HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 987, 19 October 1878, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting adjourned from Monday evening, was held on Thursday night. Present . the Mayor, and Crs. Cox, Gaudin, Hume, Potter. Kaox, Gardiner, Beale, Dawson and Gwynne. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were received from the Colonial Secretary acknowledging the receipt of the cattle depasturing by-law; from the Thames Council stating that the Council had draw npon the Hamilton Council for £4, its share of the cost of advocating the ThamesWaikato railway ; from K. Haynes, respecting loss sustained by gravel taken from his acre, and asking for consideration ; from the Waikato County Council m explanation of the award to the Hamilton East share of I the £40,000 grant ; from F. Vincent ! asking for the use of the hall at East i Hamilton ; from Thomas Lees complaining of the water lying around bis house ; from a number of burgesses m Albert-street calling attention to the want of a proper oullet for the water collected m that and other streets ; from J. Warren, stating that he had replaced the old rope at tho punt and asking for the Council's promised contribution; from L. O'Neill Secretary West Hamilton School Committee asking for drain pipps to lay down. Mr F. A. Whitaker then handed m a report of his proceedings at Wellington, which was read. Mr Whitaker stated that though he had said nothing oftheThames- Waikato railway m his report, he felt sure that both the Premier ard the Native Minister, who had shown themselves most anxious to do all ia their power to advance the interests of the Auckland provincial district were determined that the work should be commenced at once. Cr. Potter moved that the report be received with many thanks, to Mr F. A. Whitaker. Cr. Gwynne seconded, suggesting that the thanks of the Council be sent to Mr Whitaker. for his advocacy of the requirements of the Borough. The Mayor, m putting the motion expressed his opinion to a similar effect,* and the motion waa carried unanimouslr. The by-law respecting the depasturing of cattle was ordered to be published, Cr. Potter stated m respect to Ifc. Havne's application, that h|d

examined tho laud and found a quarter of nn acre was destroyed. Cr. Knox proposed that legal advice should be taken m reference to the £100 given by the Waikato County Council. Cr. Knox proposed that advice should be asked from Wellington. Or. Potter referred to Messrs Hesketh and Richmond's letter read at last meeting, which settled the legality of the question. Cr. Hume pointed out that nothing oould be done m the matter. The application of Mr Vincent and others were referred to the Works Committee for the east side, as was also the request of Mr Lees and others. Cr. Potter complained that work was being done on the East side without authority from the Works Committee. A great deal of work without authority had been done round one person's property. This was why other persons were making applications. The Mayor blamed the East sido Works Committee for allowing labour to be thus expended. Cr. Knox testified to the waste of money expended m making a street of no use to any but one person, while necessary work, already commenced, was stopped. The application of Mr Warren wa ß granted. The request for pipes for the drain on [ the the main road, m front of the West I Hamilton School, was referred to the I | Works Committee, with power to act. The report of the committee, held after last meeting, was read, which recommended that the offices of Collector of i Rates, Inspector of Nuisances and Slaughter-houses, and Clerk, should be combined, and paid for at the rate of £150 per annum. Cr. Potter proposed that the offices of | Clerk and Treasurer should be combined, but not those of Cl«rk and Inspector of Nuisances and Slaughter-houses. The work was too widespread. A Treasurer i was required by the Act, but not proposed by the Committee. The money being banked weekly, the office of Clerk and Treasurer might be safely combined. Cr. Cox suggested tbat the Town Clerk be Treasurer, two Councillors countersigning all cheques. Cr. Hume thought the offices of Clerk and Treasurer should be combined. Cr. Dawson seconded Cr. Potter's motion that those offices be combined. Cr. Hume thought the outside ditties might for the present be undertaken by the Clerk. The Mayor thought it necessary to amalgamate offices tor the sake of economy. Cr. Knox thought the offices, for the present, should be put all m one, or salaries would eat up the income of the Borough, and moved, as an amendment, that the offices of Clerk, Treasurer, Collector, and Inspector of Slaughter-houses and Nuisances, be held by one person, at a salary of £150 per annum. — Seconded by Cr. Cox, and carried. The suggestion contained m the report, that the expenses incurred by the Mayor be paid by the Council, was next considered. Cr. Gwynne thought tbe Mayor's expenses, incurred m connection with his office, should be paid by the Council. Or. Cox thought expenses incurred should be re-imbursed — the Mayor laying a statement of them upon the table, as indeed he had advocated m committee. Cr. Hume thought the Borough was not m a position to vote the Mayor a salary, but that the expenses, if laid on the table, should be fairly considered. Cr. Gaudin pointed out that the only legal way of doing so was to give the Mayor the money as a salary. Cr. Knox quoted an instance m which money for expenses, voted by a Town Council to the Mayor, had to be paid back by the Councillors individually. Cr. Potter refused to assist m misappropriating the funds. He would not agree to giving a salary, but that the absolute amount of pooket should only be given. The Mayor said that, with regard to a salary, he was certain the Borough was not m a position to pay one. Only two Councillors had not seen his statement of money paid out of pocket — the amount was £87. There was one item which he could scarcely expeot the Council to pay, which would reduce that sum by £15 or £16. He would not submit to have his statement analysed as to whether the charges were fair and reasonable. He would, if that were to be done, sooner make the Council a present of the money. Cr. Potter said that, m dealing with public money, it was the duty of the Council to enquire into the items, and not vote the people's rates away blindfold. There was one item where the Mayor had taken a case out of the hands of the police, and given Cr. Beale five guineas , to do the work. He would not pass that item. The Mayor said he made no claim. He "Would say this — it somo gentlemen m that r oom had paid their subscriptions for the publio dinner they had eaten, he would not have been out of pocket. Cr. Knox could scarcely have believed it possible that the Mayor could have put £5 5s of the public money into the hands of a member of the Council, Dr Beale. He moved that the matter be left to the consideration of a committee of the whole, and report at next meeting. Seconded by C. Cox. Cr. Hume thought tbe matter a very serious one, that would be inquired into by the ratepayers. Cr. Cox thought people who sat down to public dinners should pay their subscriptions. The Mayor would much rather the matter were allowed to drop. Cr Potter would go the whole length of paying expenses, but he would not give a blind vote, and give Dr Beale 5 guineas, because the Mayor chose te employ him. An angry discussion arose, and the Mayor vacated the chair, asking Cr. Gattdin to take his plaoe, and Cr. Beale left the room. Cr. Gwynne proposed, as an amendment, that the legitimate expenses of the Mayor, m connection with nis office, be paid Cr. Potter seconded the amendment, which was carried. The overdraft at the bank was stated to be £46 Os ld. It was resolved to advertise for the services of a Town Clerk. The question of the Collingwood street nuisance was raised, and on the motion of Cr. Potter, instructions were ordered to be given to the Engineer, to make a survey of the neoessary drainage. Cr. Knox objected to an expenditure which would not abate the nuisance, for there was no money to carry out a system of drainage. The proper plan was to bring m a by-law, making earth closets compulsory. The resolution was carried. On the motion of Cr. Knox, it was resolved to add to by-law 11 the words, " discharging firearms," and that the By-law Committee meet, to frame other rules neceßsary for the good government of the Borough. The applications of Messrs E. Wilsan, Butterworth, D. Elliott, Bunting, and S. H. Moore were received for the clerkship of works, during the Bridge contract. Or. Cox moved that the application be referred to the Engineer, to enquire as to competency of applicants, and report to a committee of the whole Council. Seconded by Cr. Dawson. Cr. Knox objected, stating that tho Engineer had openly said he had a man for the work.

Cr. Dawson denied the correotneßß of this report. Cr. Hume thought, m justice to Mr Breakell, the appointment should be referred to him. Cr. Knox said they must have a buffer between the Engineer and t'he contractors. Cr. Potter thought the matter should be referred to a oommitteo of the whole Council. 1 he resolution was lost. This concluded the business.