MILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1077, 10 January 1879, Page 5

MILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Milton Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening in the Council Chambers. Present — His Worship the Mayor, and Cr«. Capstick, Reid, Stanbrook, Cunninghame, Dyer, Stewart, and Lane. NEW MEMBERS Mr R. W. Capstick, recently elected to represent West Ward, was duly sworn in a member of the Borough Council. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. COBBESPONDENCE. The correspondence since last meeting was read and confirmed, among that which transpired being communications to and from the Council touching certain matters respecting which at previous meetings the Clerk had been instructed to obtain information. A letter from the Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, was received, intimating that duplicate vouchers for the i amount of subsidy due to the Borough, | £163 18s 9d, had been forwarded to the Bank to be placed to the credit of the Council. DEDUCTIONS FROM SUBSIDIES. In reference to the above, regarding which some members of the Council expressed some concern at a previous meeting, a letter from Government Offices, Wellington, was read, and which will be found in our report cf the Bruce County Council. grant's skittle alley. Mr F. Grant applied for a removal of the licence for his skifctle alley. Cr. Capstick moved, (Jr. Stanbrook seconder!, and it was carried — " That the application be granted." WORKS. Several application in regard to some small works within the Borough were favorably i-eplied to, and it was elso resolved that two men should be employed in breakiug and spreading metal in High and Pope streets. RAILWAY REGULATIONS. The following report of the deputation that waited on the General Manager of Railways touching railway matters, was read. The deputation appointed by the Council waited upon Mr Grant, General Manager of Otago Railways, at his office in Dunedin, and the mem here individually urged upon him the claims of the town, to hare the Milton station made the principal cbauging place for the Lawrence aud Clutha trains. Tne deputation desire to report that the General Manager politely and patiently listened to the representations of the deputation, and promised to re-consider the matter in conjunction with the Commissioner on his arrival in Dunedin, and to report to the C roncil the result of the conference. Mr Grant ako etited that after the opening of the through line, Miltou station would be the first stopping place between Dunedin and Invercargill, and tbat all trains wv.uld be directed to stop at Milton eight minutes. January Bbh, 1879. WORKS COMMITTEE. The following report of the Works Committee was read : — The Works Committee appointed to inspect the Drain in Dryden street, have to report ( hat they are of opinion that the work suggested i 8 quite unnecessary. The construction of a stone drain would coat a large sum of mouey ppd no materal advantage or benefit would aooure to the burgesses if carried out. With reference to the request made by Mr M'Laren for reconstruction of crossing leading to his property in E iward street, it ought not to be granted, as they consider the work should be done at the expense of the land owner. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to ihe total 'amount of £28 18s 6d were passed for payment. Lq>ENCER STREET. Cr Cunninghame called attention to the fact that the new culvert in Spencerstreet would be utterly useless unless something was done towards repairing the drains on private property connecting with it, as the culvert was now choked up. The \fayor reminded the Council that it was understood something would be done in this matter so soon as the plan of drainage was completed. TOWN HALL. Cr Stewart, in accordance with notice previous'y given, moved, that this Council do take into consideration the advisability of erecting a Town Hall and offices, and that a deputation consisting of the Mayor, Cts Reid and Stewart wait on the Bruce County Council afc its next meeting, with a view of securing their cooperation in the matter. He explained that a delay had taken place in this matter, in consequence of the holiday time intervening. He should not now enter into the subject at length, as he had previously expressed to the Council all he could urge in favor of the proposal. He might just gay, however, that he believed it would be generally recognised that it was high time Milton possessed a Town Hall of its own ; and be had no doubt whatever that the funds would be forthcoming so soon as the Council affirmed the desirability of its erection. In answer to the Mayor, Cr Stewart said he had no further data to go upon than when he last addressed the Council ; bub he should say a suitable building could be put up for £2000, which would include the purchase of the land. Cr Capstick seconded the motion. An amendment was moved by Cr Dyer, with a view of expediting matters, but on its being pointed out that delay, instead of expedition, would be the result of adopts iog the course he suggested, Cr Dyer withdrew his amendment. The motion was then put, and carried nem con. DRAINAGE. ■•.*•- ' Attention was drawn to the necessity of doing something to the watercourses and

drains in view of the hot weather, and the probable advent of floods. Or Cunningham earnestly advocated action on the ground of naxious afflavia arising from the drains, and Cr Capstick as energetically urged the same on the ground of floods, looking at the experience of former years, when the Council were i always going to take action, but somehow never did. Ultimately Cr Reid moved — " That notice be given to owners of all land through which the natural watercourses of the district run, to open up the same at once, and that in the event of them refusing to comply with the order, that the Council do execute the work at the cost of those so refusing]] The motion was carried, the clerk being instructed to see that the necessary notices were Berved. RECOVEBtNG OF HATES. It was resolved that the Clerk instruct the Council's solicitor to take immediate proceedings for the recovery of certain outstanding accounts and rates. The Council then rose.