OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8002, 15 June 1894, Page 3

OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Council, held last night, whs attended by his Worship the Mayor, and Messrs Hodley, Aitkeu, Meek, Bee, Atkiiuoti, Vernor, Hamilton, Falrley, DAvidnoo, Farailton, and Brown. The minutes of the previous meeting were read »nd confirmed, and the outward correspondence approved. Mr H. B. Crawford, on behalf of Mr F. Seth-Smith, wrote, agreeing, through Mr Mainland (the Council's arbitrator), to pay 45a per annum for aeven yeara' lease, and 60s per annum for twenty-one years' lease of section 12. block 34, The award, seven years' lease at 453, was upheld by the Council. Mr George Brownlee wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the road near his property in Aln street, and a^ked that it be put in proper repair. — Referred to the engineer, to be attended to in duo course. Mr R. J. Key 9 wroto asking that the name of Mr Herbert Edwards be inserted in the lease of the s<ctim recontly purchased by him. — Agreed to. Mrs Marion Stewart wrote offering L 5 per annum for lease of house on section 9, block 76, Mr Atkinson thought the offer too low, and he moved that it bo referred to tho Reserves Committoo, to deal with to the best advantage. Seconded by Mr Fairley, «nd carriod. Mr Thomas Kerr wrote drawing attention to the fact that the licenno had been removed from the Town Belt Hotel, and that in consequence he would not be able to pay the rent — LlO for the seotion on which the building stood, and L 4 for the section adjoining— and asked that the rentd bo reduced. Tho leases expired — hotel section 1902, and the other section 1900. M r Hedley thought they could not entertain the request. Mr Atkinson thought that if it wore possible to in ko a concession it should be done. J« was a hardship upon Mr Kerr, and Something should bo done. Councillors generally agreed with this view, only they feared the leases could not bo Interfered with, and it was pointed out that sections in the vicinity were leased at L8 and L 9. It was resolved to allow tho letter to lie over for a fortnight. Mr A. Webstor wrote asking per-« mission to lay a drain across tho footpath opposite section 11, block 20. — Granted for storm water only. Mra Janet Barr applied for asphalt to be laid on footpath on south sido of Dee street from Reid street to Aln street. The applicant stated that sho was willing to pay tho half cost.— Granted, 1 | Mrs M. Cloary wrote asking that the road to her property, section 7, block 69, was in a bad state. Mr J. Church, aa agent, c irroborated applicant's statements. It was rosolved to lay down a few loads of gravel when the necessary work in the street was being carried out. | Mt Jtfeil Fleming wrote again asking that his price for vrater supply be reduced, and said he would gladly lay his complaint before the Council personally. Mr Aitkon thought they should hear Mr Fleming " at the bar of tho Council." It was agreed to hear Mr Fleming " at the bar of the Council." Mr Familton moved that the price be reduced to L 6; but Tho Mayor said that euch a motion irould requiro notice. •).'he Mayor said that, by request, ho had had an interview with Mr Roberts, of tho New Zealand Refrigerating Company, respecting the alleged diminishing of water. — Referred to the engineer toconfor with Mr Scott, the Company's local engineer, upon tho niatter. The secretary to the Charitable Aid Board (Mr J. Church) wrote notifying tho , Council that tho Council's contribution this year would be LBl 10s, pjyable on tha 20th June. The previous year Hie amount contributed was LY2 11s Bd. Mrs Snow wrotejcoraplaining about the footpath in Till Btreet, and asking that the Waitftki water be cut off from sections 25 and 26, block 79. The Miyor reported that tho work had been attended to, and the water rates would be paid for the current term. Mr J. Emelie wrote objocting to and setting aside the award of Mr Tait of L 26 as the ground rent of tho section occupied by him in Thames street. The Mayor stated that tho award made by Mr Tait was perfectly valid, and had gone to Dunedin to bo stamped and registered. It was for oevon yearß at L 26 per annum. It was resolved to inform Mr Eraslie that the Council could not open the mttttr,

Another unreadable letter from Mr M. Clydesdale was received. The Mayor had writtun to the Railway Commissioners unking that tho haulage- of Ngnpata gravel be reduced to C* per truck. A reply wbs rcooived to tho effect that the rratter would bu considered. Tho Mayor's application to thn Promier that the unemployed bo drafted on to tho municipal work at th» intake wa% the Premier replied, referred to tho Minister of Labor for his favorable consideration. Accounts Amounting to L3lO Wi M wore passed for payment. The Gas Couiraittoo reported as follows : Tho balancc-shcot for the year ending 31st Match, 1894, was discussed. It was 1 pointed out that nothing had been written off the cost vftluo of tho work for depreciation. It was decided to recommend the I Council to write off L 1659 4s Id, thus reducing tho book valuo of the works to 1.9800, the amount of loan now charged against them. It was also decided to recommond that the profits from the gas department be sot aside for tho purposo of extensions and of renewals, and the balance of profits towards the reducing of the loan on the wo.'ks. Tho gas manager reported that the works were in good and efficient condition, and that he did not anticipate any extraordinary expenditure on them, with the exception of from L5O to LlOO worth of rotorts in from six to 12 months' time Tho rec'itnmendation to write ofTLI6SO was lusb on the casting vote of tho Mayor, nho exeroised both a deliborativo and a casting vote, and thu remainder of tho report was adopted. Tho engineer reported as follows : I have the honor to report, in accordance with your resolution of May 17th, on the cost of asphalting the footpaths in front of blocks 15, 16, 17 and 18, Thames street north, as follows : " On March 22nd I reported that wo had enough tarred shingle in tho yard— first mixing— to lay down about 10 chains of footpath, and I have estimated the cost of it at the rate of tho balance used, The whole length is 21 chains, 10 yards, by 5 feet in width, and the actual cost is L3O ss. it has been topdrcssed the total cost will be about L 36 16s. In reference to Mr Robinson'i request, " that the storm water from Lune street be provented from flowing on to section 1, block 83," I have to report that it is impossible for it to go any other way ; also, that it is tho natural storm water course, viz., in the gully from Luno street bridge. In regard to the powers of tho Council, I beg to refer you to The Municipal Corporations Act, 1886, part I, section 4 ; Tho Public Works Act, 1882, part V, section 90, subsection 10, and section 100, sub-section 4 ; Tho Municipal Corporations Act, part X, sections 304 to 306. The carting of tho road niotal contract through Cholmer street will be finished this week, and tho street is l such a deplorable stato that, with the consent of his Worship the Mayor, I have called for tenders to shingle it ; also, for part of Yare street, which is dangerous for any vehicle to go up it. The report was adopted. The application of Mr George Dil gloiah for erection of dwelling-house in stone and wood on section 1 block 2, was granted. Tho Mayor moved tho notice of motion re rtltoration ot the personnel of tho committeerf, and the holding of tho meetings at night. This was seconded by Mr Atkinson. The principle was generally approved, and after discussion, tho mitter wan remitted to tho chairmen of tho various committees, with tho M^yorto re-arninge tho various committees, and report at nexfc meeting. At the suggestion of Mr Familton, Mr Atkinson moved tint tondors be culled for shingling that side of Thames street from tho North Otago Hotel to Mr Risaot's shop. Mr Familton seconded tho motion, which was carried. The following tooder was accoptod : Carting shingle to Chelmer street, Y »re street, and Cross lane, Mr P. Kano, L 34 7s. Mr Vernor drew attention to tho necossity for repairing Greta street. Mr Hodloy asked that Avon street be attended to. Thnfc and Greta street wero tho two worst streets in tht town. Ib was rcßolved to ask tho enginoor to call for tenders forthwith. The Council then rose.