BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1084, 8 June 1882, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Council was belli on Tuesday evening. Pin sent : His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Tutchen, Lewis, Clayton, Brown, Somervell, Berry, Whinray, Townley, and Tu<ker. After tho minutes of the| previous meeting had been passed, the outgoing correspondence was read. The Timaru Disaster. A letter was read from the Relief Committee, asking the Council for a donation towards the subscription now being raised t hroughout New Zealand for the widows and children of the brave men who lost their Eves in endeavoring to save those of others. Cr. Whinray asked if there was any fund from which a sum could be voted. There being no such fund, and the Councillors conversationally expressing an opinion that they could not puss a special vote, the matter dropped. A letter from Mr R. Wilson was read, accepting the conditions of the Council relative to the Pound. “A Bad Place.” Mr Judd, by letter, asked that the Engineer should mend “ a bad place ” in front of his shop. After some badinage as to Mr Drummond personally using a long-handled shovel, it was decided to inform Mr Judd that the Council expected that- the gravel would shortly be to hand, when the request would be complied with. Leave of Absence. By application Mr J. Bourke was granted leave of absence tor ten days. Mr Drummond, the Engineer, will act for the Town Clerk during that term. Mr Bourke thanked the Council for the concession. Returning Officer. Applications for the appointment of Returning Officer for the Borough were received from Messrs P. Bourke, F. J. Piesse, and W. Ratcliffe. —Cr. Tutchen proposed that Mr Piesse be appointed.—This was seconded by Cr. Lewis. —Cr. Brown proposed Mr Bourke should receive the appointment, and this was seconded by Cr. Whinray.—Mr Ratcliffe was not proposed.—The voting resulted in a tie, and His Worship gave his casting vote in favour of Mr Bourke. Dangerous Goods Sited. On the recommendation of the committee it was resolved that the shed should be erected at the foot of Peel-street, on the banksjof the Taruheru. Extension of Wharf. A report from the Engineer was read relative to this proposed measure, and after some discussion it- was proposed by Cr. Townley, and seconded by Cr. Tutchen, “That the Engineer be instructed to prepare plans for the extension of the Wharf ; such plans to bo submitted to the authorities in Wellington if necessary. —Carried. Nesbitt Hoad.

Cr. Brown callpd attention to the state in which this road was at present, and said it was an eyesore. Mr Morgan was willing to remove fche stable standing upon it if the Council would accept his terms. —A discussion ensued as to the control tho Council possessed over the road which hud never been handed over, and it was agreed that nothing could be done until the necessary forms had been gone through Passing Accounts. The sinn of £7OO was passed to the credit of the sinking fund, and several other items approved by the Engineer, were ordered to be paid. The Gravel Contract. An engrossed deed in relation to tho Oxenham contract, received from the Cook County Council for signature by the Borough Councillors was ordered to be returned to the County Council unsigned until the signatures of the members of that body had been affixed. The Guilders Hoad Sections. The Town Clerk produced the Crown grants for the sections in Childers-street sold some time back by order of the Council, and it was decided that the Engineer should arrange the boundaries in accordance with the present fences. The Bi ver Bank Reserves. Cr. Whin ray asked to bo informed the amount due by Mr Hugh Fraser for the portion of the reserves occupied by that gentleman. He thought the existing agreement had been broken as no fence had been put up although that was specially mentioned in it.—lt was mentioned that the Council had agreed to provide the timber but this had not been done. —Cr. Tutchen was of opinion that Mr Fraser should receive no considerat ion as he had tried tojget out of paying a portion of his rent. — The Town Clerk said ho had given Mr Fraser a fortnight’s grace. The matter was then allowed to stand over until next meeting. The Rates. On the motion of Cr. Townley, seconded by Cr. Brown, it was resolved that the general rate be five per cent., payable on tho Ist of July and the 31st of December. The Act requiring the latter rate to be paid half-yearly. The Ferryman. Cr. Townley mentioned that a paragraph had appeared in the “ Herald ” blaming the ferryman for neglect.—The Crs. generally expressed their opinion that the ferryman was particularly attentive to his duties and a thoroughly reliable man. The matter then dropped. By-law 17, Clause 1. Cr. Whinray moved that the existing clause making it compulsory that all new buildings of wooden framework must ba covered with iron, be rescinded. In support of his motion the Councillor said that in summer those buildings would be almost untenable, and he felt convinced that the iron would not prevent a building from taking fire. He thought weatherboarded walls with a coating of Hematite paint would be far preferable.—There was no seconder, and the motion lapsed. This concluded the business.

The Bishop of Lincoln (Dr. Wordsworth) has requested that women who are not in favor of a bill for the legalisation of marriage with a deceased wife’s sister, will sign petitions for that end. “ Society ” wants to know how many of the fairer sex will attach their autographs to this political document.