BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1118, 24 October 1873, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

At the weekly meeting on Wednea , day evening last • present, the Mayor, and Councillors Whytej Blacklock Stittj Munson, Sheahan, and Organ' the following business was transacted : GOflltEStfONDEirbE. The following letters wefo received t From Mr Warden Giles— Westport, October 20,1873. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that I have received the following replies (in substance) from the Pro-

vincial Secretary to the questions relating to the collection of rents upon the Colliery Reserve, upon which further information was desired by the Municipal Council : 1. The Reserve has not yet been made made over to the General Government. The Superintendent requested that it should be granted to the Borough Council, but the Government has not yet sanctioned it. 2. The rents are payable in advance from the Ist January and Ist July, and this payment relieves the occupiers from the much larger payment formerly required for a business license. 3. The Provincial Government has no power to hand over any portion of the rants to the Borough Council without the sanction of the Provincial Council. The payment of the rent secures the occupation for the period for which it is paid. * ~ I have the honor, <&c., Joseph Giles, Warden. To his Worship .1. W. Humphrey, Esq. Mayor of Westport.'* From Messrs Muuro and Ings, as follows :

" Westport, October 18, 1873. " To the Mayor and Municipal Council of Westport—

" Gentlemen, —We note that Cr. Sheahan has tabled notices of motion relative to the Operation of the Local Revenues Act. " The names of the members of the Local Revenues (or District) Board not having been yet gazetted, they cannot commence their public duties. " Until thus fully empowered no just opinion can be expressed as to whether their operations will benefit or injure Westport interests.

" Hence we consider Cr. Sheahan's propositions unnecessary and precipitate, and that action thereon should be presently avoided. " We give yon tlie fullest assurance that our individual energies, as members of the District Board, will be directed towards ensuring harmonious co-operation with your Council for the advancement of general interests, and we see no possible reason for assuming that the members of the Board for Addison's and the Terraces are not similarly influenced. " We are, gentlemen, " Tour obedient servants, " John Mt/nro. V Edward Tiros"

Proposed by Cr- Sheahau, and seconded by Cr. Blacklock. and carried, —" That the letter of Mr Warden Giles be acknowledged, and the thanks of the Council conveyed to him for the prompt and early attention which he has given to the Council in re Colliery Reserve. Proposed by Cr. Whyte, seconded by the Mayor, and carried, —" That the letter of Messrs Munro and lugs be received, ;u->cl tl-»o ttoicuu be deferred until Cr. Sheahan's motion shall have been discussed." GENT/RAX BUSINESS. Proposed by the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Sheahan, and carried, " That the By-laws Committee be empowered to submit the Regulations which they purpose making, under the l3th schedule, to Mr Fisher for his opinion as to their being in legal form. He application from inhabitants in Kennedy street, Cr. Sheahan stated that the Committee had waited on the Land Commissioners who had stated that they had drawn a line along the river bank, and had given sections for all sites outside of that line and having done so the Commission ceased. The Commissioners, however, on the recommendation of the Council, had applied to the Provincial Government for instructions to re open the Commission, so that the section holders referred to may receive compensation. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Whyte, it was resolved that sundry accounts presented for payment should be referred to the Public Works Committee to certify as to the correctness of same. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Stitt, the notice of motion relating to formation of Bright street, from Palmerston to Queen street, standing in the name of Cr. Thorpe, was, in his absence, held oyer until the second weekly meeting (sth November). Proposed by Cr Sheahan, and seconded by Cr. Organ pro forma, that the following notice of motion standing in his name be adopted : " That in the opinion of the Council the existence of Municipal government in Westport Would be seriously affected by the introduction of the Local Revenues Act, 1873, under its existing fbrm, as the Same rating power of £5 per cent on the annual value of property is conferred on the Board under clause 26 of said Act, as is possessed by the Council under the Municipal Corporation Act, 1867. " That therefore the Council deem it necessary and expedient that his Honor the Superintendent proclaim the Municipality of Westport a Sub District, under the Goldfields Local Revenues Act, 1837, in accordance with section 12 of the said Act, enabling the ratepayer within the Municipal boundaries to avail themselves of the advantages as contained under clause 27 of the Local Revenues Act.

" That in order to give effect to resolution No. 2, ns affirmed at public meeting, a respectful memorial be prepared requesting his Honor the Superintendent to introduce a bill into the Provincial Council at its next session, to amend the Goldfields Local Revenues Act, 1873, in order to exempt from operations of the said Aet municipalities

within the Nelson South West Goldfields."

Or. Whyte proposed as an amendment, " That with a view to ascertaining how the Municipality of Westport will be affected by the operation of the Local Revenues Act, 1873, a Committee be appointed to draft questions to be submitted to the Attorney-General for his opinion, and that the consideration of Cr. Sheahan's motion be deferred until tile Committee shall have furnished their report. The Committee to Consist of the Mayor, and Crs. Sheahan and .Why te. "—-Carried. Proposed by Gr Organ, and- seconded by Cf. Munson, " That the Town Clerk be requested to communicate with the Town Clerks of Greymouth, Hokitika, and WanganUi, requesting information as to the course adopted by the County and Provincial Governments in the sale of land within Municipal boundaries, and the disposal of moneys thereby accruing."—Carried. No notices of motion were given.