HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 237, 20 January 1898, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A SPECIAL meeting of the Hamilton Borough Couucil was held yesterday for the purpose of appointing a day in each week on which the half-holiday should be held. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Dey), and Crs. D. Salmon, Win. Jones, T. Sladc, R. J. Gwynno, W. Ciawford, S. Davis, 11. Tristram and R. F. Sanies. Half-Holiday.—Cr. Tristram moved that Saturday should be the day choscu. The Wednesday half holiday he considered was a farce, and the people for whom the Act was framed received no benefit from it whatever. By altering it to Saturday employees would be enabled to go to Te Aroha or anywhere else they choose and be back in time for work on Monday morniug. As far as he could sco all they could do at present was to go into the public houses. He understood that factories were compelled to close on Saturdays, and they therefore had two half-holidays in the week instead of one. It would be a new thing, but people would soon become used to it, and he thought it wotll.l work harmoniously. All our sports, such as racing, cricket and football, were held on S.\turday, aud the consequence was onehalf the people were unable to be present. He thought they should give Saturday a trhl.--Cr. Sladc said he ha-1 great pleasure in secouding the notion. For many reasons Saturday was he considered the best day for those whom the holiday was intended, and the present arrangement was uo holiday at all. He thought people would scon get accustomed to it, and there was no doubt about its working smoothly. Speaking personally he closed his place of business on Saturday and had no diffi cu'ty in arranging his business to suit his customers, and he was positive it made not the slightest difference as far as trade was concerned.—The Clerk then read a petition s : gned by nearly every storekeeper in the town asking that Wednesday should be the clay appointed.—Cr. Jones then proposed as an amendment that the half-holiday should be held on Wedutsdiy as usual. Those who had signed the petition he thought uere the best judges of the most suitable day, and their request should be acceded to.- Cr. Sandes, in seconding the amendment, said they had now had a good deal of experience of the Wednesday, and although it caused a little inconvenience at first, everyone had become accustomed to it now. Judging by the signatures on the petition the majority of the storekeepers were in favour of Wednesday, and he thought matters should be allowed to remain as they were until strong public opinion was expressed against them.—The Cha'rman said personally he thought Saturday was the best day for the holiday, but until the Government took matters in hand aud made it a holiday throughout the colony he did not think the local bodies should interfere in the matter. He was convinced that Saturday was the best day.—Cr. Tristram thought the people interested were the shop assist ants and not the shopkeepers. Not a single assistant's name had appeared on the petition, and he was sure they were all in favour of Saturday, although they dared not move in the matter, but these were the people to be considered.—On teing put to the meeting the amendment was carried, the voting being as follows :—For Wednesday: Crs. Gwynne, Sandes, Salmon, Jones, Davis and the Mayor. Against: Crs. Slade, Crawford and Tristram.—The voting for the motion was vice versa. ordinary meeting. Hamilton West Railway Station.— Mr T. Ronayne, General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, wrote as follows re the alteration to the tailway station at Hamilton West :—" I have the honour to inform you that the improvements now being carried out at the Hamilton West station will suffice for the present. To move the station and siding so as to enable shunting to be carried on without blocking the road would be a costly matter, and there are no funds available for tuch a purpose." —The letter was received. Works Report.—The report of the Works Committee recommending repairs to the bank at the Hamilton traffic bridge, and the filling in arid piping of the dangerous holes at the corner kuown as Vincent's, was read.—Cr. Sandes took cxcept : on to the latter work until an expert's opinion hid been obtained as to whether the pipes would carry off the water. —Several cf the Councillors considered the work was likely to be an expensive one, and eventually the report ,vas referred back to tho Committee for an estimate of the cost of the works proposed, the Committee being empowered to obtain an expert's opinion on the matter. Foreman's Report.—The report of the Foreman of Works was received and adopted. Bank of New Zealand.—The Council decided to sign the agreement regarding the half-yearly charge of 10s 6d with reference to the general account. Accounts- The following accounts were passed for payment:—J. Ridler, £1 12s ; Waikato Argcs, £3 14s 6d ; J. S. Bond, 7s 6d ; P. Munro, 12s 6d ; T. W. Maunder, £3 5s 2d ; W. Andrew, 12s ; M. A. Going. £1 19s ; Parr Bros., 7s ; S. Meaehcm, £1 los. Auctioneers' Licenses.—The Clerk reported that auctioneers' licenses had been issued to the two auctioneers residing within the Borough. DOMAIN 130ARD. The meeting of the Domaiu Board was held immediately aft. rwards, the same members being present. Sydney Square. Fermissioi was granted to the Waikato Amateur Athletic Club to use Sydney Square for their sports meeting to be hell on the 29th January, and make the usual charges for admission. Accounts. —The following payments were authorised :—Waikato Argus, £1 J6s; T. W. Maunder, £1 18s 6(1; L, O'Neill, £4 14s 6d ; J. Ridler, £2 2s 6d.