HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2289, 12 March 1887, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Public Abattoirs.

An adjourned meeting of the council was held in the Council Chambers last night for the purpose of meeting Captain Steele to consider the draft lease of the public abattoirs. There were present: His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Knox, Edgecumbe, Von bturmer, Scott, Barton and Bell.

Tlie Town Clerk said he had received a petition just a few minutes before the opening of the meeting. It referred to the matter of the abattoirs.— Cr. Edgecumbe asked if they were in order in receiving the petition?—Cr. Knox said he did not think so. The standing orders laid down that no petition should be presented after the orders of the day had been disposed of. This was an adjourned meeting, held for a special purpose.—Cr. Scott would move that the petition be read. It referred to tlie matter under consideration, and they had better consider it than run the risk of commencing the whole thing de novo. It was quite competent for the council to receive it. — Cr. Knox said the standing orders could be suspended by the whole council if unanimous.—Cr. Ccott said the ratepayers felt they were not being dealt with fairly, hence the requisition. The meeting held the other night was not a representative one.—The Mayor said the council had a much better right to say they had not been fairly dealt with. The meeting had been publicly called for a special purpose.—Cr. Scott said the meeting had not been fairly conducted. A show of hands had not been called for.—Cr. Knox said the discussion was out of order, as the motion had not been seconded.—Cr. Scott said they were going to launch into a serious business, and he warned the council that it would not end there.—Cr. Edgecumbe strongly objected to such threat, and Cr. Knox presumed the council were quite prepai'ed Co stand by their actions. —Cr. Von Stunner said the petition raised a false issue. The council did not propose to lend money to any syndicate.—Cr. Barton moved that the council proceed with the business of the evening. This was seconded by Cr. Von Stunner, and carried, whereupon Cr. Scott left the chamber.—The Town Clerk was proceeding to read the draft agreement, when

Capt. Steele said he was much surprised to find the petition so largely signed, more especially as most of the signatories had spoken to him on different occasions, and many had expressed themselves favourable to the proposal. He wished distinctly to say that neither he nor the other members of the syndicate wished to take any advantage of the borough, and he certainly felt inclined, in the face of the petition, to withdraw from the whole business. The Mayor said the petition had taken him quite by surprise. He thought the council had acted with perfect legality throughout, but in view of the opposition to the scheme now manifested by certain of the ratepayers, and after what had fallen from Capt. Steele, he would suggest that the matter lm deferred for further consideration at the next ordinary meeting of the council. Cr. Von Stunner strongly objected to the council becoming mere dummies. The people who had got up the petition had raised a false issue. Everything had been done legally and in order. If they allowed the proposal to be put off, the chances were they would not hear of it again, as the promoters would get disgusted. Cr. Knox said the effect of the Mayor's proposal was that they should allow themselves to be ruled by the man in the street. The council had done everything 1 necessary to carry out the proposal, and if they did not act boldly they would be laughed at for a pack of children. It was perfectly clear to him that many of those who had signed the petition bad been led astray by misrepresentations. A great proportion of the balance had scarcely any interest in the borough. Cr. Barton spoke practically to the same effect. The council's duty now, clearly, was to go on with the erection of the abattoirs. Cr. Edgecumbe said all sorts of tricks had been had recourse to for the purpose of obtaining signatures to the petition. As a sample, it had been stated that it was intended to erect the abattoirs on the Land Association's property. Capt. Steele said he regarded the petition as an insult. It appeared as though he wanted to procure the money to erect the abattoirs by means of some dodge or other. He really felt inclined to withdraw from the concern altogether. Or. Edgecumbe said it would be perfectly useless and a waste of time to agree to the prayer of the petition, as if the proposal went to a poll it would certainly be carried. Other councillors pointed out that the council were erecting the abattoirs, not Capt. Steele, and if they decided to do so Capt. Steele could have no objection to lease them. Capt. Steele admitted the force of this, and it was then decided to go on with the business. The following draft of a lease was submitted to the council and approved, a proviso beiner added that in the event of not more than £(500 being immediately required for the abattoirs, the balance of the £1000 could remain in the bank until wanted, the syndicate paying the difference between the bank rate of interest and 6 per cent., the rate upon which the rent is based :— 1. The Council shall within one month from date acquire a piece of land not being less than 2 acres near the Hamilton East Railway Station, and shall within three

months from the date of acquiring the same erect and complete thereon buildings and yards, suitable for the purposes of slaughtering cattle, sheep and pigs, according to a plan to be furnished by Captain Steele. The Council shall sink a well on the land, and obtain a good water supply within 50 feet from the surface. The whole sum to be expended for the land, building, yards, and well shall not exceed €1000. 2. When the said buildings and yards are completed the Council shall procure a lease of the said land, buildings and yards, to be granted of the persons hereinafter named as lessees at the rent and on the terms and conditions following:— Parties to Lease.—(l) The Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses of the Borough of Hamilton of the one part (lessors), and William Steele (lessee) of the other part. Term.—(2) The term shall be fourteen years from the day on which the lessees shall take possession of the premises. Rent.—(3) The rent for the first seven years shall be a sum equal to £6 per centum on the amount of money which shall have been expended by the lessors on the land, buildings and yards, and other things in connection therewith, and for the remaining seven years a sum equal to £8 per centum on the amount expended as aforesaid. The rent shall be payable half-yearly in equal payments. Covenants.—The lease shall contain the following covenants or additions to any which may be implied by law therein. On the part of Lessee, (a) To pay rates and taxes. (b) To insure the building and yards in their full insurable value in the name of the lessors. (c) To keep the same clean and in good erder, and so as not to cause a nuisance. (d) To take out and obtain renewal of all necessary licenses. (e) Not to sublet without consent of lessors, and in no case are the lessees to be relieved from their liability to the lessors. (f) To keep buildings and yards in good and substantial repair, and to paint the buildings once every four years. (g) To permit lessors from time to time to enter and inspect the building and yards. (h) To carry on during the whole of the said term the trade or businesses of slaughtermen on the said premises, and to charge only such fees as may be agreed upon for slaughtering cattle for the public generally. (i) Not to erect or be interested in the erection or any other buildings or yards for the purpose of slaughtering cattle within 10 miles of the Borough of Hamilton. On the part of Lessors, (j) To take at the expiration of the term at a valuation all improvements made by the lessees up to the sum of £500, (k) In case the said buildings are destroyed by fire to expend the money received from any insurance in reinstatement of the buildings and yards, half the rent to cease during the time they are being reinstated, Provisoes.—(l) Re-entry in case of nonpayment of rent within 30 days from due date, and in case of breach of covenant by lessees or bankruptcy. The council then adjourned until next

Friday week, when the report of the committee appointed to select a site will be submitted. It was agreed to hold a special meeting of the council on Tuesday next to consider the petition re the alleged loan to the abattoirs syndicate. This was all the business.