BOROUGH COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 7317, 11 March 1892, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

A meet'ng of the borough counoil was held at the town hall last evening. Present— The Mayor, (in the cbair), Crs Hiidebrand, Hall, Clough, Sheedy, Campbell, and Smith. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved. Letter from Elizabeth Whall notifying that Bhe had sold her two shops on Richmond Quay to J. G. Thomas. From Samuel Parker offering to supply corrugated iron locally manufactured. — Received. From Otto Peterson for leave to erect a fence in Buccleugh street. It was stated that he wa3 already 10 or 12ft on the street. The request was not entertained. From the Midland Railway Company re compensation for section 193, declining to submit the matter to arbitration ; but offering to deal in an amicable manner or else settle the matter in a court of law. The Mayor deprecated going to law, and moved the acceptance of the Company's offer to give them ihese crossing. b Cr Hiidebrand seconded. . Cr Sheedy opposed the motion. They were guardians of the property of the public and could not afford to be generous with what was not their own. Ha saw no reason why they ahou'd not git justice in a court of l*w. Why, miners on the ground would give L 2 an acre for ifc. The offer of the Company was simply abBurd. They took up the whole of the frontage. — Cr Campbell followed in a similar strain. If Cr Hiidebrand and the Mayor had sold themselves body and soul to the Midland Railway Company, it was not for the other councillors to do so. He moved that the question be postponed for a full meeting cf the council. Cr Hall seconded. The Mayor combatted the arguments of Cim Sheedy and Campbell. He contended that they were wanting to waste the money of the ratepayers by bringing such actions Into court, where the coßts would be twice the value of the land. He considered the Company's offer a very fair one. Cr Hall wanted to see the matter settled in a full council. Cr Sheedy thought they might as well j make a prasent of the land to the company as bo give it bo them at the price they wanted. There was every prospect of a number of mm era setting into that ground, while the company would shut them out, The amendment was then put and carried by '4 to 2. Application from Mr Coe for another acre oh the borough reserve for miaing purposes, and asking that his mining privl'eges be prote ted. — Received. Cr Sheedy urged that the protection be granted as asked, and moved that the matter be referred to the reserves committee. — Carried. The secretary of the Orient ll Football Club applied to the council to cut the rushes down on the recreation reserve. — Referred to the public works committee. From the secretary of the harbor board furbishing a plan of strengthening the Cobden bridge. From Hungerford and M'Kay on the same matter and objecting to the rent, and stating that they intended on a future occasion to move to have the rent reduced to LIOO a-year. Cr Sheedy said that they should take no further acton ia the matter until such time as Hungerforl and M'Kay aocepted the council's terms. Let them accept or not ace apt. Their duty by the ratepayers compelled them to protect their interests and go to work in a business like way. The Mayor moved that the plans be sent to the chief engineer at Wellington in o-der to facilitate matters. Cr Hiidebrand seconded. By doing bo the conncil would not be compromised in any way.. Or Campbell considered Hungerford and M'Kay'a letter very scant courtesy to the council, and they had better have kept the letter at home. Resolved that the phn3 be sent to the Marine Oeparkraent. ; The fioance committee's report waa read and adopted, and a number of accounts passed for payment. The repott of the works committee was read and received, as follows :— " That they have inspected Shakespeare street, and recommend the council before undertaking any drainage work, to I reduce the width of Shakespeare street to one chain from Frankly n street to Bnccleuph street. The land so taken off, to be offered to the occupants of sections facing, the aforesaid street In that locality." Consideration deferred to the next meeting. The report of the inspector of nuisance was read. If inclosed a letter from a ' ~~ (See /bit th page,)

resident of Albert terrace complaining of a nuisance through drainage stagnating in the right, of way. Report received, and referred . to the works committee to report. The town surveyor's report waa read, which enumerated the different public works. — Received and adopted. The report on the recreation ground by Mr Lord was read. Tbe total cost would be L6ll 10a, which would enabie a very pretty ornameatal grouad to be made of it. The report waa accompanied by an elaborate plan giving the details of how he proposed to deal with the ground. Resolved that the Mayor be empowered to interview the trustees of the jubilee fund with a view of calling a meeting of subscribers. The report of the fir a engine committee's repoit resommending the purchase one of Shand and Mason's ste.im j fire engines. I Cr Hildebrand moved that the report be adopted. Cr Hail seconded. It was high time the matter was finally settled. Cr. Sheedy would like to see a fuller meeting. The question was too BerJous ti ba dealt with by so thin a meeting. They ought to have a fuller meeting. T c borough of Invercargill gave up their steam fire engine after using it 18 months. He contended that the steam fire engine would not benefit all the ratepayers. It would cost about L3OO a year to maintain, and mainly for the benefit of the front street. He moved that the question be adjourned to the next meeting. Or Clough seconded the amendment. Cr Hildebrand gave several arguments to show that a steam fire engine would benefit every one in the town. The amendment of Cr Sheedy was amended by the addition that the fire engine committee should interview the representatives of the insurance companies and ask them to contribute towards the cent of the engine. The amendment was then carried. Several obj etlons from ratepayers in Alexander street to the proposed alterations were read anc? received. Cr Hlldebrind moved that the matter be postponed until the council has more money. Cr Campbell moved thut a3 soon as funds were available to complete that portion of the street from Chapel to Puketahi street. Carried. Cr Sheedy waa appointed one of the workß committee.