BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1779, 18 April 1874, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. Present—Councillors Kerr (in the chair), Moore, Gleen, Acheson, Hamilton, Dupre, and Maclean. The minutes of the meeting of March 14 were read and confirmed. Correspondence with Mr C. Y. O'Connor, and Messrs Briscoe and Co., and Prondfoot and Co., respecting rails for tramway, was alao read. A cheque for Lll6 13s 4d was received from Messrs G. W. Moss and Co., being one-third of Mr Moriarty'a expenses, as guaranteed by the Greymouth Ceal Company, the receipt of which the Town Clerk was directed to acknowledge^ A letter from Mr A. E. Creswell, complaining of the dangerous state ■ of Alexander street as left by the contractors, was read and received, and consideration of the grievance referred to was handed over to the Public Works Committee. A communication was received from' R. Keown, Australasian Hotel, stating that five chains of the cemetery fence had been blown down. The Town Surveyor was directed to see it repaired at once. Mr J. G. Anstee, tenant of one of the sections on the Municipal reserve, made application for compensation for improvements made upon his section. The dealing with his claim was referred to the Public Works Committee. A letter from Mr Greenwood, as Agent for the Native Commissioner, granting permission to quarry stone on the Arnold road, was received and read. The following is the report of the Public Works Committee : — "Your Committee have the honor to report that in consequence of the heavy rollers running up the harbor from the ocean, and destroying the upper bank of the river, your Committee have instructed the Town Surveyor to cart stone by drays and face the bank temporarily, to prevent further damage being done. " Your Committee resolved that the folbwing telegram be forwarded to the Government : — "• To the Minister of Public Works, or in his absence the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. " ' The late flood has made very serious encroachments at the lower end of the. town, and the river now threatens to take a course towards the lagoon. Should this take place there is a probability that the port will be seriously affected. The Municipal Council, alive to this fact, have taken prompt steps ,to stay the encroachments of the river, and have authorised the expenditure of a sum of LIOOO toLISOO oh the advice of their Engineer, or more if necessary, but this work can only be of a temporary character, and the Council , would most ; strongly urge upon the Government the necessity of continuing the present protective works, bo a3 to effectually prevent the river from diverting from its present channel. As

great anxiety is felt on this subject, an early reply is desired ; and the Council beg to refer the Government to the District Engineer on the subject.' " 'John A. Whall, "« Town Clerk.' " That Mr Greenwood has, on behalf of the Native Commissioners, granted permission to the Council to quarry rock from the most suitable place along the •Arnold road between Messrs Wickes, Wylde, and Co's sections. " Your Committee gave instructions to procure the iron rails required for the tramway to convey rock from the quarry, but regret being unable to purchase sufficient rails for the construction of the tramway, either in Westland, Dunedin, or Christchurch, therefore recommend that the General Government be requested to lend to the Council the rails suitable for the purpose." Following upon the reading of the report the Town Cleric was instructed to telegraph this morning to the General Government, asking for sufficient rails to lay down a tramway in order to carry out the contemplated extension of the piotective works. Accsunts amounting to L 36 3s 9d were received, and referred to the Finance Committee. '••,'■ Mr Doprb called the attention of the Council to the defective state of the street lamps, and Mr Whall was directed to speak to the night watchman about them. Tenders for alterations to Dangerous Goods Store were received from, Thomas Gracie and Felix Stratford, but as both were in excesß of estimate, neither was accepted. . ■• . The consideration of the petition from the inhabitants of street was deferred till next meeting, and on the motion of Mr Moore, Mr Coates was granted a month's leave of absence. ; : It was resolved that that the contractors for Tarapuha and Leonard streets be notified to the effect that if. theiy do not recommence their contract the deposit money and work done will be forfeited, and tenders called to finish the work. The Council then, adjourned.