BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 446, 18 November 1875, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

KAIAPOI. Tuesday, November 16.

The fortnightly meeting of this Council for the despatch of ordinary business was held on Tuesday evening. Present—The Mayor, Crs Ellen, Porter, Blackwell, Parnham, Milsom, Funston, Smethurst, and having made the declaration of a new elected Councillor, Cr Wearing took his seat. A letter was read from Mr C. Braddell, asking permission to put four horse posts in front of his office, Charles street. Referred to the works committee, with power to grant the application. Cr Milsom, chairman finance committee, reported that after providing for salaries and ordinary expenses to July 31st, 1876. the available balance would only be £139. £IOO had been placed aside towards the cost of embankmentp, and the balance was the total sum at the Council's disposal during the ensuing nine months. The report was adopted. Cr Porter asked for an extension of time for the committee on the Peraki street water supply to bring in its report. Granted ; time extended till next meeting. The balance-sheet showed receipts to be— Provincial grant, £125; and rates, £4 ss, the credit balance at the bank being £l4O 10s Id. Accounts, amounting to £ls 13s 2d, were passed for payment. Cr Wearing expressed surprise at the dilatoriness shown by the Provincial Government in paying over the £IOOO voted for protective works. Everything had been done which the Council could \o. Plans had been sent to the Government. The Provincial Engineer had reported thereon, and the Government had made a survey, but here the matter seemed to have ended. Although attention had been drawn to the delay, the letter of the Council remained unanswered. It was high time extreme measures were taken to urge forward the work, and he moved " That a committee of the Mayor, Cr Blackwell, and the mover be appointed to wait on the Government, and also to obtain the consent of the owners and occupiers of laud to the erection of the embankments." Cr Smethurst seconded the motion. Cr Ellen entirely concurred, and considered the Government was entirely ignoring the Council. Why the vote was not handed over was a mystery. As the last letter was not replied to, it was about time a committee was appointed to hunt the Government up. Cr Blackwell, admitting there had been unnecessary delay, considered it would not be advisable to appoint a committee to carry out the works, as only a professional man would be competent to superintend the erection of the embankments. Cr Porter supported the motion. The works ought now to have been well in hand, and the committee could ascertain the reason for the delay. Cr Milsom opposed the appointment of a deputation, the Government having treated the Council with contempt; it might fairly throw up the responsibility of the work. Cr Funston pointed out that the embankments would be an incalculable benefit to the borough, and the matter could not be left as it was. The Council should find out what Government meant to do. If it intended to carry out the works without reference to the Council, let it do so by all means. Cr Smethurst suggested the addition of Cr Parnham's name. The Mayor considered, after the preliminary steps, it would be folly not to make an effort to have the embankments made. The committee proposed was willing to take its share in the work. Cr Blackwell moved that his name be omitted, and Cr Porter's inserted. This was agreed to, and the motion carried. A tender was accepted for putting down concrete kerbing from Hilton street to Mr G. Weston's shop. It was decided that none of the tenders for timber kerbing be accepted. Cr Porter applied, on behalf of Garrick and Cowlishaw, for a transfer of river reserve No 79, from executors of late Capt Morgan to Mr C. Braddell. The Mayor advocated the insertion of a condition in these leases, that the lessees should agree to aclauseallowing the Council to erect embankments over their property, which he thought would not be objected to. He did not ask for the condition to be attnehed to the present application, as notice would have to be given of it. The Council, in committee, discussed the question, and, on resuming, Cr Wearing moved, Cr Ellen seconded—- " That the application for a transfei of the river reserve, No 79, to Mr Braddell, be granted, but that in future transfers of leases or under leases will only be granted on condition that the Council be allowed to erect necessary protective works on the said sections." Agreed to. Cr Wearing drew attention to the fences across Hilton street, and it was decided that the same be forthwith removed. The Council then adjourned.