BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 542, 8 July 1869, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Council was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, E. Masters, Esq , Mayor, in the chair. Present — .Councillors Parkinson, Kilgour, Rae, Moore, Coates, and Wickes. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. COKRESPOTiDENOE. Aii application was re;id from Messrs Kennedy, Sheedy, and Gihner for permission to ereot a wharf on Mawhera Quay, and to use some of the Council's tie-pilesin the work. — Permission granted. Barnes and Cn. wrote with reference to the terms for payment of the amount due on the scrub contract. They were "willing to take LSO cash, and LSO on an approved bill in a week, in order to suit the convenience of the Council. The Town Clerk stated that the first condition had been complied with. It was referred to the Finance Committee to consider the second condition. A letter was read from the County Chairman's office, acknowledging receipt «f the Council's letter, — that the Committee had not finished their enquiry into the Road Board debt— stating that it was absolutely necessary that there should be no longer delay in the matter, that the Committee should complete their enquiry, and forward the result to the County Chairman's Office at once. — Received. Another letter from the same office stating that it was impossible to forward the proceeds of the recent land sales as requested, because no return had been received from Wellington. When received they would be forwarded. Another from the same office, stating that protection would be granted for a piece of ground, as requested, for a rifle range, subject to its being given up to the Borough Council on six months' notice. — Received, and the Town Clerk instructed to forward the information to the Captain of the Rifle Volunteers. A letter from Mr Hurst, secretary to the Paroaßuad Board, stating that he had been instructed to forward the books and vouchers in connection with the disputed debt. — Received. The Town Clerk reported that Mr M. Kennedy had hired tlie donkey engine for the purpose of discharging the Magnet, and had paid for the same at the rate of per day. Williams and party wrote for permission to repair the dam in High street, which had been cut away by order of the Council. — Application refused. Another application from the same partj' with regard to their water-rights was referred to a Committee consisting of Messrs Moore and Rae, to make enquiry and report at next meeting. Mr Stephen Roff wrote in reference to an advertisement for a crane, stating the terms upon which he was willing to supply one. The Town Clerk stated that no such advertisement had ever been issued by him, and he could not understand to what the letter referred. — Referred back to the writer for explanation. An application was read from the same person for the use of the donkey-engine, for which he was willing to pay 15s. per day when lie required it, on condition that he had the exclusive use of the same when not required by the Corporation, but the Corporation always to have a preferential claim. — Refused. Mr H. Kenrick, as Clerk to the Bench, wrote enclosing a cheque for L 8 95., being the amount payable to the Corporation for the month of June, on account of fines, refund of costs, and unclaimed balance of the proceeds of sale of a bay mule. — Received. The application from Mr Harper for the use of the crab- winch for the launch of the Bruce had been granted, and was confirmed. Mr H. H. Lahtnan, as one of the representatives of Greymouth in the County Council, wrote, in the interests of his constituents, requesting information as to the wants of the district, in order to lay them before the approaching meeting of the Council. — Received, and a Committee, consisting of the Mayor, Messrs Kilgour, and Wickes, appointed to meet Mr Lahman and give him the required information. Messrs Harman aud Stevens j of Christchurch, wrote that owing to the accounts which had reached them of the fire at Greymouth, they had hesitated in placing the loan on the market. They thought that under present circumstances it would be useless to attempt negotiating the loan in Christchurch. -It was moved that the letter be referred to a Committee, consisting of Messrs Parkinson and Moore. Mr Rae thought that no answer should be returned. Mr Moore was of the same opinion. If the writers of the letter had taken the trouble to enquire, they would have known that all the buildings which had been burned down were going up again, and there would be an increase on the rates ' of the previous year. A motion on the subject would be brought before the meeting that night. REPORTS. The report of the Paroa Road Board Debt Committee was called for. Mr Moore said the Committee had not been called together. Friday was the first clay he knew the books were in town, and on Saturday he gave some hours to the enquiry. The Town Clerk said he had given the other members notice. The Committee promised to report at next meeting. The Mayor, on behalf of the Public Works Committee, said their report would be ready by next meeting. Mr Kilgotjr brought up the report of Jhe Committee appointed to enquire into duties of the officers of the Corporation. It stated thnt the Committee met on Monday, and went fully into the enquiry, and now made the following recommendations : — That the temporary assistance allowed the Town Clerk be discontinued. That the Town Clerk's salary be reduced to its original amount, L 250 per annum, and that he be requested to resign the office of Captain of the Fire Brigade, as it materially interfered with the discharge of his duties as Town Clerk. That, owing to the suspension of public works, the Town Surveyor's salary be reduced one-fourth, but in the event of the Inspector of Nuisances resigning, or being discharged fromhisoftice, thatthe emoluments of that office be added to those of the Town Surveyor. He (Mr Kilgour) thought they might also add to the Town Surveyor's duties those of Valuator of town property. He was aware that the Town Clerk's duties were heavy, but iv the- embarrassed state

of the Council's funds it was found necessary to recommend these reductions. Mr Parkinson moved the adoption of the report. In the present state of affairs, he did not think the Town Clerk would object to the reduction. With respect to the office of Valuator being added to that of Town Surveyor, they had the services of that officer secured until the 2nd October without further pay ; but still he thought that if that officer made an application for further payment, the Council would- be disposed to consider it. For himself, he would be ready to support such an application, for he thought the Valuator had done more work than he had been paid for. Mr Moore thought the report required some consideration, and, as two members were absent, it should be deferred until next meeting. He did not think the Town Surveyor would be allowed to hold two offices. Mr Kilgour said the Town Clerk was also Rate Collector. The reductions were recommended solely on the ground of retrenchment. Mr Wickes supported delay. He coincided in the views of the Committee, but it might prove to be false economy on their part to reduce the salaries of their officers too low. Further consideration of the.report waa postponed until next meeting. The Town Surveyor reported that he had surveyed Opmpton and party's extended claim, and produced the plan. Be had also given Williams and party verbal instructions, in accordance with the resolution of the Council, to confine their water to its proper channel, but they had paid no attention to him. He asked instructions. — It was resolved that written notice be given to Williams and party to remove the obstruction within forty- eii'ht hours. A report from the Town Surveyor, with reference to the cost of the scrub contract, was deferred for consideration till next meeting. The Town^Clerk reported it was necessary that the present valuation should be amended, by having the names of proprietors and numbers of the sections inserted. After a conversation this matter* was deferred until next meeting. The Town Surveyor reported that he had surveyed Sonnet and party's extended claim, and produced plan.— -Received. The Wharfinger's report for the past month was read. It stated that the amount of tonnage and wharfage dues collected was L 125 17s lOd, but the-tonnage dues not being in force at the beginning of the month had caused a loss to the Council. He drew attention to the small amount of per centage he received. In order to ensure the collection of the rates le had to be in constant attendance while vessels were discharging, otherwise there would be a serious loss. The Town Clerk stated that Mr Hall had also collected within the month L6B 15s, on account of Borough rates, as well as all the wharfage rates and tonnage due?, with the exception of ss, which the Manager of the Dispatch Company refused t^ pay on the Brothers and Sisters, because the vessel herself was exempt from tonnage rates. He also mentioned that the question was about to be tried whether the charge for landing passengers could be levied on coasting steamers. They had paid hitherto. The Mayor and it was never intended that a charge should be made on passengers brought here from Westport or Hoki tika ; it was only on passengers transhipped in the.roadstead. Mr Moore thought it was not advisable to go to law for such a paltry amount, when the steamers paid their tonnage and wharfage rates. They, need not enforce the collection of the rates in the case of* these small vessels, which would amount to 5 per cent, on the earnings of the tug. Mr Kilgour said that in making enquiry into the duties of the officers of the Council, they found that the Wharfinger was the worst paid of all. He would uu.va that the report be received, and the Wharfinger make application for the alteration in the per centage which he desired, when the Council would give it consideration. Mr Moore thought they could not alter the rate, seeing that the situation was obtained by tender, but they could make it up to him ia another way. Mr Wickes thought that this mattershould be considered, as in looking through the lists he found thatthe Wharfinger had collected L4O in sums under Is. - The pep centage he received would not pay for boots. The Town Clerk said the extra work caused to him by these rates was between two and three hours a-day, and he was sure Mr Hall was on duty ten or eleven hours a day, as the bulk of the sums he collected was under Is. The motion was carried. THE LOAN. Mr Moore moved the adoption of the motion for striking and levying a special rate to liquidate the proposed loan. He said that although they had been disappointed in Christchurch, he had no doubt the loan could yet be raised. Half of it would be taken up in town. He knew that in one portion of the township nearly LIOOO could be subscribed by next week, if the Council would guarantee that it would be spent in completing the road and protective works in a certain portion of the block. Mr Wickes seconded the motion, which was carried. THE NATIVE RESERVE. ' Mr Parkinson moved the appointment of a Committee to endeavor to obtain the promised assistance from the Native Commissioner towards the completion of the protective works, and the putting of the streets on the reserve in a state of repair. — Carried. WATER TANK. Mr Wickes, on behalf of himself and others, asked permission to sink a tank 12ft. x 10ft., at the junction of Boundary, Gresson, Mackay, and Herbert streets, and in the event of their not being able to sink it deep enough, to drive a tube after the principle of the Abyssinian well, tc which the suction hose of the engine could be fixed in the case of a fire.—Permission was granted, subject to the approval of the Town Surveyor. The Council adjourned until this evening at eight o'clock.