HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1048, 14 September 1901, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The 'Hamilton Borough Council met last evening. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. W. Dyer), Chairman, and Crs. J. S. Bond, E. J. Davey, J. A. Young, G. W. Sare, R. Parr, W. Dey and A. Coyle. Insurance.— Mr L. O’jNeill advised the Council to expunge from the Borough leases the covenant to insure all buildings erected on endownmenta as it would make no difference to the Council, and would tend to prejudice owners in raising money.—The Mayor moved that, this matter be referred to the Legal and Finance Committee with power to act. —Cr. Coyle seconded. —The Mayor said he was still of opinion that it was advisable to compel owners to insure, as under certain conditions the property would revert to the Council.—After a short discussion the motion was put and unanimously carried. Licensing Expenses,— The travelling expenses of Messrs J. P. Bailey and O J. Storey in connection with the last licensing committee meeting and Mr Kirk’s salary for the quarter wore passed for payment. Clearing Grating. --Mr T. King applied for 4a for clearing the grating in Angleaea-street. He said he had been appointed to do this work during Mr John Parr’s term of office as Mayor.— The Clerk said Mr King had been employed to do this work; but bad no permanent appointment under the Council. —The Mayor suii Mr King had done the work but no one had authorised him to do it and he moved that the Council should not recognise the claim.—Seconded by Cr. Sare and carried. Telephonic Communication.—ln reply to a letter from the Council re the establishment of telephonic communication was Auckland, Mr Meddings wrote stating that he would shortly be in Hamilton and would confer with the Council upon the matter. Lxbkaby Committee —Mr M, G. Parrer wrote askiog the Connell if they would appoint the secretary of the Hamilton Library as a member of the committee.—The Mayor said that Mr McCrea was a most efficient serretary and did all the clerical work cheerfully and willingly, but he had no status on the committee.—After a short discussion the matter was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee. Furze.— Mr R. Lock reported that the road near his property was overgrown with furze.— Tnr Council decided to inform him that the matter of clearing furze from the roads was under considers'ion. Legal and Finance Rfport'.— ln their report the Legal and Finance Committee recommended : That the Council cannot entertain the claim of Messrs C. L. Innes and Co. for damage done to property by storm water ; that the Borough solicitor (Mr O’Neill) be requested to sue defaulters; that applications be called for the position of inspector of buildings at a salary of £2O for the first year and £lO afterwards; that all lamps be lighted for another month; that the Town Clerk write to Mr H. Metcalfe and ask him what his fee would be for propounding a scheme for a water supply for the area coloured pink on the plan and send him any information required.—The Town Clerk reported (o the Commi tee that the capital value of the area mentioned was £71,000.—0n the motion of the Mayor the report was approved and adopted. Works Committee Report. The Works Committee reported recommending that the work applied for by Mr Searaucke in Collingwood-stmet he inspected by the surfaceman; that the surfaceman be instructed to report on Firth-street., near Mrs Keep’s; that Miss Fitzpatrick’s drain be cleaned out; that permission be granted to Mr T. Slade to erect a ram at the foot of Clyde-slreet; that the portion of the drain running through Vincent’s be staked with totara posts and rimu stays; that necessary repairs at the saleyards be effected, and Chat the gravelling be deferred for another month; that the drain on the Cambridge toad be cleaned out; that the public drain in Hamilton East be attended to ; that Gallowoy St, across the gully to the East Cemetery be submitted to the consideration of the Council, and that the surfaceman be requested to report on the Hamilton West Cemetery ; that the committee could not recommend the work asked for Mr Gilmore in Be de-strcet. They recommended that the Council pass a by-law prohibiting people sweeping refuse into the watertables, and that fingerposts be erected at the corner of the Lake Reserve and Ohaupo Road, and at the corner of the Frankton Road and Domain boundary road, directing to the saleyards.—The report war received and adopted, with the exception of that portion referring to Mr Gilmour’s application. Accounts. The following accounts were passed for payment:—J. S. Bond, £8 18s 9d ; A. W. Rowe, £7 10s lOd ; Gas Company, £5 ; Insurance (accident), £1 10s; Exelby, £2 2s ; Thus. Smythe, 10s fid ; T. Slade, £1 2s 2d ; J. Mcl’herson, £1 16s fid ; J. Franklin, £7 16s ; W. Proctor, £4 19s ; J. Franklin, £2 10s; C. Barton, £6 13s 4d ; J. Devitt, 12a ; T. Jones, £l4 ; Insurance, £1 4s ; Licensing expenses, £7 Is 3d ; total, £74 12s 101.

Financb.— The Clerk read the following financial statement Overdraft at last meeting, £652 11 a 8d ; accounts passed, £B9 3s 4d; total, £743 15s 7d. Received since : Rates, £4 2s 9d ; rents, £5 7s; balance, £732 Ss lOd. Overdraft when accounts to date are passed for payment, £BC6 18s Bd.

Beaee-street.— Mr Gilmour wrote slating that some time ago the Council V‘ttd£sto give him access to his property in Beale-street, and asked the Council to make the road available as a bridle track, offering £2 towards the cost. If the Council would allow him the amount of his rates on this property he would have the work carried out.— The Mayor said he would oppose the work, as Mr Gilmour had already a good road to his property. The request was an unreasonable one, and would establish a had precedent. He proposed that the request be net entertained.—Cr. Sare seconded the motion.—Or. Bond proposed as an amendment that Mr Giimour be allowed a rebate of rates to the extent of £3 towards the work. He thought the request was a reasonable one.—The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, and the motion was unauimouly carried. Rate.—On the motion of the Mayor the levying of a rate of 3d in the £ on the unimproved value in the Borough of Hamilton was confirmed.

Furze. —On the motion of the Mayor seconded by Or. Bond it was decided that the Works and Endowment Committees should sit together to consider the question of grappling with the furze nuisance in the Borough and report at next meeting. Cemeteries — Cr, Young moved that the Works Committee inspect both the Hamilton West and East Cemeteries and report to the Cemelery Trustees (the Council) as to what repairs and improvements are necessary.—This was seconded and carried unanimously. DOMAIN BOARD. The Domain Board met immediately afterwards, the same members beiug present. Sydney Square.— Mr H. E. Tristram wrote stating that at the meeting of the Sydney Square Improvement Committtee Mr W. Dey had been appointed Chairman and the writer Secretary. Improvements to the pavilion to the extent of To 10s had been carried out. — Mr Dey said they intended spending th remainder of the sum voted in various improvements to the Square.—The Committee was empowered to have the pavilion painted. Lake Reserve.— Mr ,1. T. Horne, Secretary of the Endowment improvement Committee, wrote rcucanmeodiog that the whole of the gores, ftrn, etc.,

I'C dented from Mm Lake Reserve at the earliest postilAe ditu ; tlut tjio i.url Uploughed and laid down in grass ; that the who'e reserve be leased fur grazing purposes, with a view to keeping down the growth of noxious weeds. He also reported that a certain amount of voluntary clearing work had recently been done on the flat ground bordering the lake, and the paths cleared. It was proposed to fix a few substantia 1 scuta in suitab'e shady spots,—The Board thanked Mr Horne for his report, and referred the matter to the Endowment Committee for their report at next meeting, they being authorised to have any pressing work carried out at once. Surrender of Leases,— Xu accordance with notice i f motion given at last meeting, Mr Bond moved that the Board respectfully recommend His Excellency the Governor to accept surrender of Domain leases in cases where tenants feel aggrieved in connection with the change of the system ol local rating, as if the lease had expired by effluxion of time, and the tenant has complied with the conditions of the lease.—The motion was seconded by Cr. Pair, and carried unanimously. —A subsequent motion proposed by Mr Bond, that tenants he allowed one month in which to decide, was also carried.