BOROUGH COUNCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11986, 7 June 1902, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

BIRKENHEAD. The fortnightly meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council was held in the Zion Hill schoolroom on Thursday evening. There were present: The Mayor (Mr. .T. 11. Witheford, M.H.K.), Messrs. A. Keyes, T. Hadfield, K. J. White. «T. G. Kay, J. Hadfieid, W. Thompson, P. Donahue, H. P. Taylor,/ and the chairman and secretary of the Bur- j genes' Association. There were also present j a number of ratepayers, who took, much interest in the meeting. A telegram was read from Sir •). Ward re £200 subsidy for Coronation. Messrs. Taylor and .1. Hadfieid inquired whether the subsidy would be available towards erecting a Town Hall, ot to improve the roads and footpaths. The .Mayor stated he would get definite information from the Government, aud would call a special meeting of the Council if necessary. A letter was read from Mr. Warncck, Mayor | of Grey Lynn, asking that lie subscription list for Mrs. Virtue, with the subscriptions, be returned. The town clerk stated that no snb-crijjtious had been, given. The Mayor stated that, he would be sorry for the list to be returned in that manner. On the motion of Mr. Taylor, it was agreed to return the subscription list. A letter was read from Mr. Garlit k, stating that the matter of the obstruction on the footpath opposite his property would he attended to. A letter was read from Mrs. McPhail, asking that a footpath be formed opposite her property in Roberts' Road. Referred to the Works Committee. Messrs. Brooks and Bonlton appeared as a deputation from the cyclists of Birkdale, and asked permission from the Council to make a four-foot-wide cycle track from Chelsea Hill to Mr. Roiumee's corner. Oil the motion of the Mayor, permission was granted, subject to arrangements being made with the Works Committee. A committee was appointed to confer with the Waitemata County Council re the purchase of a road roller. Mr. Thompson inquired when the tarring and sanding of the main road footpath would be commenced. Mr. Keves stated that it would be done as soon a.s possible. The Works Committee report was read aud adopted. The Legal and Finance Committee's renort was read and adopted. Accounts to the amount of £03 17s were passed for payment. The Mayor made c. long speech re, the declaration of peace. He stated that lie was opposed to the Government sending surveyors to South Africa, that he would like to see the returned troopers settled on the land, find that the surveyors wotiild he better employed surveying the waste laud in the North, which work was much in arrears. He also opposed the action of the Government in purchasing improved estates in the South. The Mayor moved, "That Sir J. G. Ward be congratulated cn the termination of the war.'" Mr. ,1. Had-

field considered that the Governor was the proper person to send the resolution to. This was agreed to. Tenders were received from Messrs. J. Low, 11. Beer. H. Tnrnbull, 11. Me Bride, J. .1. Winter, A. Grade, .11. J. Gentles, G. Beswick, and Cook and Co.. for the formation of 73 cluains of footpath on the Birkdale Road, from Mr. Rountree's corner to the school. Mr. Taylor stated that he was not opposed to the footpath, providing it was not ashed at present; that the Birkdale district had received £20 more in expenditure than it had contributed in rales. Mr. J. Hadfield said Mr. Taylor was talking twaddle. Mr. Taylor rose to a point of order, and asked lis Mayor to request Mr. Hadfield to withdraw the word "twaddle." This the Mayor (Lid, but. Mr. Hadfield refused. Mr. Kay said Mr. Taylor was guilty of a great piece of presumption in speaking as lie had done. On the motion of the Mayor, the tender of Mr. .T. Low was accepted. The Mayor said lie would support a motion that the footpath he ashed. Mr. J. Hadfield stated that the bad road at Birkdale had killed his horse, and there was no foot-path to walk on. Mr. Kay moved, "Tint the footpath be ashed." The 'Mayor, Messrs. T. Hadfield, Keyes, Kay, and .1. Hadfiel l supported, and Messrs. Taylor, Donahue. "White, | and Thompson opposed. The motion wtrs] carried. The Mayor moved, " That a general rate, loan rate, and charitable aid rate, to the total amount of Is 84d, be struck." Mr. T. Hadfield moved as an amendment, " That the rate be Is 7d in the £." The amendment was not seconded, and the motion was carried. In concluding the meeting, the Mayor stated that he hoped in future the Council would not use personalities to one another, otherwise he would cease to occupy the chair. This concluded a very lively meeting.—[Own Correspondent.]

WAIHT. [XiX TELEGRAPH. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.] I Waihi, Friday. ' At the meeting of the Waih> Borough Conncil on Thursday night a lettei was read from Mr. W. Crawford Brown, manager of the National Bank, notifying that the bank agreed to the overdraft of £5000 proposed by the Council, and stating that no interest would be charged except on amounts operated on. The Council resolved to co-operate in urging the Government to drain and open the Piako Swamp for settlement. The Special Committee in reference to the Paeroa-Wailii main road reported as follows: —"Your committee beg to report tliat after drafting a letter to the County Council embodying the resolution of the Borough Council, offering £1000 towards the maintenance of the main road, which sum was to be credited in the adjustments account, your solicitor advised that he did not think the resolution as it stood should be submitted to the County Council, inasmuch as there would be no guarantee that the county would contribute any sum towards the same object. A second attempt was made to arrange a meeting of the two committees for Monday last, but no reply was forthcoming in time from the County Council, consequently it fell through. A telegram had been sent to the Acting-Premier, asking the Government to.appoint as soon as possible an arbitrator on the whole question between the county and the borough." The borough engineer wrote suggesting that the Waihi Company's application to lay a tramway to the old Silverton battery be granted on certain conditions set forth. The Mayor stated that he was corresponding with the Government in reference- to a loan for the water supply. , ' ' , - • The following report regarding the insanitary state of the town was received from the recently-appointed inspector of nuisances, Mr .T. W. Payne:—"On June 4 I made an inspection of most of the back yards, etc., of the business places in and about Mam-street. I found that in the majority of cases there was a- great accumulation of rubbish, consisting of tins, straw, paper, and other disagreeable rubbish, which, although not of a very insanitary nature, is very inflammable, and its removal would considerably lessen the danger of fire. I duly notified all occupiers of premises so affected to remove the said rubbish. I found Waihi very badly off in respect of drainage, and a main sewer is urgently required, to carry off the draiuage from shops, stables, hotels, etc. The few drains at present in use arc open ones. The main street being on same level a3 the shops the occu- < piers are unable to cover the drains, as they cannot sink below the street. The open ; drains referred to are vile-swelling, and add ; greatly to the insanitary state of the borough. Re dust-cart: J strongly recommend a bii weekly service in this connection. There are 40 or "more persons who would willingly subscribe, say, 9d per week for the said service, and that would* fully cover the cost of same. t I would suggest that the section adjoining Berridge's lie utilised for a rubbish tip."