BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Press, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5364, 4 December 1882, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

BASTGIOBA. A special meeting of this Council was held on Friday evening to confirm a reso-l-ntion. to levy a special rate for tke purpose of purchasing- a steam fire engine. "Present ~lr J. Johnston (Mayor), Cm. Cone, Gulliver, Good, and Ivory. Apologiea -were received for the absence of Crs. Ellis and Stevens. The resolution to levy the rate was moved by Cγ. Ivory, seconded by Cr. Cone, and carried unanimously. The meeting then terminated. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was then held, the same Councillors being present, together with Crs. Boyd and Burt, the Mayor presiding. An apology was made for the absence of Cr. Crothera. A letter was received from Mr J. Roberts, Junction Hotel, requesting the Council to reconsider their decision with regard to the removal of the pump in front of the hotel, and urging | various reasons in favor of the Bame. The i Mayor explained that at the last! meeting of the Council it was decided to remove the pump previous to next meeting, but on the application of Mr Roberts he had directed the town clerk to allow the matter to stand over until that meeting for further consideration. He thought that the pump might be allowed to remain if the channel was paved so as to prevent any nuisance. Cr. Ivory moved "That the action of the Mayor be approved." Cγ. Good seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr. Cone then moved

— " That the former resolution •of the Council that the pump be removed be rescinded, and that provided the channel be paved the pump be allowed to remain." Cr. Ivory seconded the motion, which was also carried, after some discussion Mr C. Jennings wrote to the Council stating that there was a debt of .£8 on the town clock, and asked the Council to contribute towards paying off the debt. After several Councillors had expressed their opinion that the Council could not legally vote any money for the purpose, Cr. Boyd moved—" That the sum of £5 be voted towards paying the debt en the clock, provided the same become the property of the Council." Cr. Gulliver seconded the motion, which, after considerable discussion, was agreed to by four votes to three. A petition from certain inhabitants in High street residing between Ashley street and the railway gates, praying that the north side of the street between those points be asphalted, was presented by Cr. Cone, who stated that the work was one of necessity and should be done at once. After a good deal of conversation over the matter, Cr. Cone withdrew the petition, on the understanding that he would get the signatures of all the residents and bring it before the Council at its next meeting. A communication from the secretary of the Bailway League was read asking that something be done to contribute towards the expenses of the League. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Mayor and the Town Clerk, and to collect money by subscriptions, the general opinion of the Councillors being that the Council had not power to vote money but of its funds for I that purpose. A letter was read from Mr Burnett, Assistant Bailway Engineer, with reference to a vacant piece of landnear the railway station claimed by the Council, and requesting that a letter of his predecessor and tracing of the. land be forwarded to hie office for the information of tne Government. The clerk waa instructed to send the same. It was resolved that tenders be called for the eupply of dog oollare for the coming year. The surveyor's j report stated that the day men had been' employed'on the main,- streets in keeping .them in good and had also seen that the newly-laid asphalt was in good repair. The receipts for the month were J872 14e 9d; balance in the Bank, .£287 6s Id. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to .£SO 13s 10d. Mr G. T. Shilton wrote risking the permission of the Council to place an awning over the footpath to protect his shop from the sun. Granted. Mr J. J. Bobinson, Betuming Officer, reported the election of Mr J. Johnston to the office of Mayor of the borough. A letter was received from Mr J. H. Baker, i asking to be provided with a lithographed i copy of the borough map. Ordered to be sent. Cr. Burt brought under .the notice of the Council the necessity for making some arrangements for. the disposal of the stripping of the gravel pit, and it was decided that the same be sold at 6d a yard. A good deal of irregular discussion took place upon the neglect of the burgessee to avail themselves of the closet pans provided by the Council, and the contractors for the removal of the night soil waited on the Council with reference thereto. After consideration it was decided to enforce clauses 66 and 67 of the by-laws, and compel those who signed the requisition asking for the adopted system to take the pans, and the clerk was instructed to give them notice to that effect. The meeting then closed. *

A second special meeting waa then held, to make a resolution to sell a vacant piece of land ,on the South Town belt at its junction with Victoria street. The same Councillors were present. The Mayor stated the steps that had been taken with regard to the piece of land in question, and said that it had been suggested to him that a piece should be reserved on the sottth side of it to increase the width of the belt to a chain, and he thought it would be a good thing to do bo. Cγ. Ivory said that he had valued the land as requested by the Council, but he did not agree with the Mayor that a piece should be taken off it. He valued the whole piece at from JEBO to Jβ! 00, and believed-that the owners of property adjoining would be willing to pay that price for it. Cr. Boyd moved—" That the land be offered to the owners of property- abutting on it." Seconded by Cr. Good and carried. The meeting then terminated.