TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2260, 15 June 1880, Page 2

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above was held hist evening - . Present — llis Worship the'Mayor and Councillors Gibson, Shepherd, Jonas, Gabites, Iloss, Sherr.iti, and Greenup. coKincsi-oxDHxci:. Letters were read from the Colonial Secretary re finding employment at slonehreaking for (lie relief of local distress, intimating that the matter did not come within the scope of the Government. From Messrs McLean and Gtewart, requesting that the footpath opposite their rooms ho asphalted. IM'erred to the Works Committee. From certain ratepayers calling attention to the state of the street leading from Barrett’s coach factory to the beach.

The Mayor said the, road had been since repaired by day labor, and his action in the matter was approved of. Frotn the Resident Magistrate, staling that the visiting justices would he happy to,place t,he hard labor gang at the disposal of tlie Corporalion at the conclusion of the sittings of the Supreme Court. From Messrs Newton and Wilson, asking permission to place a small engine on the sea side of the railway, near the old lifeboat shed, for the purpose of cutting firewood. ’Referred, to Works Committee. Consideration o!' a pci it ion rr Kdward Street was postponed I'm - a fortnight. An application from Air Klwort.hy, Pa room, for (ho loan of the Council’s sledge was granted.

Several communications relating to footpaths and culverts, wore referred to the Works Committee. The Foreman of Works reported thatlot yards of id angle had been spread on t he footpaths. At the suggestion of CT. ’Ross, it was resolved to inspect the Main .Road below J.[all’s store and other streets requiring repair on Wednesday. UY-LAWS. On (lie motion of Councillor Gibson, seconded by Councillor khepherd, it, was resolved—“ That the by-laws passed by the Timarn .Borough Council on the 121.1 i day of April, 1380. shall come into force on (lie Ist day of July proximo, and that the Borough Solicitor be instructed to draft a proper notice to bo published for the purpose of bringing the said Borough by-laws into force, and (he Town Clerk be instructed to cause such notice, when prepared, to bo published as required by the Municipal Corporations Act.”

Under the provisions of the now by-laws Mr Henry Lough was appointed Surveyor of Theatres and Public Buildings ; Inspector of Carts and Carriages ; Petroleum and other explosives ; and Pecllcrs and Hawkers. Air Hale was appointed Inspector of tbo following : —Buildings ; erection of tents ; crossing of footways ; building material deposited on footpaths ; and swine keeping. X-IXAXCK. Accounts to the amount of £lO7 7s 2d were passed for payment. The Mayor stated that the overdraft at the Bank, after paying these accounts would bo £2113 12s, and this amount could not be exceeded, as it was the limit allowed by the Bank.

MUNICIPAL C 011I’O KAT TONS ACT, 1880. Councillor Gibson said he had received from Mr Turnbull, M.H.IC, a copy of the Municipal Amendment; Act introduced to parliament by the Mayor of Wellington. After carefully comparing the Amendments with the existing Act ho found that .some of the now proposals were most objectionable, lie objected particularly to the repeal of danse ;3D of the present Act, seeing that this would enable one-thin) of (lie ratepayers to involve a borough in very serious debt. Ho moved the following series of resolutions :—‘‘That this Council is of opinion that clause 211 of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment, I ■‘•'HO, proposing to repeal danse oil of of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1070, is bad in principle ; and this Council would most respectfully protest against its becoming law. (2.) That where direct taxation exists, and as property is primarily liable for the payment of all rates —both general, special and separate —and considering the extended powers proposed to be given to local bodies to levy rates, propertv should bo fairly represented, as provided for in danse bl) of the Munidpal Corporations Act, IS7O, and now proposed to be repealed. (:i) That under (he borrowing power of the Municipal Corporations Act 1880, onethird of the ratepayers of a .Borough would bo able to saddle a .Borough with heavy liabilities, therefore it would be unjust, and a dangerous power to be given. (1) That should any amendment be made in the voting powers under the Act, all electors or polls should be taken under the provisions of clause :JU and sub-sections of the Municipal Corporations Act 1870. (5) That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Government and the members for Boulli Canterbuiy.” Councillor Jonas supported the resolutions which were seconded by Councillor Shepherd and carried animously. The Council then adjourned.