BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1421, 22 April 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Town Hall last evening ; present—His Worship the Mayor (J. O’Hagan, Esq.) in the chair, and Councillors Campbell, Horne, Simmons, Burger, Pollock, and Barnett. The minutes of the two previous meetings were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved of ; and the inward read and received, as follows : the east and west coast railway - . “To his Worship the Mayor of Kumara, West Coast. “ Sir—The promoters of the East and West Coast Railway have heard from their engineer, Mr Browne, of the interest which the people of the West Coast manifest in the proposed line. “As you must be aware, they have invited His Excellency’s Government to introduce at the next session of Parliament a Bill to enable them to deal with individuals or companies willing to construct and work, or construct alone, trunk lines throughout the Colony, payment in land being made therefor. “It is scarcely necessary to say that the acceptance by the country of such a measure would materially facilitate the prosecution of the enterprise referred to—an enterprise which must benefit, not alone the Middle Island, but the entire Colony. “ Yon shall be duly advised of the Premier’s reply to our request; in the meantime, however, we hope to receive from the people of the West Coast all the support they can directly and indirectly accord to us in the matter. “ We beg to remain, yonra obediently, “ Edmund Wickes. “ T. S. Weston, “ Chairman pro tern, of Promoters’ Committee. “ R. Preston Bain, “ Hon. Sec.

“ Christchurch, 13th April, 1881.” Cr. Campbell moved “ That the Town Clerk acknowledge the letter, and express the interest taken by the Council in the matter, and their desire to assist the promoters by every possible means.” The Mayor seconded the motion, which was carried. The Town Clerk laid on the table a specification for a new fire-bell tower. A report from the Public Works Committee suggesting repairs to the Town Hall and premises, also for removal of obstructions placed on the streets, was received and adopted. The report also suggested that no action be taken in respect to other encroachments until complaint is made to the Council. A report from the Town Clerk concerning Court cases was read as follows I—“Borough of Kumara. “ REPORT FROM THE TOWN CLERK RE COURT CASES. “ It having been stated at the last meeting of the Council that I had lost every case I had brought into the Magistrate’s Court on behalf of the Borough, I have the honor to lay before the Council the accompanying return, prepared and. signed by the Clerk of the Pesident Magistrate’s Court. “ The return shews that the total number of cases is 95, of which only two have been decided against the Borough. Of these one was dismissed owing to my absence in Wellington, but on my return it was brought on again and a verdict obtained for the Borough. The other case was conducted by the Borough Solicitor by order of the Council.

“It will therefore be seen that I gained every case which I personally took into Court. “ James Wylde, “ Town Clerk. “ sth April, 1881.” One or two councillors thought that the whole of the charges recently made by Cr. Simmons should be gone into; the Town Clerk had only singled out one. The Mayor moved and Cr. Campbell seconded that the Report be referred to a committee consisting of Councillors Campbell, Barnett, Pollock, Horne, and the Mayor.—Carried. Cr. Campbell moved and Cr. Horne seconded—“ That tenders be called for supplying gravel for six months,” — Carried.

A report from the finance committee was read and received. Accounts amounting td £SB i3s 2d were passed for payment. A circular from the Manawatil County Council was, on the motion of Cr. Barnett, seconded by Cr. Horne, considered of “ not sufficient importance to us to send a delegate to Wellington/' as proposed. The Mayor moved and Cr. Barnett seconded —“ That the Council do, on the loth day of May, 1881, make A general rate of one shilling in the £ for the year ending March 31st, 1882, and payable in one sum on Saturday, the 7th day of May, 1881.”—Carried. The Council then adjourned.