Municipal Council.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 815, 27 June 1876, Page 6

Municipal Council.

BALCLUTHA. Tuesday, 20tu June. Present — His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), and Crs. Hogg, Hope, Dunne, Tosh Mason, and Kilgour. MINUTES. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. THE MUNICIPAL lIOVNDART. The Clerk laid on the table a map of the boundaries of the Municipality, which showed that the Council had been taking portions ot the Balmoral and Matau Road Boards, consequent^ a number of the votes in East Ward will be struck off the roll. CORRESPONDENCE. The following letter from Mr M'Kay was read and received : — June 7lh, IS7G. To the Mayor and Town Council. Gentlemen,— ln reply lo your letter of 22nd ' May, requesting me to remove my timber from the level ground at the bottom of the railway embankment nenr the now bridge, I have to in- " form you that I am placed in pos-ession of the - ground in question by the Railway Engineer, and to him aloue I am responsible. I have, &c, Jaiiss M'Ka*. (

THE WEIGHBRIDGE. Cr. Hogg stated that the Finance Committee, together with an expert, had examined the portions of the weighbridge to hand, and found that a number of pieces were deficient, and that those which had arrived did not tally with the invoice. He moved, and Cr. Dunne seconded—" That the Clerk be instructed to write to Messrs Briscoe and Co. informing them of the deficiency and non-compliance with the invoice." The motion was carried. WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr. Mason, on behalf of the Works Committee, stated tbat they had inspected the works in progress, which they found going on very satisfactorily. He suggested that Elizabeth-street should be formed. Cr. Hogg supported Cr. Mason's proposal, and said it was absolutely necessary that Elizabeth-street should be attended to at once. Cr. Dunne moved, and Cr. Hogg seconded — " That the work be left to the Works Committee to carry it out " The motion was carried. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment: — A. Chirnside £2, Chirnsidc and Gourlay 18h, John Sinclair (iuapector of works) £13, P. Mason (rent of chambers) £13. Cr. Dunne, proposing that the accounts lie paid, said that he felt great pleasure in passing the Inspector's account, and spoke of the thoroughly satisfactory manner in which the day-work had been carried out both by the Inspector and workmen. Cr. Hope, in seconding the motion, also bore testimony to the satisfactory completion of the works done by day labor. Messrs Chirneide and Gourlay applied for an advance upon their contracts of £60. Cr. Hope proposed, Cr. Dunne seconded — " That it be granted, subject to the Works Committee's approval." The motion was carried. A KATE. The valuation roll (the total assessment being about £7000), was then read and adopted. Cr. Duune'moved — "That the rate be ls 3d in the £," as times were very hard at present. He said tbat if it was found to be insufficient a new levy could be made. Cr. Kilgour seconded Cr. Dunne's motion. Cr. Hogg moved — " That the rate for the ensuing year be ls 6d in the £." In so doing he spoke of the new Council having no borrowing powers, and said for that reason he moved the adoption of ls 6d in the £. Cr. Mason seconded Cr. Hogg's amendment, that the rate be ls Cd in the £. He remarked that he thought the whole of the ratepayers would approve of that amount. Cr. Hope said he might be thought out of place in supporting the amendment, seeng that he was beyond the boundary of the Municipality. The whole of the Councillors deprecated such an idea, evidently placing every confidence in Cr, Hope's actions. Cr. Hope then said that in supporting the amount of ls 6d as tbe rate for the ensuing 3 'ear, be did so, thinking that it would be quite little enough when the interest on the loan was paid. Cr. Dunne remarked that he had overlooked that liability (interest £60), and said that with bis seconder's permission, he would withdraw his motion in favor of the amendment. Cr. Hogg's motion was then put and carried. MAP OV THE TOWN. Cr. Dunne moved, aud Cr. Hope seconded — " That the mover, his Worship tbe Mayor, and Cr. Mason wait upon Mr Henderson, the surveyor, in reference to obtaining a map of the town of Balclutha." The motion was carried. IIASBOROUGII ROAD. The Mayor drew the Council's attention to the want of a few loads of maintainance metal on Hasborough-road, also the necessity of blinding the new metal. Cr. Duune moved, and Cr. Mason seconded — " That the Works Committee be instructed to do the work." Cr. Hogg was of opinion that the quantity of metal should be defined. The Mayor said that about sixty or seventy yards would be sufficient, aud that it ' could be obtained from the bluffs on Has- , borough -road. Cr. Hope remarked that the Council would soou get " bluffed " if the}' did not look out. The Mayor remarked that _10 would keep the road in repair as long as the present Council was in office. Cr. Hogg stated that he should very much like to see Hasborough-road finished. He was sick and tired of side winds. If it would take £30 to finish it. he would say do it and be done with it for good. The motion was carried, with the addition, " That the work to be done should not exceed £10." KEW WORKS. Cr. Dunne suggested that as the specifications had not been returned by Messrs Barr and Oliver, in the event of their coming to hand soon, the works should be let while times were dull. UNAUTHORISED EXPENDITURE. The Mayor stated that he had appointed an arbitrator to act for him with reference to the unauthorised expenditure at the Railway Bridge, and requested that the Council elect one. Cr. Dunne suggested that Mr Alex. Bain should be appointed on behalf of the Council. — (Laughter.) It was ultimately agreed that the Inspector of Works should act on behalf of the Covmcil.

The Mayor remarked that a quantity of the Corporation funds had been expended wrongfully in East Ward by the previous Councils. He considered these sums should also be refunded. He did not see why they should make fish of one and flesh of another. Cr. Dunne remarked that the Mayor was equally to blame with former Councillors, as he was one of the first elected members. The Mayor remarked that he was quite prepared to pay his share of the indemnity pro rata. Cr. Mason said that he was not. This concluded tbe business.