BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2301, 12 January 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Council was held in the Town Hall on Thursday, day, the 27th ult.; present—The Mayor (D. Hannan, Esq.), Crs. Nicholson, Home, Davies, Rudkin. On the motion of Or. Rudkin leave was unanimously given to suspend ByeLaw No. 48 for a special purpose. Cr. Rudkin moved—" That the resolution dated December 11, 1883, and December 23, appointing Alfred Skilton and Joseph Dove be rescinded." Bye-Law No. 28 was then suspended. Cr. Rudkin moved—" That Alfred Skilton be appointed Town Clerk, Treasurer, Returning Officer, &c, &c." The motion was seconded by Cr. Nicholson, carried unanimously, and the Council then adjourned. ►♦« ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Borough Coancil was held in the Town Hall on Thursday evening ; present—His Worship the Mayor (D. Hannan, Esq.), Councillors Campbell, Simmons, Anderson, Mulvihill, Rudkin, Nicholson. The minutes of the previous ordinary meetiug, the annual meeting, and special meeting were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved of. The inward correspondence was read, received, and considered. The following letters were read and received:— " To his Worship the Mayor, Kumara. " Sir—l am to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 26th ult., making application for part cost of maintaining that part of the road to the Beach which is already constructed within the Borough boundary. " In reply thereto I am to state that the Council cannot see their way to the recognition of this, or any similar claim. At a very heavy annual cost, thsy have to maintain many miles of main aud other roads leading to Boroughs, or for the benefit of Boroughs, and towards the advantages of which the Boroughs contribute nothing. With regard to the particular road to which you refer, the Council shortly anticipate having to maintain several miles of this road, and it will then (when fully completed) exist as a road from which the Borough of Kumara will derive almost exclusive benefit. " In other countries—as for instance, Canada and England—Boroughs are obliged to contribute part of the maintenance cost to those Counties which maintain main or other roads leading to, or benefiting boroughs. " I have, <fec, " P. DUNGAN, " County Chairman. " County Council Chambers, " December 18, 1883." "To his Worship the Mayor and Borough Council. " Sir and Gentlemen—ln accordance with a resolution passed at a special meeting of the Council held on 27th December, 1883, I have the honor to accept the position of Town Clerk, Treasurer, Returning Officer, Rate Collector, Receiver of Rates and Revenue, Valuer, Health Officer, Building Inspector, and to prepare specifications at a salary of £l5O per annum, and at the same time to return my best thanks for the confidence you repose in me, and to assure you that my best energies will be used to retain that confidence. " I have, &c, " Alfred Skilton, " Town Clerk. " Kumara, January 9, 1884" "A letter from the Rev. Father Walshe drawing the attention of the Council to some improvements near the Catholic Church property which were deemed necessary, was, on the motion of Cr. Mulvihill, seconded by Cr. Nicholson, referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. A letter from Mr A. Skilton, applying for a few loads of gravel in front of his premises on the Main Road was also, on the motion of Cr. Mulvihill seconded by Cr. Nicholson, referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. The Town Clerk read a Report from from the Public Works Committee. The report stated that the Committee had received only one tender for supplying gravel. This was from Mr >S itiiuftrville, who offered to supply gravel at 3> 6d per yard. The Commits e had not accented the tender, but recommend.d that the Mayor be empowered to hire drays and men to get the footpaths repaired, as per resolution of Council, dated 15th December. On the motion of Cr. Rudkin, seconded by Cr. Simmons, the Report was and adopted. Cr. Campbell here asked leavo to

introduce Mr Seddon as a deputation from the ratepayers of Seddon-stveet east. Leave being granted, Mr Seddon said he represented not himself and Mr Keech so much as Mr Preston, of the Criterion Hotel, and others adjacent. A petition had been previously, presented to the Council on the subject, which had been referred to the Public Works Committee with power to act; but as yet only a fewloads of gravel were put there, which proved no good. He now applied that the relief sought should be granted. Mr Preston had paid reut for many years. A few loads more gravel would put the whole thing right. Cr. Rudkin (as Chairman of the Public Works Committee) rose to explain that the work had been deferred because tenders had not yet been accepted for the supply of gravel. It was understood that when tenders should be accepted for the supply of gravel, the work would be proceeded with. The Town Clerk then brought up the report of the Finance Committee. It recommended that the following accounts be passed for payment:— £ s. d. W. Barnett 12 10 0 J. Monahan 3 17 0 A. Skilton ... ... 11 10 8 F. Keenan 9 0 0 Kumara Times ... 3 8 0 G. Orams ... ... 4 8 0 G. Rudkin 3 14 0 Campbell and Kettles 15 6 J. B. Henham ... 415 0 Sundries (streets) ... 8 5 0 J. M'Ennis 2 10 0 W. Somerville ... 11 2 6 G. Simmons ... ■ ... 215 0 S. M. Spiers 1 10 0 The Report also recommended that Mr J. Dove, Treasurer, be paid up to January 18. Also, that the sum of 10s be granted as a gratuity to the letter carrier. It was resolved that the accounts of Mr Rudkin and Messrs Campbell and" Kettles be held over until next meeting. This was pending the questiou of the legality of their right as members of the Borough Council to supply goods to the Council. On the question of Mr Simmons' account, he being also a member of the Council, Cr. Auderson moved and Cr. Campbell seconded—" That the account of Mr G. Simmons be passed for payment." A division was taken with the following result: Ayes, 4—Crs. Anderson, Mulvihill, Campbell, Rudkiu; Noes, 2—The Mayor, Cr. Nicholson. Thhe motion was therefore carried. It was resolved that the sum of 10s be paid to the letter carrier. Cr. Rudkin then moved—" That the amount of £96 Is 2d be passed for payment." A division was taken with a result precisely similar to the previous division ; and the motion was therefore carried. Cr. Nicholson, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, made a statement as to the financial position of the borough. The overdraft was £215 3s Bd. A report from the Inspector of Nuisances was read, and on the motion of Cr. Anderson, seconded by Cr. Simmons, received. Cr. Simmons moved—" That Mr Dove receive three months' notice of the termination of his engagement as Treasurer, from January 18, 1884." The motion was seconded by Or. Mulvihill, and carried. The Town Clerk laid upon the table specifications for forming one chain of road, and making a turn-out in Third street, near the Church of England. On the motiou of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Rudkin, it was resolved that tenders be called for executing the work mentioned in the specification; same to close by next meeting of the Council. Leave being granted so to do, Cr. Rudkin moved—" That the Public Works Committee be authorised to bring up a report at the next meeting of the Council in reference to the covering of the Government race in Fourth street, or seek redress from the Government." The motion was seconded by Cr. Anderson, and carried. Cr. Simmons now moved—" That a suitable site be chosen for a fire-engine station-house." The Mayor moved the following amendment—" That the question of a site for fire-engine house be referred to the Public Works Committee, to report at next meeting; and that the s:iid Committee consult the Fire Brigade in the matter." This was seconded by Cr. Anderson, and carried. The question qf the erection of :\ "■tsiti'.m-hoisse \v :l s also rr-fi-nvd to the Ftib'ic Works (Jiiumi:: c, to -consult with the Fire Bu-uui; ia thu matter,