BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 442, 12 November 1868, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening at the Fire Brigade Hall. Present — The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Rae, Wickes, Moore, Parkinson, I£ilgour, Strike, and Ashton. On the reading of the minutes of the two last meetings, Mr Parkinson called attention f> the fact that two words had been inserted in a motion moved by him. He had moved that no applications for ground on the South Spit be granted until the land was laid off in halfracre blocks. He found that the words "for claims" had been inserted, whereas he had intended the motion to refer to all applications such as those from Hildebrand and Weber and Mr Dyason, as woll as those for claims. He expected that future trouble would arise if these applications were granted without the land being surveyed. The Town Clerk showed that the words complained of appeared on the rough minutes. The motion was not written out by Mr Parkinson. Mr Parkinson maintained that the words formed no part of his motion. Indeed they Avere a complete negation oi it. He believed he wrote out the motion, but he would not swear to, it. The Mayor said the words complained of were not in the motion when it was put from the chair. Mr Strike, as seconder of the motion, did not think the words "fur claims" were in it when it was moved. Mr Parkinson moved that the words "for claims" be struck out of the minutes. This question was put from the chair, Mr Wickes would not vote on a question to say which man was a liar — (order, order) — to criminate any man. They could not tax their memories at this distance of time. It was not fair to ask them to vote. Mr Strike called Mr Wickes to order, for using such strong language. The Mayor : The word ''liar" cannot be allowed to be used in this Council. After some further discussion, the minutes as read were confirmed. THE TENDERS FOR SCRUB, The Town Clerk reported that the contractors, Robertson and Melbourne, for the supply of scrub for the upper portion of the works had not come forward to sign the articles of contract, and that Ward and Busbridge had sent in a letter, stating that they were prepared to take up the contract for the lower half of the works at the same rate as the other contract, provided the measurements of the Engineer were found to be correct. Mr Kilgour moved—" That this letter be not received." It was no answer to the offer of the Council, and it threw an imputation on the measurements of the Engineer. Mr Rae seconded the motion. Mr Ashton ; Perhaps you will think me an interested party in this contract. Allowing that I am so, I say that it is our place to accept that tender, provided the measurements are found to be correct. The Mayor : At last meeting it was resolved that the offer be given to these parties to do the work, if they took it at the price of the other contract. This letter is an answer to that offer. Mr Wickes : In a spirit of fairness, the men should be allowed to measure the work before commencing. Mr A,shton : There is a clause in the specifications which makes the contractors liable for scours and floods, and they want to see that the amount of work they do is not greater than, that shown on the plans. The motion was lost, and the letter received. Mr Kilgour did not wish to throw any discredit on the Engineer, but when the work was questioned in such a manner, he would ask if the measurements were correct. Mr Ashton said that in all contracts let in England and the United States the tenderers were allowed to measure the work for themselves, but here it was not allowed; by the specifications. Mr Wickes thought the men ought to be allowed to measure the work. The Engineer (Mr Johnston) stated that the quantities shown on the plans were correct. No. application had been made to him for quantities or measurements. Mr Kilgour : There is something rotten at the bottom of this matter. First the Town Clork states that the contractors have not come forward. I wish to know if the Town Clerk has' done his duty ; has he written to them to come aud do feo ? Has the Town Surveyorever communicated with the other parties ? The Town Clerk ought to have written to the parties before he made the statement that they would not take Up their con traci. The Town Clerk : I repeat the state-, ment that Robertson and Melbourne have not come to sign their contract ? Mr Wickes : Is the contract ready for signature 1 The Town Clerk : I would not allow it to be signed, because it is not iii accordance with the of the Conncil, and it w;ould involve them in financial difficulties. Mi- Kilgour : I cannot see that the resolution should be tampered with by the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk: I cannot allow you, Sir, to make such an accusation. Take your resolution (throwing a bundle of papers on the table.) Mr Kilqour : When you say that it will financially interfere with the resolution of the Council, you are interfering with its business. The Mayor interfered. The Town Clerk explained that, the articles of the contract, drawn up by the Engineer, were that 50 per cent, was to be paid as the work progressed, the whole to be. finished by the 26th December ; and the Council would not be in a position to make either the. first or second payment. He was surprised that Mr Kilgour should make such an assertion, and he (Town Clerk) could tamper with his or any other resolution. He should like hiui to explain. Mr Kilgour : The fact of you saying what you did is sufficient. The Council is responsible for its resolutions — not you. The Town Clerk: I would be held responsible under the Act if I allowed such a thing to pass, and I believe you, MrKilgonr, would be the first to move for the infliction of the penalty. Mr Ashton : I ask Mr Kilgour to withdraw his words. He has no right to im-

pute anything derogatory to the Town Clerk's dignity or manhood. Mr Kilgour : If a resolution is passed by the Council for work to be carried out, the Town Clerk has no right to alter that resolution. I refuse to retract anything. I say the Town Clerk has no right to interfere with any resolution that comes, before this Council. Mr Ashton : I appeal to the chair that the words be withdrawn. Mr Kilgour meant no offence, but the Town Clerk had mae'e a statement that was an interference with a resolution of the Council. Mr Ashtoit : }t js his duty. . Mr Ktlgour : If I have said anytLing offensive I withdraw it ; but he was convinced that the Town Clerk had raf used to do what the Council had oi dered him to do. On that fact he felt justified in saying what he had done, but if it wese nacessary he would withdraw it. Mr Strike : I wish to ask the solicitor a. question — whether the Town Clerk has power to rescind any resolution passed by the Council i If they let a contract, they i aie liable, not the Tqwn Clerk. Mr F^ikinson : It is not ti eating fie solicitor with proper respect, to ask him such a question. Mr Strike : I will not press the ques-: tion if the solicitor is not prepared to, answer it. - Mr Asijspon : The question is out of order. There is no question of the kind on th§ board. I think the Town Chrk was perfectly in order in refusing. to allow such a contract to be signed. Mr Wicebs could not see what all the: useless debate was about, for the questi q Wiis only what amount of percentage would be paid on the contract. The Town Soljcitob (Mr P. rkin-.) said the Town Clerk had no power to alter a, resolution of the Council. He may, in his wisdom, see fit to alter a contract to protect the Council, but he is not authorised to do so, and he is responsible for. it, whether the Council thank him or he is left to bear the brunt of it himself. Mr Parkinson moved <{ That the letter now received from Messrs Bu3bridge and. Ward be. not considered as an acceptance, of the offer previously made by the. Council, and not in conformity with tha resolution of the Council at its previous sitting.". Mr Kilgour seconded the motion. Mr Wickes moved as an amendment. " That the. letter be considered an accept: ance of our offer, if they take the En-" ginger's measurement as correct." The amendment was, put, and declared, carried. Mr Eilgour drew the Mayor'aattention to the fact that all the Councillors had not voted. The Mayor said he did not observe that Councillor Moore did not vote. He would. put the question again. The amendment was again put. when the voting, was equal, Councillor. Strike having left the room. , The Mayor gave his casting vote against, the amendment, because he considered the letter was not a straightforward acceptance of the offer previously made by the Council. The motion was put and carried. PBOTECTIVB WORKS. — - ; A letter was read from Henry Coe recommending to the attention of the Council his offer to build a rough stone wall in front of the protective works, in accordance with an annexed plan, for L4o[ per chain, and for filling in behind with rubble and clay for 2s 3d per cubic yard. The sinking of the rubble to be filled up at an annual cost. Mr Wiokes moved (< that the letter, bo received, and referred to the, Public Works Committee. V Mr Kilgour thought this a most important letter. If the. work could be. carried out, and proper sureties could be found, it would be a great saving. The. letter should be considered at once. Mr Parkinson thought the least the Council should do was to take the letter, into consideration at once. Mr Rae seconded the motion. Mr Kilgour moved as an amendment —"That the Engineer 'confer with Mr^ Coe on the matter, consider his plans, and report upon them to the next meeting of the Council ; also, whether Mr Coe ca!n find sureties for carrying out the same.'* Mr Parkinson seconded the amendment, which was declared carried. This result was questioned, and the amendment was again, pu-t, Tjphen tlMj voting was equal, and The Mayor gave his casting vote for. the amendment, which was carried. The Mayor stated that he had received., a letter from Mr Prosser, Mayor, of Hokitika, which stated that as the Greymouth Borough Council appeared to be doubtful as to the best kind of protective works to be adopted for the safety of the. town, ha enclosed a sketch of the works which had been found most effective at Hokitika^ which had been furnished by Mr Frew, Town Surveyor. The letter was received, referred to tha Public Works Committee, and a letter of thanks ordered to. be sent to Mr Prosser.,. THE GENERAL RATE. The Town Clerk reported that he had complied with the resolution of the, Council, by advertising and placarding the fact that the Council intended to make and levy a general rate that night.: Mr Parkinson moved — " That the*. Council do now make and levy a general rate of Is. in the pound, in respect, of the, month next ensuing and ending the, 16th December, 1868, on the annual value of aH rateable properly within tha Borough." Mr Wiokes seconded the motion, which, was carried. The rate-book was then produced, and formally signed by the Mayor and Councillors. The Mayor declared, in accordance with a resolution passed at last meeting, that the rate would be payable in two instalments — the first on the 21st December^ and the second on the 31st January, 1869. ' Mr Parkinson moved— « That the next meeting of the Coiuicil beheld on Friday, for the purpose of amending the rate, in accordance with clause 212, and that tha same be advertised." This was carried. GENERAL BUSINESS. On the Surveyor's report being read ? it was. agreed to grant him temporary assistance, in order to enable him to. make up certain reports required by the Council. The question of the per centage payments to. be allowed on the scrub contract was again brought up, and a long dis-. cussion ens.u.e4ji when it was resolved to insert in the articles of contract to b*

aigned that 25 per cent, would be paid as the work proceeded, and the balance two months after the completion of the work. The Mayor moved—" That the County Chairman be asked to declare the borough a town under the meaning of the Cattle Trespass Ordinance of Canterbury." He moved this at the request of the Magisr trate. Mr Moorb seconded the motion, which was carried. TOWN CXEKK'iJ OFFICE HOURS. Mr Khoour moved—" That the office hours of the Council be defined from 10 a.m. to four p.m., and that the Town Clerk be preseut at the office during these hours to transact business ; and that all books of the Council be kept at the place of meeting." Mr Strike seconded the motion. A long rambling discussion ensued, during which the Town Clerk stated that he would not be responsible for the public books and documents if they were to be kept at the Firo Brigade Hall. Mr Kilgour thought they were as safe there as at the Royal Hotel, or Mr Whall's private residence, wherever that may be. Several amendments were moved, but the motion ultimately carried was the following, moved by Mr Parriksox— " That the office hours be from 10 a.m. to four E.m. each day, and that the Town Clerk c required to attend at the office on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to three p.m., to answer all questions, as required by the Act." Mr Kilgour here rose and complained of the remarks of the Town Clerk, who had told him to initial the alterations in his motion, in case he (the Town Clerk) should tamper with them. He had no right to make such remarks. The Town Clerk : I request, sir, that you will initial those alterations. The Mayor: So long as Mr Whall occupies his present position they must do him the justice to maintain him in that position ; but he could nob be allowed to make such reflections on any of the Councillors. By special permission, Mr Wickbs moved — " That a memorial be presented to the County Council, urging the necessity of granting a special appropriation to enable the Greymouth Corporation to prosecute the harbor works." Mr Kilgc o R seco aded the motion, which was carried. Mr Ashton moved — " That a treasurer be appointed for the Corporation of Greymouth, outside of the Council." Mr Parkinson seconded the motion. Mr Strike moved an amendment-^-----"That consideration of the appointment be deferred until Thursday week." Mr Wickes seconded the amendment, which was carried. The Mayor stated that the Solicitor had prepared the agreement to be entered into between the Council and Town Clerk. The time when the security was to be found had yet to be filled in. The blank was ordered to be filled in by the words " within two mouths." By special permission, Mr Kilgour moved — " Tha*, in accordance with the Act, his Worship and Councilor Strike be appointed to sign all contracts." This was agreed to. Mr Wiokes, by permission, moved — '"That the terms of payment for both scrub contracts be the same." — Carried. .The Council adjourned at 11 p.m. to Friday, 20th inst. NOTICES OF MOTION. Cr. Moore to move — " That the application of Messrs Hildebrand and Webber, also Mr Dyason, for permission to lease certain portions of land, be granted." Cr. Parkinson to move — " That the two resolutions referring to the granting of land on the South Beach to Messrs Hildebrand. and Webber and Mr Dyason respectively, be rescinded at the first meeting of the Council, after due notice has been given." Cr. Wiskes to move — " That in the opinion of this Council the 2-12ths of the surplus revenue should be appropriated for paying off the Town account liabilities of the Road Board ; otherwise, that this Council do take over the said accounts, and make such arrangements as may be deemed advisable." Cr. Rae to move — " That tenders be called for gravelling, at per yard, the main street, commencing at the Post Office, and proceeding up the river, the contractor to be allowed to make a road up from the shingle beach." Cr. Rae to move — '.'That tenders be called for, at per yard, for gravelling those parts of the township that are so offensive by reason of stagnant water lodging in them, and the Engineer to define where those parts | are." Cr. Wiokes to move — " That the Town Surveyor execute all contracts after passing the Council, and see that all terms and conditions are inserted in the agreement, and hand same to Town Clerk for the Corporation seal."