BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2892, 12 January 1886, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING.

The special meeting of the Borough Council which was adjourned from the 16th December, was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday, 23rd ult. There were preaent—His Worship the Mayor (H. Burger, Esq ), Councillors Killeen, Olden, Ziegler, and Malouey. The Town Clerk read a report from the Public Works Committee. It recommended that Mr Keenan be authorised to inspect the contract for clearing, <fcc, on the Borough Reserve, and report to the Council on the value >f work done according to specifications, up to 22nd December, 1885; and generally as to the progress of the contract.

The report was received and adopted. Mr Keennn's report was also read and received.

Progress payments on account of contracts for grubbing and cleariu" on ihe Borough Reserve were passed as follow .-—Section No. 1, J. Cairns, £10; No. 2, J. Gilbert, £3O; Nos. 3 and 4, A. W. Quy, £ls. It was resolved that the attention of contractors on the Borough Reserve be called to the specifications, and that 'hey be informed that the terms must be complied with, or the penalty will be enforced.

Two accounts, one for tools, £1 4s, md another for firewood, £lO 16s, were passed for. payment, which concluded the business of the special meeting. ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Town flail on Friday afternoon, Bth inst., at three o'clock ; present His Worship the Mayor (H. Burger, Esq.), Councillors Ziegler, Mulvihill, Maloney, and Kroener. The minutes of meetings held on the 10ih December, and special meetings on the 16th and 23rd December were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved of. The inward cortespondence was read and received.

From Messrs Jones and Menteatb, Borough solicitors, signifying that the partnership subsisting between them was dissolved on the 17th December, by Mr Menteath retiring therefrom. Accompanying the letter was a bill of costs due to the 6rm, including the annual retainer of £5 ss, and two opinions, £2 4s 6d each, makiug in all £d 14s.—On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Maloney, the account w»s referred to the Finance Committee.

The following letter was lead from Dr. Giles reference to his membership and the representation of the Borough C> uncil in the next election of members of the Hokitika High School Board:—

" To his Worship the Mayor, Kumara. " Sir—l have the honour to remind you of the necessity of taking steps in the ensuing month of January to nominate and appoint a member of the Hokitika High School Board under the provisions of the Act of 1883.

" I take this opportunity of thankhi" the Kumara Borough Council for the honour done me in twice nominating me to this positiou, and at the same time of briefly informing yourself and the Borough Councillors of my opinion upon the present prospects of a Hi"h School in Hokitika.

" I think that without some subsidy from Government towards the payment of expenses for the first few years, it is out of the question to think of establishing a High School, and any attempt to do so will simply result in the fruitless expenditure of the small endowment fund now in hand, and in "the ultimate failure of the scheme.

" It may be worthy of consideration whether the plan proposed by the Givymoulh Botrd should be followed, by obtaining parliamentary authority to cl-vote the fands to the maintenance of a Di.stiict High School, in connection with the Education Boaui. My obiec ? tiou to this scheme is that it Nvould"

render the future establishment of a High School impossible, hy dissipating the funds which otherwise, by careful nursing, will in time enable the scheme to be carried out.

" I give no opinion on the question whether the Government ought to subsidise a High School at Hokitika, but I am clear that without such aid the wiser course is to save the fatul and allow the interest to accumulate until the Board is in a position to take effective action. >-***

"The opinion which I have now expressed is, I think, contrary to thatentertained by a good many of the public, who I believe aro disposed to blame the Board for not having made a beginning. For this reason I am desirous that my own views should be clearly laid before yon, in order that you may know how my voice will be given should I be again on the Board. I hope the Borough Council will not think of again nominating me unless the course which I advocate meets with their entire approbation. —I have, &c, " J. Giles, " Chairman of Hokitika High School Board. " Hokitika, December 31, 1885." On the motion of Ci\ Maloney, seconded by Cr. Mulvihill, it was resolved that Dr. Giles be elected a Governor of the Hokitika High School, to represent this Council ; and that the Council appvove of the views expressed in his letter. Circulars were read from the Secretary of the Christchurch Railway League forwarding copies of resolutions adopted by the League, and asking the co-operation of the Council. The resolutions were as follow : (1.) "That this committee places itself in communication with Nelson and Westland centres, with the object of extending the active operations of the League in concert." (2.) "That the Committee of the League be extended, ro as to include representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Association, the various County Councils and Road Boards throughout Canterbury; and that the several bodies named be each asked to nominate a member to the General Committee." One of the circulars further stated that "The League, in its policy, recommends cordial co-operation between the people of Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson, to secure the construction by the Government of the East aud West Coast and Nelson Railway, simultaneously with the Northern Trunk and Otago Central railways, and advocates the extension of the membership of the League to all parts of the colony." On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Maloney, it was resolved that the Town Clerk reply that the Council will cooperate with the Railway League as far as possible, and that they sympathise with the objects of the League.

A letter was read from Mr A. Dimant, of Wellington, Agent for the Importer of Horden's Hand Grenades, applying for permission to exhibit publicly in ibe borough, in some public reserve or road, one of their patent fire extinguishers. For this purpose, the applicant stated, he would need to erect a temporary wooden structure, say a box Bft. by Bffc., which, after being fired, the remaining debris would be at once removed, and no danger to adjoining buildings need be apprehended. Leave was granted to experiment with the hand grenade, as requested, in the Recreation Ground.

On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Mulvihill, it was resolved that the Town Clerk furnish MiGeorge Orams, late night watchman, with a testimonial expressing the satisfaction of the Council at the faithful discharge of his duties as night watch, man and Fire Brigade apparatus keeper.

A report from the Finance Committee was read and received, and accounts to the amount of £-13 Gs passed for payment.

A report from the Inspector of Nuisances was also read and received. This concluded the business of the meeting.