MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1060, 30 May 1878, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of above body was held in the Council Chambers last evening. Present:—The Mayor and Councillors Mathesou, Rogers, Wenkheim and Boyne. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Outward correspondence read and approved was unimportant. Inward correspondence, read and received, comprised the following :—From Mr W. Mason complaining of damage done to his premises by overflow of water on Frankton road during recent floods ; from the Thames Municipal Council again asking the Council to join the proposed League, and setting forth some of its objects; and from the Minister for Public Works asking for certain returns. Ordered that the returns asked for be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works. Proposed by Cr Matheson and carried—That the Town Clerk write to the Thames Borough Council informing them that this Council cordially approve of the movement, but that a representative could not be sent. Resolved that Mr Mason's letter be referred to the Inspector of Works to be reported upon. The Inspector of Works report was read and adopted. The following accounts were brought up ; D. Lyall (extras on Hallenstein street contract) .£3O 6d; D. Sullivan (cartage &c.,) £2 ; W. Maclarn, contract, £2 10 ; W. Shore, labor, 12s; R. Wilson, labor, 4s; E. Burrows, labor, £3 7s 6d; and W. Turton, law expentes, re transfer of section 3, block 1., £l6 Bs. Councillor Wenkheim objected to paying for the extra work done by D.Lyall as being unauthorised, and he proposed that, as the work was done without the consent of the whole Council, it be paid by those Councillors who gave instructions for its execution. The motion was not seconded, and after some discussion the accounts above enumerated were were passed for payment. Councillor Wenkheim here handed in his resignation as convener and member of the Public Works Committee. It was resolved, on the motion of Councillors Rogers and Matheson, that the Mayor be added to the Public Works Committee. Proposed by Cr Boyne, seconded by Cr Rogers and carried—That spars be put across the gully at the Manure Depot, as suggested by the Inspector of Works. Ordered that tenders be called for improvements to the Park. Tenders were opened for several works. Murrish and Shore's tender for Beach-street (£4 los) was accepted; and that of Maclarnß (£24 12s) for Shotover-street. Tenders were receivsd for improvements to Melbourne-street but it was de. iled that none be accepted. Mr Maclarn was appointed Returning Officer for election of Councillor to fill extraordinary vacancies. . A Subject was brought up which had previously been under consideration of the Council, namely the purchase of a portion of a section from Mr B. Hallenstien, in order that the right of-way in block 1., might be opened through to T?p Afl-fl t rCGt • Councillor Wenkheim now produced a letter received by Mr Haines from Mr Hallenstien wherein the latter offered to dispose of the area in question to the Council for £9O, remitting £l6 as his share towards the purchase. The speoker also produced a written document in which (with Mr residentJi the Council accept Mr Hallenstien's offer to sell 12 feet of section 22, block 1., adjoining the blacksmith's shop, owned lately by Mr Bridge, for the sum of £9O, provided that the petitioning ratepayers' pay to the Council £4l; and that the Council Solicitor be requested to prepare a conveyance from Mr Hallenstien to the Corporation. , . , Seconded by Councillor Boyne and carried. It was proposed by Councillor Wenkheim,— That a Committee be appointed, consisting o" Councillor Rogers, Matheson and the mover, to have an |interview witb Mr Geisow to enquire the easiest terms he would be prepared, either to sell section 10, block IL, or exchange it for by-way between section 5 and 6, block IL, and report thereon at the next meeting. Soconded by Councillor Boyne and carried. Councillor Wenkheim proposed—That, this meeting authorisa Councillors Boyne, Rogers and Matheson to send the fire engine to Dunedin and get the same examined, and ascertain the cost, and make enquiries as to the cost of a new engine. . After a long discussion the motion lapsed for want of a seconder, and the meeting was adjourned till Saturday next at 7.30. p.m. Special Meetings. Immediately after above a special adjourned meeting was held for the purpose of amending the Burgess list. The Mayor desired, before going into business, to mention that since the last meeting,he had discovered what he thought would considerably alter their action with regard to the names of burgesses who should be on the Defaulters list. By section 40 of the Municipal {Corporations Act, it was enacted that the only names which should be placed on the list, were those of " all persons who have not pad all the rates which on or before the 31st day of December previous (to 31st March) they were then liable to pay." Now the Council, which had only just come under the Act made last year's rates payable on 2nd January last; his opinion therefore was, that these burgesses whose names were on the Defaulters List simply because they had not paid last year's rates must be placed on the Burgess list and ultimately on the rolL The question was one very seriously affecting the franchise, and he suggested that the meeting be adjourned till 31st inst., the Town Clerk in themeantune to ascertain what names had been excluded from the Burgess list for above reason. After some discussion the Mayors suggestion was adopted and the meeting adjourned till Friday next (to-morrow) at 7 p.m.

An adjourned special meeting was next held for the purpose or adopting the balance sheet and statement of the Borough for the year ending 31st March last. After some discussion the above accounts as amended, were adopted on the motion of Councillors Boyne and Matheson. The meeting then closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.