BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 478, 6 February 1869, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held in the Fire Brigade Hall on Thursday evening. Present — The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Rae, Coates, Moore, Parkinson, Wickes, and Ashton. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs White and Co. wrote asking a lease of one acre of land on the Preston road for a slaughter-house, and undertaking to remove the building to any site the Council might hereafter fix for slaughterhouses.—Temporary leave was granted to erect the slaughter-house. Price and Party wrote for payment of their contract for piles, as the work was completed. '—; Referred to the Finance Committee, to be passed for payment, if found correct. Williams and party, South Beach, wrote complaining that one Melanders was taking water from their dam, and asked that he -should be. stopped from so doing.* The Engineer reported that he had examined the ground^ but so far as he could seethe man was not interfering with the rlam. He would keep an eye to the dam next week, and would then be able to speak positively. — The letter was ordered to stand over for a week. The Town Clerk reported that the gentlemen who had offered to become securities for the due fulfilment of the scrub contract had refused to sign the bail-bond after it had been drawn up, although they had previously stated their willingness to do so. The contractors had signed the agreement, and sent a letter to the Council stating that, in consequence of this refusal, they, would allow ,£2O, on four sections, to remain in the hands of the Council until the completion of the contract. — It was agreed to accept the security as offered. The Town Clerk also reported that he had collected an additional sum of .£139 ss. 6d. on account of the Borough rate, and had paid the same to the Borough account ; also, that he had that day drawn a cheque for £105 11s. Bd. to pay a bill. He further stated that the Road Board had taken possession of the office furniture, and he hoped that the Council would pro vide office accommodation and furniture. The matter was referred to a Committee of Supply, with power to act. The Committee appointed to inquire into the case of Stephen Roff, recommended that the Council should pay him £41), in full-of all demands, for pile-driving and removing part of the old protective work. As ' to his application to be taken on *& engine-driver, the Committee could not recommend any interference with the Town Surveyor in regard to the men he employed on the public works. A discussion took place, when a very general opinion was expressed that the Committee had gone too far in recommending; the payment of any money. All that was remitted to them to inquire into was the charges which were brought by Mr Roff ugaiiißt the Town Surveyor, and the

reasons why he was no longer employed on the public works,— -The report was referred back to the Committee for sideratipn^*.The Town * Surveyor reported with regard to the^|(irti^ contract for the lower portion off th£ town. The report went to show thatj-^lculating the expense of repair, extension, and rent of the tramway line, the. sfipiSß for the two sections now being done would cost 10s. 4d. per cord ; but if the whole contract was proceeded with, and the preliminary expenditure on the tramway spread over it allj the cost, would be 7s. sd. per cord..— Received. Mr Moorb, by leave, moved — " That a deputation consisting of Mr Coates and the mover be-appointed to make arrangements with the present Cemetery Committee to have the Cemetery placed under somesj atem of management, so as to ensure the ground being kept in proper order.*' This was carried, and the Council adjourned.