BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1699, 10 March 1882, 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 (in the chair), Councillors Seddon, Barnett, Anderson, Horne, Campbell, Butger, Dove, and Pollock. Cr. Rudkin, the only one absent, was attending a meeting of the Central Board of Education at Greymouth. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and received. The outward correspondence was read and approved of, and the inward read and received. CHRIaTCHUROH EXHIBITION. In the consideration of a printed circulai from certain of the conveners of exhibits of ores and sundries for the Christchurch Exhibition. Cr. Seddon proposed that returns be obtained from the banks of the amount of gold that had been obtained on the Knmara go'dfield, and have a model made representing the quantity in pyramid form. He moved that a committee consisting of Councillors Barnett, Burger, Campbell, Dove, the Mayor, and the mover be appointed to report to a special meeting to be held this (Thursday) night week. Cr. Campbell seconded the motion, which was carried. C PICKET. The Secretary of the Kumata Cricket Club wrote, by direction of the committee, for permission to use the Recreation Reserve for practice and cricket matches. The Mayor moved and Cr. Seddon seconded “ That permis-ion be granted to the Cricket Club to use the Recreation Reserve, and that measures be adopted to preserve the ground from injury until it is fit for use by the general public.” The motion was carried. FENCING CAMP RESERVE, TUI STREET. Mr J. Gow, for the’ Public Works Department, wrote asking permission to fence in, say half a chain of Tui street, from the Post Office to Mr Emerson’s corner for the purj ose of cultivating and ornamenting with flowers and ornamental trees. He had received instructions to fence in the police quarters, and it had been suggested 10 him by some of the officials who would be within the enclosure that it would be improving the appearance of the place to take in the whole length to the Main Road for the same purpose, Cr. Seddon thought the proper course was to inform Mr (low (hat the Council had not the power to grant this request. By the law it would be first necessary to pur up such la-.d to auction first. After further (lisr-us.-don, Cr. Burger moved—‘‘That the Council cannot grant the request of Mr Gow to reduce the width of Tui street.” The motion was seconded by Mr Seddon, and carried. GOI.m-'IELD REVENUE. In reply to an application from the Boiongli Council of Knmara for the gold revei.ue to which it is entitled under the hinaiicial Arrangements Act 187 G Amendment Act 1877, the Colonial Treasurer wrote sta'ing ‘"The Knmara Education Reserves Act. 1879,” being posterior in date to the beforementioned Act, so far overrides it • therefore, all moneys arising from occupation for mining or other purposes were, by section 5 of the said Act, payable to the School Commissioners. The Borough, therefore, had no claims to iln- revenues in question. Cr. Seddon moved and Cr, Dove

seconded—“ That the letter of the Colonial Secretary be refeired to the Borough Solicitor” for his opinion on the matter. The motion was carried. RESIDENCE AREAS. Warden Stratford wrote to his Worship the Mayor, on the 24th ult. as follows : Sir—K you will kindly cause a list of all those sections on the Kumara Education Reserve fronting the business streets, and in those places where you do not wish residence areas td.be granted to be sent to me, I will proclaim them under section 51, part XIII. “ MiheS Act Rules,” as business sections, and thus SaVe you trouble in future iii regard to them. And, the same time, will ydii, kindly name the different streets in which you have no objection to residence areas being granted, and stating in your letter opposite the name of each street how many .sections you consider should be granted under each application. Cr. Seddon moved Warden be referred to the last letter from the Cohncil; and that the Council consider it inexpedient that residence areas should exceed in extent four sections where the same may front any si rest.” The motion was seconded by Cr. Barm-tt, and carried. r lhe Mayor presented the following petition on the subject of residence areas : To His Worship the Mavor and Councillors of the Borough of Kumara. Sir and Gentlemen—The petition of the undersigned, burgesses of the Borough, humbly sheweth— ° 1. That during the last five years a large number of sections within the Education Reserve have remained unoccupied and consequently unimproved, chiefly through a high rental charged by the School Commissioners, which in Seddon and Main streets invariably amounted to £o and upwards per section per annum. 2. That through the facility offered by the Mines Act, several of your petitioners are desirous to occupy as residence areas many of those vacant sections, and fence, clear, and cultivate them at about an average cost in labor, &c. , of £IOO per acre. 3. That notwithstanding that the School Commissioners would at present in most cases, receive £T per annum from each (cost' of miners rights and registration fees) as fixed by themselves for residence areas, your petitioners have reason to believe that they are endeavouring to prevent settlement in the manner indicated, for no other motive than to either compel many of your petitioners to take out business licenses, which in itself would revert to the old system of renting or leasing, and afterwards purchasing at their price? 4. That many of your petitioners have been forced to pay more than the value for sections occupied for business purposes, and now consider themselves entitled to any facility offered under the Mines Act to take and cultivate each one or two additional sections. 5. That inasmuch as the number of business premises existing in the borough is adequate for present and future requirements, the occupation and improvement of vacant sections will not only enhance the value of adjoining property, but when improved will bo conducive to the health of the inhabitants and a source of additional revenue to the borough. Therefore your petitioners would respectfully request that your honourable Council will recommend to the Warden the granting of those unoccupied sections as residence areas to bona fide applicants, at the same time imposing such reasonable conditions as to improvements as will in time transform those undesirable-looking sites into neatly fenced gardens and plea? sure grounds. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. [Signed Irp 24 residents of Seddon and Main streets.] Tlie Mayor moved—“ That the petition be received,” which motion was seconded and carried. Cr. Seddon then moved—“ That it lie on the table till next meeting of the Council.—Seconded by the Mayor and carried. THE GOAT NUISANCE. Mr C. F. Holmes wrote applying for his expenses as a witness at the Kuni<ua Court f ir the Inspector of Nuisances in the matter of the goat nuisance, ihe applicant said he was “indebted to the borough one pound ; set my claim against that, and say quius.—C. F. fl.” WATER SUPPLY TO THE TOWN, Till* town Clerk brought up a report from the Finance Committee wuh re feience to the proposed supply of water to ihe borough, as follows ; REPORT. In accordance with a resolution of the Council, the committee have considered the subject of water supply, and beg to recommend as follows : 1. That a loan of £IBOO be raised for the purpose of supplying the town with water for fire and general purposes. 2. That the loan bs repayable £6OO in 2 years, £6OO in 4 years, £6OO in 6 years, with interest at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum. 3. That the security for the loan be a special rate of Is in the pound—a first charge on the general revenue of the Borough, and the 500 acres Borough Reserve. 4. That a public meeting be called in

accordance with the Act to take the opiriioii of the ratepayers on the subject. A. G. Campbell, j ' ‘> • • • Chairman. 12 th Jan lu-uy, 18S?. It was resolved by (jr. Campbell; seconded by Cr.,Dove Thai the report be i’pceired.”—ija'me’d. Cr. Seddon moved - " That tile conr sideration of the report be ‘deferred until after Jilrio licensing meeting) when the Council would have a betteridea of its financial Hd thought that wells iit a cost of £3o{j would answer present purposes. The Mayor desired to see the matter laid before the public in a proper way. Cr. Campbell was of opinion that the works were of too elaborate a character foi* the preaeiit position of (he borough • moreover, lie was of opinion the question Ought to go before the ratepayers?) and, a vote to be take,n upoti it; The Mayor said tlie matter had been before the Council many moiiilis. He moved—" That the report of the Finance Committee on the subject be received dnd adopted.” The motion was seconded by Cr: Anderson, and carried. A report from the Bouudafy Track Committee Was retid, and, on the motion of Cr. Seddon, seconded by Cr: Horne, received and adopted. A report from the Valuation List Committee was also read and received ; and; dri the motion 6f tlie Mkydi-j seconded by Cr; Dove, adopted; Accounts to the amount of £56 (j§ 3d were passed for payment. Relative to the Government waterrace in Fourth street, Cr. gijdddu moved—" That the Minister of Mines be asked to take the; necessary steps for protecting the race, reminding him of his having seen tlie- dangerods Character of the said race.The motion was 'seconded by the Mayor, and carried;'' Cr. Seddon moved by That the 80-oiJgh Surveyor be instructed to 1 lay off Seddon street to the westerri boundary of the borough.” The motion was lost. Tile Mayor asked for leave to move “ That a special meeting be held on Friday, litli iuat., for »ousiclering notices of motion relative 10 Standing Orders.” ° Cr. Seddon moved the adjournment of the Council. Cr Barnett secended. Tlie Council then adjourned;