HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 880, 12 February 1878, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING.

"ue first iu«xt,i ot .lie iiamitii : >oiougij Couuc 1 whs ueid ye^cti jy. Pitiatiui : 1. it. Viaiou, fc^q uud ah the Councillor.-. By ttiiecuou of tbe Mayor, th Ukik rr«d over au acoouuc of thi rnia iou ol tbe Borough, and tin riceedinga takio m ielereuc uereto, up to it-e prtseut time. the Major t»ua Cuunciilurs thei •veraiiy made ihe utcet^ary uectai- ■ u.ntv, 'ihe May^r then declared th iiorough anu Council ot ilamilto uy oooatitiueti. Before |»roceading to but>iij6n* count lilor Gwyiiue presented tti jlti^or, I. ii. viaiou. h#q.> on b» • i.ah of tie burgeows, witn a pair oi '.bite kid gloves, as the first May . ..t Hamilton. The Mayor then delivered th loilowing address:— Geotlbjsb»,— The task I have before me is a comparatively easy one, notwithstanding the vast iatereats with which 1 have sought to identify myself as Mayor of thia newly formed Borough. We are- now, as it were, beginning' a new era m ones hietory ; and it will be the business of those who have been elected to the tmstt>f local government to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with what will best suit the interests oi the place. Henoe I said my task was easy, because my views are based on an earnest desire to do my best for the District, m which work you will always find me aa active and zealous fellowworkman. Hamilton is now merging from, a mere country settlement, and is assuming the importance and substantiability of a township sufficiently removed from the centre of population m Auckland to make j it very largely dependant upon its own resources. Already we have almost every class of professions, trades and business's and prosperity looms not far distant if all our hopes be fulfilled, which there is every reason to believe will be. The responsibilities of the local body wlil be very great, one of the largest being that individual interestsmust be sacrificed for the general good. Hitherto I know there have been local jealouses between the two townships which are divided by the river, and m that respect, according to my experience, Hamilton is not m any woy peculiar. Now, however, as we have become attached as a Borough, all petty jealousies and local feeling must be thrown aside if we mean to do any good. One of the mo^t important works to which the Council will have to direct its attention is the construction of a bridge over the river, to c innect the Eastern and Western banks o: the river by a permanent way. lie Government have placed a sum of £o -00 upon vhe estimates by way of subsi y toward » the work, j whi ;h the ChairmH.i of the tvo township Highway Boar-ls, >n behalf oi the proposed borough, havu contracted co perform upon the understiui ling that tne Government -v.'ll contribute a further sum if requh-ed. The construction of a bridge is an abdolalo necessity, and it will be the mare felt the loage -it is delayed. As the | means at our disposal for >.:ro.s.sing the river are entirely inadequate to meet the increasing traffic of the district, therefore it is the duty of the council to see that ' this work is commenced ;« soon aa i possible, with due care to economy and t good workmanship. Fortunately for us recent legislation ' has placed within our reaoh a portion of the wetto Imip w^ &o towasliip, '

2,000 acres outsidq, which I should desire io be nidued m order that we may add to our ordinary revenue for public wonks and the serncea of the Borough'^aeralr^^T I now- turn to a poiut whibn froSrra .rofeaaional pomt of view as weU as m he hgfht of a cituen I regard as being o'. oae very utmost importance, as indeed i acknowledged to be, and i will be my earnest desire to see that proper levels of the Borough are taken, uud a scheme of drainage decided on, as we already begin to experience the want of the latter. Of course lam now sp akug prospectively, m as much as these natters will take time to accomplish, bu aey will sooner or later have to become ibsolute matters of fact if Hamilton m tv «xsp pace with the times, and I think it accessary that I should express to you the ziews I have upon euch subjects. There are many matters which it wiL c necessary for the Council to consider, >ut these are the principal points, regardng which it seema necessary that I should urect your attention. I can only assure yon, m conclusion, aat it. will always be my study to work a harmony with you, and to do my utaost to make Hamilton one of the most .uportant cities m New Zealand. I tbink^ gentlemen, .you have only to . »ok at my own comparatively email conorn m Hamilton. I have, as it were, entered my prosperity here. I came wnongst you at a time when, I feel prouu ' j say, many men would have hesitated j launch their fortune as I did on the )ae chance of edtablmhing a businew .hioh required great tact, experience, ami ome capital to make work. I cast m my lot, however, and have -teen more successful than I at one time mtioipated. I call your attention to thy jecause I can honestly say that I have n aterests, of any extent, to serve outsidt ■t Hamilton, and, while I am serving the ucerests of this Borough, I must neoearily be advanoing my own, which is tlu practical light m which, I think, mode aen would be incUned to regard the question.

There will be matters brought before /ou to-day which will require your conlideration, but, as we are very young' in >ffice, we have much to learn m the coniuct of business. Therefore, I think it ivill be better to leave any matters of mportance for a subsequent meeting. It is my intention to. proceed- to Auckland is soon as possible, and attend one of the neetings of the Council there. Mr Philupe, the Town Clerk, has kindly promised o furnish me with information relative

a the conduct of Council businesa. We jannot be too cautious m our deliberation, ihd it ia far better to benefit by the experience of others than pay as dearly ior .t as many of the newiy-formed boroughs uive done. I have had tome little exjorienoe m civic matters m the old :ountry, but we cannot expect to do things a the same style as they do. Bur there d one thing we can do, and that iB — ■erform the duties of pur office faithfully *nd to the best of our ability, which, 1 ■rust and feel assured, every member of he Council will do. There is one matter which I have to •ring before you, m reference to a con* arence which is intended to take place on ac 15th instant, between the Tam&' bounty Council, the Thames Borough ad the Waikato and Fiako County Coun1, m which the Chairman of the Thamcr >uncil has requested you gentlemen to m. I received a telegram from Mi •rodie, asking- me to arrange for a place £ meeting. I made it my business to c*; Mr Searancke, our Resident Magnate, who kindly gave me permission tc .i«e the Court House for that purpose. APPOINTMENT OP OFFICERS.

The iVitiyor thought that it vtoul a* well to leave over to anotht teetiug the appoin utent of To * lurk, Engineer, aud Foiemau. To this the C -uncil agreed. BANK ACCOUNT.

Or Potter thought that tender bonld be »sked for from the two v i mks having branches m Hamilton. ■nd proposed that ihe banks Ik invited to tender for the Borougl C4-ount. ."econded by Cr. Beetle. Cr. Giudin proposed and Cr Da*.«>n seconded *' that the account ol be Borough Coancil be opened at ne B-ink of New Zealand.", Cr. Potter said the more fair and •pen way would be to tender. Councillor Beale would sappot he reso>ution. The May«*r said, he believed i nndering, hul this case was he be leved an es^ption. Xhe toreig uanks had ho feeling with th .: strict, many of the larmrrs an radespeople had experienced tt>.i , .vhile on the other b .nd they me .vith far different treat men 1 frmi : n Bank of New Zealand. Th ( .t Ba. k company bad added to the valu o Hamilton prupert* by ihepermuuon oink building tkey had erected. For the amendment. Crs. Gardi ncr, Cox, Dawson, Hum», G»udin, Ooates and Gwynne. J?or the •riginal motion, Cra. Potter and Beale. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING. Cr. Gwynne moved, and Cr. Dawson seconded, " That the ordinary meetings of the Council be held once a fortnight, at two o'clock m he afternoon, at the Court House, Hamilton, commencing on Moudav, he 18th. Cr. Giiudin proposed as an amendm«nt, and Cr. Potter seconded that the meetings be hdld at 7 p.m. instead of 2 p.m. For the amendment, Crs. Potter, Gardiner, Cox, B»-ale and Gaudiu. For the motion, Ors. Dawaon, Hume, COates and G wynne. The amendment was carried. Proposed by Cr. Coafces seconded by Cr. Hume that *' the Mayor, the treasurer, and Cr. Gwynne be appointed to sign cheques on behalf of he Council." Cai ried unanimou ly. APPOINTMENT OF T S.EABDRER. Cr. Beale proposetl thnt Mr Laisiiley be appointed trwasurer. Nor. seconded. Cr. Gaudin proposed and Cr. Gardiner seconded " i hit the appointment of treasurer oo left till those of other unices were considered. thb late board funds. Cr. Potter moved •< ihat tho late road boards incorporated iv the B .rough furnish to this Council wim >8 iitt.e delay as posMble an account >i reo ipts and expenditure toother *vuh an acounc of all lia „litCs aad assets, also, all books and papers relating o such boards." Seconded ?>y Cr. Cox. Qti POMBP stated, fytf t^ e |bbw9 ,|

h.'ld the cut rent months Ferry rent m Hand for the Borough. " sum•Tionsnad been nerved by theC unty »n the lease©, and, it would rest yith the meeting to :*ay whether the ••H.see should be upheld by the Borough. " Che Mayor t hoti^n t the lessee Bb- mid c hete harmless against the action •i" the County (Jyuncil for the rent tnpaid and that the othe monies •«X5 ived from tne puit by the Jou . ity Council ahouU be applied for ie Borough from thu County. Cr. Hume proposed " that the lessee •f the punt be indemnified against i« action of the County Council and ; ».od cc all letters and past receipts, •id pay over all moneys due by way

>- rent to this coinoil, altto, that, the vJUyor be allowed, to make any eluction for moneys expended by .lie lessee m repair of th»- pant." Seconded by Councillor Gaadin. J.i cried uimni , oasly. Cr. Hume stated hat to properly ■puir the puut, the traffic would bo tit up for a week at least. He inmght representations should be u.ide to the Government for an>ther hoat, a,iy the Te Kori one, to ise while the Hamilton ones were .vpaired. & On the m»tio.. of Cr. Hume it v.is resolved that a Survey of the Vairs neijrtjsury tor the punt be ude, an'l iaid before the Council < >d ihat the Mayor bu anthttrintd to a ike the necessary arrangements. I PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Cr.. Potter suggested that steps bould be taken, if possibUy to secure ■ portion of the Public Libraries Grant. This mast be done soon or 'he vote would lapse. Monies would >c given m the proportion to the imount of special rate raised by the B >rongh for tne support of a public ibrary. KJKIRVSB. Cr. Hume proposed and Cr. Jaudin seconded "that a committee consisting, oi Crs. Conteft, Potter, .he Mayott^ and Cr. Gwynne and the mover be . appoin • c«» to select :,he 100 acres .within, the Borough." Oarried unanimously. ■• ■'•■■ BRIDGE. It was resolved to telegraph to Wellington for pl.na and sreoificaons of the bridge, made by the Public Works Depart naeut.