BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1497, 15 July 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Town Hall last evening ; present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Pearn, Campbell, Horne, Burger, Pollock, Seddon, and Barnett. Mr Geo. Simmons, sen., took a seat in the body of the Hall. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read and approved of. The inwai'd correspondence was then read. The resignation of Mr George Simmons, sen., of his seat in Council was the first communication read; it was as follows : To his Worship the Mayor of Kumar a. Sir—On considering the disagreeable position in which I have been placed by the unjust action of the valuator in striking my name off the Roll, and not wishing the ratepayers’ money to be thrown away in uncertain law expenses, I hereby tender my resignation as Councillor of the Borough of Kumara. (Signed) Geo. Simmons. Kumara, July 6, 1881. It was moved and seconded that the inward correspondence be received. Cr. Seddon objected to Mr Simmons’ letter of resignation being included in the inward correspondence. He would move an amendment that it be dealt witli separately. This was seconded by Cr. Campbell and carried. A motion that the Town Clerk give notice to Mr Harrold to remove his obstructioms from Cashman street was adopted. Cr Seddon moved and Cr, Campbell seconded—“ That the i-equest of G. S. Cooper, Esq., Under-Secretary, for a return of the cost of the valuation be granted, and a report returned.”— Carried. INCREASED WATER-SUPPLY. A letter from Mr P. Dungan, Secretary to the Water-supply Committee, was read. It stated that “it was a matter of the utmost importance that a delegate do proceed to Wellington for the purpose of tendering evidence before the Goldfields Committee in sapport of the prayer of the petition re increased water-supply for the Kumara goldfield.” Cr. Campbell moved—“ That inasmuch as this Council contemplates pro= viding a water-supply for the Borough of Kumara, and seeing that the somce of supply is the Government waterrace, and knowing that the quantity of water in said race is scarcely adequate to supply the miners with water: with that object in view, therefore, this Council vote the sum of £3O as their moiety of the expenses.” He said the very existence of the borough depended upon the success of this goldfield. It was intended to send a delegate to Parliament, and it was for this object the money was reqirred. An increased water-supply would he necessary in view of the water required by the borough.

Cr. Ream seconded the motion. He did not think the money could be betterdevoted than to this object. It being mentioned that a deputation was present to interview the Council, on the proposal of Cr, Seddon, seconded by Cr. Pearn, the consideration of the motion was adjourned till the deputation had been received.

Mr Kettle (a member of the committee) and Mr Morris (secretary) of the Water-supply Association then came forward, being introduced by Cr. Seddon.

Mr Kettle stated that they had been deputed by the Water-supply Committee to make application to the Borough Council for assistance in the furtherance of the object for which they were constituted. They did not intend to apply to any other body. The casual expenses of the committee up to the present time were very small—£l2 10s; and they had in hand £lO only. Mr Morris stated that the committee had not contemplated to apply to the Borough Council; but they had now found that it was necessary to send a delegate to Wellington to urge the matter on the Government. He considered the borough was as much interested in the question as the miners. They had been agitating for an increased watersupply for the last six months; and they regarded tire petition and its being well supported to Parliament as their last resource. Cr. Barnett: Do you think£3o would be enough to send a delegate to Wellington ? Mr Morris: Not quite enough; it will cost £35. Cr. Campbell: Is it not possible to avoid the expense of sending a delegate to Wellington ? Mr Morris believed it was the surest way of being heard. The deputation then withdrew, Cr. Seddon would wish to amend the motion by making the sum £35. The Council was not empowered to spend money for purposes other than those required by the Council, and it would be necessary to put the matter before the burgesses in such a way as that the vote would be useful to the borough. He thought it would be well to send a delegate to Parliament. We have staring us in the face a decreased watersupply. It was the duty of the Council to assist the miners, in getting an increased supply of water. Let your tracks (he urged) alone this year, and have an increased water-supply. He was sure there were practical miners who would go and construct both dams. [Hear, hear.] The Mayor seconded the amendment. Cr. Campbell, with the consent of his seconder would withdraw his motion.

Motion withdrawn accordingly, and Cr. Stddon’s amendment carried. THE CEMETERY. On the motion of Cr, Seddon, seconded by Cr. Campbell, it was resolved that the whole question re enlarging the Cemetery Reserve be referred to the Government. IMPROVEMENTS IN TUI STREET. Cr. Seddon moved and Cr. Horne seconded—“ That the request of Father Devoy for drainage and improvements to Tui street be referred to the Public Works Committee, to report to next meeting,”—Carried. THE HOSPITAL. Cr. Seddon moved and Cr. Horne seconded—“ That the request for a grant of £SO for the Hospital Committee be complied with, and that that amount be paid to the committee.”— Carried. TRANSFER OF CONTRACT. On the motion of Cr, Seddon, seconded by the Mayor, a motion was carried —“ That Mrs Kelly’s request that her contract might be transferred to John Kelly, be referred to the Finance Committee, with power to Act.” LITERARY SOCIETY. A deputation from the Literary Society—Messrs Blake, Smart, and Petrie—waited upon the Council. Mr Blake (Vice-Chairman K.L.S.) stated that the society were £3O in debt. He need not say much ; although the institute was in some measure opposed to the publicans, who were the chief supporters to the borough, the object was a good one. If the Borough Council could see its way to grant a sum of money, the committee would be pleased. Mr Smart stated that the Municipal Corporations of Hokitika and Greymouth both supported their local library institutions liberally.

Cr. Barnett stated that Greymouth voted their Institute £75 a year. He proposed—“ That from the fact that the Kumara Literary Society is in debt to the extent of £3O, this Council for the year 1881 and 1882 vote the sum of £20.” Cr. Horne seconded the proposal. Cr. Seddon said he would support the motion if it were for two years only. We should assist them all we can. The motion was carried unanimously. ME SIMMONS’ POSITION. The Town Clerk stated that in accordance with the resolution adopted at the last meeting of the Council, he

had proceeded against Mr George Simmons in the Resident Magistrate's Court to shew cause why he should not *>e ousted from his position as a Borough Councillor. Mr Simmons stated to the Magistrate that he had sent, in his resignation. [The proceedings of the E. M. Court wili be found in last Tuesday’s issue of the Kuilara Times.] The Magistrate adjourned the case till next Court day, in order to give the Council an opportunity of dealing with Mr Simmons' resignation. The expensed were only eleven shillings * and the case being a siniple one, he did not engage a solicitors Cr. Sedddn said he proposed to “ take the bull by the horns." He desired to see ail unqualified resignation. He would move “ That in the event of Cr. Simmons sending in before Monday next, to his Worship the Mayor arl unqualified resignation, that the Town Clerk be instructed to withdraw proceedings against Cr. Simnions.’’ The Mayor seconded the niotion. Cr. Campbell said the matter was iii a nutshell. He did not see that they could now accept of any resignation from Or. Simmons. The Council would be stultifying itself by withdrawing from Court. Mi* Simmons stated irt Court that he was as legally qualified as any councillor : bow can .we accept his resignation in face of this ? He wished to have the first resolution carried out, he desired to see the matter settled by an impartial judge;—[Applause.] Cr. Pearu coincided with the remarks of Cr. Campbell. If Mr. Simmons said he was legally a councillor, it was right to test the matter at Court.

Cr. Barnett : But the Court has ferred the matter back to the Council. The Mayor pointed out that Mr Perkins, the solicitor, had stated that if Cr. Simmons resigned, there was nd necessity for legal proceedings. Cr. Seddon read several clauses of the Act. He said it was farcical to gd on with the case at Court. If Cr: Simmons would, before next Monday* send in an unqualified resignation, hd thought that ought to be sufficient. Cr. Campbell rose to a point of order : there was a resolution passed at a previous sitting of the Council, and it was therefore necessary to carry it out. Cr. Seddon’s motion was then put and carried. [The remainder of our report of the proceedings is held over till to-morrow.]