BOROUGH COUNCIL,

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1901, 19 September 1874, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL,

The usual fortnightly meeting of iV the' Borough Council was held in the Town Hall last, night. Present: The Mayor (in the chair), Messrs Hamilton, Griffen^ Moore, Eisseuhardt, Diipre, M'Millanj' and Kerr. - ' ' . ; ;. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. . !'.' V> "-'... A resolution from a meeting' of ;the Borough Council, Brunner Coal Company,' and Grey mouth Coal Company, thanking the deputation for their services in Wellington, was read and received. Votes of thanks were passed, and ordered to be forwarded to hi 3 Honor the Superintendent of Nelson, Hon. H. H. Lahman, and Mr Harrison, for the rassistance they lent to the deputation, while in Wellington. * .[ A telegram was read from the Superintendent, in re immigrants, which hag already appeared in onr columns'. ■'■■''■ The Mayor stated that all the married men had been engaged, and that' the single men would find employment in a day or two. The reply from the Minister of Public Works, relative to bar and harbor improvements, was read and received. , : - A letter from the Superintendent, asking that certified, copies of the Grey; mouth burgess roll should be handed, over to the returning officers for. the election of a Local Committee, under the Education Ordinance, was received, and the Town Clerk instructed to comply with the request. A letter from Mr H. Newton, on behalf of Mr Heaphy, requesting the Council a to stop their work at the quarry, as tjiey were damaging his property, and stating [ that he would hold the Council responsible for the damage already done. Letter received, and the Town Clerk instructed to write to Mr Newton, stating that the Council was not, encroaching ; on ''Mr Heaphy's property. • ' iV; The Mayor stated that Mr ; Mackay, Native Commissioner, was prepared to give the Council a lease of a stone quarry for public works. ■'•■■'.'■. r >-;W, The Town Surveyor's report and estimated cost of making footpaths along Herbert and Leonard streets were received. - It was resolved that the Public Works Committee report at next' meeting W to the necessity of the work being carried out at the present. - A number of accounts were brought before the Council, which were referred to the Public Works Committee. An application from the Rev. Mr M'lntoah to lease a part of the Municipal Reserve near Preston road was received, and application granted. ""~-.,- Mr Moore moved — "That a lad be engaged by the Council to. collect ;the wharfage and tonnage dues, and also to assist in the Town Clerk's office^' at a salary of L6O per annum." . Mr AcgESQN seconded the resolution. •pro forma. - ; f v : -r Mr Maoxban spoke against; the resolution, and said the Council 'would be the losers by engaging a boy> He/believed no one would da the work better than the present wharfinger. He did not think it advisable' to make any change aV^present,

unless the work could be done by some of the officers. Mr Aoheson asked if the work of the Council was greater tfyan it was three years ago. Mr Johnston, surveyer, collected those dues then, and he wished to know if it was part of his duty. He did not think the Council was in a position to engage a permanent servant to collect the wharfage rates, but if they agreed to have a permanent officer for that purpose, they would have to comply with the Act, and invite applications for the office. He believed the Council was not in a position to pay a permanent officer, and even had to defer carrying out necessary works. Mr Hamilton spoke against the resolution, and said he did not think the rates could be collected by a lad. He believed more than the extra salary would be saved by keeping a competent officer. By employing a lad the work would fall on the Town Clerk, and they knew he had enough of work to attend to in his office without attending to wharfage rates. It would be false economy. If it was necessary by the Act to ask application by all means let it be done. The collector, he thought, was fairly paid, as he had not to give all his time to the work. He moved as an amendment that at the next meeting he would propose that a permanent officer be engaged, and applications invited in accordance with the Act. After some further discussion, the amendment was put and carried. Mr Kerb, moved, seconded by Mr Acheson — "That the Town Surveyor be instructed to report and give an estimate of the cost of carrying the wharf in a line with that erected opposite Ashton's Hotel, and keeping the street from that point to Johnston street at least 40ft wide." — Carried. The Mayor, Messrs Hamilton, Griffen, Moore, and M'Millan were appointed as Finance Committee ; the Mayor Chairman. Messrs Kerr, Acheson, Dupre, Maclean, and Eissenhardt were appointed a Public Works Commitiee ; Mr Kerr Chairman. The Council then adjourned.