BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 567, 4 September 1869, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held in the Town Hall on Thursday evening. Present — E. Masters, Esq. , in the chair, Councillors Parkinson, Ashton, Coates, Strike, Moore, Wickes, Kilgour. The newly-elected member for the East Ward, Mr G. Nichol, was introduced, and subscribed the statutory declaration. The Mayor, on behalf of his brother Councillors, welcomed Mr Nichol to the Council board. He thought it was a matter for congratulation that they had received as an addition to their numbers a thorough business, most energetic, and persevering man, and they had every reason to believe that he would bring those qualities to bear upon his duties in connection with the business of the Council. Mr Nichol thanked his Worship for the manner in which he had welcomed him to the Council. He would assure them that he would endeavor to co-operate in every way with the other Councillors to forward the interests of Greymouth. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Williams and party stating that if the lease sought by Palander and party were granted, it would interfere with their water-rights, which they had held for the last three years. — Received, <md referred to the Mining Committee. A letter was read from Mr W. Wilson, calling attention to the fact that the erection of Messrs Kennedy Bros.' bond was causing an obstruction to the tidal creek, and interfering with its navigation;. He protested against this, as the creek was set down as a highway in the town plan. Mr Wickes stated that he had examined the building, and found that it was Mr Kennedy's intention to improve the navigation of the creek instead of interfering with it. But while <he building was being erected it was necessary to have some scaffolding about the building, which would be removed. Mr Ashton had examined the building, and found that the level of the floor would be seven feet above high water mark, which was quite sufficient to allow any boat on that creek to pass under it. The Town Clerk read a telegram from Mr W. H. Harrison, stating that the Bill to legalise the levying of tonnage dues at this port, had passed the Assembly. — Received, and a vote of thanks recorded to Mr Harrison for the prompt manner in which he had carried this matter through. A letter was read from Mr Kenrick, Clerk to the Bench, enclosing a cheque for L 6 10s, being the amount of fines inflicted during the month for breaches of the Municipal Corporations Act.—Received. Messrs Taifc Bros, obtained permission to erect a post upon which to fix a signboard, opposite their new premises. An application for a beach claim on abandoned ground, and permission to erect half a mile of flume, was referred to the Mining Committee. A letter was read from Messrs J. Pearson and Co., of Melbourne, stating that

the hose and couplings for the engine wquld be forwarded as soon as possible. Capt. Allardyce, Harbor-master, wrote, calling attention to the dangerous punt rope over the river in times of fresh. If the wast of any of the boats came in contact Avith it, the boat would he capsized. The height of the rope could be increased some 12 or 15 feet, so that boats could pass under- it with their s,ails set, op the j punt could be removed further up the river, where, it would be quite as useful. After a discussion, the matter was referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs Kilgour and Nichol, to report at next meeting. Another letter from. Mr W. Wilson, giving suggestions as to the nymner in which the proposed bridge in Herbert street should be. made, so us not to interfere with his business of boat-building on the cr.eekj was paferred tq the Public Works Committee." Mr Perkins, Solicitor to the Borough, wrote that as, the period for which he had consented to ac| in his present capacity had expired, before entering upon another year, lie requested tp be placed upon a different footing with regard to payment for his services. At tirst, considering the pecuniary circumstances of the Council, he had named the lowest amount he could accept as remuneration ; and he would leave it to the Oounoil to judge of the difficulties he had to contend with in bringing a difficult Act into operation for the first time, when he had to advise the Town Clerk, Town Surveyor, Inspector of Nuisances, and Wharfinger. He requested that his salary might be raised to LIOO a year, which he considered only fair remuneration, and that his attendance at the weekly meetings should not be considered requisite, except when specially required. — Received, and to be considered in a week. A letter was read from Philip Swingland, stating that his vote had been refused for the East Ward at the late election, although he had paid his rates in February last. The Town Clerk stated that the property for which the applicant had paid rates was in the Middle Ward. — Referred to the Town Clerk to make enquiries and report. MINING WITHIN THE BOROUGH. The Public Works Committee's report recommended the adoption of a system of miners' tickets at LI each, licensing the holder to mine upon unsurveyed land within the Borough. Ordinary claims were to be granted in accordance with 111* Gold Fields 'Regulations now in force ; and extended claims to be let on lease at L 4 per acre, per annum, no more than a quarter of an acre to be held by one man, i except by special permission from the Council. A discussion took place as to adopting a system of deferred payments in the case of leases, but ultimately tho report was adopted, and the Mining Committee was authorised to instruct the Town Surveyor to lay off the claims applied for by Keown and party, Pelander and party, and Ollivier and party. HERBERT STREET. Consideration was resumed of the deferred petitions from Duncan M'Lean and others, for assistance in the formation of a bridge over the Tidal Creek, on condition that, at 'their own cost, they made a metalled dray-road the whole length of Herbert street and Murray street, joining the main south road at Tainui street. Mr Wickes, on behalf of the applicants, stated that they had intended to make only a ten-foot road and bridge, but at the suggestion of the Town Surveyor, they had agreed to make the road fourteen feet wide, if the Council would increase the subsidy for that purpose, so that two drays could pass. The residents there were prepared to spend L2OO on a road which would confer a benefit upon the whole town. It would be the means of having a lar^e quantity of land in the new township sold. He intended to move a motion on the subject. Mr Kilgour would support the petition to the extent of giving two-thirds of the cost of the bridge, which, as stated, would cost L6O. Mr Moore thought the" Council should grant the L6O, as asked, to be paid in twelve months, but no more. Mr Ashton said the first rough estimate, when the sum was mentioned, was for a tenfoot bridge, and he thought they should grant a little more seeing that the work was to be of that substantial nature that would last for years to come. Mr Kilgour moved that L6O be granted twelve months after the road and bridge are constructed fourteen feet wide. Mr Moore seconded the motion. Mr Ashton asked Mr Kilgour to alter the subsidy to L 75. Mr Kilgour could not consent. Mr Wickes moved as an amendment — That on condition of the applicants giving a guarantee to the. Council that they will make, form, and metal a fourteen foot road through Herbert and Murray streets to Tainui street, the Council will issue tenders to build a bridge over the tidal creek, on deferred payments of twelve months. Mr Ashton seconded the amendment, and Messrs Kilgour and Moore opposed it on the ground that L6O was all that was asked, and if the Council had any ''money to vote away in this manner, they ought to spend it on the older settled streets, which were closely built upon, in preference to a new neighborhood. When the amendment was put, there voted for it Messrs Strike, Coates, Wickes, and Ashton, and against it Messrs Kilgour, Nichol, Moore, and Parkinson. The Mayor voted against the amendment, not that he thought the amount too much, but because it asked the Council to erect the bridge, iustead of the applicants taking the responsibility of doing so. The amendment was negatived, whereupon 'n Mr Parkinson moved a further amendmend, " that tho sum mentioned in the motion be altered to L 75:" Mr Wiokes seconded this amendment, which, after another similar discussion, was carried. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened for the construction of the breakwater at the gorge :— J. Hazel and Co., L 99 ;J. B. Walton, L 159 9s. The lowest tender was accepted. Only one tender was sent in for completing the Boundary street dam, J. Fullarton, at LlO5, if permission was given to take the gravel from below the powder magazine, and Ll4O if it had to be brought from the Preston road. The lowest tender was accepted on the condition stated. The monthly report of tho Wharfinger wias read and received. The Council adjourned for a week.