BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening. Prewnt— The Mnyor (in the chair), and Cr« Hawkins, Todd, Barrett, Tait, Macfarlane, Jack, J. B. Clarke and F. L. Clarke. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A telegram was read from Air John White, stating that the Ministry were about to introduce a Bill providing forconductiug municipal elections by ballot. The following letters were read: — From Mr Davidson requesting permission to lease a reserve in Davey-strect. 1 Referred to the Public Works Committee. From Mr Scott, Secretary of the Educational Committees requesting permission to cut a drain across Sewell-street. Granted, on condition that the drain be covered up when desired by the Council. From Air Nicholas applying for lease of a section in Bcaley-strcet until it be put up to auction. . , Referred to the Public Works Comrait tee. From Mr Button, stating that he avos instructed by Mr Croft to apply for compensation for injuries sustained by his falling into the drain in Fitzherbert-street. .Received. From Captain Turnbull, informing the Council that the snags had been removed from the river and had been placed on the coal wharf, and urging the necessity of removing other sntigs near the Transit-shed, as they were dangerous to vessels lying at the wharf. Referred to tht Public Works Committee. From W. Williams and party, requesting permission to lay down a tramway on the east side of the Han Han tramway. Referred to the Public Works Committee. From Mr Brack, calling the attention of an omission in not extending the , drain in Hampden-street to his premises. Referred to Public Works Committee. From Mr Airth stating he was prepared to purchase a reserve in Hall-street, on the usual conditions. Referred to the Reserve Committee. From T. Hamilton requesting that the work he had done under his contract be passed. Referred to Public Works Committee with power to pass the Jwork if in accordance with contract. From Ker and Stenhouse drawing attention to their account amounting to £150 which still remained unpaid. Referred to Finance Committee. REPORTS. The following report of the Finance Committee was read :— • Your committee met on the sth instant, and have the honor to report— 1. That tbe oyerdraft at the Bank of New Zealand on the sth instant was £456 19s Id. The bank vouchers were examined and found correct. 2. The following amounts were paid into the Bank of New Zealand up to the 31st AugUßt : — Rates, £43 15s Gd ; wharfage dues, £217 3s Id; total, £260 18s 7d. The books and vouvhers were examined and found correct. 3. Balance of petty cash in hand to 31 st August, £12 5s sd. The books and vouchers were examined and found correct. 4. Your committee considered a report from the Inspector of Nuisances, and instructed the Town Clerk to cause a notice to be served on Mm Kiug for keeping a brothel. The Town Clerk was instructed to direct the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances to a diligent survey of chimnies and stoves within the town. 5. Accounts were passed for payment to tbe amount of £150 13s 9d. 6. Your committee consider that the large amount paid for supplying gravel should be brought before the Council with a recommendation that more caution should be used in future. •7. Your committee haying carefully considered the financial positiou of the Corporation, recommend that no further contracts be entered into until the rate for 1872 is struck. Jonw Tait, Chairman. , Received and adopted. The following report from the Public Works Committee was read : Your Committee met on the 7th instant, ana have the honor to report :— That tjje fpllo^ring subjects refer/red to them were adjourned for further considej-ajion until, your (lommittee have examined the several localities. 1. Mr Spain's application to enclose reserre No 567. 2. Mr Elvin'o complaint of the state of the Westland Saw Mill Company in Weldstreet. » 3. Cr Todd's motion regarding theJTancred street footpath . 4. Cr Tait's motion as to curbing the footmth in lievcU-street. D. Macparlaxe, Chairman. Received and adopted. REMOVING BRUSHWOOD. Cr J. B. Clarke drew the attention of the Council to the fact that the brushwood at Gibson's Quay, near the piling work,

.wi&b«ipi. removed. iThe oloer^ionfi^g .hehhad seen a young woman fenfovjlto's^e and had made her put it back,^utl(sltad many yardVwhe&itff-iaw her go back and remove it. * Pr Tait moved, and Or Macfarlane seconded—" That a notice, be put up on Gibson's Quay, warning persona that if found removing the brmhwood, they would be prosecu'ed." The motion was carried without dissent. WHARFAGE BATKS. Cr Hawkins moved, by leave without notice—" Thnt the Wharfinger make a return of the number, of vessels entered and cleared at the wharf for the last twelve months, together with their tonnage, and the amount of their cargoes, and the wharfage rates received thereon." Mr Tait seconded the motion, which was carried. TENDKKB, Tenders for advertising were opened from the West Coast Times and the Evening Star, which were referred to the Finance Committee to report upon. The following tenders for supply of brushwood for six months were opened: — J. Reynolds, £l Is per load ; Morgan' and Co., 16s ; Mills and Co., £1 ; J. Hamilton •19s W". Smith, Is Id, per cub'c yard. Cr Tait moved, seconded by Cr Barrett, " That the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee to ascertain what proportion Mr Smith's tender by the cubic yard, bore the tenders by the load." The motion was carried. The following tenders for the drain in Hampden,- street were opened, the prices varying in each tender in relative proportion to the mode of payment, whether at three months or nx months : Pi Griffiin, £83 13s or £87 13s ; Elvin, £78 10s or £93 ; Hamilton & Co., £101 15s or £114 15s; Farrell, £109 or £115; Stride, £121 10s; M\Marr, £86 15 or £90. Cr Hawkins moved, and CrF. L.Clarke seconded—" That Griffin's tender at £87 13s, payment in six months, in accepted." Cr Todd moved as an amendment, and Cr Macfarlane seconded pro forma — " That no tenders be accepted, there not being sufficient funds to carry out the work." Cr Barrett opposed the amendment, and said that it was only a week or two ago that tenders for gravelling Park-street had been accepted, and Cr Todd had said nothing against their acceptance. The^drainage in Hampden-street was more required for the health of the residents, than the forming of Park -street or any other street. Cr Todd had also given notice of a motion to have a portion ofTancrcd-strect, at the hack of Marley's stables meulled, and yet a work of much more necessity was opposed by the Councillor. The Mayor expressed himself surprised that Cr Todd had not requested that Cr Barrett be called to order. Ever since. Cr Barrett had been in the Council he had indulged in personalities. Cr , Hawkins tlcprictted the censure passed by the Mayor upou Cr Barrett. It wai the duty of the Mayor to assist and guide a young member and not lyhtly to condemn him,, when in fact he had not been at all out of order. Cr Barrett thanked the Mayor for his uncalled for remarks and said he would take some other time to reply to them. The amendment was also opposed by Crs. Tait, Hawkins, aud Jack ; and supported by Crs. J. B. Clarke and Macfarlane, The original motion by Cr. Hawkins for the asceptance of the tender of Griffin was carried. : CLAIM FOB COMPENSATION. Cr 11.I 1 . L. Clarke moved, and Cr Tait seconded—" That a committee be appointed to consist of Crs Macfarhne, Hawkins, and the mover, to inquire into the claim of Mr Croft, and to report at next meeting." The motion was carried after a brief discussion. ' PRODUCE MARKET. Cr Jack moved—" That the consideration of th^ de'sirabili'y of erecting a market, be referred to the Public Works Committee to consider and report upon." He said that there were persons willing to erect the market at their own cost", provided the Borough Council fixed a scale of charges which they might make. Cr F. L. Clarke seconded the motion, which was carried. < RESIGNATION OF THE MATOB. i The Mayor stated that it was his intention to resign the office he held during the ensuing week, and it would be therefore necessary for the Council to appoint a day upon which a meeting should be held for the election of his successor. Crs Todd and J. B. Clarke hoped the Mayor would continue to hold the office until the expiration of the term. The Mayor said that he had no desire to continue in office, but on the contrary wished his resignation to be accepted. The Council had now the full number of nine members without him, and it was his desire to retire from it. Cr Barrett said he was very happy the Mayor had expressed his desire to resign, as from his conduct while in the chnir, and the remarks he had permitted himself to make he (Cr Barrett) considered the Mayor was miserably unfit for the position he occupied. The Council then adjourned until Tuesday next at noon.