BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1174, 17 November 1880, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

At the special meeting of the Borough Council, there were present. • His Worshigithe Mayor, Crs. Bennett, Clayton, Townley, Tutchen, Whinray, Piesse, Berry, and Brown. Proclamation of Waikanae Streets —The confirmation of the' special order re the dedication of the Waikanae streets was proceeded with. After some little discussion, it was resolved — "That the confirmation of this special order be deferred till next general meeting, pending the receipt of a petition from the residents praying for the dedication of said streets." John Thompson's Demand. — Mr. Thompson wrote as follows : — "I have to call the attention of the Borough Council to the damage I have sustained through the water being thrown on to my property, which is undermining and tearing down trees and damaging tho building. The said water was thrown on by the servants of the Council, without making proper provision for carrying it away. I must also call your attention to the CANAL in front of my house, which is daily increasing in siza, and if not put a stop to, will increase the damages already done. I now make a formal demand on-the Council for damages, amounting to Fifty pounds sterling." TJie Engineer, 4ir reply to His ; Wor-, ; ship, said that during the late rains, a quantity of water was. carried down the drains. On the motion of Cr. Bennett, it was resolved that the Engineer inspect the j drain in question^ and report on the alleged damage. The 12 o'clock Gun. — Mr. E/ H. : Featon wrote as follows :— " I have the: : honor to bring to your notice, the enclosed subscription list, and respectfully request that you will be good' enough to introduce the same to the members of the Council, with the view, to open and initiate the list (beforeappealing to the public), with such small donationsas'the utility 6f'the r object may merit." The gun had now been fired regularly on each Saturday, at 12 noon, giving telegraph time to the district since January last, and it was still intended to continue it if the bare expenses was covered by. su.b9criptqn.-j. : ijis Worship the Mayor opened the list with his subscription, arid all the other Councillors followed suit. Application. — Mr. McDowell applied for information respecting his contract, the work being more than specified in the contract, and the carting a greater distance.. Cr. Bennett proposed that when the work was completed that Mr. McDowell be allowed a fair remmeration for any extra work which may be done ; seconded by Cr. Tutchen and carried. The Waikanae Bridge. — Cr. Brown proposed that the Council at present do not build a bridge. There was a gooddeal of talk outside as to the Council squandering money ; and he believed the majority of ratepayers were averse to the erection of the bridge. Cr. Piesse seconded, and said that there was a great diversity of opinion at present. If they let the matter cool down they might in another 6 mouth's be in a position to entertain tlie subject, ... Cr. Bennett, replying to Cr. Brown's remarks, said the bridge was not exclusively required by the townspeople— but the country people required it. However, if it was the wish of the Council, not to build it, he would acquiesce. Cr. Clayton did not quite agree with Cr. Brown as to the traffic being at the lower end of the town. It was simply a matter of necessity, compelling people to come down to this fordj there being no other. His Worship said it would be in time to consider the subject some time hence ; and Cr. Townleysaid he thought itwould be better to come up with next yeaa's estimates in March. It was resolved that the matter be disposed of when the next estimates are submitted in March. GiJipE Posts/— Cr. Bennett proposed that guide posts be fixed at "the Waikatiae: ford, and the crossing .-generally repaired. It would be an expensivejbiit very useful work. Seconded, -by „ pjvPsesse anil carried^ ■ .•■■.•■ Tit Mem:'o»ia3.l— Or. Behnett : said 'the Council couH hot do a more fitting liiot than resolve on this, the anniversary of the fire, at whicli their offices were burnt that' the whole' of the ; furniture : and fix^ ings be insured. Civ Brown seconded — carried. ■ ,;.■■ : . ■■. . Public Works Committee's Report/ His Worship the Mayor proposed that the Council go into a Committeeof the whole to discuss thelast report. His Worship left the chair and Cr. Townley was elected chairman of Committee. • Mr. Reynolds' Report. • ..Sir) —Referring- to your letter of the 11th," I beg to inform you that I have examined the part of the Gladstone road which has lately been formed. :The road: is .l£ chains wide, with one chain roadway: "I took cross sections at various points, and found the height of the-crown above, the edges of the roadway varied a good deal, being in one instance 4ft.. 4in., and in another 2ft. 4in. The average heights at the points examined was 3ft. 6in. This height would be increased when the road is metalled, as I suppose the metal will be thickest in the centre of 'the road, I consider that the crown of the road, if metalled on the present formation, will be unnecessarily high, and that the steep slopes will be likely to'lead to the upset of buggies and carriages. ; . I think that a crown of 2ft above the edge of the roadway would be sufficiently high. !■ am, Sir, Your obedient servant, ■ . . B. J. Reynolds. Re. Gladstone Road Formation.— - Cr. Wh'inray proposed that the formation of .Gladstone road be carried out in accordance with' the recommendation of Mr. RV Reynolds — the material to be disposed of.as may be best devised; and that the footpaths Wraised as far as possible without the expense of kerbing ; the estimates to be furnished by next meeting.— Seconded by Cr. Piesse j and carried. Chelders Street Drain and Culverts.—On the motion of His Worship the Mayor, it was resolved thot further discussion upon the works in.Childers road "undertaken by the Public" Works Committee be deferred until the whole work is completed, and the cost laid before 'the Counoil.— ln tof.Cr. Whinray, the Chairman stated that His Worship ruled that in future no comm-

ittee shall initiate -works necessitating* expenditure -without the sanction of -the Council. ' More Metal. — Cr. Tutchen produ,-!: ced a sample of metal obtained in the Whataupoko Block, between, "Mrs. Wyllie's and Barker's homestead. He stated that there were vast quantities of it. It would be excellent metal for the roa~ds| only Requiring screening. The beds are about a mile from the Taraheru river, in about a straight line from Herbert road. Rates. — The Town Clerk was autho.rised to., sue for the recovery of the amounts due for shingling footpaths. He was also authorised to collect arrears of rates, and make a house to house call during this and next week, after which summonses will be issued.