BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 677, 21 May 1870, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council "was held last night in the Town Hall. Present— J. Kilgour, Esq., Ma7or, presiding, Councillors Ken nedy, Nichol, Purcell, Coates. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The correspondence read showed that the Town Clerk was in communication with the Attorney-General to ascertain the powers of the Council to compel the removal of (dangerous chimneys; and with the County Chairman with regard to the overdue portion of the land fund. Raymond and party wrote wishing to know on what terms the Council would lease the Corporation tramway. Referred to Public Works Committee, to report to the Council. Messrs Forsyth and Masters wrote drawing attention to their account, dated as far back as Nov., 1868. Referred to the Finance Committee. Mr Perkins, Town Solicitor, wrote complaining of his bill of costs being objected to. and reduced. ; . Mr Nichol made explanation on behalf of the Finance Committee, although nor report was brought up, that they considered that certain charges in the bill referred to services which come within the ' ordinary scope of Mr Perkins* duties as Town Solicitor. He quoted the Solicitor's own letter, when he offered his services, to bear out what had been done by the Committee. He moved, " That Mr Perkins be informed that various items in the bill of costs are objected to, the Council being of opinion that, under clause three of his tetter, those come within the scope hi 3 ordinary duties.", Mr Parkinson seconded the motiou, which was carried. W. Wilson, manager of the Coal Creek Saw Mills, made application for lease of a chain of the wharf for landing timber, next Simpson's lease, on the same terms as the latter paid. Referred to the Public Works Committee to report. An account from Mr Amos was referred to the Finance Committee. - A report was read from the Town Surveyor, enclosing a sketch of a dray road proposed to be made by Mr M. Kennedy in Tainui street, at his own cost. IW would interfere with Lee's brick-yard at* one end. Mr Kennedy moved, "That the Town Surveyor take steps to reserve the brickshed from the street-line. The street had not been used for three months, and the person to whom protection was granted had transferred it to another. On public grounds the shed ought to be removed as a nuisance ; besides, they had dug up the road-line, to make bricks with. The Mayor drew attention to the fact that Lee occupied the ground by permission of the Council, and only the other day they ordered compensation to be paid to a person who occupied a road-line without permission. Mr Kennedy could not agree with the Mayor. The cases were not analagous. Mr Nichol argued that there was no necessity for the road going through the shed, there being plenty of room for between the shed and the tramway, anit that the matter ought to be enquired intod before coming to a decision. For this purposd he moved the appointment of a Committee. . . . Mr Kennedy would insist upon the officer of the Council doing his duty, and ordering the shed off the street, because it adjoined his property and was a nuisance. Mr Nichol thought it was very bad taste in any Councillor talking in such an arbitrary manner on a matter in which he was interested. Mr Kennedy spoke upon public grounds. None of the motions were seconded, and fell. Mr Parkinson moved that the matter be allowed to stand over until next meeting. Mr Nichol seconded, Mr Kennedy moved an amendment, "That the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act." Mr Purceli seconded. The Mayor expressed his astonishment at Mr Kennedy taking the course he had on a matter in which he was directly interested. He supported delay because he only now saw that the road ran diagonally across Tainui street, and not' along it. The motion was carried, and the Council adjourned.