HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2195, 3 August 1886, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the council was held last night. Present : His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Barton, Scott, Dey and Edgecumbe. THe 1 newly-elected councillors, Messrs W. Jones and W. F. Bell made the necessary declaration and took their seats at the council. Hospitals and Charitable Aid.— The Town Clerk read correspondence which had passed between the council and the board at Auckland. The Clerk had written to the board forwarding statement of liabilities incurred in charitable aid administered locally. The secretary ot the board replied that they would take the flatter into consideration when the borough had paid its contribution to the board. — The Mayor pointed out the exper.ienced in working the Act. He had predicted and had indeed found that Hamilton was regarded as a centre, to which application for charitable aid would be made. One of the cases relieved came from the country of W&ikato, and another came from the country of Waipa, but they were of such an urgent nature that he could not wait, and the patients had to be sent to Auckland forthwith. If the worst came to the worst the borough could deduct the amount of liubility incurred, and forward the balance to the Board.— Several of the councilors suggested that the county councils should be asked to refund the money, but the Town Clerk said the men ■ assisted could not be said to belong to any 'piuticular place, and the county councils would most probably repudiate the claim.— The Mayor said an application for relief for j a destitute family who came from Ohaupn, j but were now resident in Hamilton, had been made to the Board, but a similar reply had been received. The council would have seen that the Waikato had been practically cut off from the rest of the Auckland di.s trict. — Cr. Scott said that meantime some arrangement might be come to between the county and borough councils to contribute to a joint fund for the relief of really necessitous cases.— The Mayor thought it hardly worth while to do anything, as the readjustment would take place so soon. Meantime he would enter a protect against the action of the board. — The matter then dropped. ' The Borough Loan.— The Mayor reported that the debenture'! for the loan had not yet arrived, but would probably como to hand the next day. It would be well to convene a meeting for the purpose of determining how many debentures should be issued. CULVERT NEAR S. PeTEU's CHURCH.— A letter signed by a number of tlflo parihhioneis of S. Peter's wa.s n\id, asking that a culvert be laid down over the water table opposite the church, in order to allow ladies to cross dry-shod. — Tho matter was referred to the Works Committee. Insurance. — It was agreed to re-insure the council buildings at the lowest current rate. " Borough Endowments.— Mr Northcroft wrote, asking the council to put up for lease lots 455, and 377 to 450 (12 acres), as soon as possible. — The Mayor said their object ought to be to enable a number of 'people to obtain small holdings. He confessed he did not know it could be avoided, but he would be sorry to see large areas going into the hands of a single individual. Mr Stokes made a similar application in respect of Lots 231, 233, and 235, and enclosed plans of a ■house, &c, which he intended to erect on the land, should he succeed in getting it, provided the term of lease weie extended beyond the 14 years.— The Mayor said they should consider the propriety of inserting improvement clauses in the leases. — Cr. Edgecumbe quite agreed with this. He thought they should endeavour to encourage people to improve. — Cr. Jones thought the council should provide pipes for tenants who might undertake to construct drains in places approved by the ' council. — The Mayor said the conncil had not much money, but the proposal deserved careful consideration. They would be afforded an opportunity to discuss the question later on when the engineer's report had been received. — The Mayor said he had given some consideration! to this matter, and he thought they C3uld induce a better class of tenants if an improvement clause were inserted. — some discussion ensued, the general opinion being in fauourofthe insertion of an improvement clause, improvements to include all works of a permanent character. — On the motion of Cr. Barton the matter was referred to a committee of the whole council, three to form a quorum, to report at a meeting of the council that night week, the committee to meet to-morrow evening at 7.30 o'clock. — On the motion of Cr. Edgecumbe it was resolved that the lease of the lands applied for be put up to auction ir. four lots, the term to be 14 years. — Mr W. Jones applied to have some other lots put up for lease, — Agreed to. The Gravel Contract.— The clerk of the Kirikiriroa Road Board wrote stating that the gravel contractor to the borough had taken gravel from a public road in *the Kirikiriroa Koad District, and asking that the sum of 2rl per yard be retained by the council pending inquiry. — it was decided that the council were not responsible for the actions of the contractor, and the letter was received. Gravelling School Grounds.— An application was received from a number of the parents of children attending S. Mary'-. Public School to have the playground gravelled.— The application was acceded to. Works Committee.— The usual monthly report was read and adopted. It dealt with several small works completed and in progress. The Public Librvry.— The Mayor said councillors had heard that Mr Jessop's circulating library had been purchased by the committee of the public library, to whom the sports committee had given nearly £10, and the council was now asked to devote a sum of £20 towards this object. The council had power to do this. They were getting good value for the money, and he thought it would be a graceful thing if the council paid the whole £30, and allowed the sports committee to ictain their funds. — Cr. Barton cordially agiecd with the Mayor, and moved that £30 be voted for tho purpose. The library belonged to the burgc^cs and they should pay for it.— Cr. Scott seconded the motion pro forma. — Cr. Edgecumbe said the decision of the sports committee was not unanimous, and he thought the council would be taking up a dignified position if they voted the whole money. He read a, letter signed by a number of subscribers to the sports, protesting against the misappropriation of the money raised for the spoits.— The Mayor strongly supported the motion, which, utter some further discussion, was carried unanimously. Public Buildings.— The Mayor suggested that contracts be let for obtaining gravel for concrete, in view of the erection of tho public buildings.— After some discussion, it was decided to hold tho matter over, the Mayor in the meantime to communicate with the Government. SHW iMriiovEMEKTs. — {Several resj-

deuts in Albert-street applied tohavoth^ Rtnfr* gravelled and Lho " pot-holes " filled. They pointed out that this was the only street in Hamilton East unravelled.— Cr. Edftecumbe said if this were the only street m Hamilton East ungravelled, ho would move that the matter should be left over, aa there were dozens of streets in Hamilton Weot unformed.— lt was decided to carry out some necessary improvements the matter to be left in the hands of the Works Committee. New Road. — The engineer was instructed to prepare plans and take levels of a road proposed to be opened through the borough lands near the railway line, Hamilton West. Lamp-lighting.— The clerk was instructed to inform the lighting contractor that several complaints had been mad« that the street lamps wero not giving sufficient light, and also that in some cases the lamps had been put out before midnight. Several accounts were passed for payment, and the council adjourned until next Monday.