HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1187, 5 February 1880, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING.

A me sting of the Hamilton Borough Couuoil waa held oa Monday evening. Present : &•«. Vialou, Peat, Jones, Knox, trad Beale. In the absence of the Mayor Or. Vialou was voted to the chair. The minutes of preceding meeting were' read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Jas. Coomba, calling attention to the fact that the balance of his account, £36, for completing the approaches to tho bridge had not been paid although due ten days after the finishing of the work, and requesting early payment. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee. The application of Mr Bu^terworth for a week's salary, i'l, from tho sth to 7th January was refused.

BESIGNATION OF CE. HARRIS. A letter was read from t r. Harris, stating- that owing 1 to the pressure of his business he begged to tender his resignation. Cr. Knox proposed, aud 3r. Davis seconded, "That the resignation bo received, and a letter of thau,<s sent to Mr Harris for his past services.

THE BRIDGE CONTRACT. A letter was read from Messrs Ross and JJnnbar, in which the firm states, " vVo t ied, re claim for extras, if tho Engineer for the North Island would allow us anything for the deduction of the end spans, I the main ones being erected at a loss. Our loss by the deduction was exactly £100. His answer was 'No.' He did not say but that our claim was a just one, but that we made no difference in our schedule prioea between the main and land spans. If the Council fail to meet us as regards the extra piles deciding in our favour or leaving it to arbitration, we have made up our minds to abide the decision of a jury in the upreme Court. We hate law as much as a certain person is said to hate holy water, knowing well that those who win are loosers in the long run ; still we do not wish to be (what we fancy) imposed on. Were we allowed schedule rates for the extras we would not think it so hard that the deduction would be made on the same scale. The Council will not fail to see the injustice of how we are dealt with. If either the Council or the Government are entitled to deduct the paying part of a contract, and leave the part whioh the contractor has to do at a loss, it puts the contractors in an unenviable position, particularly when they do not pay for the extras. The Council understands the matter fully, and we hope they will not sacrifice their sense of justice to scarcity of funds. We are in no wise in a hurry for payment, only let the Council state that they will pay when in funds, or within a twelve months time. Our relations have been most amicable, and we hope they will continue so, and if the Council pays the extras for the piles we will forgo our loss by the deductions, but i* it has to go on to the ♦bitter end' we will include all claims that we can possibly make, such as extra piles, spans deducted, payments not made punctually, &o." Cr. Knox moved " That the letter bn received." Seconded by Cr. Peat, and carried unanimously.

EEPAIES TO STREETS. A letter was read from the Rev. Father Golden, pointing out that a culvert was much needed by the Catholic Church, and gravel on the side walk; also, that the piping adjacent was so small that parts of the road were at times flooded. On the motion of Cr. Knox, seconded by Cr. Davis the matter was referred to the Works Committee. A letter was read from Mr Gardiner, calling attention to the damage done by Borough drainage to his property. Cr. Peat said the urork ought to have been done long ago. — Referred to Works Committee for report.

ENOIKEEEB BEPOBT. Gentlemen,— l have to report that I have in accordance with your instructions, had the holes, bored in the bridge, and the troughs as recommended in my last report fixed. I have to report that the work of tarring the end of the joists is now in hand. I have given the foreman of w orks the necessary instruction for the Clarence-street culvert. Two barges arrived last week, and two to-day with stone for the protection works of the bridge. January 28, 1880. "VV. C. Breakkll.

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, enclosing copies of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, as a similar one would be introduced into the next session of Parliament, and asking the Council's suggestions on its various provisions. Ordered to lay on the table.

THE PUNT. A letter was read from Mr Morria, of Pukete, asking that the ferry be at once banded over, as at present children from the other side of the river were unable to oross over to school. Instructions were given to urge the Waipa County Council to carry out the arrangement agreed upon — that is, to hand over the Whatawhata ferry to Pukete, and take over the Hamilton ferry for Whatawhata.

VICTOBU-STREET CUTTING. The following letter was read from th 9 Rev. W. Calder, re the cutting by St. Peter's Church: — January 19th, 1880. To the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Hamilton. Gentlemen,— l am requested by my Vestry to write to you on the subject of the retaining wall in front of the church on the cutting. The cutting has considerably reduced the saleable \alue of our property and spoilt the appearance of the church by having the side cutting made for a carriage road, and has put us to some expense in altering the fence, earthwork, and nuking a gate. Under these circumstances we venture to submit that we cannot afford to pay an> thing towards a borough improvement which tends rather to spoil the appearance of our property, and we would urge upon the Council the fairness of our request. Weha\e received from Mr Ihorpu an at( ount for L 25 7s, for capping four bi i( k pillars, and 60 feet of 14-inch brickwork, and 1=56 feet coping, being part of the retaining wall ; and we respectfully ask the Council tosa\e us this expense, which does us no direct good, and which we cannot afford to pay. — 1 am, &.c, \C. Cm di k. Cr. Knox moved, "That the letter be received and acknowledged," stating that the Council could not afford to entertain the proposal. Cr. Vialou thought the letter asked too much. The only part the Vestry had a claim for was the 60 feet of coping. Cr. Peat said the Vestry had got more that it was ever agreed to give them. The motion of Cr. Knox was seconded by Cr. Davis, and carried unanimously. An application from Mr Davis to lease three acres for building purposes, belonging to the borough, was refused as being beyond the power of the Council. A complaint was read from Mr A. Campbell as to the 6tate of the road by his property, draymen refusing to bring freight to his house. The matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act.

RETURNING OFFICKB. The resignation of Mr T. C. Hammond as Returning Officer to the borough was received and accepted. .

THE BBEDGE TOLLS. A letter was read which had been sent from the • lerk to Mr Daly, authorising him to collect tho tolls from the 3ist of January at the rate of £2 per week. The Olerk stated that Mr Daly had handed over the takings of Sunday last, namely £2 4s. It was suggested that a bar be placed at the entrance of the bridge. Or. Knox prote3ted against such an appointment, even as a temporary one — given to a stranger without hecurity. He thought the bridge should be at ouco let by tender or auction. Even if the bridge was to be farmed it ought to have bet-n oitoi'O'l tw the late lessee. Ur. Davis agreed with the previous

speaker, but the result of the present takings showed that the bridge was ' worth far more than the £42 per month paid by the late lessee. Cr. Vinlou agreed that the collection of the bridge tolls should be us boon as possible put up to competition. ' Cr. Jones explained that owing 1 to the Council meeting of last week lapsing-, there was no other course than to put a man on to take the tolls. Cr. Knox moved, " That the bridge tolls be leaded by auction on Monday next, by Mr K. Hill, for the month of February." — Seconded by Or. Feat. Cr. Beale moved as an amendment, " That Mr Daly continue to collect the tolls under existincr arrangements, on wages to the end of the month so as to enable the Council to teat the real value of the bridge tolls." — Seconded by Cr. Jones. Cr. Knox objected to a man not a burgess being 1 appointed. There were many qualified burgesses who would have been willing to accept the job. For the amendment : Or*. Jones, Reale, and Davis ; against : Crs. Knox and Peat. The Chairman declined to vote. The amendment was declared to be carried. Cr. Knox moved, that Mr Daly provide bonds to the amount of £10. Seconded by Cr. Peat. Carried. Cr. Beale dissenting.

IHE PROPOSED DRAINAGE WORKS. The report of the Works Committee was read, showing that * r.s McDonald, Peat, and Knox were present, that the Engineer was in attendance and submitted the specifications for drainage works, Bridge-street East, which wore read over and approved by the Committee, and pro- j vision was made and added to the specifications for a water trough and iron piping, as formerly recommended by the Works Committee. Cr. Vialou complained that having examined the specifications for the works, he found only one portion of the specifications in accordance with the instructions ef the Council. The fencing of the appioaches to the bridge had not been done. The specification was not intelligible. The contractor should b able to j ndge from the specification what work was intended. No artisan could understand the specifications drawn out by the Engineer. The ronsequence would be the Council would have to pay more for the work. He thought the Council could get along without an Engineer. The Clerk, with what assistance the Chairman could give him, would be able to get on becter than at present. Cr. Jones endorsed Cr. Vialou' 8 remarks. ( r. Knox was not surprised that the plans were not brought up for this side the river. If they had been there was no money to carry them out. The Clerk stated the present debts of the Borough amounted to £1,500. There was only £300 left of the £10,000 unexpended. Cr. Jones wanted to knew who had stopped the work of fencing the bridge approaches, considering the Council had accepted a tender. Cr. Vialou said the only way, was to summon the Engineer to meet the Council and explain. Cr. Jones moved " That the Clerk be instructed to ask the Engineer for what cause the work of fencing the bridge had been delayed." Seoonded by Cr. Dawson, and carried. The clerk was also instructed to ask the Engineer to prepare proper plans for the construction.

BY-LAWS. The report of the By-law Committee waa brought up and read. These had reference to pounds and pound fees, hawkers licenses, naming of streets, &c. The by-laws as read were adopted, with certain alteratious, increasing the fees for supplying food daily to cattle impounded. General account overdraft, £578. Sundry accounts were ordered to be paid.

BRIDGE APPROACHES. Tt was resolved that the work of sodding the sides of the approaohes to the bridge be xet alone for the present. It was resolved to erect a bar at the east entrance of the bridge.

THE BRIDGii EXTRAB. Cr. Knox moved " That the resolution passed at a previous meeting re extras to Messrs. Ross and Duubar be received." Seconded by Cr. Beale, and earned unanimously.

H >TJE OF COUNCIL MEETING. On the motion of tJr. Peat, seconded by Cr Davis, it was resolved " That the meeting of this < ouncil should in future be hsld at 7 p.m., in the plaoe of 4p m. as heretofore." For the motion: Cr. Peat, Davis, Beak, and Jones. A gainst it: Cr. Knox. In the absence of Mr Cumming, his motion to aluer the hour of sttting 1 of the Counciltfrom 4 p.m. to 2.30. p.m., lapsed. This concluded the business.