BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 843, 13 June 1879, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortuightly msetihg of the Borough Council was held at the Town Hall last eveuing. Present : His Worship the Mayor (iu the chair), Councillors Pearn, Fitasiiumons, King, Pollock, Home, and Campbell. The minutes of the special and last, ordinary meetings were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved of, and the inward read and received. The resignation of Mr H. Cornfoot as a member of the Council was accepted, and on the motion of the Mayor seconded by Cr. Campbell, the thanks of the Council were tendered to Mr Cornfoot for his past and valuable services while a member thereof. The Public Works Committee brought up the following report relative to the Engine-house and Fire Brigade plant:—

Report. June 12th, 1879. The Committee beg to make the following recommendations : 1. That the lean-to at the back of the Town Hall be altered so as to accommodate the Fire Brigade plant. 2. That 2£ chains of First Street be formed, as an approach to the fire-plant shed and the Pound. 3. That the alterations to the shed be made by day labour ; and that tenders be called for forming the street, half width with footpath. 4. That the day-labour man take charge of the fir's plant as soon as the shed is ready. 5. That the Council contribute 10s per week towards a night watchman, but take no further responsibility. Edwin Blake, Chairman. The Mayor 1 , as Chairman of the Public Works Committee, explained that at the last meeting the matter had been referred to the Committee to report thereon ; and, after consideration, they thought the Fire Brigade plant would be less expensive to maintain if the engine-house was made at the back of the Town Hall. They also found it would be necessary to make a road to the Pound, and this road would answer both purposes. They considered that the Council could not give more than 10s a week to the night watchman, and, if this were supplemented by the weekly subscriptions of the inhabitants, as formerly, the watchman would be receiving the same salary as when connected with the Brigade. The adoption of the report was moved by Cr. Pearn, aud seconded by Cr. Campbell. Cr. King thought there would be no difficulty in forming a new and better Fire Brigade, but he was not in favor of placing the appliances in the Town Hall. He considered the alterations would cost as much as buying a building in a more central position in the town. Cr. Campbell had given the matter every consideration, and he found the course recommended by the Public Works Committee was the best the Council could adopt. The day wages man, would look after the plant if it was placed in the hall, and that would entail no extra expense. The carriage could be got out with quite as much alacrity when the road was made at the side of the hall as it could from any other position in the town. The committee, in making their report, could not take the question of the Fire Brigade into consideration, as the Council had received intimation of the j resignation of the brigade at the last meeting. Cr. Pearn said that in regard to Cr. King's remarks about the expense of the alterations, he Bhould like to have the matter postponed to know what the purchase of a building or the alteration to the hall, would cost. Cr. Pollock thought that if the Town Clerk waited on the landlord of the building at present iu use an an enginehouse, and found out what was the lowest amount of rent he would accept, they would be in a position t-> know which would be the moat advisable

course—either to adopt the report of the Public Works Committee or to rent or purchase a building. The bouttibutious to the night salary were falling off, and he (the speaker) thought the sum of 10s was not sufficient to make up the amount of reasonable wages. He moved that clauses 1 and 6 of the Report be referred back to the Committee for considerationCr. King seconded the amendment. The Mayor, in speaking .to the amendment, said he.had.no objection to any alteration being made if the Council thought proper In the Report as a whole, but he bojeced to the Ist and sth clauses of , the Report being picked out for re-consideration. He would like to see ad amendment moved of a more definite nature. When the appliances were the property of the Brigade, the inhabitants subscribed towards its support, and he considered they should act similarly now, as it was not reasonable to suppose the Council could afford to keep a fire brigade of their own, just because they held the appliances. Cr. Campbell also objected to the amendment, which was then put and lost. Peanl then moved-, as a further amendment, “That the consideration of the report be deferr. d until the next meeting, the Town Clerk meanwhile to inquire ns 16 buildings, &c., ami report thereon." The amendment was seconded by Cr, King, and, after the Mayor had spoken in its favor, was carried. The Town Clerk was appointed, bv a resolution of the Council, to collect aii I sue for the footpaths rate. Accounts to the amount of £2lO 17s were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned. MINING REPORT, [From our Special Mining Reporter.] —: ♦ : Mining affairs on the Kutnara haVe arrived at that'stdge wheii they cease to be of much interest to the general public. We are in a sort of state of transition from one mode of Working to the-more.'extended one of slhicing ; and although the claims that are already in full swing under that system are highly payable still those claims were known to Contain more than the average of the prCCioiid metal wkeil worked as ordinary claims, and it remain to be seen whether those being opened up at the present time may not contain gold more generally diffused through the upper trata. Our member Mr Barff means to. have another try for a tunnel tail-race, but I thing he had better confine himself , to having a Mines Department esiain Used, or a Minister of Mines as the Government as a whole do.not understand mining questions. It is not only the present but also the former Govermenta have shown great ignorance in dealing with mining questions, and very often did nothing because they did not understand it. It is as necessary to have a Minister of Mines as it is to have a Minister to regulate Native affiairs, and in some ministries more so. How often is it that very important-questions are laid be!ore the Government from raining communities that no heed is taken of, simply because they did not comprehend the suhjet. Were a practical man appointed to the position, there would be no difficulty in securing the aid of the Government in many projects that could be proved to he highly remunerative to the community and to the Government. In the earlier stages of the raining industry in New Zealand it was not so necessary, nor was it possible to superintend and regulate mining affairs, but now that so many men are employed on the goldfields and earning only half a livelihood, it is the duty of the Government to make that livelihood as easily obtained as possible. As miners: we have claims on the Government which belong to no other class of colonists. We have risked more for smaller returns, and contributed m6re to the revenue than any other class. We produce fewer criminals, and cost the Government less for Police supervision than any other class. Through our agency the settlement of the outlying districts has been advanced by at least fifty years; and is it too much to ask the Government to have one amongst their number who knows a little about us, and who could make our wants'll telligable to his colleagues. 1