ORDINARY MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1075, 15 May 1879, Page 2

ORDINARY MEETING.

CORR3SPONDENCS. A telegram was read from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, stating that lob 36 would be granted ao a permanent reservation for the East Hamilton pound. From the Clerk of the Waikato County Council,, stating that the Council Chambers now encroaching on Bridge-street, would be moved. An application from Mr Robert Bradley for an auctioneers license was granted ; also an application form Mr W. Wood to keep the drain m Collingwood-street clean, provided he was supplied with a " square shovel. A letter was read from Mr Jolly, drawing attention to the the fact that the railway crossings provided on his land ceded to the borough for the Hamiltonjbranch extension were not being placed where needed, that is, upon the road laid out and, which had been, provided as part of agreement for land leased by him. Mr Jollyjwas requested to forward plan th.at the matter might be referred to the District Engineer. The application of W. H. Kelly to take gravel from the Hamilton West Town gravel pit on lots 39 and 40 was granted. The following letter was received from tne Returning Officer : — To J. M. Gelling, Esq., Town Clerk. Sis, — I have the honor to report for the information of the Mayor and Council, that, owingk ito a sudden illness I was unable to be m Hamilton on Thursday last, the day appointed for the election of a^ town councillor. I. sent a special messenger to Hamilton early on Thursday morning asking a gentleman to apt as my substitute, but owing to previous engagements he was unable to do so. I deeply regret the inconvenience that all parties have been put to through the election not coming . off, and beg to express my willingness to pay the extra expense for advertising, &c, which will have to be incurred by the Borough, as well as the candidates. I have also to request instructions as to whether I shall at once advertise for a fresh election. — I have, &c, T. C, Hammond, Returning Officer. May 12, 1879.

Cr. Knox m moving that the letter be received, drew attention to the necessity for the Returning Officer at once appointing a deputy to aefc m case of accident to hinself. A letter was read from Mr T. R Vialou, complaining of the delay m filling up the footpath opposite his premises m Victoria-street. The contractor, 'he stated, was now vas. singe his property, though- he had plen.y of material, still leaving- it undone to the risk of flooding by rain, and danger and inconvenience to the public at night. Cr Potter drew attention to. the fact the Council had offered, if the ratepayers formed footpaths to put on the gravel, but they wete m no position to enforce this rule upou any individual m a line of streot refusing to do so, as there was no bylaw yet passed giving them such power. By clauses 202 and 203, tho Council might constrnot and charge ownera— but only providing they had made a 'by-law to that effect None such had been made, and they were thus placed m a false position. Some might form the path, some not. He thought the contractor should be called upon to put the earth where necessary, and m themeantime they should pasa a bylaw to give the Oounoil oontrol of such matters. He moved "That this Council instruct the Engineer to cause the surplus earth now being moyed m Victoria-street, to be deposited on the west side footpaths." Seconded by Cr. Knox, and carried unanimously. A petition was presented by Cr. Gaudin from Messrs. G. Browne and several other burgesses, drawing attention to the surface, water cpllected on the main road towards No. 1. On the motion of Cr. Knox the matter was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. The fortnightly report of the Engineer read, and on the motion of Cr. ' Knox, seconded by Cr, Hume, it was resolved " that the report of the Engineers as read be received, and that that portion of t referring to the sewerage be referred to the Works Committee." The tenders for brick culvert m Clarence-street were opened as follows :— C. Kay, £126 10a ; Steadman, £114 10?. The latter wap accepted. It was stated that the reception 1 of Sir George Grey at the turning of tho railway sod was £H 10a Qd^ \

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and the balance after deducting £15 subscribed by the Waikato County Oouncd was ordered to be paid. . On the motion, of Cr. Knox, secondad by Cr; Gaudin, the works committees report od the formation, ahd gravelling of Victoria street, was unanimously agreed to. P JV'^i beea sbated a sum of £320 17s 6d,wa 3 now due to the bridge contractor, Or. Potter drew attention to the slow way m which the work was being carried out. At the rate the work was being proceeded with, the bridge would nob be open for a couple of years. He moved and Councillor Knox, who also complained of the lagging of the contractors, seconded " That the progress payment of J5325 17s 6d be now paid to tie contractors Ross and Dunbar and that the contractors be notified that jio further payments will be made unless greater^ expetition r is made m the progress o>i the bridge works. Carried unanimonsly.

Or. Potter drew attention to the import of Cambridge Club meeting, with reference to holding the next cattle show at East Hamilton, and moved " that the work of fencing and levelling the Sydney Square be at once proceeded, with." There where two objects he said, to be gained by fencing and levelling the square — to make it a recreation ground, and to provide a site for the Cattle Show. It had been proposed to hold the show near the Kailway Station— why he could not seo — but he thought if the show were held on the East side, it would be a convenience to a majority of cattle exhibitors who lived about Cam bridge, and that visitors from Auckland would be necessarily brought through the town, whereas, if the Show was held at the Station they would come up and be off again without ever ( seeing or entering the town. • . The Mayor said he understood from the'report of the* Club meeting referred to there was a communicatioD yet to be received from the clvb v by the Council, and it would be better to , wait till they received it. He really did not think however, that it came within the province of the Borough . Council : -to subsidise a cattJe show or assist it by expenditure. Or. Potter having agreed to withdrawhisraotion,alsoasked that atthat late hour, his motion for fixing the tolls of the bridge might be allowed to lapse.' Agreed to. Cr. Goudin then moved " That the hour for the meeting of the Council be fixed at 10 a.m. on alternate Mondays, instead of 7 p.m. as at present. Seconded by Cr. Knox. Cr. Pottsr moved as an amendment. "That the^liour »t present fixed be adhered to," By holding their meetings at seven m the evening the 'general public was enabled to attend. To hold them m the morning would be virtually, to sit with closed doors. The amendment was seconded by Ob. Beale. For tlie 'ammendment, Crs, Potter and Beale; Against it, Crs. Hume, Gwynue, Gaudin, Knox, and the Mayor. The original motion was then carried. The clerk was instructed to notify to the Works Committees, the necessity of reducing the day labor as much as possble, which was now getting to be an item of £7 to £8 per week. \ This closed the business.