BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2037, 9 March 1883, 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 (W. Barnett, Esq.), Councillors O'Hagan, Anderson, Mulvihill, Home, Burger, and Carey.. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved of. The inward correspondence was received and considered. Mr John Henderson, in reply to a letter received from the Town Clerk asking him on what grounds he wished his rates reduced, replied that he objected on two grounds—first, he was not in a position to pay the rate and was in very bad health ; and, secondly that the rate was most ' exorbitant; adding, the work done on his ground so far was all dead work, and had brought him no return. On the motion of Cr. O'Hagan, seconded Cr. Anderson, Mr Henderson's letter was held over for consideration at the next meeting of the Council. A letter was read from Mr James Wylde complaining that he had endeavoured, but unsuccessfully, to see the balance-sheet for the six months ended 30th September, 1882, as audited b} r Messrs Bernard and Barrett; and desired that the Council would order that it be shewn to him. Mr Wylde also applied that the Town Clerk be instructed to let him have his private file of the Kumara Times. When he v/as Town Clerk he received two copies of the paper—one for the office, and one for himself. Cr. Carey moved, in reference to the first request—" That the Town Clerk be instructed to again search the office for the lost balance-sheet, and afterwards write to the Registrar to see if the document is in Hokitika." Cr. Home seconded the motion, which was carried. With reference to the second part of Mr Wylde's letter, Cr. Carey moved—" That the latter part of Mr Wylde's letter, of this day's date, stand over until next meeting of the Council." The Mayor explained that the Manager Kumara Times had informed him, in reply to an inquiry as to the conditions on which two copies of the paper had been left daily at the Council Chambers, that he had simply kept up a custom instituted so far as he knew from the commencement of the borough, but he supposed one copy was left for the Town Clerk to file for the borough, and the other as a private copy for the Town Clerk. Cr. Home : Who pays for them ? The Mayor : They are not paid for, they are free copies. Cr. Burger considered the papers would be useful for reference. It was evident the papers were left for the use of the borough. He moved—" That Mr Wylde's claim to the Kumara Times cannot be entertained." The motion was seconded by Cr. Anderson, and carried. Some comments were made by councillors on the laxity displayed by those who had been appointed a Select Committee to consider rules and regulations for the guidance of officers of the Council. It appeared as if they could never get a quorum. Cr. Burger moved—" That the Select Committee appointed for drawing up rules and regulations for the guidance of officers of the Council be discharged." The motion was seconded by Cr. O'Hagan, and carried. The Town Clerk then brought up the report of the Public Works Committee. Public Works Committee Report. Present—Cr. Burger (in the chair), Crs. Anderson, Rudkin, Burger. 1. The Committee beg to report to the Council that they have again visited the ground of the track asked for by Mr M'llveney, and that they cannot alter former recommendation to the Council, viz., that it be not entertained—for the following reasons, viz., 1, That Mr M'llveney is living away from any line of road ; 2, That most of the ground, if not all, is held by private parties ; 3, That j Mr M'llveney is the owner of a dam across the line of Fourth street, which would in itself involve a large expenditure to make a track across. 2. The Committee beg to recommend that a progress payment be made to Garven and Co. of £3O, on No. 3 contract, Seddon street, west. The report was adopted. [The remainder of our report will be be published to-morrow.]