GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 January 1907, Page 2

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council was held last night, when there were present: Crs. Coates (chair), Tennent, Hart, Kerr, McLean, Shannahan and Sheedy. STATUTORY HALF-HOLIDAY. The Chairman moved that Wednesday, from 1 p.m.-, be the statutory half-holiday within the Borough for the ensuing yeai\ Seconded by Gr Tennent and carried. CORRESPONDENCE.

His Excellency the Governor wrote, thanking the residents, for.the hearty reception accorded" hirn'op his recent visit to Greymouth. i Mr R. W. Greenwood requested attention to fender post in Masters street. Cr. Sheedy moved"that'-"Mr'-Lord rectify the matter. Carried. The Westland Agricultural and Pastoral Association asked that the shopkeepers be asked to closo at noon on Wednesday, February 20th—the first day of their annual show. Agreed to. Mr A. Russell asked that his application

for part of reserve in Buccleugh street be held over. Agreed to. Mr D. McLean offered to sell ironbark timber for curbing purposes. The Clerk said some would be required. The timber would be very suitable for the purpose. The cost would, be about £3O. Cr Sheedy moved, and Cr Terinent seconded, that the offer be accepted:" Carried. Mr Lord was appointed as the Course's representative on the High School Bos.rd of Governors. .

Mrs M. McDonnell applied to have the asphalt path in front of her new building in Tninui street repaired. Cr Kerr moved and Cr Shannahan seconded, that, the re quest be granted. Carried. The Secretary to the Reception Com mittee reported deficiency on cost of entertaining the Governor at £64 12s "Sd, whereof the Council would have to find £2l 10s,Hd. Cr Tennent moved that■•the account be passed for payment. Carried. Cr McLean moved, and C* Havt seconded, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the Ladies' Reception Committee. Carried.

THE WATER WORKS. ; '■ The Pumping Engineer reported having worked 184 i hours during the month' of. December, during which time the engines had worked well. The depth of vrater was 9rt Bin on Monday. ~" Cr Tennent said a resolution provided that 12ft of water must be maintained/

The Clerk said the engines had to work according to tides. The depth on Monday was not bad, seeing that Sunday intervened. . N

Cr Tennent thought the water should be kept up. Perhaps the turn-key could work a shift or two.

Cr Hart held the position was that the engines would not pump more water than was required. Cr Kerr said putting another man on would not get over the trouble, as the Engineer could only work during certain hours, near high tide. Cr Tennent moved that the Engineer go into the matter, and if he found more water could be kept in the dam with extra assistance, the turn-key work the machinery for a couple of shifts. Cr Kerr favoured the Engineer giving a, full report on the plant. Cr McLean said the difficulty could be got over by taking full advantage of *'hen the water was in the wells. The turn-key could take charge of the engines for a couple of shifts. Cr Sheedy said there was plenty of water on the surface near the pumping station. The ground wanted breaking up to let the water percolate to the wells. Cr Coates said lie was of the same opinion as Cr Sheedy till a week ago, when he visited the locality early one morning and found the course of the river had changed. Something would have to be done. Cr Hart said they would have to take into consideration the desirability of laying pipes from the well to the river. This work, the Engineer had estimated to cost £SOO. It was better to face the whole matter at once.

The Engineer said 6ince last big flood the river had gradually gone away from the pumping station. The place Cr Sheedy spoke of was now filled up with silt. His idea was to lay pipes up to the deep water in the bed of the river. He did not think an extra man pumping would assist, as they had to pump according to the state, of the tide. He favoured making a small cut to the river at present. Cr Shannahan favoured making a cut from the river to the pumping station. Cr Sheedy suggested the Council visiting the site at low water.

Cr Tennent thought it essentinal that the Council should take the matter in hand. He altered his motion to that the Council visit the pumping station at 1.30 pm. on Friday. Carried. - - OVERGROWN'.HEDGES. Inspector Ainsworth stated he had "notifled residents where hedges had overgrown on the footpath totrim them at once. BOROUGH TENDERS. Tenders were received as follows : PUBLIC MORGUE. (Enginc-er’s Estimates, ESOO and £250.) FOUR’]‘EEvN’-INCH BRICK W W. G. Mouat .. _.. 359 Franklin and Hosking . . . . 332 0‘ 0 R. Morrisey .. .. 261 7 6 Drake and Muir .. T. Bell .. .. .. 254 10 0 NINEJNCH BRICK WALL. Franklin and Hosking ~. 294 0 O R. Morrisey 4 .. .. 245 7 6 Drake and Muir .. .. 201 15 O 'l‘. Bell .. .. .. 222 0 0 The tender of Drake and Muir for fourteen inch wall, being the lowest, was accepted. ‘ ' Just after Mouatls tender was opened, Cr Tennent moved that Moua.t’s tender be declared informal, inasmuch as the ten der was not accompanied by a. marked cheque. M(Qu:tta'Af_orw.arded his own cheque, but the specifications provided for .1. mark- ’ ed chefiquc-. ‘ r

Cr Shannahan seconded. It was only right. One man might go to the trouble of getting a marked cheque, and so should all the others. Cr McLean opposed the motion. The Engineer stated in reply to Cr Kerr that the Council had previously accepted tenderers' own cheques for deposit. Cr Kerr did not support the motion. Ihey should give full notice of intention to enforce the stipulation for a marked cheque.

Cr Shoedy asked that Cr Torment not press his motion that night, .seeing that other tenderers might be in the same position. In future they could make a hard-and-fast rule.

Cr Tennent said he moved the motion to draw attention to the lax manner in which tenders were received. He would withdraw that night, but would in future see that the stipulations in the specifications were rigidly adhered to. Cr Shannahan, the seconder, agreed to withdraw, but thought the rule should be adhered to in the future. INSURANCE ON TOWN HAM.. The following offers to insure the Town Hall against risks of fire were received:— State office 7/8 per cent; Atlas 4/6 per cent; New Zealand Co., 5/- per cent. The lowest tender was accepted.

NOTICES OF MOTION. Cr McLean moved by notice ' that in future contractors' deposit be not returned, if successful tenderer refuses to take up contract. This he moved on account of the trouble ov<?r . marked cheques. It would make them observe the specifications, while, tenderers would be more careful. Of course, the successful tenderer, if a great deal cheaper than the next tenderer, could decline to take up his contract and could then, get his deposit back. The motion would give notice that no deposits would be ; returned.

Cr Tennent seconded the motion, which if placed on the books would make tenderers more careful. To rescind it notice of motion would have to be given, The motion was carried. Cr Coates .moved that the cattle-proof fence be repaired round the Recreation Ground. Cr Shannahan seconded, and Crs Kerr and Hart supported the motion, which was carried!. LIBRARY MATTERS. The question of lending out library books to people on ships, and an offer to purchase some books from the Library was referred to the Library Committee for report. ■ ;■'"■■: ".'' . '

_ ; MORE LIGHT. Cr Kerr asked why lamps had not been erected in Johnston and Tainui streets as previously agreed to. ' Cr Coates said Johnston street lamp was being attended to. . 4 jtoo The Clei?k'said theigatfTwc-uld be laid on shortly. •■*■• Cr Kerr moved, and Cr Tennent seconded, that the) Gas Manager attend to the matter at oncfop" Carried.

WANDERING CATTLE. Cr Hart thought it «rould soon be necessary to make the streets cattle-proof. Something would,have to be done to pre vent cattle wandering, on the streets. Cr Tennent .moved;.that the Town Clerk report at next meeting on the amount of taxes, etc., collected by- the Poundkeener. Carried. rj.. ao ; v< , MORE'ASPHALT. Cr Sheedy said the asphalt about town was disgracefully, laidtfflid was crumbling. He protested against the matter. Cr Kerr said very small gravel had been Jand on High Street, and he questioned the policy of placing such fine material on the streets.