HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1156, 22 November 1879, Page 5 (Supplement)

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council was held on Friday night. Present— Crs. Vialou (Chairman), McDonald, Peat, Dawson, Harris and Knox. STOKBY SQUARE. The following letter was read from Mr dimming : — " Hamilton, Nov. 11,1879. " To the Borough Council. " Gentlemen, — I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to allow, the' Committee appointed at a public meeting to break up the ground and proceed with the levelling of Sydney square, m accordance with the plan to be submitted for your approval. The Committee deem it desirable that the work •hould be proceeded with as soon as possible, having at present so many offers of assistance from settlers within, and m the vicinity of the borough. I would also respectfully request that the sum voted by tho Council should be placed at tho disposal of the Committee, m conjunction with the Works or other Committee appointed by the Council, thoreby enabling the work to be systematically, expeditiously, and economically proceeded with " I have, &c, \* War. Cumming, "On behalf of Sydney Square Committee." Cr. Kuox moved, " That the letter be acceded to, the Works Committee taking the management of the expenditure, m conjunction with the Committee appointed at the public meeting." Cr. Dawson seconded. Cr. Vialou had hoped there would have been an amendment. If no one wonld move m the matter he would. It was a work he should like to see done, but considering the financial position of the borough — that the Bank had called for the immediate reduction of one half of the overdraft, £400, and the other £400 m three months — he should move as an amendment, " That tho application of the Chairman of the Sydney Square Committee be received, but that no money be voted at present, m consequence of the overdraft, which the bank require! reducing/ It had been said that the money could be paid out of the £110 returnable from the Waikato County Council, but they had not yet got , that money, and when, they did it was still borough funds, and needed by tke borough generally. He then called on the ole.rk to read tho letter of the bank manager as follows : — " Bank of New Zealand, " Hamilton, Ist Nov , 1879. " To his Worship the Mayor. "Sib, — I beg to "call your attention to the state of the borough account, 'which is at present overdrawn to the extent of £769 19s 4d, and have to request that you ■will take such steps as will ensure its reduction to under £400 by the end of the year, and payment of the balance within three months afterwards. "Yours faithfully, " James Hume, "Manager." On the, face of this, and with the current expenses to be met, it seemed to him (the Chairman) a monstrous thing to vote this money on a work not absolutely necessary. It would take all the next year's revenue to pay the borough's debts and carry on. Cr. Dawson said that as . far as his memory carried him tho old Town Hall was sold on the express understanding that the money should be expended on Sydney square, .and considering the way the public had come forward with subscriptions towards the cost of levelling and fencing the square, it was not out of tho way to ask the Counoil to contribute £20 towards the work. Cr. Knox thought it only an act of justice towards Hamilton East that this work should be proceeded with. The hall had been sold for thia object only. Hamilton Eaat had been the sufferer m many matters, such as the Council Chambers being fixed far away from it ; and assistance for the work should not be begrudged, them. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. BOROUGH MAl\ Tho following letter was read from the Engineer : — " Hamilton, Nov. 10, 1879. " The Town Clerk, Hamilton. " Sib,— ln answer to your letter enclosing copy of resolution No. 16 of the 27th October, 1879, T have to inform you that the resolution of the Council shall have my immediate attention. "•I have, Jkc, " Wh. O. Bbebeelb." The Chairman said it was nevor intended that an expensive map should be prepared. Cr. Knox reprobated hasty legislation — undertaking at one meeting what after further consideration they were bound to rescind at the next. It was resolved, on tho motion of Cr. Dawson, seconded by Or. Knox, " That the matter bo allowed to lapse." CORRESPONDENCE.

Lands Office, seating that the Crown grants for tho borough endowments (62 acres) would be prepared. A letter was received from the Trea* Bury, stating that thosrun of £211 16s Gd, subsidy for half-year ending 31st December, 1 879, had been paid to the borough's account at the Bank of New Zealand, A letter was read from Mr Jolly, respecting the sale of land for railway purposes. On the motion of Cr. Knox, seconded by Cr. Peat, the letter was received. enqiseeb's bbpoet. Hamilton, November 14, 1879. " The Mayor and Councillors, Borough of Hamilton. " Gekttlbm;bn, — I beg to hand you report on works m progress and under my charge. "be thr bridge. v I have great pleasure m being able to report that the bridge will be finished, as far as the contract is conoerned, about Tuesday next. I went orer the work this day with the District Kngineer, who appeared thoroughly satisfied with the work. A a I did not consider that the hand-rail was a sufficient guard for children, or for droves of sheep, I have to recommend that two battens, Gx 1 J be fixed longitudually, and as 1 considered it advisable and wished to avoid delay J, after describing the nature of the intended work to the Works Committee, ordered the contractor to procure the timber for the purpose. "BE THE EXTRA. WALINGS AND STONE FOB PBOTJSCIT N. "I have to state that after the soundings, which were taken yesterday, and which are shown on a diagram which I will produce, I quite agree with the District Engineer that there is no necessity for taking any immediate action. However, I would recommend the Council to nominate a committee to confer with Mr Stewart on the matter. "be appboaches ho bridge, fast side. " I have certified to James Soombes, tho contractor, the sum of £6 9s <sd, balance . due to him. less 5 per cent discount, which is not payable until the termination of his maintenance term, the amount of deposit as security is, however, m accordance with terms of contract now payable. {t BB APPH©AOHE3, WEST SIDE. " Messrs Livingston and Booth have made very good progress with the work during the last fortnight and will, if the weather keeps fair, .complete -.their contract next week. "be the timber, guabd to prevent the earth from encroaching into mr innes's property. " I have to state that I did not recommended this course to be taken. You will find on referring to my reports, I have on two occasions alluded to the matter of encroachment on to Mr Innes's property At the last Council meeting a committee was formed for the purpose of meeting me at the, bridge, and the question I asked was, 'Was the earth to bo allowed to go into Mr lnnis's paddock or not,' saying that if the Committee decided it was not I would arrange that it should not, but I aeyer recommended that it should not, as I had from the first intended a solid earth embankment, consequently made no provision for a retaining wall, which I should otherwiso have done. In my last report I drew attention to the fact that as Mr Innis had made no objection to tholevelswhen permanently fixed, I apprehended he intended to make none now ; and as for the fact that I hear that it was not known that tho earth would extend so far, not only have I repeatedly said bo, but anyone with any pretensions to knowledge of plans and sections must haye seerf at a glance at the section prepared for the purpose of fixing the permanent levels that the slope of the embamkment would extend beyond the line of the street. 4 * »E TIIE FORMATION OF BOAD PBOM BRIDGE STREET EAST TO TIIE SCHOOL HOUSE. " I would draw attention to the state of this street, as the Council are aware I some time ago received instructions to have the street levelled, but for the reasons explained m my last report, this has never been finished. " RE PROTECTION TO RIVER BA.NK3. "I havo to recommend the Council that if they intend to conserve their banks, some action must be immediately taken m the matter. I would recommend that willow stakes be procured and driven m three rows near the water edge, and that the banks be then sloped and sodded, I tried this method "with, I think, great success at Taupiri, where the river was rapidly washing away the Great South Road. "|I ommitted to report." that the Bridge was on fire last Wednesday, but the damage done was trifling ; I beg again to draw your attention to the necessity of effecting .an insurance on this structure, for the reasons given m my last report. " I am, gentlemen, "Yours obediently "William Breakell." The report was ordered to be considered seriatim.

Knox moved, "That Crs. Vialou, McDonald, and Peat be appointed a deputation to confer with Mr Stewart then m Hamilton, with reference to the protective works required for the bridge. Cr. Vialou disapproved of this, and moved as an amendment, "That, m consequence of the unsatisfactory manner m which the works of this borough have been carried out, it is desirable that this Council shall employ a competent engineer from Auckland to report thereon, and that a committee consisting of Crs. Knox; Beale, and the mover, be appointed to confer with Mr Erriagton, of Auckland, with power to engage his services m the matter.'* His reason for moving this was that no Councillor could be satisfied with tho way the works of the borough had been carried on. Cr. Harris seconded the amendment pr forma. Cr. Knox protested against the amendment as not being an amendment to the motion. The Chairman ruled him out of order. Cr. Knox again protested, and the Chairman threatened him with pains and penalties of a misdemeanour if he did not sit .down. The Chairman (Cr. Vialou) then proceeded to give his reasons for making the above charges against the Engineer. The drawings prepared with reference to levelling sections were, he said, such as should not have emanated from a practical engineer. The laying off of the approaches to the bridge was not done m such a manner as it should have been. In doing away with the two forty feet spans and substituting earthwork he had made a bad job of it, arid put the borough to great expense.* There was an utter want of calculation m the earthworks he had undertaken to lay off. The alterations m the levels of Victoria -street, between the Bank of New Zealand and the. church had been made by the Engineer m a spirit of partiality to such particular owners of property, and one man's front door especially.. When the taking the levels was first proposed he (the Chairman) was then m office, and said let the levels be made to suit the roads without considering.private interests of property. He would himself have been a sufferer, but he was willing to have suffered if the levels had been laid off fairly for all. As soon, however, as he went out of office a new -set of levels were proposed, the Council making the excuse that they could not afford the first plans. The fixing of the levels had been a system of jobbery throughout. Cr. Knox thought that the words of tha Chairman reflecting on the Council should be taken down. The Chairman said he would withdraw the word "jobbery/ and proceeded to review the action of the Engineer m. the matter of the drain -pipes at the junction of Victoria and Wharf-streets. Blunders like these, he said, should not be passed over, and it was necessary they should employ a competent engineer to report. There was another thing — the defective state of the culvert m Hinton's Gully. With respect to cuttings on the other side of the river pipes had quite unnecessarily been put at the springs. Cuttings too had been made and filled up again. to the depth of two or three feet. The speaker then again referred to the question of the levels, saying that when he (Cr. Vialou) was employed m building the hotel for Mr Le Quesne he asked the Engineer for the levels «and got them, and carefully kept the step of the door seven inches above the level. The level was now altered, and the house left higher up. The Engineer had taken a wooden sill for a bench-mark instead of a stone one. Then again his specifications of contracts were nob clear, and made m favor of the contractors, leaving it to the option ot contractors to do what they chose with earth 6aken away from cuttings. Thus footpaths, which could have been filled up with surplus earth were left unfilled because the contractors having the owners of property at their mercy, were placed m a position to ask payment for doing what they ought to have been compelled by their contract to do as part of their work. He charged the Engineer with purposely causing earth not to be put on the footpath m front of his (Cr. Vialou' s) premises, and putting it where it was not needed, and doing this from motives of pique because he (Cr. Vialou) did not approve of all the Engineer's doings. Cr. Knox did not come there to support the Engineer. The whole question was that the borough was to be put to expense becaus3 the Engineer at one time did not make the levels to suit the Chairman, for the hotel he was erecting, and at another time because he did not fill m his" footpath for him. They had got his measure. He had cost tke borough quite enough without this expense being added on his account. The Chairman protested against such language being used with reference to him, and called on the Council to protect the dignity of the chair. Cr. Knox apologised. Cr. McDonald did not see what the amendment had to do with the motion.

; taste by tho Chairman to enable him to indulge m a tirade of abuse against toe Engineer. The question was then put, when there were for the amendment — Crs. Vialou and Harris; against it— Crs. Knox, Peat, McDonald, and Dawson. Cr. Harris explained that but for the fact th*t he was the seconder of the amendment pro forma he would not have voted for it. A question relative to works was put by a Councillor to the Engineer and answered. The Chairman then asked the Engineer a question. Mr Breakcll refused to answer the question. He would answer no question put to him by Cr. Vialou. The Chairman said this was an insult from the Kngineer to the Council. He had just answered a question when put by one Councillor, and th'en refused to answer him — their Chairman. Ors. Dawson and Knox rose together. They thought, after the manner m which the Engiuner had been insulted and other insinuations made against him, that he was quite justified m acting as he had done. The attack upon his professional character had been made most unfairly. The Chairman said he had simply done his duty m the interests of the burgesses, however painful it might have been for him to do it. Cr. Knox challenged the Chairman to call a public meeting and make these charges against the Kngineer before the burgesses face to face on a public platform, where he would have a cuance of replying to them. A + ter a somewhat hot passage of arms the matter was allowed to drop. With regard to the road from the bridge to the East school-house, and the protection to the river banks, it was resolved, " That, m the present state of the funds, neither work could be proceeded with." It was reported by the Clerk that Cr. Hume's seat was now vacant, that gentleman h*ving absented himself for four consecutive meetings. Several matters of account were then gone into, and the Council adjourned.