BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 683, 4 June 1870, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of th( Borough Council was held last night ir the Town Hall. Present— J. Kilgour, Esq., Mayor, presiding, Councillors Kennedy, Nichol, Purcell, Coates, Wickes, Strike. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr J. W. Hall sent in a statement oj wharfage and tonnage dues, and asking some compensation for extra work done in attending Courts, &c. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee. A Committee of the Choral Society wrote asking for the use of the Town Hall on Tuesday evenings for practice. — Resolved to grant permission on condition that the cost of lighting up the hall was paid by the Society. Mr Pallis wrote requesting protection to wcrk a punt on the river about 20 yards below Millar's punt.— Resolved that permission could not; be granted within the limit asked, it having been given to Mr Miller. An account from Mr Brimble for the Mackay street contract was referred to the Finance Committee, to be paid as soon as possible. A letter was read from, a Mr Birch, stating that if any compensation was to be paid for removing the brick-shed in Tainui street, it should come to him instead of Mr James Lee, from whom he leased the building. Received, and consideration deferred. Mr Harry Kenrick, Clerk to the Bench, sent a cheque for L 2 ] 6s, the amount of fines inflicted during May under the Municipal Corporations Act. Received, and to be acknowledged. Mr E. Masters wrote drawing attention to the almost impassable state of Mackay street between Tainui and Werita streets, and asking the expenditure of a small sum on gravel. Referred to the Public Works Committee, to report. An account was received from Mr Noy of L 4 for damage done to a lifting-jack lent to the Town Surveyor. — Resolved to acknowledge the debt, aud refer the bill for payment to the Finance Committee. The report of the Public Works Committee recommended that the Coal Creek Saw-mill Company should be allowed to lease one chain of frontage to the river next to Simpson's coal lease, on condition that they constructed a wharf and landingstage at their own cost. It was explained that the proposed lessees intended to expend L6O in constructing the wharf, and would pay L 4 per month for rent, to be allowed to them out -of the cost of construction ; but they did not intend to continue paying the wharfage rates on their timber,, which at present amounted to about L 2 10s per month. Mr Kennedy moved the adoption of the clause of tho report. Mr Pukcell seconded. Mr Nichol pointed out that to alter the wharfage dues the Schedule would have to be altered and re-gazetted. He objected to a chain of the wharf being leased for any term of years. He thought that £2 per month should bo taken as rent, and the wharfage rates collected as at present. In answer tc a question, The Town Surveyor said the proposed wharf would be weaker than the one built by the Corporation, but would be strong enough for the purpose. It would strengthen the protective works at that point. The motion was amended, so as to compel the lessees to make the new wharf as strong as the other, and kept to the same height ; and the lease to be terminable at a month's notice, after payment of tho balance of the amount of the cost of construction. It was resolved to call for tenders for the lease of the Herbert street Tramway, under certain conditions. The report of the Town Surveyor was read with regard to the construction of the dray track in Tainui street, proposed to be made by Mr Kennedy, which passed through a portion of the brick-shed. Mr Strike moved that the owner of

the shed receive three months' notice to remove it. Mr Kennedy rose to speak, when he was called to order by Mr Strike and the Major. He persisted in speaking, saying that ho would allow- any member to inflict the penalty allowed by the Act if he were pecuniarily interested. Mr Nichol, on principle, rose to support the chair. Mr Kennedy asked under what clause he was called to order. The Mayor said the road ran from one of Mr Kennedy's sections to another, and it would be impossible for the public to .get along it if Mr Kennedy shut his gale. There was a full Council present, and they would do justice to the subject. It would be better if Mr Kennedy followed the example of another Councillor that night and left the table while a matter in which he was interested was under discussion. Mr Kennedy did not care for the road. He had no right to be called to order, because he was not speaking upon a subject on which he was pecuniarily interested. If he were interested in the question to the amount of a shilling he would leave the table. He did not care whether the shed was removed or not. Mr Strire rose to order. He wished to know whether the ruling of the Chair was to be adhered to ? The Mayor thought they would decide the question better if Mr Kennedy took no part in the discussion. Mr Strike maintained that Mr Kennedy was out of order in speaking on this subject, and saying that he was not interested. The road was to be made through private property. Mr Kennedy denied that statement. He wished to make a road on the public road-line. Mr Coates argued that Mr Kennedy was in order notwithstanding the ruling of the Chair. ■ The Mayor read the clause of the Act, which prevented any councillor taking part in the discussion of any question in which he was directly or indirectly interested. Mr Parkinson moved an amendment that the shed be removed within four week. Mr Purcell seconded. After some further discussion, the amendment was carried. The Town Surveyor was instructed to repair the approaches to Arney street bridge. Mr Parkinson called attention to the manner in which tenements in the various streets had been numbered. He should like to know upon what system it had been done ? The Town Clerk said it was a rate number and not a street number. Orders were given for the Town Clerk to report upon the subject at the next meeting. The Council then adjourned.