BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1781, 16 June 1882, 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 (in the chair), Councillors Anderson, Burger, Pollock, Campbell, iiudkin, Dove, and Barnett. The minutes of the previous fortnightly and special meetings weie read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved of. The Town Clerk laid upon the table specifications of the duties of caretaker; also of the sexton ; also of culverts in Tui street and Third street. The inward correspondence was read and received. LITERARY INSTITUTE. Two letters were read from the Hon. Secretary (Mr R. Wykle) of the Knmara Lit-rary Institute. The first applied for the pavment of the annual subsidy of £2O voted for two vears' to the society by the Borough Council in July, 1881. The one subsidy had been paid in July last year, and the Institute Committee now applied for the second year's grant. The second communication concluded by stating that without the assistance of the Council it would be quite impossible to carry on the institution. The Mayor stated that it was no doubt a very useful institution, and he would move—" That the sum of £2O be voted to the Kumara Literary Society for t'ne current year 1882-83." Cr. Pollock seconded the motion. Institutes were supported by all other public bodies, and he considered them necessary institutions. Cr. Campbell wished to know if there were any concessions made to the public. The Council were asked to vote puMic money, and the public should on that ground reap some advantage. The Mayor said the Institute was at all times open to visitors and strangers. Cr. Burger begged to move an amendment. If the reading room were thrown open to the public, he would be in favor of granting a subsidy of even more than this amount. He moved "That the matter of a subsidy to the Literary Institute, be referred to the Finance Committee to confer with the Institute Committee, with the view of throwing the reading room open to the ratepayers." Cr. Rudkin seconded the amendment. Fie was in favor of a gr <nt of even more than the £2O if the reading mom were made public. The Mayor asked leave to withdraw his motion in favor of the amendment. Leave was granted, and the amendment was made the substantive motion. C". Campbell quite agreed with the present motion. There w uld be two parties to the transaction, and they might com ft to an amicable arrangement wh eh would benefit the institution and the public at 1 irge. Them>tion was then put and carried. PUBLIC WORKS. A report from the Public Works Committee was read and received, as follows : REPORT. The Committee recommend—1. That Third street be formed and metalled for three chains from Seddon street northwards, 14 feet wide. 2. That the Borough Surveyor prepare specifications for (1), A new culvert in Third street ; (2), A new culvert in Tui. street ; (3), Filling-up approaches to culverts and bridges in Third street and Tui street ; and that lie invite tenders fur the work from T. Connor, L. Spyer, H. Gib- .

son, and W. Murphy. The work to be completed within two weeks. 3. That four chains of Second street be formed, 18 feet wide, to the north of Seddon street. H. Burger, Chairman. The report was received and considered. Ct. Kudkin moved—" That clause 1 be adopted." There were good approaches to all the other churches, and he thought it was only fair that there should he one to this. By request of Cr. Campbell, the Borough Surveyor stated that the proposed extension would give a good passage to the Church of England parsonago and church. The motion for the adoption of clause 1 was then seconded bv the Mayor, and carri d. With regard to the formation of Second street, the Mayor moved—- " That clause 2 be adopted, with the exception of the words « from T Connor, L. Spyer, H. Gibsou, and W. Murphy." Cr. Campbell seconded the motion. He did not approve of initiating such a pernicious system as selecting certain persons to ask them to tender. Cr. Burger moved an amendment—- " That clause 2 be referred back to the Public Works Committee, with power to act." Cr. Anderson seconded the amendment. Cr. Campbell did not see what object was to be gained by so doing. The amendment was put and carried. Cr. Burger moved and Cr. Rndkin seconded the adoption of clause 3. The Mayor moved an amendment—that the Town Surveyor be instructed to prepare plans and specifications, as proposed, in the centre of Second street, and lay the same before the meeting of the Council. At another stage of the proceedings the Borough Surveyor brought up a ifeport on other necessary works required ts be done. A gravel pit on the east side of Fifth street required filling, being in a most dangerous condition. Another hollow in Fifth street required filling. The floor of the fire-engine shed required repairing. A new gate was required for the Cemetery. And sundry articles were wanted.

On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Ur. Anderson, the report was referred to the Public Works Committee, with [tower to act. FIRE ENGINE. The Committee appointed on the Ist June in the matlet of procuring a fire engine reported as follows : 1. That the Borough Surveyor be aaked to make a preliminary report to next meeting of Council as to the means of supplying tanks for fire purposes with water. 2. That the question of the price and quality of fire engines be referred to the Mayor and the Town Clerk to report. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Dove, both clauses were adopted. CARETAKER. A report from the committee appointed to define the duties of caretaker was read and received, as follows: That the following be rules for the caretaker : 1. To keep Town Hall offices and windows clean. Not to include scrubbing the hall after balls. 2. To light fire and lamps when required. 3. To take charge of all Borough Council property on the premises, including tools; but exclusive of Fire Brigade plant. ° 4. The caretaker to have the use of the rooms occupied by the housekeeper, and to have free firewood and kerosene. The report was received an.l adopted. Later on in the proceedings ten applications for appointment to the office of caretaker were opened and considered. Six applicants offered to discharge, the duties free of any remunerations more, than mentioned "in the foregoing stipulations. The four others asked—one y s two 10s, and one 20s per week additional; but the lustmentio.ied whs for the dual appointment of caretaker and sexton, and this application was consequently rejected as informal. After due consideration the number of applicant* were reduced to two, Mrs Mary Sed on and Mr W. Close', for whom there were three votes each, there behig al.so one for Mrs Martin and one for Mrs Dyer. A motion for the appointment of Mrs M. Seddon was then put, and carried on the voices. FINANCES. A report from the Finance Committee was read and ivc-ived. It recommended the payment of several accounts for contract work and Board of Health expenses ; that the existing fir-> plant )>e handed over to a fire Irfgade, if one is formed, and that ihe Council make »n annual grant to such brigade of £SO; also, that 10s be p H id ro the Resident Magistrate's Court on May 12th, t»

prosecute the owners of unregistered dogs, bat the Committee could Tot re commend any payment to him for attending the Court as lector of IN msances. The clauses were severally considered, and the report adopted. SEXTox. A report from the .committee appointed to draw „,, rH i es for the gex J was read, as follows :_ foSST„ T !!l tthe *"«** rules withtKwf aVeS be . dug in accordance o If, C l em ? t , ei T regulations. 2. All boulders or large stones to ha moved away to snch p&e as mav be pointed ont by the Borough Surveyor. ° 3. All graves to be properly filled in immediately after each LneraL 5 Tne W™ *" ld at each funeral. o. Hie bexton will be provided with necessary tools which he w?ll£vetoSke charge of and be respousible for 6. Applicants to state price per grave theyal ' ewi,lin ß .The report was adopted, and at a subsequent stage of the proceedings, three applications for the appointment as Sexton were opened, viz., from J. B. Uenliara_lss per grave for adults, 10a for children • from Joseph pfeff, 19a 4d. A tender from Thomas Harrold, to undertake the duties for £25 per annum, was declared informal The tender of J. Henham was accepted, JREPORT. A report of the Borough Surveyor re supply of water for fire extinction pur. poses was read and received. We shall publish this with the conclusion of the business of the Council in tomorrow J s issue.