HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2171, 8 June 1886, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

T»E usual monthly meeting of the council wai held at the chambers last night. Pre■ent: His Warship tho Mayor, Cm. Knox, EdK«oumbe, Scott, Dey, Tippen, Burton, mid Sandes. .

Borough Endowment.— On the application of Mr Philip, hi* interest in portion of lot 411 was transferred to MrF. Gaudin, on condition that arrears of rent be paid up. Thk Loan.— The Mayor reported that the burgesses had at public meeting agreed to the allocation of an additional thousand pounds for public buildings. He had forwarded the resolution to the Government, urging them to push on the work.

Application tor Lkask. —Mr Qualtrough applied for tho lease of the old pound site, Hamilton West, to be put up to auction.— The Clerk reported that the site was a half-acre, the other half of the .section still remaining in the hands of the Government.— lt was agreed to offer the lease for three yean as desired.— Cr. Knox offered to sell the lease free of cost.— The upset price was ft\ed at £2 pec annum.

Wkst Ckmktkry Road.— Mr Murlisi wrote, drawing attention to the necessity for filling up a, large "pothole" near hw property, on the Cemetery road. — Cr. Knox said there were two holes near the place, from one «f which gravel was being taken. ilt was a rery serious matter. He moved ' that tho foreman of works inspect and i seportonthe subject.— This was agreed to. ; The Bobough Drainage.— Mr R. Edwards wrote drawing attention to the state of the public drain near hit place, in Anglesea-street. In wet weather the drain overflowed, flooding the pootpath.—Referred to the Works Committee.

Hospitals and Charitable Aid.— A telegram was received from Mr E. Lake, M.H.R., asking that the petition praying that the resolution of the Auckland Board, in favour of separation, be carried out, be forwarded to Wellington at once.— The Mayor explained the action he had taken in reference to this matter, The petition had been forwarded. The question was evidently to be brought before the House shortly. The county of Waikato and the North Auckland Board had forwarded similar petitions,— The Mayor's report was adopted.

Hamilton West School Pla\t,hoi;nd. —The secretary of the 'school coumiifctee wrote asking the council to level and spread a few loads of gravel upon the girls' playground, as it was in a very bad state.— Cr. Knox said the school committee were in a very impecunious state. The cost would not be very great.— The Mayor quite agreed, and moved that the application bo granted.— Cr. Deysaid he was Stag to make a similar application for the amilton East School.— Cr. Edgecuinbo said lie was in favour of granting both applications.— The Mayor said the ratepayers would not object, as the improvement asked for was for the comfort of their own children.— Cr. Snndes strongly objected to the precedent. He thought application should be made in the first iustance to the Board of Education. It was time enough t» consider the question when the board refused.— After some further discussion the Mayor moved that the application be granted provided the Board refused.— Cr. Sandes seconded.— Crs. Edgecumbe and Knov pointed out that the Board had declined to grant assistance when similar requests had been made. — Cr. Dey corroborated this. — Cr. Barton thought the requests should be granted.— Cr. Edgecumbe mored that the application be granted. It was useless to ask the Board for assistance, and the I work required to be done at «nce.— Gr. Barton seconded.— For the amendment there voted Crs. Edgecumbe, Dey, Knox, Tippen and Barton, and it was therefore declared to be carried. Collingwood-Stkket.— Mr W. M. Hay, wrote drawing the council's attention to the dangerous state of the footpath near his residence in this street. In wet weather it was impossible to travel along the street dry-shod— The matter was referred to the works committee with power to act.

Works Committee.— The committee reported on various works in the borough. The main road gravelling had been proceeded with and was now in progress. A lamp was being erected in the middle of the bridge— The Chairman of the works committee reported that he had taken the responsibility of erecting the lamp on the bridge, as he considered it vary necessary. The report was adopted, Cr. Sandes dissenting— Cr. Edgecumbe was appointed to fill the vacancy on the works - committee 1 rendered vacant by the retirement of Cr. Frear.

Annual Rate.— The Mayor moved in accordance wtih notice already given that the rate be Uin the £— Cr. Knox seconded the motion — Cr. Sandes moved as an amendI ment that the rate be 9d in the £. Consider1 ing the depression, and the fact that they had now raised a loan, he thought they could reduce the rate. The main roads were now in good, and the back streets in fair order.— Cr. Knox depcecated reducing the rate very strongly.— Cr. Barton seconded the amendment—The council went into committee to discuss the matter.— The Mayor spoke in favour of maintaining the old rate of Is in the £.— Crs. Knox and Bdgecurabe said that the reduction would mean that they would have less money to pay for the employment of labour. The latter said it was understood the interest would be paid out of ordinary revenue, and any reduction would mean a serious decrease in the spending power of the council,— Cr. Tippen also supported the shilling rate for similar reasons. When the large ratepayers began to complain it would be time enough to make the reduction.— Cr, Dey had not heard of any objection to the rate. — Cr. Sandes said he had only raised the question to get the opinion of each councillor; he himself was in favour of the motion, which was then put and carried unanimously, and the council resumed. The Mayor retired, and Cr. Knox took the chair. _ ....

Thk Mator's Expenses.— Un the motion of Cr. Edgecumbe seconded by Cr. Dey, the sum of £50 was voted to His Worship the Mayor, to meet the expenses incurred by Hi* Worship, on the occasion of his recent visit to Wellington, in connection with raisin* the £6000 loan.— Several councillors spoke in support of the motion, all bearing testimony to the high value of the mayors services to the borough. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. , The Mayor, on resuming the chair, thanked the Council. Cattle on thk Streets.— Cr. Knox moved in accordance with notice, that Bylaw No. 4, prohibiting the straying of cattle in the streets, be put into force. He thought the motion came with much better grace from himself than from any other member, considering that the by-law had been bung up on his own casting vote as Mayor. He did not wish to prevent working men from keeping a cow, but when he found that individual* ran a* many at ten and twdva h«ad of young fltoak onjtha (trots, tke aat«

ter had arrived at a pitch when it fthonld be dealt with. He had counted that night no lest thnn eight hoad of cattle in the street between S. Peter's Church und the Council Chambers. These bemti were a source <>f danger to paMers-by after dark, and did an incalculable amount of damage to garden*, &c. There wok nothing for the cattle to eat on the streets at present.— The Mayor said he had received a petition from a number of ratepayers, asking him to call a public meeting to discus* the matter.— Cr. Scott said there seemed to be some misapprehension, as some of those who had signed flic petition were labouring under the impression that the cattle were to be kept off the streets by day as well as by night,— Cr. Knox said he was aware that there was a misapprehension, but the signatories had been badly advised. •—The Mayor suggested that the motion should be held over until the burgesses had had an opportunity of discussing the matter. — Cr. Knox baid he would presu the motion. — Cr. Sandes seconded the motion. — After some further discussion, Cr. Knox agreed to withdraw the motion until after the public meeting, which tho Mayor announced would be held in flic Public Hall on Monday evening next at 8 o'clock. Accounts.— A number of accounts were passed for payment, and the council rose.