MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 602, 29 August 1867, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Municipal Council was held on Tuesday evening at 1 half past seven o'clock, at the Council Chambers, Revell street. Present : — His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Prosser, Hungerford, Fitzsimmons, Anderson and Ecclesfield. • CORRESPONDENCE. Letter from Mr Honian asking permission to fill in a hole in the front of his premises in Revell street, and to deduct the expense of the same from his rates. Referred to the Public Works Committee. Letter from Mr Timothy Stephenson requesting that he might not he charged his rates, as the late 'rate-collector, Mr. Tanner, against whom he had an account, had promised him to set off the rates against his account. The Town Clerk was directed to inform Mr Stephenson that the Council could not entertain his application. Letter from Messrs Waller and Craig requesting that their account of Ll9 9s 3d might be passed that evening. Referred to the Finance Committee. From Mr Henry Homer, applying to audit the Corporation accounts. From Messrs Anthony and Findlay, contractors, requesting an .extension of time to complete their contract for gravelling the streets, in consequence of the difficulty they had in obtaining material. It was decided to allow further time, the limits to be fixed at the discretion of the Town Surveyor. Letter from Mr Loutitt, asking permission to put a crossing over the drain between the British Hotel and the street. Granted.

Letter from Mr John Casey, of the Ballarat Hotel, stating that Mr Browning, the Surveyor, had marked out a new street, which would encroach upon his premises. Referred to the Public Works. TENDERS FOB EEECTING A PUBLIC POUNX). The Cowncil then proceeded to open the tenders for erecting a public pound, Avhich were as follows : — John Matthews, L 30 0; John Kellock, LlO9 9s; Robert Addison, Lllo;'John Over and Co., L 18 0; John M'Lean, L 144 8s 6d ; M'Kenzie and Co., Ll6B 6s ; Burn and Jones, Ll3O 19s; Chisholm and M'Lean, L 137 10s ; James Shorter, L 95 ; Turnbull and Packwood, L 75. ■ On the motion of Cr Fifczsimmons, seconded by Cr Anderson, the tender of Messrs Turnbull and Packwood was accepted. TOWN SUEVEYOB'S EEPOBT. The following report from the Town Surveyor was read :— Town Surveyor's Office. August 27, 1867. To the Mayor and Councillors of Hokitika.

Gentlemen — I have tho honor to inform you that this is the best time to plant the Avillow trees sent by Sir Georgo Grey, and would recommend you to fix the streets in which they are to be planted. I would recommend as being the best streets, viz., Gibson's Quay; Weld street, from Tancred street to Fitzherberfc street; Sewell street, from Weld street to Gibson's Quay. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most6bedient servant, John C. Fbbw, Town Surveyor. On the motion of Cr. Prosser, it was resolved, " That the planting of the trees be loft to the discretion of the Town Surveyor." I COM.ECTOB OF BATES AND INSPECTOR OP. NUISANCES EEPOET. The following report was read from the Collector of Rates and Inspector of Nuisances : — Hokitika, August 23rd, 1867. To the Mayor and Councillors. Gentlemen, — I have the honor to report, that since my appointment to office I have' been occupied mainly in collecting the remaining portion of the first moiety of rates. These I found to consist of very small amounts (with few exceptions), and were widely scattered over the town. Ou the Beach, from Oshorue's right-of-way to the southward,

eighty-five properties have been removed, owing to the encroachment of the sea, of which forty-six are defaulters. These will not, however, prove a total loss, as L expect ultimately to find a considerable number located in other parts of the town. A large portion of raj time has been occupied in collecting on the beach, owing to the great difficulty I experienced in ascertaining correctly the properties assessed, as both owners and occupiers have in almost every instance been repeatedly changed. This difficulty •would be obviated if the different properties were properly numbered. I -would suggest that all buildings or unsurveyed portions of the town — such as reserves, &c. — be numbered, so that the properties rated could at once be identified. It is also necessary that steps be taken immediately to assess those properties which have been recently erected, as I have already commenced to collect the second moiety of rates to which such properties are liable to be charged. As inspector, I have visited every part of the town, and find that as a whole it is as free from nuisance as can be expected in its present very deficient state of drainage. I have met with several cases — both, in the centre of the town, on the Beach, and in North Revell street — where I considered it my duty to interfere ; but only in one instance have I had occasion to take further action than to serve the usual notice. A nuisauce exists in Tancred street, at the terminus of the Hau Hau Tramway. It consists of a Ktrge quantity of stable refuse and rubbish of ill kinds, ■which appears to have beeii permitted to accumulate for months past. Tl?- - _ it- tl; ing seems to have been allowed (c ' r ' ) fciujj spine extent) at the junction of Sfr h-.^} stiWel >uth Revell street. These cm c ">p.ght ! to }:o attended to at once, and cie« \>i fi;\.-nf , as tL. drainage from them flows /<Mi o tic ilurr.i-j' Jing swamp and causes a ■T^-^jS'-Ot t|Bfc vnesi dangerous character. ..- !> Jii ais&fc is in a' very filthy state, owing t<' parties jueing permitted to drain sink-water ihii' rhe , Street channel. In this instance I r• i pr.-etipp&f to act until such permission is \Y£t-i;'irawDl-I w o*dd {also call the attention of the Council to the nuisance caused by the open box chansei in tlfio right-of-way leading from South Jwrei! st pee ' i on *° Gibson's Quay. This ought i :> reoeiv * immediate attention. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, "Your obedient servant, P. CIiATTON, 1 Collector, &c. 01' the motion of Cr Prosser, seconded D J 'v. 1 ' Ecclesfield, the report was referred *° * fie Pnbtic Works Committee, \\ it!*- power to act. I APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOBS. C ii the motion of Cr Anderson, seCOQ| led by Cr Fitzsimmons, it was decided i 0i 0 : idvertise for applications for two and itors for the Corporation accounts, the fee to be paid to each being five gui neas. y THE SOUTH CHANNEi. l/n reply to Cr Prosser, his Worship the Mayor said that the Government had advertised for tenders to construct a dam across the South Channel, so as to throw the whole force of- the current into the North Channel. After the transaction of some business of minor importance, the Council adjourned to Monday next, at 7.30 p.m.