BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2547, 1 November 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Town Hall on Thursday evening; present—His Worship the Mayor (D. Hannan, Esq.), Councillors Nicholson, Burger, Fitzsimmons, Anderson, Mulvihill, and Maloney. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved of, and the inward read and received and considered. [Cr. Nicholson here vacated his seat.] On a memorandum from the Secretary to the Colonial Treasury being read—Goldfields revenue £6, and gold duty £1 7s 7d—some remarks were made as to whether certain sources of revenue derivable from leases within the borough were not either being diverted or not being paid at all, as it was thought they should be, into the borough funds. The Mayor stated that he believed there were several sources of revenue, in particular from the School Commissioners leases, which he thought ought to revert to the Council. It might be well to obtain a legal opinion on the matter. Cr. Burger also thought there were other sources of revenue than those now being collected which ought to revert to the Council. He would move—- " That the Borough Solicitor's opinion be obtained in regard to the point of fees from leases within the boroogh on the Education Reserve, and also as to goldfields revenue." The Mayor seconded the motion, which was carried. A letter was read from Messrs Nicholson and Fairbairn asking permission to lay a tramway along the southern boundary of the borough, skirting the EB line, for a distance of from half to three-quarters of a mile, for the purpose of procuring timber from their back blocks. On the motion of Cr. Maloney, seconded by Cr. Burger, leave was granted. A letter was read from Salvatore Uarguilo drawing the attention of the Council to the footpath and watertables alongside of his house. In wet weather, there being no watercourse the water runs right underneath his house and into his yard, which is liable to cause disease. He asked the Council to remedy the same. Cr. Burger said this was only one of numerous instances to which the attention of the Council might bo drawn.

The letter was referred to the Public Works Committee to report upon. [Cr. Nicholson resumed his seat.] Circulars were received from the Dispatch Foundry Company, and Aitken, Wilson and Co. Cr. Burger moved the adjournment of the Council, to receive the Auditor's Report. The motion was not seconded. Cr. Burger moved—" That all Standing Committee's, as at present constituted, be discharged, and that the Council now proceed to appoint fresh Committees for the ensuing twelve months." Cr. Nicholson seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr. Burger moved Campbell, Fitzsimmons, Mulvihill, and the mover be appointed Public Works Committee for the ensuing twelve months; three to form a quorum, and Cr. Campbell to be Chairman thereof." He thought there should not be more than four on the Works Committee; five members simply ruled the Council. The Mayor seconded the motion, whicli was carried. Cr. Burger moved Mayor, Crs. Nicholson, Anderson, and Maloney be appointed the Finance Committee; three to form a quorum; Cr. Nicholson to be Chairman." Cr. Fitzsimmons seconded the motion, which was carried. The Mayor, Crs. Davies, Nicholson, and. Ziegler were appointed a Town Hall Committee; Cr. Nicholson Chairman. Crs. Anderson, Davies, Burger and Mulvihill were appointed a Printing Committee; three to forma quorum; Cr. Anderson to be Chairman. Cr. Anderson moved —" That all resolutions of the Borough Council- ap-. pointing Fire Inspectors be rescinded, and that the Council now appoint fresh Fire Inspectors." Mr Dove, the late Captain of the Fire Brigade had left the colony, and Mr Seddon (another Fire Inspector) was away most of his time. I The motion was carried, and the i Mayor, Cr. Campbell, Captain Burger, ! and Lieut. M'Ewen were appointed Fire Inspectors for the borough; the same to be publicly notified, as also the removal, as required by section 272, " Municipal Corporations Act, 1876." The Mayor moved—" That a Reserves Committee be appointed, consisting of Councillors Burger, Fitzsimmons, Mulvihill, and the Mayor (ex officio); and that Cr. Burger be Chairman thereof." Cr. Nicholson seconded the motion, which was carried. The Mayor also moved—" That with a view of devoting the sum of £7 10s anuually from each publican's licensefee, for racecourse purposes, the Reserves Committee be empowered to select and report to this Council as to the most suitable site for a course; to be called the Kumara Racecourse." The motion was seconded by Cr, Maloney, and carried. The Mayor moved—" That whereas the results from many washings lately on the Kumara goldfield have proved the yield of gold to be totally inadequate to meet the numerous other claim expenses besides the exorbitant water charges, and supply the miners engaged therein with the bare necessaries of life; and that in order to avert a state of insolvency amoii" business people and miners, this Council earnestly requests the Government to effect an immediate reduction in the price of water. Copies of this resolulution to be forwarded to the Hon. the Minister for Mines, the member representing this district in Parliament, to Messrs Bevan, Guinness, Menteatb, and O'Conor, M.H.Rs., and to Mr John Gow." The motion was seconded by Cr. Mulvihill, and carried. Cr. Burger moved—" That a Committee be appointed to consider and report upon the best way of either enlarging the present Recreation Ground to at least double its present size, or else to provide some other suitable piece of ground for public recreation." The Mayor seconded the motion, which was carried. By leave, Cr. Burger moved—" That the contractor's attention be called to the footpath*, kerbing, <fcc." The motion was seconded by Cr. Maloney, and carried. The meeting was then adjourned till Saturday (this day), at 3 p.m., for the purpose of considering the half-yearly y balance-sheet. I