HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1237, 3 June 1880, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Til's ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Counfil was held at the Council I hamheis on ucsdiy evening. Present: Hh Worship the Mayor, Crs. Davis, Jonj?a, MeGa rig}e; r Mulhons,, White, Penrce, Peat, Pi ice, and Vialou. The mini tes of the previous ordinary and adjourned and one emergency moi ling ireve read., Cr. Da vh wished to knowhow it was t hat a certain letter which had been mentioned in the minutes of the previous meeting as having been received had not been read at that meeting 1. Cr. v Pe"at~an'd Jones thought that all letters sent to the Council should be read at tho meetings. The Clei k explained that he had been told by the Mayor that it was unnecessary to read it. The Mayor said tho letter referred to 'was from, 7 aix councillors and commented on his action m going to Cambridge t6 see Mr Shech.m. He might bay that he entirely disapproved of the course pursued by these ipi-nibers, whose duties he considered lay in doing business' at the meetings and not outside. The minntes were then confirmed. The outward"" correspondence was read an'd confirmed. A letter was road from Mr Thomas Maunders, asking that owners of land in certain, .streets be called upon to remove the furze growing thereon and adjoining their properties. Cr. Jones moved — That the application be accceded to. Cr Davis seconded. Cr Vialou thought that everybody should be compelled to remove the furze, and moved the following amendment to that effect— ' That the owners of all property in the Borough he notified to clear the fuize hum tho portion of the ro id opposite their pioperty, which bj law the) are requijqd; vide 98, P.W. Act, 1876. j He said it was not fair to single out a few indivklnhls and leave bthers. Such a course, would ouuse a, good deal of disaffection. The amendment was seconded by Cr Pent, and, on being put to the Council, was cairiod by t!>o casting vote of tho Mayor; there voting for the motion Cim Davis, "White, Pearce, McG-arriglo, and Jones. Mr S. Steele, Chairman of the Hamilton Highw ay District Board, wrote, drawing the attention of the Council to the stti.ill piece of un»nsvelled road from Cox's q to to Mr Charles Johnson's. Only about three chains required to be done, and the gravel ought to be put on boloie the bad weather .set in. By so doing the Council would confer a great boon on the travelling public. On 'ho motion of Cr Peat, seconded by Cr Davis, the letter was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. Mr Phillip Munro wrote, askmg to have a poition of the main drain in Anglesea*«fereet covered in. Matter referred to the Woiks Comihitiee. Mr T. M. Hill wrote, applying for a license to slang-liter cattle, &c., on allotment 308, Hamilton West. After some discussion it was resolved to refer the matter of the bye-law uflecting the granting of slaughtering licences to a committee, consisting of Cm Vialou, McGariigle, Pearce, and Jones, the committee to report to t e Council. Mr Hill to have permission to slaughter in +he meantime. Messrs Livingstone and Booth wrote stating that the Foreman of Works had used some timber belonging to them, and used in connection with the bridge, for works connected with the Borough, and asking to be refunded in the amount of the cost —2ss. The Town Clerk said the Foreman of Works had reported that when he used the timber in question he was under the impression that it belonged to the Borough, having been so informed by one of the Councillors. Cr. Vialou &aid he had told the Foreman to use the timber, thinking it was the property of the Council. It was resolved to pay the applicants the price of the timber. The local agent of the Auckland Herald wrote applying for the printing and advertising of the Borough. Cr. Peat moved — That the lettei be recehed. This was seconded by Cr. Jones and carried. The Works Committee reported that at a meeting held on the 21st May, the following resolutions were carried : (1) Thit Ci. Mullions examine the drain in Albert .Street, and rcpoit to the Committee. (2) That the Foreman of the Woiks be authorised to put 12 teet ot 0 inch pipes at I\lr. llu ks' footpath in Collmgwuod-strect. {$) lh.it the Foreman of Works be instructed to employ the gravel amtiac tor to furnish drays to supply gravel where leqtuicd on the main streets. At a meeting of the Committee held on the 28th May, it was resolved :—: — (1) That the Committee recrommend the Count ll to h i\e about <;o Manuka st tkt-. duw 11 in at the approach of No. 1 bridge, and (he c.nth be backed up with wattling. (2) Unit the CommUtee recommend to the Count ll th.it the eiossing be taken up at the Waikato Hotel and pi u ed by the I'orem in oi Wcrks <it Mis Y.mkss' chain and the ditches in Albert-stieet dec,,cm d to take off thr water. The Committee i rnt!i(r reportedth.it thr\ had rerenod the different prices of diain pines, and submitted same for the consideiation of the Council as follows :—: — Messrs. Wright and Vincent, (Hunilton). Is Od per foot for 11 inch pipes, and for 12 inch pipe "atless than Auckland pri> es."' George Boyd (Auckland), 3 inch 3d ; 4 inch 4d ; 6 inch Gd ; 0 inch Is ; 12 in< h Is 6d; 1J- inch 2s ; IS inch 3s 21 inch 5s ;24 inch 7s 6d. Delivered at Auckland .station and subject to a reduction of 7t per cent. Mr G. AVinstone, Same as George Boyd. The report was received. The recommendations of the Committee re No. 1 bridge and Mrs Vowless' drain were adopted. Cr. Jones moved "That the tender of Messrs Vincent and Wright for drain pipes be accepted." Cr. Price seconded. Some discussion took place regarding the relative amounts of the tenders after which the motion was put and carried unanimously, Cr. Vialou, however, htating that although he voted for it, it was only on the understanding that he reserved to himself the right to object to using the 11 inch pipes of Messrs. Wright and Vincent when 12 inch pipes were considered necessary. A number of accounts were referred to the Finance Committee. The Mayor then asked the Town Clerk to read the report of the Finance Committee. Cr. Vialou objected to the report being read in open Council, because there Avere private and confidential letters included in the report and relating to the Banks, which it would not be just on their part to divulge. The Mayor, admitted the force of Cr. Vialou's. objection, but he thought no harm would be done if the result of the committee's labors were brought forward. Cr. Vialou said he would not object so long as the correspondence was not read. This was agreed to and the Town Clerk then read the following

Rlport of ihi: Splciu Finvnce Committee, 2isi May, 1880. Your Committee ha\ ing found it necessary to take legal ad\ice upon matters connected with the tiansfer of monejs irom the special to the general account of the Koiough, they obtained from Messrs Hesketh and Richmond the following in repl) to thcii question :—: — " Wo ha%e caroiullv considered your memo, ot the 26U1 April, We do not think that any surplus in any special fund acconnt should bo transferred to the general Borough fund. The Act of 1876 appears to be silent as to the application of any such, surplus; but we think you must take it that

moneys belonging; to a special fund auount arc impressed with a tiust for the- object ot .1 speu il lo in. The 255 th -ioctiou ot the Act of iB')j made piovision as to the application of a suipliii, ,uul wo think that your bid plus should be applied towards the reduction ol the £7000 lo >n — Yours, &.c, Hi ski lii >.\l> Richmond." Your Committee .lie theieforc of opinion that comni'ssioneii. should bo appointed, under tin; pouei-. planted In the 61st H itisc ot the .Mum11p.1l Corporations Ail. toi ihepaipo.eot nuKin^ r the suiphib moneys aiciuuiK >rt tlw special hind aci mint, in whu h ( i^e the J!oiout;h ijeneral .ictount ini^ht utilise these iuonc\s> b\ becoming' moitjj igois of tho 15oioU!jfh p. o^^rlt al the s.nne late that they were ie. ei.injr fm the in' estments, adding the cost ot moitgages and commibbioneis' cxpent.es only.

XI Mill II\NM<I\G AtOOUVI. Your Commiti.ee, when < oiiiidei mtj tins matter, deemed it bet.t to call for tendois for the lloron^li banking business, .md obtat.icd tioin tlio lo< al Banks tb/^ following offers, \u.: — Ihe Ba'ik oi NewZcil.mil, in calculating the inteiest on tlie o\eidiawn balance oi the ffcneial account of dio Borough, allowance will be made for the daily bnLim c at the ciedit of the special fund .ice ount, interest bcintf chained onl) on the exc esb of the former o-.er the latter account, -and at tlio rate of 8 pci cent. The manager of -the Union Hank of Australia states he is unable to offei spe< i.il terms ; but should the account be kept at the Union Bank the business will bo conducted on tho most favorable terms now cunent : o\ci draft, it requncd, to be by special auangeincnt. Under these circumstances, seeing the terms of thti local Banks- am identical, your Committee ha\e concluded to recommend to the Council that it is conducive to the inteiests ot the Borough, commercially and financially, that the general b inking business ot the Corporation be transferred for the present fiom the Bank ot New Zealand to the Union Bank of Vustraha. B. C. Übui, Ch lit man. The Mayor said'they woxild see by the firot portion of tho report that the lawyer's opinion was that the Council could not directly utifibe the surplus *'or general purposes, and they therefore reoonunmided the appointment of Commissioners. There were no moneys accruing at present, -and they might thereforo defer the consideration, of this matter for the present. He wished that po tion of tho repoi t to b* merely received at present. Cr Jonoi said he .supposed the money for the bridge was to come out of this fund, and it was also to be applied to buylnsr up the debentures. Cr Vi ilou : No ! only to paying tho 4ntr>rest. On the motion, of Cr Jones, seconded by Cr Peat, the first pcrti.m of the report wa-s received. The Major Mid the second portion of tho report referred to changing the banking 1 account. Cr MoGairisrle said he was present at the Committee mooting but he did not feet quite cle ir about tho way the business was done. It appe ire<l to him th it it was attempted to carry the point by a side wind. It would have been better to h ive read tho two letters from tho B inks. lie moved that at the Committee, aud he thought tho same motion would meut tho cdrto at that meeting. Cr. Vialou rose to a point of order. They were considering a repoi fc from the Finance Committeo, and Cr. McGaingle could not go on to discuss what had taken place at the meeting of the Committee. Cr. MoOarngle moved — That the letteis he had rcfened to bo le.id. Cr. Vialou said the report had been read, and it was, with that they had now to deal. The Mayor said that when the report was read, it was agreed, at the ins>t nice of Cr. Vialou, that no correspondence of a confidential natarc should be disclosed, and no one dissented to this course. An opportunity was then presented to Cr. McGarrigle to bring on Ins motion. He was now out of order. It was, however, quite competent for him to move a re&olution not affecting this point, whiui he may have previously moved in committee. Cr. Vialou said he was anxious to give Cr. McUarriglj an opportunity for expressing his views. He would therefore moye — That the latter poition of tho report be also received. The motion ha vine? been s^oiidol, The Mayor said if was competent for anyone to move an amendment to the effect that the report be adopted. After a pause, The Mayor said : As chairmnn of the committee I, myself, shall move the adoption of that portion of the repoi t relating to the Borough Banking account. Cr. Price seconded the amendment. ' The \ ayor : I have not very much to say upon this subject, but to illustrate what little I have to siy it would be necessary to go back. When this Borou gh was first established some two years ago I was a member of the first Council, and I was an observer of sums very unfair things done whi'-h. I objected to at the time. Th* re being a second Bank heiv, it was moved — or at any jute a motion was suppo ted by the managed to place the Boiough account at the Bank of Xow Zealand, I believe that Cr. Potter and myself were the only onos to oppose this being done. We considered it a very unfair proceeding and nut in accordance with the provisions of the Mam'cipxl Corporation Act. We thought it advisably aud conducive to the intereots of the Bn-ou-rh that a second Bank should be encouri&jd in Hamilton. I might ttll you that tho N itioiril Bank Branch had to wind up for want of support and it would be vei y detrimental fco the place weie such a cuciunstanco tn happen auain. Momo ■<>\w'< as you all know are had . nd lo king .it the question at issue from this point of view I think yon will all agree that th j course pagqestjd by the Finance; Committee is tlic proper one to bo pursued. Cr. McGani«>'lo : Isuppos3 1 shall be iii order in riferiinar to the substance of the oftur-> from the Hanks. We have leceived a h j t<cr fio'n the Bi.ikof Nev Zealand in -which it is. iiHe'uprcl to \%oik out a piobl'Mn; to baliiK-o o ie a"count against .mother. Cr. Vialou : I must obiecr, to Cr M<;Garrigle p>hi'-j into m ltter-. wluch «ue confidential. The Ma^or: Certiinly, if the letters arc marked "confidential' 1 it will boa breach of faith on the p ir 1 - of the committee to divulge the contents. The Town Clei !c said one !• ttcr tomarked confidential ; the other was not". Cr McGaui:rle : Tn that ease mv mouth is"s^opi>ed, as I wished to speak of facts and figures. I think tho offer of the Union Bank the best, and will second the amendment. Cr Vialou : Your "Worship and gentlomen, the M lyor h is been pleased to re 'or to what took jjlace in the first Council. He think" that an injustice was done to one of the Banks at that rim.'* ; Ido not think .so, and every member of the Council will fall in with my views when I explain my reasons. I have no pa tiality for one Bank or the oth p r ; I respect both n.amaors alike, but I wish to c my favor with neither, being pet fecrly independent of both. My experience of the progress of Hunilton — and I hive boon here over eight year- — is that it is in airrosit measure owing to the Bank of New Zealand an institution which li is done very much to open up the district. It was the first bank to open an agency in the Waikito, and as tnp district advanced it offered fre.sh facilities It has built a fine bank in Hamilton, one of tho best buildings in the town, and a credit to it It has done everything possible to advance our interests, and I think we ought to hive done all that lay in our power to support such an institution. His Worship has made allusion to tho Nation il Bank, and I differ very much with him on this point also. That bank met with very large support hero ; but theA r aiado a mistake in giving overdrafts too freely, and inducing people to do business with them who Could not pay It was from no want of encouragement that the bank failed to succeed hero ; it was owing to tho contraction, ot bo many bad debts,

= i— . ; Tliis, hoAvever, is no criteiion, because I bolievo the bank which, succeeded the one I have referred to will, for its own convenience, keep a bank hero -whether it pays or not. Ido not care which brink has the accouui, but all should have fair play. lam not goin«r into figures. Both banks woie written to and both tendered. I shall have lo go back :ind give you tho reason why one of the brinks tendered in h way diJFment from tho other. Some time ,iao we .1 I<< d tho opinion of Mes-rs T-Tesk' th and llieh.nond on the .surplus special fund, and were advised that we oould not touch it without appointing" coiamiwoner-, by whom the money could bo dealt with in any legitimate) way they thought proper. Eat supposing the Borough borrowed this the regular forms would have to be complied with, and the expenses so incurred would far exceed the amount of the extra ! interest. I therefore put the matter to the manager of the Bank of New Zealand whether he conld not put the special fund account against the general accpunt, and charging interest only on the balance. Hence the tender. I wis»h it to be understood that I did not act officially in this matter. The proposition I made was in the course of a conversation. The Mayor : I must object to your entering into matters which you would not allow Cr. McGarrigle to discuss. Cr Vialou : Ido not mention figures, but merely gave the reason why the Bank of. New Zealand tendered in a particular way. Now comes the question of terms. I will not mention rates, but I may tell the Councillors who are not on the Committee, that the Bank of New Zealand tendered, fixing a rate for the interest upon the balance, while the other Bank sent mno price. The report says the terms were equal. The Union Bank simply agrees to do it at current rates. Cr McGarritrle rose to a point of order, stating that Cr. Vialou ought not to refer to the rates. Ci? Vialou : That is not a point of order ; and 1 object to such interruptions. The Mayor : I prcsiune that Cr. McGarriglo wi&hes to know from the Chair whither you are m order. I rule that you arc not. Cr. Vialou : Can it be possible that you rule in this manner with the standing order:, before you ? Cr. McGarrigle has not named his point of order. The Mayor : He appealed to me, and I say you are out of order. Cr. Vialou : lam very sorry to have to s.iy it, but it does seem to me a one sided affair. One of the Banks send in a pi/ice, and the other The Mayor : You are not in order. You aic disclosing the proceedings of the Committee. Cr. Vitvlou : lam not out of order. I say again that the Bank of New Zealand have agreed to take the accounts at a certain 1 ate of interest Cr. McGaniglc : They lm c not. Ci Vialou: I *■ iy they ha\o, and ] will not be ir-tenupkd by Cr Mi.Garrigle. Tho Union Ba-ik otteiecl to t tko the account at ouiiuni. uites. The ?\Ltyor : You are out of order. Cr Vialou : It you rulo me out uf ordci I mtbt appe ilto the Councillois. 'I he Moroi then read the motion and amendment coupling- with the litter the portion of the Committee's report leferied 10. Cr Vi -ilou objected io the report beingread. The duty of the Chair was. to foint the motion and amendment only. The Mayor: I shall put thorn in what form I consider best united to the convenience of the Council. Cr Vi dou : I dont think you can. Cr Jones : If tho Mayor i-> going to do as ho likos, we mi?ht just ns well abolish the standing oidoie. altogether Cr (-'rice : The •■! tyor 1 . quite nuht. It appe ir.s to in- tint Cr Vialou wishes to puzzle Councilli'i^. Cr Yialou : I ol>j. ct to such an in,"nuation. The Mayor depiccited anything Lke strong Lm.ui.iycoi ill-Wninr. The amendment was th n put and caijifd as follows, \oting foi it : The Mayo 1 , Crrf. Pc it, Davles, White, MtGariisilc, Foam-, Multio! s, and Piico. Agjin&t: Cr- Vial'-u, and Joiks Several .i' counts were lefened to the Finance Committee. The M'lyor rep.nted thnfc a deputation lnd waited on the li lilway Commission as instructed. E\idence, on oath, lad b 'on obt uned from Cr. Vialou, Mr Break ell, an 1. hims.'lf, .md the works which tin y ir-ged nanu-lv, th" .seo<<nd section of th" Thames -Waik.' to and tlie Cainbiidye rail u ay > would bj constructed. He also wished to draw their attention fmain to tho Hi c ssity for a : ire Bi o<» ule or Salvage Corpi m H unilton Ho thought the matter s-h-mld be referred to a, committee to report. On thf motion of CV. Jones it was reRolved to icfei t'n m ittcr to a (O'.n.n'tee consisting of tlie M 'y>'i- Cra. Price, Puiive, and the mover. Cr. Vi ilou -aid wlulo on tlic sub] 'ct, t'nt the l'lditf r of tho Waikato Tin's hid .i shoit time .i;v» t,'l; t ii cro lii t>> hims If for bnu'un^ cliis ni.utci 1 !>ofov > ihe public B fo'o d >iir_j -~o !i.« ought to !i,.\c ma !'■ him <It ,i [iiaint^.l with a f'w t;v U in count lien, \.ith it. IV o yens a^o he (')r. Vi,il')u) oiui.'a'ed the .SJ'ioiii'j, ,u\d fi'o buiAof !, lad !oi, i^c, v,cn' o^t'i'iod. ilvj (h M'Jifc u i.'thei haidtiiit ift.'i- t'ns, .1 gonti'-in I'l M !i'> 'l m! o ,ly ] .!( ly arsivi d in flu 1 (UiLiicL should lake .'ll the credit to himself On tlio Tnotion ''i Or. VcUtiirigl* 1 it was iv-.olve 1 to piocuo a -!o\< iortlieioll (ollc^oi-j iio.;,'. aid lay ni a supply of co ils i i" the wuil"!. Ir wa> .il o l m lvd in c >n! m.io ih. 1 s<" - vii o> ol i)il- pr,'-eaL to'l collecLoi foi the month or June. The M iyi»r s iil ilia, as ~S*r Gwynu"th wisin llnuiltm hr mi','ur, (•(> cuplovi i to tike th.'k i \.ls of mjiw oi thi> worst st cot-, with a view to iinpinvirnr th 'in for tin* convniuuce ot' lo >l-p* a-.nuoi's du.'ini; the winter. Alfor di-eus inir tho miit"rii wa> resolved, on tin 1 motion uf Cr Vialou, seconded l»y Cr Peat— 11) it "\[i (iuvimetli bo in>tiucti <1 h\ the Cloik to take tho h \(.K of Vn^-lisc i, Uireiue, Rirl;moii'l, and Hood sticct , and (T.irden-i)Lice, with a mew to suhmatinsj to this Council pcimancnt loxoK foi tho Suiiue. Tlio u-iv-> noticp to n»ovo at tho next rnoctintr— " Tint it is desii.ibblo M.Gwvmioth be employed to take tho lov Is of the woi.st streets of the Boiough, with a viftv to flu'ir improvomont. Cr Pc .t moved—" That Mr F. Vialou be written to to have the furniture in tho Co'iTK-il Chamber belonging to him lenioved." This n as soconded by Cr Davios, but on tho motion of Cr Jones it was agived to it>fer the matter to a committee. The Council shortly afterwards rose.