BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 653, 26 March 1870, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held last night in the Town Hall. Present— rj, Kilgonr, Esq., Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Kennedy, Wickes, Nicliol, Coates, Moore, Parkinson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following letter was read from Mr A Mackay, Native Commissioner :-~ " Nelson, 21st March, 1870. " Dear Sir— ln further reference to the subject of your letter of the 29th November, 1809, as to what ia your opinion would be a fair per centageon the net income received from the Native Estate at Greymouth.as a contribution in aid of Borough rates, I havn much pleasure now to inform you that the ' General Government have authorised me to pay to the Borough Council at the end of the current year a sum equal to ten per cent, on the net income received from the Reserve . within the Municipality of flrey mouth, ft is not proposed, however, to continue, to contribute at the same ratio after that period without the state of affairs actually require it, and I have instructions to report when the time comes, whether any reduction caq . be made in the rate now authorised. - Yours, ' &C, " ALEXANDER MaCK,AY. ... .. "J. Kilgonr, Esq., Greymouth." The Mayor said the amount of rental was L 2500, and the amount coming to the Council would be L 250, which he considered very satisfactory. The letter was received, and a reply ordered to be sent, thanking Mr Mackay for the trouble he had taken in the matter, and stating that the Council waa satisfied with the amount granted. A letter was read from Mr T Aldridge, of the Brighton hotel, Gresson street, asking the use of the Town Hall to give a ball to his, friends, as his hotel was too small for that purpose. The request waa refused. Several letters regarding the valuation were deferred until tho conclusion of the, • other business. An account was rendered for L 5 Is 3d, for a piece of rope used in removing snags from the river. Referred to the. Finance Committee for payment. Mr John M'Gjregor wrote, on behalf of the Presbyterian Church Committee, ask-» ing the use of the Town Hall on Sunday, the 27th mat., for the purpose of holding Divine Service. Granted, and referred to the Town Clerk to make the necessary arrangements. i The Town Surveyor reported that Messrs M'Gregor and Campbell had finished their contract for- building the wharf to his entire satisfaction. Only one teuder was sent in for repair-*, ing the old wharf. Before it was opened, Mr Moore asked if any arrangements had been made with the Bank, in terma of the resolution. The Mayor said he had not made any definite arrangements, although he had spoken to Mr Lapharn on the subject. Mr Nichol said he had not mentioned the matter officially to Mr Lapham, yet he had spoken about it as directly aa possible, and the reply was, that as the work was a master of necessity he did not think it would be objected to. The tender was opened, subject to the> approval of the Bank, as originally agreed upon. It was from Messrs Seabrook and; Scott, fjr repairing the wharf, steps, and driving the-mooring-posts, with red pine, for LI 78, and with black birch, for Llß6\ - A discussion took place as to the lasting qualities of the various kinds of timber, and it was agreed that no pine, red or white, should be put in the. wojk. Mr Kennedy moved that the tender bet accepted at the higher price. Mr Nichol seconded the motion. The Town Clerk stated that, if the con* tractors were paid for their last job, they would give any reasonable terms. Mr Kennedy and Mr Wickes insisted upon the terms being plainly stated, &a that they should be understood by both parties. Mr Parkinson moved an amendment that the whole matter be referred to the •, Public Works Committee to settle tb& . matter. Mr Wiok.es seconded the amendment, .vhich was carried, and the original reso-> lutior withdrawn, . With regard to the deferred business— the consideration of the objections to the. valuation — an adjournment was moved by Mr Parkinson, when Mr Moore pointed out that by so doing the objectors would be too late to appeal to the Resident Magistrate's Court within the required time. A discussion took place, when it was resolved to go on with the business. The first objection was by Felix Campbell against his property in Boundary street being rated at LX7O I las.t year it was LI 50. Reduced to the latter amount. Mrs H_orsington*s Hotel, Boundary ~ street— Valuation, Ll5O. Confirmed. - Mr Cooper's shop, Boundary street -rValuation, L 5 2; last year, L4O. Confirmed. Mr P. Swingland's cottage, Rae's terrace — Valuation, L4O; last year, L 33, Confirmed. Mr E. Winter, as agent for the Bank of Australasia- -Valuation, L3OO j same last year. Confirmed, Rae and Haworth's timber yard— Valuation, L 16 0; last year, LJLOO. Confirmed. Mr Rae's house, Mount street — Valuation, LllO ; in 1868, LBO. The valuator said Mr Rae did not mention last year's valuation was Ll2O. Reduced to LIOO. Mr Gtlmer's Queen's Bond, Tainui street — Valuation, L 75. Confirmed. Mr R. Wilson's cottage, Albert street —Valuation, L 25. Reduced to L2O. Mr E. Coutanche's Bank Hotel — Valuation, L 275; last year, L3OO. Reduced to L 250. Mr Moobe drew attention to the unoc-. cupied site of the Bank of New South Wales being valued at only L4O. As a piece of land it was worth a good deal more. Mr Nichol moved that tb,e valuation be increased to Id 00. Mr Coates moved as an amendment, that the rate stand as made, and be amended when the new building wa* erected. — Amendment carried. : The deferred application was considered from Mr E, Masters, to cut flax on the banks of the Lagoon, subject to any con-, ditions the Council might impose. Mr Moore moved that tenders be called for the right to cut flax within the Borough. — This waa agreed to. Ths deferred offer of Perotti a.nd Co r was considered, to purchase the rails in bush east of Taiixui street at 5s per running foot. The Town Surveyor reported, thai the timber was not worth the money. The matter was again postponed for % week. The Council adjourned aj; -10.30 p.m.,