BOROUGH COUNCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11540, 27 November 1900, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

GREY LYNN. : - The bsual fortnightly meeting of the Grey Lynn Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last night, the Mayor, (Mr. R. T. Warnock) presiding. There were also present:, Messrs. Ambury, Brown, Farrell, Rosser, Smith, Booth, Parker, Donald, and Priestley. Gas Lamp: A petition from' Mr. J. Megson and others, for an extra gas lamp in Murdoch Road, was received, and it was decided to consider the matter in the next allocation of lamps. Claim: Mr. A. J. Wine wrote claiming £25 for expenses in connection with an accident to Mrs. Wine, alleged to be due to the bad condition of a part of the Great North Road, by which she had sustained a broken arm. Referred to the Legal Committee, with j)ower to take professional advice as to the Council's liability in the matter, and the best means of arriving at a compromise. Crummer Road: Mr. J. K. Parker wrote urging the Council to proceed with the cutting down of Crummer Road. It was decided to inform the writer that the matter would have to be deferred, as the- Council was not in funds. Streets Committee: The Streets Committee reported recommending that certain urgent work be done in Millais-strcet, Prin-ceps-street, Sussex-street, and Surrey-street, at a cost of from £120 to £150. The report was adopted. Finance : Accounts totalling £291 lis were passed for payment. ' PARNELL. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Parnell Borough Council was held last evening. The Mayor (Mr. Hugh Campbell) presided, and there were also present: Messrs. Briggs, Fitt, Tewsley, Gilmore, Martin, MacCormick, and Thomas. Watering of Streets: A letter was received from the town clerk of Auckland, stating that the Council had decided that as all the watercarts were/in use at this time of the year, it was impossible to comply with the request of the Parnell Council for the loan of a cart for a week. Bath-street: A letter was also received from Mr. Roth, drawing attention to the state of Bath-street, and to the necessity of kerbing and channelling it. The matter was referred to the Streets Committee. Finance: Accounts amounting to £123 3s 3d were passed for payment. Repairs to Streets It was deckled to cut down the footpath in Grey-street, whore it was considered necessary. The question of levelling the foothpath i«i Garfield-street was left to the Streets Committee for their report. Hobson Bay Road: On the motion of Mr. Martin, the Council decided to visit Hobson Bay Road on Friday week, and decide what improvements were necessary. Footpaths to the Beach : Mr. MacCormick moved, " That footpaths should be constructed from the Domain to the beach." Mr. Tewsley seconded pro forma. Ho slated that he had had a conversation with the member for Parnell, and he considered that prison labour might be obtained. On the motion of Mr. Thomas, consideration of the question was adjourned. NEWMARKET. The ordinary meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council was held last evening. Present: Mr. J. McColl (the Mayor), and Messrs. F. Bennett, J. M. Laxon, J. Lumpkin, J. Smerdon, T. Smith, C. G. Laurie, J. Caston, A. Seccombe, and W. Edgerley. Slaughterhouse: The manager of the Auckland Freezing Company wrote forwarding copies of correspondence addressed by the company to the City Council and others re slaughtering for the city, and stating that his company would be prepared to undertake the slaughtering for the boroughs of Newmarket, Parnell, and adjacent districts, if so desired. Letter received, and consideration deferred.

York-street: Mr. Bennett reported that the Streets Committee had inspected the proposed line of drainage in York-street, and found there was a fall available of 2ft 6in in the 100 ft from Mr. Lowe's to the main drain, and estimated the cost of the work at £5. On Mr. Bennett's motion it was decided to carry out the work as soon as possible. Railway-street: Mr. Bennett said that he had inspected the drainage in Railway-street, and found that 40ft . of new pipes were required, and on account of its proximity to the gully, the work would only be temporary if carried out, and the only way was to relay tho drain. In answer to the Mayor, Mr. Bennett said the smell complained of did not arise from the gully at the foot of the street, but from another gully a short distance away. It was decided to defer consideration of the matter, pending the carrying out of the works by tho Drainage Board. Sarawai-street: The town clerk reported that tho Waterworks Committee had prepared two sets of estimates for the proposed water simply in Sarawai-street, viz., (1) for laying 550 ft of 4in pipes,_ material and labour £60; and (2) with lain piping for the same distance, £23 19s 9d, and labour £4. Mr. Smerdon moved, " That for present i purposes a 4in pipe be laid for 310 ft from the main, and a fire-plug be put in at the gild, and a l£in pipe laid for the balance when necessary." Mr. I.axon moved as an amendment, "That 4in pipes be laid the full length of the street." The amendment was carried by a majority of one. ONEHUNGA. The fortnightly meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council was held last night, when there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Dr. W. R. Close-Erson), Mrs. Yates, Messrs. Colledge, Rowe, Hill, James, McLeod, Bradley, and Shaldrick. A Protest: When tl\e town clerk was about to read the minutes Mrs. Yates said she must protest against Mr. Colledge taking his seat at the table, as his seat had become vacant through his having been absent from the Council for four consecutive meetings. Th-; Mayor ruled that as leave of absence had been granted to Mr. Colledge at last meeting of tho Council, that gentleman was still a member of the Council. Town Clock: -The Mayor reported that if tho Council would put a new face on the town clock the Auckland Gas Company would fix a light in the same. The question was referred to the Couneil-in-Coramittee. Dredging the Harbour: The Mayor reported tho result of his. interview with the Hon. Hall-Jones, Minister for Marine, on the question of completing the work of dredging the harbour, a report of which has already appeared in the Herald. The report was received. Returning Volunteers: The Mayor said he purposed calling a meeting of a committee, consisting of the Council, Captain Mcintosh, officers of tho volunteer corps, and other leading citizens, to make arrangements to accord a fitting reception to Troopers Montgomerie. Kirkbride, and Hubbard oil their return from the war in South Africa. The Mayor's action was approved. Borough Statistics: The Registrar-General wrote, stating that no doubt it would be possible to includo the borough of Onehunga in the list for which monthly and yearly vital statistics are given, but he was afraid that more work could hardly be thrown upon the postmaster, who performs the duties of registrar. Tho Registrar further stated that ho would be glad if this matter might bo allowed to lie over for a while, until he is better placed for dealing with it. The exact population of Onehunga will not be ascertainable until March 31 next, when the census is to be taken, so that a death rate cannot bo safely given now. Mrs. Yates moved, " That a copy of the above letter be sent to the Colonial Secretary, with a copy of resolutions carried by the Council on November 5 last, asking why Onehunga- was not included in the monthly record of the vital statistics." The resolution was agreed to. A Grievance: The secretary of the New Zealand Farmers' Union (Mr. G. C. Walker, wrote stating that at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the above union, it was resolved, " That the Councils of the City of Auckland, the Boroughs of Parnell and Onehunga, be approached re the Punakitere settlers'' grievance, with the request that the Council would give the matter their earliest consideration." Mr. Walker also forwarded a statement of tlfc grievance referred to. The letter was received. Cattle in Streets: The Mayor moved, "That the Reserves Committee be asked to bring up a report as to the best means of putting- tho Mount Smart reserve into a proper state for grazing cattle, aftei which tenders bo called for leasing the same at the end of the year, and, further, that no cattle bo allowed to graze on the streets after that time." As the motion, notice of which had been given a month ago, had lapsed, as the mover was not present at the succeeding meeting to move the' same, the question could not be dealt with at that meeting. A Contract: Mr. Jas. B. Graham wrote on behalf of Mr. John Corkill, stating that ho had found that he could not make a living w?,ge out of his contract to supply spauls for the stone-crusher. He therefore requested tho Council not to take full advantage of their winter contract, lint to rescind the same, and pay in full 2s 6d per yard for the stone actually supplied, as per the foreman's measurement. The letter was referred to the Council in committee. Charitable Aid Board: Mr. Rowe was appointed to represent the Council _ at the Charitable Aid Board election, which taTces place at Ofcahuhu to-morrow. . Finance:. The treasurer read his usual financial ' statement, as follows:—General account, debit balance, £327 13s 2d; water-

works account, credit balance, £9 7s 6d; recreation reserves account, credit, balance, £4-7 10s; contractors' deposit account, credit balance, £41 ss; cemetery account, credit' , balance, £18 13a' 6d; domain account, credit balance, £3 3s 7d; due from the last-named account to the general fund, £72 2s sd. Notices of Motion: Mr. Hill gave notice to move: (a) " That not more than one pollclerk be employed at a Council election, except by permission of the- Council; (b) that a. committee, consisting of Messrs. Rowe, Shaldrick, . and' McLeod, be appointed to supervise the burgess roll, and that no names be put on or taken off the roll without the consent of the said committee; (c) that a list of defaulters in rates and rents bo placed on the table." Mr. Shaldrick gave notice to move: (1) "That in addition to the usual financial statement being _ read by the town clerk at • the meetings of the . Council, there also bo read a statement showing the amount _of rates . and rents recoverable, and (2) giving the cost of works under contract." Mrs. Yates gave notice to move, That a report be drawn up showing the attendance of each member of the Council, for the year." Mr. Bradley gave notice to move, "That tenders be called for the removal of rock in Hillstreet."