BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1774, 13 April 1874, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Borough Council was 3 held on Friday evening. PresentCouncillors Maclean, Acheson, Dupre, i Hamilton, Moore, and Kerr. , In the absence of the Mayor, who is on t a visit to Auckland, Mr Kerr was voted - to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting 8 were read and confirmed. A letter from Captain Allardyce, calling - the attention of the Council to the necesJ sity of having five mooring-posts driven . for the security of shipping — one above s and another below the Transit Shed, and r che remaining three to be substituted for 1 those now in use, which are decayed, and y cannot be depended upon. The letter was received, and the Town Surveyor instructed to proceed with the t work immediately. 1 A letter from Mr Morgan, baker, asking r permission to erect a verandah in front > of his business premises, on Mawhera J Quay, was received and permission E granted. A letter from Mr Frank Simpson, dated i April 4, asking tho sanction of the ' Council for him to a3sign his contract to , Mr George Simpson, was deferred. A • communication from the same contractor, J dated April 7, was read, which is as • follows: — " Owing to the damage, my contract i has sustained by the late flood, I find it ' impossible for me to finish it ; and T make this application to be released from the same, and trusting you will make me an allowance for the work I have done, or a i 1 portion thereof. My reason for asking to i be released from the contract is, viz. : — I. ' Where the Corporation piles, at the north street of Arney street, are removed there is nothing to prevent a small flood from coming in and running down Arney i street and Gresson street, and washing • away what play and gravel I will have ou the road and foot-paths. 2. The late flood having encroached so much on the lower end of Gresson street, the next of 1 ordinary flood is bound to come on Gresson street and Arney street." •' ' After some conversation, the Council refused to accede to Mr Simpson's request; > at the same time would not object to entertain any fair claim put in by the contractor when the works were completed. • Mr Kerr presented a petition from ratepayers and section-holders south . of Sawyer's Creek, asking the Council to 1 reconsider their depision in regard to the petition presented the Council on the 2nd August, praying for the formation of Cow'per street, and the cross streets leading thereto. The petition was received and read, and its consideration deferred till next meeting. The following report from the Public Works Committee was read and adopted : " Your Committee have considered the sidered the letter received by the Council from Messrs Strike and Blackmore, requesting thas the Town Surveyor should be instructed to level, and report the best route and method of constructing a sewer from Murray street. And recommend that the Town Surveyor be instructed to take all levels, and report the best route and method of constructing a sewer to the most suitable and nearest outlet. " Your Committee recommend th.at the Council should ' not proaeed with the making of Turumaha street at present, as the gravel obtainable from the street line will be extensively required for the completion of the present works now being executed, and others which are provided for from the loan. "Your Committee having visited, the various localities |n {he. $own which werS submerged by the flood an the (Hh and ?th instant, have much pleasure in reporting to the Council that, in the opinion of the Committee, which is endorsed by the Town Surveyor, about Llfl will repair the street and property under the control of the Council, and have given authority to the Town Surveyor to have the work required done forthwith. " But your Committee regret that along Richmond Quay, from Johnston street to the lagoon, a large portion, of land has been Bcoured away, in some places the river having encroached on the town to the extent of one and a half chains, and that the river appears to be rapidly making towards the lagoon, and in the event of it o

doing so, your Committee is of opinion that it will materially destroy the port for shipping , therefore, under the circum- *fc" stances, consider it their duly to call attention of the Council to this matter, ! with a view of an amount being voted, and the General Government being requested to subsidise said vote to enable the Council to carry out this necessary aniimportiaat^woifer ■»' -»»»"«"-• "Your Committee is .of opinion that had the approaches and copewone on the stone wall been finished little^gxno water "woulSFhavr Tieen ' tm**^!&(iflßfir Quay . , "during the late; flood," and recommend ? the Council to urge upon the General Government the necessity of completing the work. :' 1 ' Your Committee desire to inform the . Council that the late flood has destroyed : the site selected for the erection of cattle landing yards and pound ; and therefore recommend the Council to rescind the resolution in reference to the said site and j select a more suitable one for the purposes." , ; .r , _^, ... On the motion of Mr Hamilton, it was resolved that the Town Surveyor bring up a report to the Council as to the A best means to prevent river encroachments, and the probable d6sV ; of same ; on what terms the Coan^cft'&n obtain rock, and the cost of purchasing sufficient iron rails for a tramway, extending from ' the quarry to Johnston Btreet. In accordance with a resolution of the Council, the Town Surveyor brought up the following report ion the .proposed road through sections in Taioui street, as .. also the cost of making Alexander street ' flOUth. ■ :■■■■:■■ ": • •■■ ?.i O;^'-' "•' '. "I have the honor to lay before you the route proposed -to open up the sections in Alexander street, colored red on the accompanying place. "The distance is 112 links in Tainui . street, 730 links through the 40ft road given to the Council, and 858 links in ■ Alexander street, or in all 17 chains, , which I estimate at L 7 10s per chain, or LI 27 10s for 15ft formation and 12ft '■ . metal. . "The proposed road will give easy access for dray traffic to 11 large sections, , and presents every advantage, eifcheiun^ t cost of construction or usefulness when * constructed over the, proposed road [ through the hill, which! still maintain { will be of no use whatever if constructed. " J Mr Hamilton moved, an d : Mr Maclean 4 seconded— "That- the offer of Messrs Thompson and Aruott to give 40ft for a ( public street be accepted, that the Town Surveyor prepare plans and specifications, and tenders called for thework. ' Mr Acheson moved as an amendment, , seconded by Mi^ KbbS—^TftatFMessrg I Thompson and Aroott be- written fc>, ac? cepting tb§ ground offered by them for a T public street through their sections from ' Tainu i street to Alexander street, and that r the Council, will proceed with the work ' within six months from this date." I : Mr Hamilton withdrew his motion in } favor of the amendment, which was carried ** L unanimously. ' V , , The plans and specifications for altera--1 tions to the Dangerous Goods Depot were laid on the tabir ( Mr Hamilton moved, and Mr Dura* j j seconded — " That the Council be a Committee to prepare an estimate for the pmv , poses in respect of which it may b,e js- : quired, that the general Bojjong'h rate for ' t the year 1874 should be levied for, and to 1 [ report to the next ordinary meeting of the Council carried." a It was resolved that the the Public I Works Committee should wait on Mr -4 | Geisow, to urge on him to communicate ] with the Government in reference to the necessity of reserving or "providing a ! quarry to carry on protective works, as * also for Corporation; works. The Council thjtjn^ad journqd.