BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 504, 8 April 1869, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

O An adjourned meeting of the Borough, Council was held in the Corporation's offices, Gresson street, on Tuesday even-, ing. Present — The Mayor (presiding), Councillors Wickes, Ashton, Strike, Moore, Coates, and Kilgour. Consideration of the minutes, which were deferred at the last meeting, was resumed, and the clause which was objected to read. It referred to the permission which was granted to Messrs Salgonr and Perotti to ran their tramway through High street to the Town-belt, ' ' subject to any terms the Council may hereafter impose." It now appeared that there was no written motion made on the subject ; but, on the Town Clerk's rough minutes, as taken down at the time, were the words, "permission to be given on the same terms as before ;" that was, as previously granted to Ashton and Ward. Mr Strike asked the mover of the resolution whether the minute was in accordance with it I Mr Wickes regretted that he did not table a written resolution, and that he was not present at the last meeting. From the report of the proceedings in the press, he thought it would be better to rescind the whole matter, and appoint a committee to draw up distinct conditions under which' all tramway proprietors here would have to act. • Mr Moore thought there could be no objection to confirm the minutes. Any person applying to run a tramway through the Borough must do so under certain conditions, whereas the present application was sought to be made unconditional. This he objected to. After the minutes had been confirmed, the regulations under which the traniway proprietors would have ; to act could be drawn up. Mr Wickes said the minutes were not correct, so far as the latter part of his resolution was concerned. He was sure he named at least four conditions under which the application should be granted. The deferred minutes were then confirmed, and also the minutes of the last meeting. The Town Clerk stated that he had received a telegram from the County Chairman requesting that the services of the Town Surveyor should be jilaced at the disposal of Mr Rochfort to lay. off the road between Greymouth and the Greenstone. He had answered acceding to the request, and asked when the £750 (first instalment of the grant-in-aid) would be forwarded. The answer received was, that a cheque for ' the money would be forwarded that day, and that the services of Mr Johnson were accepted. The Town Clerk also stated that, after consulting with their banker, the Finance Committee had ordered accounts for labor and materials amounting to £692 4s. 9d. to be paid. Mr Strike moved — "That the Town Clerk be instructed to ascertain tl c be^t site and probable cost of a public morgue. " He did so because it was a great nuisance for publicans to have dead bodies brought into their hotels. Mr Wickes seconded the resolution. The matter could easily be got over by the removal of the powder from the magazine in the police paddock, and appropriating the building to this purpose. The Town Surveyor said he had already reported on this subject, and it had been referred to a committee. The motion was carried. Mr Moore moved— "That the Town Clerk write to the agents of the several Banks in order to ascertain iipon what terms they would be disposed to negotiate the loan advertised by the Borough Council." As yet only one banker had been consulted on the subject of this loan — the Bank of New Zealand. Certainly, that Bank had granted them every assistance when asked ; but as this was a public matter, all the Banks should be placed on the same footing, and should all have the same opportunities of tendering for the loan. He would ask whether the Town Clerk had received any communication on this subject from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand ? The Town Clerk said he had had a conversation with. Mr Lapham that afternoon, but no reply could be given until the Bank at Auckland had been communicated with. Mr Strike seconded tlie motion. The Mayor pointed out that this motion required the suspension of, the standing orders. The standing orders were suspended, and the resolution^again moved. Mr Kilgour sai| that as no final answer i

had yet been received from Mr Roberts, it would scarcely be courtesy to apply to the . other Banks. On that ground he would oppose the motion. Mr Coates moved an amendment — : " That this matter stand over for a week," in order to give time for a final answer from the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Wickes seconded the amendment, because, btit for the liberality of the Bank of New Zealand, the protective works here never could have been carried on. Mr Moore thought the ratepayers had a right to benefit by competition, and the Council had a right to do the best they could for them. ..*,•., Mr KiLGOUR thought the ratepayers ; had already been largely benefited by the liberality of the Bank of New Zealand, and it was only courtesy to. wait until" their final answer came. • They had " already an overdraft of LIOOO at that Bank. • ' : -' . The amendment was carried. - The standing orders, were suspended, and Mr Wickes moved— " That a Committee be 'appointed to draw up the conditions under which proprietors of tramways are to be bound ; to consist of Messrs Moore, Strike, Ashton, and the mover, and ; to report to. the next meeting.'* The motion was carried. On the motion of Mr Moore, the sets, of byerlaws and regulations for the, management of wharves within the Borough, and the collection of wharfage and tonnage dues were passed, after, thej same have been advertised. Tenders were opened for the supply of thirty 50-feet piles, as follows :— Brown and Co, Is 3d per foot ; Edward Long, Is 6d ; Charles Hughes, . Is 2d ; John Smith, Is 3d ; Black and Co, Is 4d ;• W. Henry and Co, Is 4d ; F. Pearce and Co, 2s ; John Smeaton, Is 4d ; Robert Scotch-, man, Is 3d ; George Garry, Is 3M :D. Dircat,ls3d. " . On the motion of Mr Wickes, seconded by Mr Ashton, the teuder of Charles Hughes was accepted. The following tenders were opened for-filling-in behind the protective works with rock, at per cubic yard :— James Stewart and Co, 4s ; Barnes, Hazel and St. John, 3s 9d ; Henry Coe, 4s 6d ; John Miiean, Hokitika, 3s lOd ; James .Loft- . f quest, 15s ; John Fullarton, 4s ; Murdoch M'lnnes, 3s 6d ; Richard Powrie, 3s 5d - y Matthew Callen, 4s 3d: Peter EUdot, 4s 6d. . • ■ *■ Mr Strike moved— "That considers tion of these tenders be referred to the Public Works Committee, to report on Thursday week" He moved this because they had received no definite answer from, the Bank of New Zealand. This was agreed to.. Mr Coates stated that the matter* of drawing up a title to the new Corporation offices had been referred to their solicitor.--' >' He also drew attention to the number of dangerous chimnies there were in town. Mr Strike asked if the water had been reduced in Williams and party's dam, in terms of the notice which had been served upon them ? The Town Clerk said he had not been over the ground to see, but Williams had told him when he served the notice that he would not comply with it. - Mr Strike said it would now be necessary to take proceedings against Williama and party to compel • them to reduce the water darned up in High street. Mr Moore thought the action could be brought under the Police Ordinance. The Mayor said this was the only course now to pursue, as "Williams and party would not come to an amicable arrangement. : ■.-■■• Mr Strike moved— " That the Town Clerk be empowered to lay an information against Williams and party, in order to compel them to reduce the water in their dam." The motion was not seconded, and the matter lapsed. The Council went into Committee, and Mr Wickes called attention to the condition of the room in which they" were then sitting. It was so cold that unless it was lined and a stove got it would be impossible for them to hold their meetings in it during the winter. He moved— " That the Town Surveyor be empowered ■ to have the Council Chamber lined and made comfortable, at a cost not to exceed LSO. This was carried. The Council adjourned until this (Thursday) evening.