HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1344, 10 February 1881, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Couiicil was held on Tuesday , evening. Present : His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Jones, Peat, Davis, Tippin, McGarrigle, Vialou, and Price. The minutes of the previous ordinary, and one special meeting, were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. A letter was read from the clerk to the Waikato County Council, informing the Council that several dogs, the property of residents in the county, had oeen registered in the Borough, and requesting the Council to refund the money received for such tax. A second letter was read from the same writer, drawing attention to clause 7 of the Act. The Mayor said there could be no doubt that an irregularity had taken place, but it was nothing more than might have been expected in commencing to work a new Act. Money had been wrongly received in other places than Hamilton. The money was ordered to be refunded. The Mayor said the Waipa County Council, with a view to compel owners of dogs to register, had agreed to offer a reward of £1 for the conviction of any offender under the Act. A councillor thought they should follow this example. Cr. Vialou thought not. He did not believe in paying rewards to any kind of informers. It opened up a channel for the exercise of all sorts of villainy. The subject then dropped. A letter was read from the Undersecretary for Public Works, stating in reply to an application from the Council that there was a balance of £116 10s remaining out of the vote for the Hamilton bridge, which the Government were willing to contribute towards painting the bridge. Af cer some discussion as to the probable cost of painting, it was resolved " That Crs. Hill. Vialou, and McGarrigle be a committee to obtain specifications and report to the Council at a special meeting on the 21st inst." The Town Clerk was also instructed to acknowledge receipt of the letter and to inform the Government of the steps the Council were taking. Mr D. M. Beere, C.E., wrote, forwarding plans, showing the alterations in the bed of the rivor at the bridge since soundings were taken by Mr Breakell The plans having been laid on the table, Councillors generally expressed their satisfaction with the result of Mr Beeres examination, and the Town Clerk was ordered to write to Mr Beere, thanking him for his services. Mr Daley, the Bridge toll- col lector, wrote, stating that, on the night of the 30th, the lock on the bridge gate was forced and broken by Mr Pearson and others. The Town Clerk reported that he had given orders to have a new lock attached to the gate, but had taken no actiou agaiust the offenders, as the matter was in the hands of the police. The Borough workman reported the sinking of the Borough boat, and that the old punt wire-rope was still at the bottom of the river. It being agreed among councillors that neither of these articles would pay for the trouble expended in their recovery, no steps in that direction were taken. Mr Peacock also reported on the dangerous state of Bradley 's biidge, East Hamilton, and suggested that the timber required could be obtained fiom the old punt landing. The Town Clerk thought the Kirikiriroa Highway Board should contribute toward the cost of repairing the biidge, it being partly in their district. The Mayor said the Council had pow er to <lo the work, charging the Board with half the cost. Ci. Tippin having coiroboiated the statement of the Borough workman, the matter was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. The Town Clerk reported that Lot 417 had bean permanently reserved for the Borough and that ho was asvaitius? a further communicition fiom the Commissioner of Crown Lundb regarding the manner in which the reserve was to be dealt with. The Crown Grants for the Borouyh endownmonts were laid upon the table, and the Town Clerk was instructed to procure a ptoper deed box in which all the deeds belonging to the Borough might be placed and deposited for safe keeping in the Bank. The Town Clerk suggested that they should call for tenders for leasing the allotment formi-rly applied for by Mes-rh. Davis and Bradley. Cr. Vinlou thought it would be well to notify to the public that the Council was now in possession of certain endowments and invite applications for them so that they could all be put up for sale on lense at the same time. He did not think they should hold out for very high prices, but let them at reasonable rates so that the reserves could be improved. The Mayor referred to several allotments of a very valuable nature, which he thought it would be unwise to dispose of at present. In view of the increase in their value, should the railway be extended, it would be merely putting money in the pockets of speculators to dispose of these reserves at present. Cr. Vialou said in any case no harm could be d-rne by inviting applications. There was a considerable area of land in the Borough lying wasto which could, and ought to be utilised. It was resolved to advertise for applications. The Mayor having stated that the Borough had not yet received its subsidy, while the neighbouring Boards and County Councils had, it was agreed that the Town Clerk write to the Government on the subject. The Mayor drew attention to the furze nuisance, and stated that a few days ago some one set fire to the furze on Tanfield's allotment, which went very near destroying a house adjoining. He also drew attention to the overhanging trees in Knox-street, which were a nuisance. After referring to the Act, which it was found gave power to Councils to order the removal of any inflammable material, it was resolved to notify various owners of property to remove furze, and also portions of treeß overhanging the roadway. • On the motion of the Mayor, it was resolved, "That in future the meetings of the Council be held on the third Tuesday in every month, instead of as at present, the finance meeting to be held as at present, on the first Monday in each month." A report from the Works Committee, dealing with various works, was read and received. The Council shortly afterwards rose.

Mr John Conway, the well-known sporting writer, and who took the first team of Australian cricketers home, states iii a letter to a Sydney paper, that the visit of a professional team of English cricketers to Australia this year is determined upon. He says:— "Alfred Shaw and Lillywhite's team purpose starting from England in, t|»e autumn of 1881, play four op five matches in, the United States, leaving San Francisco for New Zealand by the October mail. v Their first; match will be played in Auckland, at the end of November, after which they will journey South, and play Wellington; Chriqtjfiimrch au4 Pmiedjn,"