HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNClL.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1297, 21 October 1880, Page 2

HAMI LTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

TnE usual monthly meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening when there were present His Worship the M iyor, Cr.s. Jones, Mullions, Price, McGarrigle, Knox, Davis, Peat, Hill, and Vialou. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read, O Kuox ot)jected, that they were not oorreefc. They stated when the Council had resumed after going into Committee, progress Mad been reported. Now, as a matter of fact, progress had not been reported, and as very important isnues were likely to arise, he would enter his protest against the minutes being confirmed. The Mayor said tho progress had virtually been reported, but as the Councillors were in a hurry to get away, the minutes of the Committee had not been read. Cr. Jones moved that the minutes be confirmed, and on the motion being put to the Council there voted for it, the Mayor, Crs. Jones, Davis and MulUons ; against, Crs. McGarrigle, Knox, Price, and Peat, the other Councillors not having arrived at this stage. The Mayor gave his casting vote in favor of the motion, and the minutes were duly confirmed. The outward correspondence was then read and approved. A letter' was read from the Under Secretary for Public Works, notifying that the services of Mr Beere, the Resident Engineer, would be placed at the disposal of the Council to carry out the work on the bridge approach, but inform- j ing them that Mr Beere would be leaving at the end of the month, and that it was not known at present whether, a successor to him would be appointed. Cr. Kaox thought the Government would hardly leave the district without an Engineer, more especially when never.il large works, like the bridge at What.iwhatn, -were in pi - ogres«. At the same time, ho was of opinion that they should make the best use of Mr Beero's services while he was here. After some discussion, Cr. Knox moved " That the works be proceeded with at once, so long as they did not interfere with Mr Seddon's claim." This was seconded by the Mayor. Cr. Hill moved as an amendment, " That the letter be received, and that the offer of Mr Beere 1 s services be accepted." This was seconded by Cr. Mullious, and motion having been withdrawn, was put and carried. A letter was read from Mr W. Cumming, Chairman of the Sydney Square Improvement Committee, replying to a communication from the Council, dated the 22nd ult., and stating that the Council had apparently misunderstood the purport of hus former letter. He was not, he said, in doubt as to whether the Council would pay the balance of the jrmnt towards the improvements to the Square, but had applied for a farther sum towards fencing the reserve. He pointed out that this was the more necessary, because the Square was really the only avnilable recreation ground within the Borough suitable for cricket and games, &c. Hy therefore trusted that the Council would re-consider the matter. The committee had been promised a number of valuable trees to plant on the reserve, but he feared that it was now too late in the season to attempt to plant. The Town Clerk alf-o read another letter from Mr Gumming, covering the certificate of the engineer employed to superintend the- work (Mr Breakell), from which it appeared that that gentleman had visited tho ground and expressed himself satisfied generally with wh.it had been done, and urging that grass be t>own at once. Cr. Knox said he was in a position to state that the grass had been sown, C.ipt. Steele having provided the labour. Cr. Hill moved that the balance of the grant remaining (£l4) be handed over to the committee. This was seconded by Cr. Knox and carried. In regard to the matter of fencing, the Council resolved to inform the committee that they regretted not beiug in a position to .'ift'ord any assistance. Tho Uender, Secretary for Linds, wroie, informing the Council that the Crown grants for the Borough Kudowments wpre being 1 prepared* jukl would be for wauled as soon after tho arrival of the new Governor as possible. Mr S. T. Seddou wrote, a^kinur for copies of tho agreement mad') -.virh the Council and the written particulars of his claim. The letter wa? received. Another letter was received from Mr Seddon, onclosing recounts for two quarters' interest (£l6 13«) ou the capital value of the land sold to the Council. The accounts were ordered to lie on the table. The Secretary of the Ladies' Benevolent Society wrote, bringing under the notice of the Council the ease of a certain family who were in a destitute fit-tte, and the Society was not in a position to relieve them. The letter enclosed one from Sergeant McG-overn, as to the reduced circumstances referred to. Cr. Kuox: expressed his surprise that such a letter fhould have been s -nt to the Council, and moved that it lie on the tablo. — Carried. A letter from Mr Ohuia, asking for a few pipos to be laid down near his property, was referred to the Works Committee. At this stasre tho Mayor retired, and 'Jr. Hill was voted to tho chair. The Works Committee reported, recommending that two gully boxes of brick be laid down iv Victuria-street ; and that, in regard to the complaint of Mr J K. Maodonald, the Council instruct the Borough workman to cut an opendriin across the lower end of Tisdall-street to let the water off down the boundary drain of lot 60. On the motion of Cr. Knox, it was decided that the gully boxes in Victoriastreet should be of timber, the Council having .several in the store. The other matter referred to in the report it was decided to refer to the Resident Engineer, the Works Committee to have power to act on his recommendation. Cr. Price, in accordance with notice, moved, " That the Works Committee be reconstructed." This was seconded by Cr. Knox and carried, and the following were then appointed as members of the Committee : — Crs. Knox, Hill, Mullions, McGarrigle, and Davis. Cr. Knox moved, in. accordance with notice, " That the bridge toll-keeper's house be enlarged to admit of his family living there." He thought it was only fair that this should be done. After some discussion, the motion was negatived. Cr. Knox moved, in accordance with notice, that, the bridge be declared free on Sundays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for the purpose of enabling people to attend Divine Service. He did not think it right, to impose a tax on people going to church. Cr. Mcjrarrigle doubted that the Council had the power to do this, and the motion, not finding a seconder, lapsed. Cr. McGarrigle moved, that the Mayor's resolution confirming tho purchase of Seddon's land be resoinded. Cr. Knox seconded. For tne motion there voted : — the Chairman, Crs., Jones, McaGarrigle, Kuox,

Divis, and Peat ; against : — Ore., Vialou, Price, and Mullions. The inotiop was carried. ; Cr. Hill's notice of motion re repairing roads by contract was referred to the Works Committee. The Town Clerk read the usual statement of acconnts as follows : — General account, (overdraft) £635 13s lOd ; Special account, (credit) £53 13s Gd. Cr. Knox drew attention to the disgraceful state in which many of the streets were, ovy'ing to. the encroachments of f urjje , and it was decided that the Committee appointed to enquire into the matter some time ago (Crs. Peat and McGarrigle) make an inspection and report to the Council, I it being 1 understood that they had the I power to hire a conveyance for that purpose. This was all the business and the Council then rose.