HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1385, 19 May 1881, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present : His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Peat, Hill, McGarrigle, Vialou, Sandes, and Tippen. The minutes ot the previous meeting were read and confirmed, »nd the outward ■ correspondence was t«S«^'and approved. A letter was read from MrYjojrerman, Assistant Engineer, forwarding: Amended specifications for painting the bridge and stating that an inspector would supervise the work. The Mayor did not think it waspossible that the work could be completed before the wet Aveather set in, owing to the delays which had taken place. „ . Cr. Hill moved that in the opipion of this Council it is desirable to postpone the painting of the bridge till next summer. This was seconded by Cr. McGarrigle and carried. 1 Mr A. Campbell wrote, applying for certain improvements to Thackeray street near its junction with the Ohaupo road to make it passable. It would only require some cutting and a few loads of gravel. He had already done a good deal to improve the road himself aud a<-ked the Council to assist him. The letter was referred to the works committee with power to employ the Borough workman, several Councillors expressing their sense of the necessity of the work. A circular was read from the Rangitikei County Council on the subject of local government suggesting co-operation with a view to making an alteration in the present system. The letter was received. Mr W. Wood, gardener, wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the necessity ior draining certain portions of the road in Collingwood-street; the water at present going throngh his garden. Mr Wood wrote a second letter offering to do the work necessary for the amount of his year's rates. The Mayor was favorable to accepting the offer of Mr Wood provided the work was executed under the supervision of the Borough workman. He moved to that effect. The motion having been seconded by Cr. Vialou was put and carried. A letter was read from the Chairman of the Manawatu > ounty Council, intimating that the date of meeting of delegates from local bodies had been postponed till the Ist Wednesday in June. The following letter was read :—: — Hamilton, ioth ilay, 1881. Gentlemen, — I am directed by the Controller and Auditor-General to call jour attention to the very small sum that has up to date been paid off the bridge loan to the Commissioners of the Public Debt:! Sinking- Fund, and to inform you that unless the whole of the tolls, ovei and above actual working expenses be devoted to the redemption ot the debentures immediately as they accrue, it will become Air Fit/gerald's duty 1 to Ukc steps to enforce the lc\y ol the spuci.il I rate on security of which the loan was advanced, and which rate has ne\or vet been released by him, and will therefore be leviable from the date when it was first due, or in detjult to apply to the Supreme Court to appoint a Receiver under the Act. I observe that there is a sum of over £200 at credit or the bridge fund, and beg to suggest that the treasurer of the fund be instructed to redeem two more debentures, only one having been paid off in these two years. — I have, etc., Wm. Si. C. limull, Audit Inspector. The Mayor thought they had better redeem two more defentures as they weae not going to paint the bridge this year, and they had sufficient money beyond the £200 to meet out rent expenses and the liability of £39 5s for the biidge tollhouse. It was resolved to instruct the special Fund Commissioners to take the course suggested by the Mayor. Mr. S. T. Seddou wrote drawing the Councils attention to the dclupidated state of the mam drain near the Domain Hamilton East from the new portion to O'Neills. He said the necessary work could bo done for about £S. The Mayor did not think the Borough mopeity was in danger fiom t'^e drain flooding. lie did not thing the Borough ought to be taxed to di.'iv land from which it deiived no benefit whatever the propei ty of the Government and Mr. Seddou. Cr. Yialou had examined the land and found that the dram had been made by the Government and Mr. .Seddon in former times, but Mnoe then tho Domain Board had made a drain leading into it and by which the water from the Domain aud Borough property flowed. He thought it was only just in this case that the drain referi^d to by Mr Seddon should be cleaned. Ho would move that the Council hmd over the sum of £8 to Mr. Seddon and allow him to do tho work. If the old drain were not cleaned the water would be backed on to the Domain and Borough lands. Cr. Tippin Beconded the motion and ooncuired in the remarks made ty ?r. Vialou. Mr Seddon told him that he received a letter from the Government, declining to bear any portion of the expense as the lands had been handed over to the Domain Board. Cr. Vialou .suggested that the Domain Board should bear a part of the expenne. The Mayor said they had had the opinion of the Engineer to the effect that this main drain was sufficient to carry off all the water, and it remained so until Mr Seddon touched it. There were plenty of works requiiing to be done and for which they had very little money. They should be just before they were generous. They could not affoid to spend money on land from which they received no revenue. After some further discussion Cr. Hill suggested that the motion be withdrawn and the letter referred to the Domain Board. This was agreed to. Mr William Davis applied to have a few loads of gravel laid on the footpath near his place. The application was acceded to. A letter was read from Mr R. Harris, requesting lhat a culvorfc be lai4 near tho Good Templar's Hall in Cook-street. Granted. Mr William Davis wrote tendering his resignation of the office of Councillor. The resignation was accapted, and the Returning Officer was instructed to take the necessary steps for the election of a successor. The Committee appointed to suggest terms for lease of Borough endowments reported making certain recommendations. Cr. McGarrigle thought the renta suggested for certain allotments were high, unless the Council would agree to value house property at the end of the term of 25 years. The Mayor did not consider that wooden buildings would be worth much at the end of the term. If bricks were used, he would agree with Cr, McGarrijjla. Cr. Vialou said it ought to be remembered that there were no conditions in the lease as to buildings as in ordinary leases, where the buildings ,M#uld require to be kept in repair. Tflfc&eporfc was adopted. ' . . The Town Clerk read a statement of accounts as follows : General account, overdraft, £507 7s lid ; special fund account, credit, £231 4s lOd. The Town Clerk reported that the Bridge toll -house was completed, and Crs Vialou and Tippen were appointed to inspect aud report upon the work. It was resolved " That it is the intention of the Council, at next meeting, to strike a rate of Is in the £ on all rateable property in the Borough of Hamilton for the current year. In accordance with notice given, Cr Vialou moved "That the resolution

making tho meeting- of the Council monthly be rescinded. Cr Peat seconded. > , After discussion the motion was rejected, tho opinion of the majority being that monthly meetings were quite sufficient. ' l Cr Vialou moved in accordance with notice, that a sum of £30 be voted by this Council for the purposes of canvassing the whole of the Waikato with a view to making the Hamilton Bridge free. He spoke at some length in support of the motion. He pointed out the importance of the bridge, not only to the Borough, but to the whole of the district. AH the bridges in the Waikato built by the Government were free, while this, one of the most important, being, as it is, on the Great South Road, was encumbered. Cr Hill would be happy to second the motion, if he was certain they could vote money for this purpose. The Mayor did not think they could. Cr Vialou said there was nothing in the Act to prevent them. They were to protect the interests of the Borough — in no better waycould it be done. They were all interested in freeing the bridge, and if a public meeting were called, ne was sure the burgesses would vote for it. If the Borough could not do it, he would be happy to head a subscription, but he thought it was the business of the Council to do so. The Mayor said Cr. Vialou deserved tho greatest credit for bringing the matter forward, but the question of funds was a serious one. He suggested that the burgesses be asked to contribute towards a fund for canvassing the district as suggested by Cr. Vialou. He would rather pay a pound or two pounds than take the funds of the Borough when they had so little to spend. Cr. Vialou thought it was a question in which all the burgesses were concerned, and he did not think that one man should pay a pound, another man very little, and another nothing. There was nothing in the Act to prevent their voting the money. The amount per head would only be a mere trifle, and it was very probable that less than £30 would be required. Cr. McGarrigle objected to voting the Borough money. There being no seconder, Cr. Vialou said he was determined to cairy the matter through, and with that object he would call upon the Mayor to convene a public meeting on the subject. Cr. Tippen moved, in accordance with notice, "That in future all articles in general use by the Borough be supplied by tender.'" Cr. Hill seconded. For the motion there voted the mover and seconder ; against, the Mayor, Crs. Vialou, Sandes, Peat, and McGarrigle. The motion therefore negatived. It was resolved that the services of the tollkeeper be continued for June. This was all the business and the Council shortly afterwards rose.