BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1433, 6 May 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Town Hall last evening ; present—His Worship the Mayor (J. O'Hagan, Esq.), Councillors Seddon, Pearn, Pollock, Campbell, Home, and Simmons. The minutes of the two previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Town Clerk laid upon the table the specifications for repairs to the Town Hall and also for a fire-bell tower.

The outward correspondence was read and approved of. The inwacd correspondence was read and received as follows :

A letter from Walter Murphy, carter, complaining of the unsafe state of Tai street, which was ordered to stand over, to be brought up with a report of the Town Clerk.

An application from James Morris to have a refund of the fees paid by him for the transfer of license, if the said fees have been received by the Borough Council, was referred to the Finance Committee, with power to act.

A communication from John Henderson, who had been instructed by the Council to remove a building and fence from off the North Town Belt, was then discussed.

Cr. Pearn stated that the matter had already been referred to the Public Works Committee.

Cr. Pollock also understood that the matter had been dealt with months ago.

The Mayor thought that as the sec-

tion-holder had gone to mnch expense in improving the land, and offered to make a right-of-way, it would be well to give him more time to remove the obstructions. Cr. Seddon moved " That the letter be referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act." Cr. Home seconded the motion; which was carried. Cr. Seddon moved and the Mayor seconded—" That the letter from the Colonial Treasurer be referred to the Finance Committee.—Carried. Cr. Seddon moved and Cr. Pollock seconded—" That the Town Clerk be authorised to procure duplicate lamps for the streets."—Carried. Mr R. J. Seddon applied for compensation for pulling down the front of his building in Seddon street. [Cr. Seddon then left the Hall.] The Mayor proposed that he should consult the Borough during the time he would be iu Greymouth soon, to know if the Council had any legal responsibility. Cr. Pollock wished to know if further expense would thus be incurred. The Mayor : Nothing more than the Borough Solicitor's charge. Cr. Campbell desired to see the motion brought forward in a legal manner. In future, he thought, fire inspectors should consult each other. The Mayor formally moved and Cr. Simmons seconded—" That his Worship the Mayor be authorised to consult the Borough Solicitor in reference to Mr Seddon's claim, and report to next meeting."—Carried. A circular from the Rangitikei County Council was then read, as follows : Rangitikei County Council Office) Marton, 20th April, 1881. On April 4, 1881, the Rangitikei County Council and the Rangitikei Highway Board met as one body to discuss various questions in connection with Local Government. The members of the Council and the Highway Board are strongly of opinion that the existing condition of affairs in connection with Local Bodies is exceedingly unsatisfactory, and that the various Local Bodies throughout the Colony should make a combined effort to obtain reform. At the joint meeting on the 4th instant the annexed resolutions were adopted, and it was resolved that copies of them should be sent to the various Local Bodies throughout the Colony. Alexander Milne, Chairman, Rangitikei County Council. RESOLUTIONS. 0-)—That in the opinion of this Joint Committee the machinery provided by the Legilsature to take the place of the abolished provincial system of government is utterly inadequate to carry out the functions of a good local government, rendering it absolutely necessary that a better system be provided ; and this Joint Committee pledges itself to use all constitutional means of inducing the Government to bring down a Bill in the forthcoming session of Parliament dealing fully with the matter, and with that object invites the cooperation of all the Local Bodies in the Colony. (2.)—That in the opinion of the combined meeting of the committees appointed from the Rangitikei County Council and the Rangitikei Highway Board, the Government should use every endeavour to reduce taxation, and instead of subsidizing and endowing Local Bodies, such Local Bodies may thus be enabled to tax themselves for their local requirements, which it is quite impossible for them to do under the present burden of taxation. (3.)—That in the opinion of this Joint Committee the existing constitution of the Waste Lands Boards should be amended so as to provide for the presence of an elective element at such Boards. (4.) —That in order to relieve the more settled districts from the pressure upon their rates in opening up new country, the Government, in selling any new block of Crown land, should either make main roads through districts before sale of land to the public, or make provision out of the purchase-money to make roads in the district from whence the money was obtained. (5.) —That in the opinion of this Joint Committee valuations for all purposes of taxation should be made at the same time, and by the same officer or officers, and at longer intervals than prescribed by " The Rating Act, 1876." (6.) —That the resolutions passed at this meeting be circulated throughout the colony, and that a copy of same be forwarded to the Premier. Cr. Seddon moved and Cr. Pearn seconded " That the Town Clerk write to the Rangitikei County Council to the effect that this Council agrees with resolutions Nos- 3 and 5, and will urge upon the Representatives of this district the desirability of supporting them in the General Assembly." The Town Clerk read a Report from the Auditors forwarding Half-yearly Statement of Receipts and Expenditure, the Annual Balance-sheet, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, and a Statement of Reserves and Real Estate of the Borough. Cr. Seddon moved and Cr. Pollock seconded " That the Auditor's Report be received."—Carried. Cr. Seddon moved and Cr. Campbell

seconded " That the Balance-sheet and Statements be submitted to the Finance Committee; to report to the Council next Tuesday."

A report from the Borough Surveyor re Tui street was read and received.

The Borough Surveyor was instructed to have the culverts in Tui street repaired and the approaches made good. Cr. Seddon moved "That the culverts be replanked and repaired throughout, and that Third street be included." Under the various Acts the local body was responsible. Cr. Home seconded the motion, which was carried.

The following tenders for erecting a new bell-tower were received:— M'Kenzie and Sutherland, red pine, £l2 15s; Jas. Morgan, red pine, £l4 10s, rata'£l7 10s; H. Hewett* totara or red pine, £2O j J. Keenan, red pine £B, black birch £l2, rata £l4. The tender of J. Keenan, at £l4 for rata, was accepted. The tender of H. Hewett, £9 10s, for repairs to the Town Hall was accepted, on condition that zine shingles be used instead of tin.

In reference to the supply of gravel, Cr. Seddon pointed out that there was an objection to the specifications, as they did not state what size the gravel should be. It was desirable that fresh tenders should be called, thus taking the responsibility off the Town Surveyor's shoulders. The Mayor moved and Cr. Pollock seconded " That the time for receiving tenders for gravel be extended to next Tuesday, and that the specifications be amended by specifying the size of gravel."

An amendment was moved by Cr. Seddon, seconded by Cr. Pollock: " That the following words be added to the motion: ' and striking out the clause referring to spreading the gravel.' "-—Carried, The resolution as amended was then put and carried. The Burgess List was confirmed, and is to be signed by the Mayor, and Crs. •Simmons and Campbell. The formal act of striking a rate was then made by the Mayor moving and Cr. Campbell seconding: "That the Council do now make a general rate of one shilling in the £ for the year ending 31st March, 1882, and payable in one sum on Saturday, the 7th day of May, 1881."

An amendment was moved by Cr. Seddon, seconded by Cr. Simmons, " That the words «Saturday, the 7th day of May' be struck out, and the words ' Monday, the Bth day of August,' be inserted in their place." —Carried. The motion as amended was then put and carded. Cr. Seddon moved and Cr. Home seconded : " That the Mayor, with Cr. Simmons and Campbell, be appointed to sign the Rate Book." The Council then adjourned.