BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 921, 10 July 1871, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Town Hall on Friday evening. Present— His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Coates, Moore, Dupre, and M'Gregor. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, a letter was read from the County Chairman in reply to the resolution passed at the last meeting iv respect to the main road from Marsden to Grey mouth. It was as follows : — "In reply I have the honor to inform you that the survey of the read from Marsden to Grey mouth will be proceeded with as soon as the line of railway is decided upon, which will be in a short time. At the same time, I must express my surprise at the anxiety shown by the Borough Council for the performance of this work, seeing that that body refused the County Government the assistance of the Town HuTOovnr wiifin fhp.v were well aware that to further the very object the Council are

now so anxious about. The letter was received. Another communication from the County Chairman was read in answer to an application for a map of the Grey district, showing the lands sold, &c. The County Chairman stated that the map would be supplied as soon as possible. Mr J. O'Connor, Paroa, sent iv an application for the use of the pile-driving apparatus -which was granted. The following letter was read from Mr J. 0. Moore, the Hon. Sec. of the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade : — " I am desired by the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade to draw your attention to the narrow escape from fire on Sunday last of a portion of the buildings connected with the City Baths, and to suggest that the Town Surveyor be requested to watch with great care the rebuilding of that portion burnt, so as to prevent the possibility of any future risk. I am further requested to draw your attention to the necessity of further powers being obtained under the Municipal Corporations Act, so as to remove the many dangerous chimneys, &c, existing at the present time in Greymouth. Trusting you will endeavor to obtain these necessary extended powers during the next meeting of the Assembly.— l am, &c." It was moved by the Mayor, and seconded by Mr Coates— "That a committee be appointed, consisting of Councillors Moore, M'Gregor, and Dupre, for the purpose of taking the letter of the Secretary of the Fire Brigade into con sideration, to report thereon at the nexi

meeting. " — Carried. A letter was read from Mr Cannon, band-master of the Town Band, requesting permission to advertise a concert, under the patronage of the Borough Council. The request was granted. The report of the Public Works Committee was read as follows : — " After considering the letter received from Mr Andrews, together with the tracing or plan of the river frontage furnished by the Towu Surveyor, and referred by the Council to this Committee to report upon,-

" Your Committee are of opinion that thesitesonMawheraaudßichtnondQnays, near Tainui and Boundary streets, would be suitable places for the erection of a Transit Shed, and would recommend that the Council should decide which part would be most convenient for the public ; also, that in the event of the Government finding it necessary to remove the present Transit Shed to facilitate collecting of Her Majesty's Customs, that the Council should place the most convenient site available for that purpose at the disposal of the Government. «

" The Committee also recommend the Council to adopt the decision of the Finance Committee with respect to the payment to Mr Masters of L 8 8s 4d, as the Council's share of the cost of making their portion of Alexander street."

It was moved by Mr Moore, seconded by the Mayor—" That the Town Ulerk inforsn Mr Andrews, the Collector of Customs, that this Council is quite willing to offer a site that will be most convenient to both the Customs and Shipping interest ; this site, in the opinion of the Council— from die present wharfage accommodation—would be midway in the new wharf from Boundary to Tainui streets, "j

Mr M'Greqor moved an amendment, which was seconded by Mr Dupre,—

" That a site for a Transit Shed be offered to the Government on the quay, in front of Boundary street." After a long discussion, the amendment was carried by 3 to 2, the votes being — For : Messrs Dnpre, Coates, and M'Gregor ; against : Messrs Moore and Wickes. ° Sundry accounts were referred to the Finance Committee.

The Committee appointed at the lust meeting to consider the present division of the wards sent in the following report : — " Your Committee have the honor to report that they met for the purpose uf considering the present division of w.u it within the Borough, and find by ;he return furnished by the Town Clerk tl.at the annual value of the properties arnu.jable to be as follows, viz. :— E.tsfc W vl, L 15,26 1; Middle Ward, LBBO2 ; West Ward, L 3580. Total, L 17,643. And from the above -return, your Comni it-fee are of opinion that the boundaries of the wards should be altered, with a view of dividing the same, more in proportion to the annual value of the {properties assessible ; and further, that we have instructed the Town Clerk to obtain an opinion from the Town Solicitor, for the information of the Council, so as to enable the Council to pursue the proper 1 course for alter. ng the boundaries of the said wards."

The report was read and adopted. A letter, deferred from last meeiui-, from the ratepayers in Mount street, asking that a portion of the street might be filled in, was taken into consideration. The letter stated that the writers were willing to advance the sum of L 35, the amount named by the surveyor, on the whole cost of the work, and agreed to take the Council's acceptance for the amount at six months' date. It was moved by Mr Macgregor, and seconded by Mr Dupre, " That the Town Surveyor be desired to draw up plans and specifications for the construction of a culvert in Mount-street, and that tenders be called for the work on the Town Clerk receiving a guarantee from the residents for the amount as stated."— Carried. Mr Moore moved "That the Town

Clerk be instructed to request the Harbor Master not to moor any vessel to the Customs Wharf , and that the Town Surveyor be instructed to (have the holes in the floor of the wharf covered with planks immediately. "—Carried. A verbal application was made by the Mayor, on behalf of Messrs Amos and Wennick, to allow them to use some old rails from the tramway to construct a bridge from Herbert street to Chapel street. The application was granted. The meeting then adjourned.