Borough Council.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 983, 1 October 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

Borough Council.

The meeting of the Council on Tuesday night last was not signalised by any business of much importance. The report of the Committee appointed to “Star Chamber” the Town Clerk, was duly received and “adopted,” whatever that may mean, as, in this instance, the Committee merely said that some of the charges made against that official were admitted, and others proved, and that they recommended the Town Clerk be called upon to resign. ,

Cr. Piesse complained of some letters which appeared in the Standard last Saturday, and questioned their correctness. Cr. Tucker, in that waggish humor, natural to him, mildly asked Cr. Piesse if he thought the Council “ intended to pass a vote of censure (sic) on the journal in which the letters appeared.” What fun ! cussion took place as to whether any of the worthy Councillors wrote the letters in question, and Cr. Tucker sensibly suggested that it would be unwise to take any notice at all of the letters. [The reporter is authorised to state, parenthetically, in justice to the Borough Councillors, and the Town Clerk, that none of them wrote the letters in question. The letters were furnished to this office, in the usual way —the bona fide personality of their authors being established. Under the circumstances, if any Councillor, or the Town Clerk, had written such letters, they would have been refused insertion]. The Engineer was instructed to report on Mr. McDowell’s contract. £59 7s 6d was claimed by Mr. McDowell, but only £lB was acknowledged by the Council. The Council decided to vote £SO out of the Borough chest, in aid of the Hospital funds. Also 50 guineas per annum, as a salary for a permanent Borough Medical Officer to co-operate with the “ Public Health Committee.” This step was considered necessary, owing to the the Committee, in their report, as to the health and sanitary condition of the town. The consideration of a few minor questions took the Council up t>*a late hour, when au adjournment took place until Wednesday, 28th. The principal item of interest was the following motion by His Worship the Mayor : —“ That the Government, having expressed their inability to place a sum upon the Estimates in aid of the erection of a bridge at the foot of Gladstone Road, this Council, having in view the rapid progress of the district, and the extension of roads, deem it advisable that a bridge be erected, the cost to be defrayed from locally issued debentures, the interest to be met from tolls leviable. That instead of a sinking fund, such debentures shall, from time to time, be taken up by the Borough Fund Account, to which account the interest shall be payable.” His Worship supported his motion, at length, stating that the cost of the bridge would not exceed £4OOO, a portion of which he proposed be provided for by the issue of debentures, redeemable in ten years, £2OO a year, out of the general Borough rates, and the remainder to be obtained from the" Government, the County Council, and the Natives, as the properties in which they are interested would be greatly enhanced in value, by the prosecution of such a work. He thought the end of Gladstone Road was the proper and natural place for a bridge, in the interests of town and country alike. 1 he present ferry age was very imperfect and unsatisfactory; and the growing requirements of traffic demanded that extra facilities should be afforded to settlers on the coast. Councillors generally gave their support to the proposal, but thought that the Natives should contribute a fair share towards the cost. The motion \?as carried ;< and Cr. Tucker moved :—“ That the Government, County Council, and persons directly benefitted by this bridge, be communicated with, asking them to contribute to this work. (2). That a Committee, consisting of His Worship, Cr. Townley, Tutchen, Piesse, and the mover, be appointed to carry out the proposition. Referring to Mr. Oxenham’s contract, the Engineer said in his report: In reference to the contract for supply of gravel for the Gladstone Road, 1 may state that 1 am not in possession of any official information as to what date the delivery of gravel is likely to be commenced, and I would

beg to recommend that a letter be written to the contractor, calling his attention to the lapse of time since the contract was signed and asking him to state (approximately) the earliest date at which delivery is likely to take place; whereupon the Council instructed that officer to communicate with Mr. Oxenham in reference to the commencemnt of the delivery of the gravel. Cr. Tucker moved, and Cr. Piesse > seconded : “ That this Council express their heartfelt regret at the untimely fate of the American President, and that a wire to that effect be sent to the American Consul at Auckland.” The motion was unanimously agreed to. With regard to water supply, Cr. Piesse said that with the view of obtaining further information on the matter, he would move that the Engi>*‘neer be instructed to examine the land on both sides of the town, and to report as to the probable supply of water obtainable per hour from a well in either direction. Cr. Lewis said as some little information would be afforded, he would second the motion, which, on being put, was carried.