BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 944, 5 August 1871, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Town Hall last night. Present— His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Kennedy, Nichol, Woolcock, M'Gregor, Coates, and Purcell. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Town Solicitor, enclosing an opiniorras to some legal difficulty which had arisen with regard to Waite street, stating that the Council had the power f on receipt of a petition from

the residents, to declare it a public street. The opinion was laid on the table.

With regard to the deferred application ] from the Literary Society for a site for a ' < building, and an annual subsidy for the ' purpose of placing the society on a permanent basis, and other matters, the following report was read from the Public Works Committee :— " Your Committee would suggest that the Council should recommend the Literary Association to make arrangements with the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade, for the erection of rooms suitable for the; Society above the present Fire Brigade; Hall. 2. That, in the event of the Literary,; Society not being able to make arrange-; ments with the Fire Brigade, your Com-! mittee would recommend the Council to; grant the Association a site ; and farther,, that your Committee would recommend the Council to grant a subsidy to the Asso-: ciation of LSO per annum, to assist in the. formation and maintenance of the Association, upon condition that the public beadmitted as members upon payment of LI per annum, payable quarterly in advance. 3. That, in company with Mr Smith, we paid a visit to the applicants' proposed road in Alexander street, and after mature con-, sideration of the subject referred to us for. out recommendation, we consider that the bridge should be erected by the Council, as the former one was erected by the inhabitants of the locality some years since. The engineer's estimate for said work is L 35. In re roads, we are of opinion that: as the roads are not of large public benefit, as they have no thoroughfare but termi- ; nate at the foot of a high range, should be subsidised similar to the Herbert street road, which cost L 321, of which amount the inhabitants contributed L 246, and theCouncil L 75, being less than one-fourth of the total cost, and that road is of very, great public benefit ; but since that road was formed, a standing resolution was passed by the Council to encourage the owners of property in the back portions of the Borough to make the roads. We therefore recommend that the terms and stipulations of the said resolution be granted, namely, one-third of the cost of said roads to the termination, as per plans submitted by our engineer, the applicants taking the Council's bill for six months, and on the Town Clerk receiving a guarantee, tenders be at once called for the due performance of the work." The clauses were taken seriatim. The first was adopted. In the second all the words after "site" were struck out, and the clause passed. With regard to the proposed annual subsidy, the Mayor moved, and Mr M'Gregor seconded, the adoption of the clause. Mr Kennedy disagreed with the recommendation, principally because it would not be acting in accordance with the reason for which the rates were levied; it would be an injustice to their creditors, and also to the ratepayers, the majority of whom would not be benefitted by the vote. It was the duty of the County Council and not the Borough Council to subsidise the Society. Mr Nichol and Mr Woolcock agreed with the last speaker. Mr Kennedy moved that the clause be remitted back to the Committee for re-consideration. Mr Nichol seconded the amendment. Mr Coates suggested the granting of the subsidy ; and Mr Puroell would have supported it if the Council had been in funds. The amendment was carried. With regard to the last clause, Mr KenB^Y^fSß^Jiel^entidn'oHhe Council to' its financial position. It was agreed to erect a culvert over the tidal creek, from Mackay to Alexander street, and to grant a subsidy towards the formation of the roads of one-third the amount, on condition that the residents found the cash, and took the Council's bill at twelve months. Mr Nichol moved — "That the Town Surveyor report upon the stand-pipes within the Borough erected by private individuals, with the view, of the Council taking them over ; his estimate of cost and suitability for Borough purposes, and to report the additional quantity required. Mr Kennedy seconded the motion, which was put and carried. The following tenders were opened : — For making footpaths in Mackay street, D. Henry, L 27 ; M. Kennedy, L 29. The lowest was accepted. For the formation of Mount street : Scott and Drummond, L 65 ; James Hazel, L6B 14s ; D. Henry, L 59 10s. The lowest was accepted, provided the usual terms are fulfilled within a month. For the formation of Werita street and footpaths : Daniel Henry, Ll9 10s. This was accepted, on condition that the residents found the money. The Finance Committee was authorised to negotiate an overdraft with the Bank of New Zealand for L6OO. The Council then adjourned.