BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1340, 4 August 1877, Page 10

BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Balclutha Town Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present — The Mayor, (in the chair), and Messrs Hogg, Tosh, Hope, and DoulL The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter wus read from the Christchurch City Council, intimating that the meeting of Mayors and delegates would be held in Wellington on tlje Ist August. A letter was read from Barr's Trustees, mentioning that the expenses rt survey necessary by the handing over to the Corporation of ground for widening certain streets, had besn greater than was anticipated, and suggesting that seeing the Corporation had got available pieces of ground, the Council should pay the expense of survey. Consideration of the matter was deferred.

The Mayor reported that tenders had been received for works in Charlotte and Douglas streets, and suggested that as this was the last meeting of the present Council, and as the works were important, it would only be courteous to the new Council that the tenders should not be opened till next meeting. After considerable discuaeion, it was agreed that the consideration of the tenders be deferred. Mr Hope pointed out that the scrub in tbe Lower Reserve was being destroyed by the railway workmen, and suggested that the Clerk should be instructed to call the attention of the Police to the matter. The suggestion was agreed to.

THE MAYOR'S FAREWELL REMARKS.

The Mayor said that- an this was the last meeting of Couniil during his teroa of office, he would take the opportunity of expressing the great pleasure he had experienced in presiding. When he had assumed the office, he had entertained some fears that all might not go smoothly, but he was proud to say that during the whole term of his office there had not been one angry or unbecoming expression used at the Council Board. The Mayor concluded his remarks by tendering his hearty thanks to the Councillors for the courtesy they had invariably extended towards him. The neeting then adjourned. CEMETERY COMMITTEE.

The Mayor and Councillors then resolved themselves into a Cemetery Committee. Mr Hope 3aid that there were several matters which he wished to bring under the notice of the Committee before he retired from it. One matter was that when a dray was taken into the Cemetery with a tomb Btone, or for any other purpose, he had observed that it was taken over the ground, sometimes across graves, destroying ornamental borders, etc. This shonM at once be put a stop to. Again the destitute ground was in a very bad state, as it was impossible to tell where graves &hould be dug. The ground should be properly laid off, and the fences trimmed. The season for dree planting had now come round. He suggested that application should be made to the Curator of the Botanical Gardens for 100 assorted Californian pine 3 for planting at the Cemetery. He also pointed out that several parties were in the habit of leaving the graves of their de ceased relations in a state which was disgraceful to any civilized community. The trustees had the power to keep the graves in proDer order, and to charge the owners of the ground. He suggested that this should be done. After a discussion, it was agreed that Mr Sutherland should be employed to attend to the various suggestions, made.

It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Hope, that the Clerk should write to the Chairman of tho Balmoral Road Board, asking that the road line at the Cemeter/ should be opened up so as to allow of vehicles attending fuperals being turned, A hearty vote of thanks was rendered to Mr Hope for the great interest he has all along taken in Cemetery matters, and the trouble he has taken in connection therewith. The meeting then adjonrned.