HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1375, 26 April 1881, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The adjourned monthly meeting of the Council was held on Friday night. Present: "His Worship the Moyor, Cra.^ Vialou, McGarrigle, Tippen and Jones. ' The minutes of previous meetings were read aud confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. A circular from the Manawatu County Council ie local Government was read and received. The Rev. W. Calder wrote on behalf of the clergymen of Waikato, thanking the Council for allowing ministers of religion to cross free over the Hamilton Bndga and suggesting that the same privelege be accorded laymen going to and returning from divine service. The Mayor thought the time had hardly arrived to make such a concession. The letter wa3 received. A letter was received from the District Manager of Railways, stating that the goods train hitherto running as far as Ngaruawahia would in future come on to Hamilton. A letter was read from the Minister for Public Workn, stating that the Engineer in charge of North Island could not recommend the substitution of tar for paint on the lower structure of the bridge, and that Mr Hales had been instructed to communicate with the Council on the matter. Mr Hales wrote to the effect that Mr Vickerman, Engineer in charge of the district, had reported that the bridge would be more liable to damage by fire if tar was used, and that Mr Blackett had decided that paint should be used. Cr. Jones asked if the Government were going to supervise the work. The Mayor believed so, After some discussion Cr. Vialou said lie had looked carefully over the specifications, and it appeared to him that there was some discrepancy. In one place it was stated that the bridge was to receive two coats of paint, while in other places it was stated that there were to be three coats. He had never seen specifications made out in such a manner. The Mayor suggested that a deputation consisting of Cr. Vialou and himself wait upon Mr Vickerman on the subject, in order that he could report on the discrepancies, Mr. S. Davis wrote, applying for the lease of allotments 282, 283, and 343, Hamilton West. Mr Hiuton wrote, asking that the lease of allotments 341 , to 361 allternate numbers, Hamilton West be sold. Cr. Jones said the Council could not be too conversative in regard to, its endowments. So far as the Domain lands went they had to spend all the revenue accruing from them upon the Domain itself, but the Borough endowments could be made a sourse of general revenue, and they ought to be careful in their administration of them. The Mayor said there was no objection to anyone applying for any number of allotments to be put up for sale, and the Council could put a reserve upon them. Vr. Vialou was of opinion that they should let the whole of the Borough endowments as soon as possible, in order that they might get a revenue and so reduce the rates. Of course they were not obliged to let the land on long leases, but they ought to offer some inducement to people who took up the land in its rough form and fenced it. The rents therefore, should not be 100 high. j Cr. Jonea quite agreed with Cr. Vialou The leaaeß should not be made too long. Cr. Jones moved that a committee consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Vialou, Tippen, and the mover, be appointed to inspect the endowments applied for by Mesara. Davis, Hinton, and McGarrigle, and to suggest prices and terms for same, to report at next meeting. — ■ Carried. The Town Clerk reported that Cr. Mullions having been absent from four meetings of the Council, his seat would become vacant if he was not present at the rising of this meeting. The Mayor moved "That if at the ri&ing of this meeting Cr. Mullions is not present his aeat be declared vacant, and the Returning Officer bo instructed to proceed to the election of another Councillor. ' ' — Carried . The Works Committee reported on various works in the borough. The Mayor said with reference to the approach to the Hamilton West School that all they could do at present was to gravel a footpath for the children. Cr. Vialou condemned the action of the Council in giving a committee appointed to consider the gravelling the path in Clarence-street power to act. The road only led to one house, and that belonged to a member of this Council, who ought to have been satisfied with the road. Cr. McGarrigle said he had been opposed to the road and footpath ; but having been made, the Council were bound to gravel it on application. Cr, Vialou said that only applied to footpaths which had been made by the property-owners. In this case the Council had made the footpath. The Mayor said he had been under the impression that Mr Price had made the footpath, and he had voted for the gravelling. He looked upon the proceeding as disgraceful. The gravelling had been obtained on improper grounds. Cr. Jones said he found less fault with the gravelling than with the construction of the road itself. The subject then dropped. The matter of the road to the school was deferred. The following tenders for the erection of new toll-house :— D. Elliott, £39 5s ; B. Young, £56 ; McCartney and Calderwood, £27. The tender of Mr Elliott was accepted, on the condition that the work be completed within three weeks from the date of signing the contract. It was resolved that the Council sit as a court of revision for the burgess roll on Saturday, the 30th inst, at noon. It was resolved that all the Councillors present be appointed to attend the meeting called by the Chairman of the Waikato County Council on Monday, to consider the circular for the Manawatu Council. The Town Clerk read the statement of accounts as follows : —General Account Overdraft, £452 ; Special Fund Account, balance, £207. Cr. McGarrigle gave notice to move at next meeting, that the meetings of the Council be held fortnightly instead of monthly as at present. Cr. Vialou aaid that in his parting- address to the Council at the close of his term of office as Mayor, he had urged on the Council the necessity for agitating for the purpose of making I the Hamilton traffic bridge a free bridge He advocated the calling of a public meeting in different parts of the district and the getting up a monster petition, Asking the Government to make the bridge free. Nothing had, however, been done, it became the duty of the Council to act promptly in the nutter. He would give notice to more at next meeting that the Council vote a sum of money sufficient to cover the expense of getting up * monster petition, asking the Government to free the Hamilton bridge. This was all the bnsiness.

But few men can handle A hot lamp chimney and say there is no place like hQHje ftt the W me time.