HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2965, 16 July 1891, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A srKeiAi. meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council was on Tuesday ovoninj,' in tho Council Chambers to receive the annual accounts. Thero wore present : His Worship the Mayor ([. Con ten, Esq.) in the chair, and Crs. Tippen, Junes, Scott, Bell. I'arr, Slade, Wood, and Reid.

Tho half-yearly and annual accounts were received from the Audit Office, certified to as correct, ami were adopted.

The ordinary meeting was then held,

Lot ol). —-Or. Jones moved that, the council bear their share of the division fence of Lot 5!), and tint the lot be put up for lease by auction at an upset price of 10s a year.— Seconded by Cr. I'arr and carried, Cr. Wood dissenting.

Crossing.—Mr 11. Loßio, postmaster at Haniilten, applied for a crossing into the post-office yard.—Referred to the Foreman of Works, with power to act.

(IItAVKL.—Mr B. Murray applied for some gravel to bo put on the road to Ins house, and several householders in Grey and Selkirk-streets, Hamilton West, called attention to the bad state «f these streets, and asked that something be done to repair them. —Tho matter was referred to the Foreman of Works, with power to act.

School Yards.— The Secretary of the Hamilton West School Committee applied that some grave! be granted and .spread in the grounds of the Hamilton West School. —Cr. Keid moved that a committee, consisting of the Mayor, Crs. Scott and the mover, be appointed to inspect the ground, with power to act. —Seconded by Cr. I'arr and carried.

Audit Lcttkh.—A circular letter, similar to that referred to in our report of the Waipa County Council, was read and received.

Exnow.MKNT Lkasr.—Mr James Hume gave notice that Borough endowments Nos. 1 and 2 beinf, of no use to him, he would give them up from this date, and ho would pay up tlie arrears of rent.! — The matter was referred to the Legal Committee to roport on at next meeting.

Lor -111.—The Council decided to reenter mi part of Lot 411, Hamilton K ist, and the lot will be offered for lea-e by auction for a term of years, at ail upset price of £1 per annum.

UM'Oirrs. —The foreman ')f woiks' report, with reference to work done during the month, was received and adopted.—The dog registrar reported that during the month six dogs had been registered, and JL'l 7s Gd received iu fees, making a total of 121 dogs registered during the year and £81 7s (id collected in fees. Received.— The poundkeeper reported that five head of cattle anil six horses were impounder] during the month, and £1 Is (il received in fees. Received.

Accounts. —Payment of tho following accounts was authorised : T. Jones, £'28 13s 2d ; Carder Bros,, £!) Os 2d ; Waite, £'1 :)s (id ; J. Parr, (is Id ; W. Dey, as (i 1 ; 1). Klliott, £7 12s ltd ; J. Frear, £8 l!)s .j ! ; H. Kelly, las ; Sandes and Co, l'is (id ; (i. Mayes, £1 !)s (id; Audit Account, £1 llis 3d ; W. Manktelow, Its.

Rath.—Cr. Jones moved that tho resolution passed at last meeting that a rate of Is in the £ be struck for the current year bo confirmed. Seconded by Cr. Slado and carried.

Sai.hvauds.—ln accordance with notice given at last meeting Cr. Scott moved: "That tho Hamilton Borough saleyards be opened fortnightly for sales instead of monthly as heretofore." Seconded by Cr. Jones. Tho Mayor said that he had taken some l.roublo to entpiire into this, and the general opinion was that foitnigbtly sales would kill the sales which are now growing steadily. He thought that it would be best to nuke an elfo-t to divide the yards. Cr, Jones said he thought there c mid he no loss from fortnightly sales. Cr. Reid siid tho general opinion was that the fortnightly sales would ruin the sales, Mr McXicol had said (lint the best way would bo to divido the pens. Cr. Bell had heard the sunt! opinion expressed. Cr. Scott said that at the monthly sales he had seen tlie auctioneers selling from 11. o'clock to dark and then oil the morning of the following day. Tho motion was then put and lost, tho voting being : For, Cr--. Jones and Scott; against: Tho M-iyor, Crs. Tippen, Bell, Reid, Slade, Wood and Parr.

Foukjian* ok Wohks.—Cr. Tippen moved tint the foreman of works bo granted an increase of wages to (is 0:1 per dav, such increase to take effect from Wednesday, April lUli, 1891. Seconded by Cr. Reid. Cr. Parr said this matter was brought up previously, and several members had taken a legal opinion on the action of the Mayor on that occasion, which he would liko to read, so as to be a guide to the action of anyone occupying the chair at any future time.—Cr, Reid objected to the opinion being read, unless the Council pay for it. —Cr. Scott said that he understood that the opinion was to he paid for by the Council. —Cr. Reid said that was never intended by those who got tha opinion.—The motion was then put and carried, the voting being:— For: The Mayor, Crs. Tippen, Bell, Slade, Reid and Scott; against: Crs. Parr, Jones and Wood.—Cr. Parr staid he understood that the foreman had been paid according to this advance, and he asked if there was any minute authorising such payment.— The Town Clerk said tliero was not. —Cr. I'arr: Had it been done?— The Mayor: Yes.—Cr. Scott: By whoso authority?— The Mayor : By mine, acting by the vote of the majority of the Council. Vaile's Schkmk. —Cr. Parr moved, in accordance with notice given, that this Council is in favour of giving Vaile's railway scheme a trial on some section of the New Zealand railways. Cr. Parr said this system had attracted a good deal of attention throughout tho colony, and Mr i Vaile was now in Wellington to agitate and assist Mr Kees in endeavouring to obtain a trial of his system, and the Council should do all in its power to strengthen their hands. Mr Vai'e was very much in favour of reducing the freights, and his system of passenger fares would bring in a surplus of £200,000, which could be devoted to reducing freights.—Population is gradually leaving tho colony, and Hamilton is going back, and something must be done to stop it. New Zealand farmers have now to compete in the markets of the world, and they could not do so when the freight to the port was, in many cases, 20 to 2o per cent, of the value of the produce. Such a system would be of great advantage to this district-, and the Council would be only doing its duty in assisting to carry some system if railway reform. —Cr. Jones, in seconding the motion, said nothing unfair was asked for —only a trial was asked for —-and if it succeeded it would be of great benefit and if not it need not be continued.—Cr. 'Pippin said Vaile's system only referred to passengers and not to goods.—Cr. Scott said the time is ripo for railway reform, and it is needed very much.—Cr. Wood was in favour of Vaile's system being tried either for goods or passengers.—Cr. Parr in reply said Mr Vaile did mean to reduce the freights and very materially too. He was desirous of seeing people settled on the land. Cheap freights would come in with cheap fares.—Tho motion was then put and lost, the voting being, For : Crs. Jones, Scott, Parr and Wood. Against : The Mayor and Crs. Tippin, Bell, Reid and Slade. Cr. Scott said those voting against the motion ought to be ashamed and the burgesses ought to be ashamed of themselves for putting such men in. Nl'isanc Tho Council authorised the Inspector of Nuisances to prosecute Mr Thos. Hill for allowing a serious nuisanco to exist on his premises.