BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 537, 26 June 1869, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the Boroujh Council was held in the Town Hall, on Thursday eveniug. Present— E. Masters, Esq., Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Parkinson, Wickes, Coates, Ashton, llae, Strike, and Moore. The minutes of the last three meetings were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the County Chairman's office, enclosing a copy of a letter from the County Solicitor on the subject of allowing persons to mine for gold within the Borough of Greymouth. The Solicitor's opinion was that the Council could grant permission to parties to mmc for gold within the Borough, under such restrictions as the Council might think best for the benefit of the Borough. — Received. A telegram was read from the County Chairman, in answer to a request from the Town Clerk to be informed when the £750 due as balance of the County Council grant would be available. The answer was that it was due, and would be paid at the end of the present month.— Received. A letter was read from Barnes and Co. , s rub con tractors, stating tbafc as the Council- had failed to comply with the terms of their contract, they declined to proceed, and would hold the Council liable for the amount of the contract, and a'so for the amount held by them as a guarautee for the fulfilment of the same. Received, and to be considered in Committee at the close of the other business. A report was read from the Town Snrveyor, in which he slated that he had pointed out to Mr Millar the most suitab'e site for the mooring of his punt, above the extreme point of the old protective works, the wire rope to be stretched to a point below the Cobden wharf. The Surveyor requested a stove in his office, as he had now a good deal of office work. — Referred to the Public Works Committee. Mr Mooke moved — " That for the purpose of securing payment of the principal and interest of the loan authorised to be contracted by special order of the Council, a special rate of Is in the pound be levied on all rateable property within the Borough, payable half-yearly, the first payment to be made on the Bth October next." Mr Parkinson seconded the motion. Mr Strike thought it was time enough to strike the rate when the loan was ob tamed. At present there was no probability of obtaining the loan. After explanations from Mr Moore and Town Clerk., the motion was carried. Mr Strike moved — "That all goods, the produce of the Grey valley, be landed on the wharf free, except sawn timber, for which Id. per foot be charged, instead of 3d., as at present. Mr Kilgour seconded the motion. M w Moore opposed the motior He

could not see why an exception should be made in the tariff in favor of certaiu individuals who sat at that table. Why not also propose making an exception in favor of the p.s. Dispatch, in which there was no foreign capital invested, Mr Wickes said the alteration was proposed because the charge on timber was out of all proportion to that on other articles landed on the wharf. Mr Kilgour drew the attention of the two gentlemen who had last spoken to the clause in the Act which provided a fine for members speaking upon any question in which they were interested. After a short discussion as to the amount of notice which was required "for the motion, The Mayor ruled that it was irregular ; a regulation of the Council could only be altered by auother regulation. The motion would be inoperative if passed, Mr Kilgocr moved — " That notice be given to the servants of the Council, according to the terms of their agreements, that, the financial position of the Council being considered, it is necessary that their services should terminate forthwith." He said the motion was a sweeping one, but something must be done to curtail expenditure, when they were not able to pay workmen's wages, and the Bank claimed what was coining to the Council, in order to reduce the overdraft. They had at present a Town Clerk at L 325 per annum, an assistant at the rate of Ll5O, a Town Surveyor at L3oo— making L 775 for salaries. Then there were expenses on the Council Chamber, L 20 0; incidental expenses, L 10 0; debt due on account of the Institute building, L3O ; d ;bt to Brigade and Fire Engine Committee, L 12 0; wages of workmen at the late fire, L9O ; new hose reel, HOO, which, together, made a sum equal to the whole of the Is. rate. There appeared to be little probability of obtaining the loan, and as the public works had been stopped, he could not see the necessity of their servants. Mr Strike seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Moore thought that councillors ought to consider whether they could carry out such a motion as this before they brought it before the public. At .present they could not do without the Town Clerk and Surveyor, for there was a large amount of work to be got ready before the elections, which took place in September. After that, they might consider this motion. The Mayor said this motion also was irregular ; but it could be moved by the unanimous consent of the Council. Mr Ashton thought that two officers were enough to overtake the whole of the Council business. Mr KtLGoUR thought there was no harm in giving notice, leaving it in the power of the Council to dismiss the officers when necessary. Mr Wickes said the motion might have a good effect otherwise. He moved an rmendment — " That a Committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Parkinson, Kilgour, and Ashton, to investigate and report at next meeting, as to the advisability of discharging any of the officers of the Council." Mr Ashton seconded the amendment, which was carried. An application was read from James Sinnett and party for an extended claim behind the Cemeiery, which was granted, subject to any conditions the Council may impose. Mr Moore moved the adoption of certain regulations, after the same have been advertised, with regard to chimnies, stove-pipes, outer walls, and the keeping of kerosene and other inflammable materials within the Borough. Mr Kilgour moved that the regulations be submitted to the Public Works Committee for consideration, as some of the recommendations were very stringent, and required revising. Mr Strike seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Moore moved—" That licenses be prepared for issue, and notice given that they will be enforced, after the Ist July, for the following purposes : — Miners, boats and boatmen, carts and carters, hawkers and pedlars, and slaughter-houses." Mr Ashton seconded the motion. — Carried. * In Committee, consideration of Barnes and Co.'s letter was resumed, and ulfimately it was referred to the Finance Committee, with power to make sirrangements. The » report of the Town Clerk, in his capacity of Fire Inspector, and Captain of the Fire Brigade, was considered, and after a conversation, it was resolved to request a committee of inhabitants, outside of the Couucil, to collect subscriptions for the purpose of defraying the expense incurred in employing labor at the late fire — the balance, if any, to be applied towards the purchase of necessary gear for the Brigade. The Committee nominated consisted of : — East Ward, Messrs Griffen, Heron, and Clark ; Middle Ward, Messrs Kennedy, Sheedy, and Gilmer ; West Ward, Messrs M'Gregor, Weber, and Whitmore. The Council adjourned.