BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 812, 4 March 1871, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Town Hall last night. Present — E. Wickes, Esq., Mayor, presiding ; Councillors Nichol, Dupre, Moore, Coates, Purcell, and Kennedy. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. An application from Mr G. W. Moss for the lease of a section of land on Preston road was received ; the application to be granted when the reserve was re-gazetted. A letter was read from Sub-Inspector Hickson requesting that the house he rented in Preston road should be exempt from Borough rates, because he was a Government Officer. He referred to clause 202 in the Municipal Corporations Act. It was resolved that the Council oimldttot see that the clawss exempted his residence from the rates, being private property. The Clerk to the Bench wrote, enclosing L 2, being the amount of lines inflicted under the Corporations Act during the month of February. An application was read from Mr E. Ashton for the lease of a piece of swamp land near Chapman street. The applicant was to be informed that Council was not in a position to lease the land at present. The Town Clerk read the volnminious correspondence referring to the Grey Coal Reserve between the late County Chairman, the Chief Surveyor, the General Government, and the present County Chairman, which is published in another column. — Received, and to be considered in committee at the close of the other business. The Town Surveyor reported that the necessary repairs to the Sefton Bridge would cost L3l in wood. He was instructed to obtain an estimate from the blacksmiths in town of the price at which they would supply a light iron rail for the bridge, and to report. The Mayor moved the formal resolution for the levying of a general rate of Is in the pound. He requested that the Council should re-consider the resolution to collect the rate in two moieties, the first moiety, even if. fully collected, would not meet the current liabilities for the three months. Councillor Kennedy could not see how the question could be re-considered, after being passed at the last meeting. — He was supported by Mr Nichol, who protested against what he considered an attempt to frustrate the carrying out of the resolutions arrived at by a previous meeting of the Council. — The Mayor said he considered it his duty, as head of the Council, to bring before their notice the difficulties which stared them in the face, and for which they must make provision. — Mr Nichol was quite willing that the question should be re-considered, but it could not de done in this manner. — Mr Moore had changed his opinion as to the collection of the rate in two moieties, having learned that there was very little probability of the promised sum being available from the Native Commissioner. — The original resolution was carried. Mr Coates moved that the Town Surveyor draw up specifications for constructing approaches to the wharf for four chains west from the front of the Albim Hotel. — Mr Moore suggested that the estimate should be made for approaches as far east as Tainui street.— Mr Nicol could not see how the work was to be paid for, and he thought it might stand over in the meantime. — The Maior thought the residents in the locality would, during the next fortnight, be called upon to guarantee the money for the work upon taking the Council's bill for the amount. An argument in favor of the work being carried out was, that the Collector of Customs had recommended the extension of the landing place for goods to Boundary street, on condition that the approaches to the wharf were made good. — The Town Surveyor thought the approaches should be made with rock. — The Mayor moved, as

an amendment, " That, on the receipt of a guarantee from the inhabitants of the locality for th« amount to carry but the formation of the approaches to tibe wharf, specifications be drawn out fol-Tihe work T>y the Town Surveyor.— Mr Coates protested against the residents in the locality being called upon to carry out a work of this kind. It was for the good of the town at large, and should be borne by the Council. Mr Kennedy wished to see the work done iv two sections, as he believed the residents in the block from Tainui to Albert, streets would readily rais,e their portion "as they had become accustomed to that sort of thing."— The amendment was carried, and the Town Surveyor was instructed, in conjunction with the Public Works Committee, to report as to the best means of carrying out the work. It was resolved that Councillors Kennedy, Nichol, and Moore,ibe authorised to sign cheques, bills, and contracts, on behalf of the Council. The Town Surveyor was authorised to repair the culvert at the junction of Albert and Mackay streets. The Council then went into Committee to consider the letters concerning the Grey Coal Reserve. : . ; After a long discussion, a Committee was appointed, consisting of his Worship the Mayor, Councillors, Nichol, Kennedy, and Moore, to fully consider the matter and bring up a report to an adjourned meeting to be held on Tuesday evening.