municipal offices must be of sufficient size to provide accomoda-li-n for our gas and water department*, which from this out will rapidly increase. "If the buildings are reduced to our bare wants of today they will become useless and obsolete in a very few years. There are already too many instances of this fact in the towns of New Zealand. Let us try to avoid falling into a similar error." The reporb was received.

The Mayor said that at last meeting it was suggested that if pannelling instead of plister was adopted the necessary saving would be effected, but it was found that the saving thereby would only be £"250, which wjs altogether inadequate.

Mr Sheedy said the manner in which the business was transacted was unsatisfactory. Dealing with plans of the Town Hall, his opinion was that they were ". a'together too elaborate. Mr Lord's first estimate was £7OOO, but now it would cost much more and was beyond their finance. He favored fresh designs by competition, the limit of expenditure to be £5,500, the successful competitor to receive a bonus of £SO. The present building was really meant to come into competition with private enterprise which was not right. The population was not increasing sufficiently fast to warrant so large an expenditure, seeing that the Council had already incuired heavy liabilities. In addition to the cost of the building the cost of furnishing would bo at least £IOOO. He would therefore move that competitive be called for Town Hall at a cost not to excsed £5,500, the successful architect to receive £SO. There being some applause from the ratepayers, Cr Petriß called His Worship's attention that this was ameeting of

the Council not a public meeting. Cr Joyco said that he wished everj meeting of the Council had the same attendance of ratepayers. Cr Petrie, in explanation, said that applause was not usual at Borough Council meetings. His Worship agreed and requested the ratepayers should not make any demonstration. Mr Bignell seconded the resolution. The plans as he always had maintained, were too elaborate. He wou'd, however, prefer to see that Mr Lord should ba requested to prepare plans for another building at a cost mentioned by Mr Sheedy. It would be infinitely preferable to tinkering with present plans, and attempting to arrange with contractors. It must be, so far as he was concerned let by fresh tender. He would like to know if Mr Sheedy was agreeable to allowing Mr Lord to prepare new plans. Mr Sheedy preferred to have competitive designs. Mr Lord could Renter into competition with others. Mr Joyce favored Mr Sheedy's resolution. The Council was the laughing stock of the ratepayers. He was satisfied that all would ba better pleased if competitive designs were called. Mr Steer thought it would be better to get new plans altogether. The plans were beyond the Council's power. He favored competitive designs, and that the cost should not exceed £SOOO.

Mr Ashton thought they should go to the extent that the ratepayers sanctioned and put up a building of ft character worthy of the town. Mr M'Le&n said they had something like £7OOO left, and they should put up a good building. If it cost £IO,OOO it might be cheap. Bat that was beyond the capacity of the Council. He favored competitive designs, the successful architect to get a bonus of £IOO. Mr Petrie said that he was of the same opinion as at last meeting, that the cost was beyond the Council's finances and therefore would have to bo dropped. He was entirelyfcverse to making any arrangements with contractors and would insist upon fresh tenders being called. In regard to this he might mention that Mr Lord was misunderstood at last meeting. What he meant to convey was thit the contractor should execute work at schedule rates ; thus if the library wing was left out the cost would be reduced by its sch'dule value, £2,750. Ho would favor fresh plans and that Mr Lord prepare them. All were pleased with his plans and if within the estimate the building would have been agreed to. During the last couple of yeirs the price of building and material had considerably advanced. Whereas then a cube of brickwork cost £22, it now cost £3O. The Mayor was pleased to see the Council unanimous on the point, which was in accord wi h his own ideas. In the

plans for the future he hoped that they would be such as would admit of necessary extension. Ho hoped Mr Sheedy would withdraw that part of his resolution which said tint th. 3 successful architect would receive no bonus if the lowest tender was £IOO oterthe estimate. Mr Sheedy said he was willing to withdraw that part of the resolution. At this stage there appeared to be some doubt as to whether the resolution had been put. Mr Lord said the Council appr >ved of the size of the building, and it was impossible to get it done for less than that stated. Competitors would have to get ' the size of the building they were to work on. He regretted the plan, over which he had spent so much time, should have been found beyocd the resources of the Council.

Mr Sheedy said Mr McLsan had mentioned £IOO, and he wou'd have no objection to that amount. Mr Bigaell objected to the amount being increased, and the matter then dropped. Mr Steer wished to move that the sum be £SOOO. Messrs Sheedy and Petrie said the resolution had been already carried. Mr Lord said he had the resolution down as carried. Messrs S:eer and Giestk'mg maintained that the Mayor had not put the resolution, and after some discussion the amendment was allowed, and lost the voting being for the amendment (5000) Messrs Steer, Asbtjn, Giese king, and Bignell. Against (n favor of £5500) Messrs Sheedy, Jcyc, ojtrie, McLean and the Mayer. The sum of £5500 was then put and carried. Mr Steer voting No. On ths motion of Cc Petrie, seconded by Cr Sheedy, it was reso'ved that Mr Lord prepare the details necessary for competitors and submit same to the Council at their next meeting.