BALOLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 162, 17 August 1877, Page 6

BALOLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Town Council was hold, in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. There were present — His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Hogg, Canning, Doull, Dunne, Maedonald, and Cramond. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting and a special meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Mr Blair, C.E., explaining regarding the ■quantity of ground to be taken for the railway through the Lower Reserve, that the notice to the Council included the full quantity of ground the Government were authorised to take, but it did not follow that that quantity -would be required. He could not then say exactly how much would be taken. — Letter received. PETITION. Councillor Macdonold presented the following petition, regarding the planting of avenues in the streets : — The Petition of the undersigned ratepayers of the Municipality humbly slieweth : That in the opinion of your petitioners, ib is very desirable that avenues of trees should be planted along the streets of the township. j That such avenues would very much, enhance the appearance of the town and increaso the value of town property, while they would at the same time contribute to the health and comfort of the inhabitants. That by way of experiment, a few of the back streots— say, Lankark, Renfrew, Di-umclog, and j others — should be planted this season. That the season favourable for such, work is i fast passing over, j

Your Petitioners therefore pray that you will take_ the matter into favourable consideration, and instruct that the work be carried on without further delay.

• The Petition was signed by forty of the principal ratepayers in North and South Wards. In presenting it Councillor Maodonald said he did not know how the planting of these avenues as a system would work. There were some of the streets it might not be desirable to have planted, but lie approved of the experiment being tried upon the streets named in the petition. The request had been signed by a large number of the principal ratepayers of the township, who, no doubt, had given the matter due consideration. The Council could not go against the mind of the ratepayers so clearly expressed, and he trusted that the Council would take the matter into favourable consideration. Ho would point out that the streets named in the petition were the most suitable in the township on which to try [ the experiment. Ho moved that the petition be received. Seconded by Councillor Cramond, and carried. REPORT. The < following reports by the Works Committee were read and adopted': — Gordon and Douglas and John-streets.— Your Committee having examined tho plans of tho above streets, bog to report that; they would roconimend that tho above streets be gravelled 22ft wide by Sin deep, and find that the cost, according to the lowest tender, will amount to L 43 9s 3d for gravelling John-street; and forming and gravelling Gordon and Douglas-streets wifl amount to the sum of L9B, including the raising of Gordon-sfcree 4in, and gravelling 22ft wide by Sin deep. Your Committee may ulso state that thay have interviewed the lowest tenderer, and lio has' agreed to carry out the works above specified for said amount. Your Committee having examined Cha-rlotte-street, beg to report that they would recommend that the plans be modified— viz., "that' the formation bo 18ft wide instead of 22ft, and gravel centre I4ffc by 6in, material .to.be taken from the sides of "the said street. They would also re-

commend that the engineer he requested in future to place pegs the height required— say, a distance of Wo chainff apart, to enable contractors to define quantities. FINANCIAL. Tho Town Clerk read a statement of the present financial position of the Muni-, cipality. Councillor Macdonald explained that j the Finance Committee would bring up a full report at next meeting. I ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:— W. Wilson, cleaning bridge, £1 6s ; wages, repairs to bridge, £9 7s ; Olutha Leader, advertising, etc. , £13 9a Qd ; M. Eyrie & 06., sundries, £3 13s lOd ; J. Provan, cartage, £2 2s 4d ; Galloway and Drinnan, £1 ss ; A. Nelson, balance of contract for wall on Hasbourgh road, £11 8s lid. ' auditors' pees, &c. The Auditors' fees for the ensuing year were fixed at two guineas each, and the Poll Clerks' fees, one guinea each. PLANTING OF AVENUES. Councillor Macdonald moved that the prayer of the petition of the ratepayers be given effect to, and that avenues of trees bo planted in Lanark, Renfrew, and Drumclog-Str'eets ; the Works Committee to carry out the work. Councillor Cramond seconded. Councillor Hogg pointed out that it had previously been resolved by the Council to plant Charlotte-Street, and he asked that it might be included in the motion. This was agreed fco. Councillor Canning considered they might as well lay carpets along the streets as plant avenues. He referred to the parties who had signed the petition, and pointed out that nine-tenths of them did not reside in the streets named, and, therefore, were not interested. He denied that the planting of trees would enhance the value of the property, and instead of conducing to health they would be a nuisance. The funds would be better applied in making roads to the railway fetation, and he hoped the prayer ol tho petition would be rejected. Councillor J)unne approved of a few streets being planted as an experiment. Two streets might be planted this season, say Lanark and Charlotte-street. He would also like to know something of the cost. Councillor Hogg stated that he had made enquiries as to the expense of the proposed planting in Charlotte-street, and found it would be about £7. After some further remarks, the motion was made to include only Lanark and Chai^lotte -streets. The motion as amended wa3 carried. TEST WELL. Councillor Hogg moved that the Works Committee bo instructed at once to proceed to sink the test woll agreed to by the Council. He explained that the work had been agreed to in August last year, and the pump and necessary appliances had been procured, but a delay had arisen in consequence of a request from the Milton Council to join them in sinking artesian wells. This had fallen through in the meantime, and as the river wag very low at present the test well formerly agreed to should be carried out at once. The motion was agreed to. ADOPTION OF NEW ACT, &G. Councillor Dunne moved the suspension of the standing orders to enable him to move that steps be taken with a view to applying to have the new Act brought into operation. Also with a view of getting a petition forwarded to tho House of Parliament respecting our revenues. Councillor Canning seconded. After a discussion Councillor Dunne agreed to withdraw his motion, and gave notice for next meeting. NOTICES OF MOTIONS. The following notices of motion was then given for next meeting : —

By Councillor Doull : That a footpath be formed from the toll at the bridge to the Post office, on the North Ward side of the street.

By Councillor Canning : That Stamfordstreet, between Clutha and Pakifioldstreets, be formed a half chain wide to its permanent level forthwith.

By Councillor Canning : That the no them approach to the bridge be femefcalled to a proper grade, and that a footpath from the end of the bridge to the end of the race or fence be at once made.

By Councillor Dunno : That tho hour of meeting of Council be changed from 8 to 8.30 p.m.

By Councillor Dunne : That steps be taken with a view of applying to have the new Act brought in force. By Councillor Dunne : That steps be taken for having a petition forwarded to both Houses of Parliament respecting our reserves.

By Councillor Cramond : That the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for forming and gravolling Hasborough-street, from the bridge to the Corporation quarry.

The meeting then adjourned,