BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9255, 8 January 1889, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS.

NEWTON. . The ordinary meeting of the Newton Borough Council, was held yesterday evening at the offices, Great North Road, when there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Ambury), and Messrs. Brown, Riggs, Faulder, English, Cox, Boyd, Porter, and Donald. Lioknse.— The Auckland Tallow and Manure Co., wrote applying for a renewal of the license of their slaughterhouse at Cox's Creek, and asking for a reduction in the fee, as they were doing very little slaughtering there. The application was granted, and it was decided to nx the fee at 531, payable in advance. Road Rates.—William Edger wrote in reference to road rates he had paid in error on five allotments in section 13 in Newton borough for seven or eight years past, asking the Council to sell the property, as they were empowered to do under the Rating Act, in order that the Council's rates on the property and other charges might be paid. The letter was received. The Mayor pointed out that no rates had been paid on the property for two years. If he had paid rates in error it was his own matter, and did not affect the Council. Pound Sales.—Mr. Creamer wrote asking that the Council appoint Monday in each week as a day for pound sales, and to notify the fact by advertisement. It was decided to appoint Mondays as days for pound sales. Fire Brigade.—The Finance Committee reported advising that a public meeting be held in the Council Chamber on Friday evening next, at eight o'clock, to arrange for the organisation of a volunteer fire brigade. The committee considered that uniform and equipment for eight men should be provided, and that the men should bo paid for any services rendered. The report was adopted. PARNELL. The regular meeting of the Council was held last evening. Present: Messrs. Sealy (Mayor), Gay, Lyell, Savage, Augur, McCabe, Gilmour, McConnell. \ St. George's Bay Rowing Club.—Mr. Harold W. Hudson wrote complaining that the club had not yet provided him with shed accommodation for his boat as required by the Council when permission was granted to the club to erect their shed, and he asked the Council to compel compliance with their instructions. This matter had been three times before the Council. It was agreed to inform St. George's Bay Rowing Club that unless the shed accommodation required by Mr. Hudson was provided within 14 days they would be required to remove their own shed. Dangerous Building.—Mrs. Frances M. Baker, Ayr-street, wrote asking whether anything could be done to remove the small cottage next her property, which until lately belonged to Mr. Jamc3 Mason. The cottage was uninhabitable, and she was told it was frequented at night by tramps, which was most dangerous in case of fire, besides being detrimental to the letting of her property. The letter was received. Borough Debentures.—The Propertytax Commissioner requested information as to the total indebtedness of the borough for debentures issued, and what amount of such debentures was held outside the colony, and what amount within the colony, or the total value of debentures, the interest on which is paid to holders of coupons in the colony. The letter was received, and the town clerk stated that it had been attended to. Accounts.—Accounts were submitted for payment. In regard to general accounts, Mr. McConnell asked why one man was only paid 5s a day and all the rest 6s, as voted by the Council. Mr. Gardner, foreman of Works, said it was by instructions of the Streets Committee, who gave orders that men employed to work off rates were to be allowed ss, paying them 2s 6d and deducting the other for rates due. Mr. McConnell contended that the committee had no power to override the resolution of the Council, and he moved that the man be allowed 6s the same as the others. Messrs. McCabe and Gilmour pointed out that the men who were allowed to work off their rates may not be worth full wages, and Mr. McCabe moved that it be left to the foreman of works to decide as to whether the men employed and allowed to work off their rates should receive 5s or 6s. This was not seconded, and Mr. McConnell's motion was carried. The accounts as thus amended were passed for payment.. Fire Brigade.—Captain Judge, of the Fire Brigade, reported on three fires which they attended, and sent in separate accounts for each, amounting to £6 9s. One was in Smithers , house, opposite Mason's Gardens, in the Remuera district; a second in Mr. Jackson's house, adjoining the Swan Hotol, which was within the city boundaries. The third fire was in Captain Innes , premises, Hobson's Bay Road. The clerk said he had forwarded the account for the Remuera fire to the District Board, but had not yet received a reply. Mr. Gilmore gave notice to move at next meeting, "That for the future the Fire Brigade would not be paid for attending fires outside the Borough boundaries." The apcounts now presented were passed for payment. Mr. Littlejohn reported that two lengths of hose were unserviceable, and the Fire Brigade Committee was instructed to have the necessary repairs executed. Leasing a Reserve. — In regard to James Ah Kew's application to lease a certain lot in Brighton from the Council, it had been referred to the town clerk to interview the applicant, and he now reported that the applicant would give £10 a-year for the land, provided it was fenced, for the whole, or £6 per annum for the cultivated portion, quarterly payments in advance. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. McConnell, to call for tenders for fencing in the whole property, and that Ah Kew's offer of £10 per annum be accepted. Campbell Terrace.—R. Monds and five others brought under the notice of the Council that there was no drainage in the terrace, and the stagnant water was beginning to smell. If not attended to soon it would most likely create an epidemic of typhoid, and they asked that the necessary steps might be taken to have a drain put in sufficient to carry away the water. Some two years ago an estimate was made by the foreman of works of the cost of this work, and it amounted to £63. The letter was received, the applicants to be informed that the matter would be attended to when funds were available. DEVONPORT. The ordinary meeting of the Council of this borough was held yesterday evening at Devonport. There was a full attendance of councillors present, the Mayor, Mr. M. NiccoJ, presiding. Mr. H. Le Bailly, the newly-elected councillor, made the usual declaration and took his seat. A letter from the Fire Brigade was received accepting the terms offered by the Council in connection with' the taking over of the management) of the brigade. In reply to a letter from Mr. W. Bond, it was decided that tenders be invited for the grazing on the scoria reserve for a period of five years. The Auckland Naval Volunteers wrote asking the use of the rifle range at Brick Bay, and the request was granted. A communication from Messrs. Devore and Cooper re the alleged encroachment upon the Beach Road was read, which advised that notice be sent to Messrs Alison Brothers that the Council intended to remove the wall that encroached on the roadway. After some discussion, it was decided that Messrs. R. H. Duder and J. Brown be appointed a sub-committee to consult with Messrs. Alison with a view of an amicable settlement. It was decided that the foreman of works be instructed to prepare estimates of the cost of digging two wells in the borough, the sites to be approved of by the Council, Other matters oi minor importance were dealt with, and the meeting adjourned. ONEHUNGA. The Onehunga Borough Council held its fortnightly meeting in the Council Chambers last night, when there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Captain Yates), and Messrs Austin, J. J. Shaldrick, Dunwoodie, W. Shaldrick, Jackaon, Tapp, Hastie, and Keehan. Cobbesfondence. — The correspondence received was dealt with aa follows :— From T. and S. Motrin and Co., Auckland, pointing out the advisability of the : Council placing a lamp at the corner of Princes and Albert streets, as there was a considerable amount of traffic there, and : there was moreover a railway crossing adjacent : The matter was referred to the Streets Committee. Messrs. Brookfield and : Son (borough solicitors) wrote enclosing their opinion, aa aßked for, as to whether

the Council would be committing a legal action in purchasing land from a private individual for a cemetery site for the borough. They suggested that the purchase money should be taken from the funds in hand (ae being the most speedy and convenient, seeing that the present burial ground adjoining St. Peter's Church was now closed), and that sufficient money to pay off the existing debt on the waterworks, towards which they understood it was proposed to devote the accumulations of the local funds, should be borrowed for a term of years. Mr. Jackson moved that the letter be referred to the Reserves Committee* The inconvenience arising from Onehunga being without a burial ground had been already felt, permission having been refused to use St. Peter's Cemetery which was now closed. Mr. W. Shaldrick seconded the motion. Mr. J. J. Shaldrick moved " That the Reserves Committee confer with .Sir M. O'Rorke on his return to Auckland, with a view to obtaining the old site, and report to the Council." This was seconded by Mr. Keehan and made an addition to the motion. Mr. Hastie said that the Council should leave no stone unturned to see that the Government, if they took from them the site they had, gave them another. The Mayor said he would make every effort to get the present site opened; they were not in a position to borrow money on & special rate. Their predecessors had left them a legacy of debt and they had no money to spend on the purchase of a fresh site. Mr. Jackson said that the Mayor had at one time been strongly against the opening of this reserve as a burial ground, but, if the Mayor had turned round, they would find that the burgesses had not, at least he thought so. Tney had asked for the reserve in the first instance as an endowment to the borough, but the political opponents to. the borough then in Parliamonfc got the grant refused. The reserve was then asked for as a recreation reserve, rifle range, and cemetery site, for the whole of the County of Eden. The Mayor interrupted the speaker, as he thought he was wandering from the point. If the speaker could tell the Council anything fresh, they would be obliged to him. The motion, as amended, was agreed to. IYom Mr. McPike, etating that he was willing to resume the duties of poundkeenar if he was allowed to retain all iees, and with the addition that the Council appoint a ranger, or allow him to act : this letter was referred to the Reserve Committee. From J. Mooney, asking why the Council were spending the burgesses money in purchasing a cemetery site, seeing that it was so clear under the Municipal Corporations Act that they had no right to do so : Mr. Jackson considered that for any outsider to write to the Council demanding to know why they used their votes as they did, was impertinent. Mr. W. Shaldrick said that he considered Mr. Mooney would have shown more sense if he had not written the letter at all. There were a few burgesses who were constantly running at loggerheads with the Council. The letter was received. Footpath.—lt was resolved, " That the Council could not, in the present state of their finances, lay the footpath in front of Mr. Kemp's new building, Queen-street, with concrete." Inverts or Culverts.—Mr. J. J. Shaldrick moved, " That the Town Clerk be instructed to write to Mr. Wayland requesting that he remove the wooden culvert he had placed opposite his property, in Queen-street; pointing out at the same time that culverts in the main street were against a resolution passed by the Council some time ago. This was seconded by Mr. W. Shaldrick, and carried. Street OBSTRtiCTioN3.*--The Streets Committee recommend that the engineer call upon the waterworks contractor to remove all stones and obstructions left b/him on the streets of the borough. The consideration of the matter was deferred. The Streete Committee recommended the Council to take steps to enforce the removal of the machinery and debris from the roadway at the corner of Beach Road and Churchstreet. The recommendation was adopted.