BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1557, 23 September 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Town Hall, last evening; present His Worship the Mayor (iu the chair), Councillors Barnett, Anderson, Rudkin, Horne, Campbell, Burger, Pollock, and Dove; Or. Seddon. the only absent member; being at Parliamentary duties. The minutes of meetings held on the Bth and 13th inst., were read and confirmed.

The outward correspondence was read and approved of. The inward correspondence was read, received, and ordered to be considered.

The letter from the Minister of Lands proposed to vest the Kumara Cemetery Reserve in the hands of Trustees elected by the Council. Or. Rudkin proposed that iti the absence of Cr. Seddon, the consideration of the letter be held over till the next meeting. Seconded by Cr. Pollock atid carried.

A letter from the Colonial Treasurer iutimated that the Borough was indebted to the Treasury iu the sum of £376, received by the Borough in error.

The Mayor moved that the Town Clerk be instructed to write to the Government requesting that similar instructions be given to the Collector of Customs at Greymouth to those given to the Collect »r of Customs at Hokitika, re returns of gold duty. Seconded by Cr. Burger, and carried. A letter from Mr Gow, Inspector of Public Works, stating that the covering of Government race in Fourth street where covered by the Government was in good order, was next considered. Cr. Barnett moved that the Council order the repairs to be done. Whilst the covering remained in its present condition, if any accident happened, the Council would be liable for damages. Cr. Home seconded.

Cr. Burger considered it the duty of the Government to repair the race/ If the race belonged to a private party, the Borough Council would compel them to repair it.

Cr. Campbell also thought it a very hard matter for the Borough to be required to repair the race. It would be acknowledging the principle of its liability. He would move as an amendment « That the Town Clerk communicate with the Minister of Public Works on the subject, and that 'he race be temporarily repaired in the meantime." Cr. Burger seconded the motion. A letter from Mr Miuto, requesting an extension of time for the removal of his house, wan next considered. The Mayor proposed "That the letter be referred to the Public Works Committee to report to next meeting." Cr: Campbell seconded the motion, which was carried. A letter from'Mr J. Mouahan, applying for a residence area, was received and considered.

The Mayor | roposed " That the letter be referred to the Public Works Committee to report to next meeting." Seconded by Cr. Anderson, and carried.

Mr Rudkin presented a petition from certain ratepayers praying for the erection of a lamp in th,i vicinity of the Pi'St-ofLce. Hh thought there could be no doubt it was a necessity. Cr. Barnett proposed that the prayer of the petition be granted. Cr, Kudkiu seconded.

Cr. Campbell wished to know if the Postal authorities would give, some assisiauce in the matter.

The Mayor thought they might be allowed to place the lamp on the present telegiaph post, opposite the office. Cr. Barnett thought the Government would not be likely to consent to such a proposal. The Mayor then moved and Cr. Rudkin seconded " That tin* petition be referred to the Public Works Committee, to report to next meeting."— Carried.

A report from the Borough Surveyor re drainage of section 96, Main street, was read and received.

The Mayor moved and Cr. Campbell seconded "That the recommendation of the Borough Surveyor to sink a shaft be adopted."—Carried.

The Town Clerk reported re nuisances and dog registration.

On the motion of Cr. Campbell, seconded by Cr. Burger, these matters were also referred to the Public Works Committee, to report to next meetinw of the Council.

Tenders were theri opened for the undermentioned works, each tender being accompanied by a deposit of ■£l : —Drainage of Union street.— P. Murphy, 30s per ch.in; Tho*. Harrojd, 18s Gd ; J. McLaughlin, 17s Gd ; M. Taylor, 15s Gd ; W. King, R. Brady, and P. Whelan, 15s each. In consequence of the three lowest tenders being of the same amount, lots were drawn, and the choice fell to P. Whelan, whose tender was then accepted ; the work to be completed within one month from the time of signing the contract. Improvements of Tui street and Third street.—Palmer and Rugg, £119; H. Gibson, .£9O ; J. Kelly and sons, £75 8s 9d; J. Murphy, £7O; P. Whelan, £49. Each tender was accompanied with a deposit of £5. Work to be completed in two mouths from the time of signing the contract. The Mayor made reference to the disparity iu the tenders, the lowest being little short of half the next lowest. He intimated that the Council were not bound to accept the lowest tender.

Cr. Baniett stigmatised the conduct of the Mayor in making any reference whatever to the dissimilarity of the tenders. The tenders weve accompanied by a deposit, and if the tenderer found he had made tb'o low an estimate, his deposit cotild lie forfeited. < Cr. Campbell spoke in the same strain. The Council had no right to question the ability of & tenderer to fulfil liis engagement. It there 1 had been no deposit required, the matter might have been different. The tender of P. .Whelan was theii accepted. Or. Burger moved " That the various stauding Committees be reorganised." There were now four new members in the Council, and the stSudirig committees were diffident iu numbers. Seconded by Cr. Dove and carried. The committees wefe" then chosen as follows i-^-Public Works Committee. The Mayor, Crs. Campbell, Anderson,- Home, Burger, and Puidkiu ; Cr. Burger, chairman. Preserves Committee.—Crs. Seddon, Barnett, Kudkin, and Pollock; Cr. Seddon, chairman. Cemetery Reserve Committee.—The* Mayor, Crs. Anderson, Dove, Pollock, Pvudkin, ; Cr. Pollock, chairman. Water - supply Committee. The 1 Mayor, Crs. Seddon, Home, Anderson,Rudkin, Campbell, Barnett, Burger, Pollock, Dove; the Mayor,- chairman'; Cheques Committee.—Crs. Seddon, Campbell, Burger, and the Mayor (J. O'Hagan, Esq.). The Mayor, by leave of the Council, moved--''That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable to raise a special loan for the construction of waterworks, for the purpose of providing a sufficient water-supply for the borough, for lire' prevention and general purposes." Cr Burger seconded. The motion was carried. A report from the Finance Committee was read and received. The accounts recommended were passed for payment, amounting to £167 I6s 2d. An item of £2l 10s 9d, J. Kelly's account, was referred to the Finance Committee, with power to act. NOTICES OP MOTION. The following notices of motion were handed in, to be brought forward at the nest meeting of the Council : Cr. O'Hagan to move—" That in the opinion of this Council the services of a permanent day-labor man are na longer necessary; therefore tbnt the day-labor man receive one month's notice to that effect."

Cr. O'Hagan to move—" That in the opinion of this Council the services of the Borough Surveyor are no longer really necessary for the carrying ont°of works within the borough, and that the Borough Surveyor receive three months' notice to (hat effect; and that the Council do proceed to fix the salary for

the office of Town Clerk, with othefr offices held by him with this Council.* The Council then adjourned.