BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4741, 15 December 1886, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Borough Council met last night. Present : The Mayor, Crs Whinray, Joyce, Wilson, Dunlop, Townley, Tucker, and Graham. A KEQUEST : SALVATION AItMY. The Waimata Road Board wrote asking the Council to construct the footpath in Ballance Stroet.— The overseer was inatructed to report on the street. Mr Burch wrote drawing attention to tho fact th.it tlio Silvation Army were hawking papers about without a license. Cr Joyce was in favor of the Salvation Army paying a license, as should also book" agents and theatricals who take money out of the district. The Chairman said the theatricals did pay a license, inasmuch as the theatres were licensed. Cr Wilson was in favor of imposing a tax on book-agents, as ho ciil not consider it fair that local book-sellers should havo to compete against them. Cr Whinray said it showed a paltry spirit to tax any kind of literature. He would propose that it be ascertained from other towns what was the custom with regard to selling " War Cries." Cr Dunlop seconded, and thought the Salvationists should not be interfered with any more than anyone else. Cr Joyce proposed as an amendment that when the bye-lawa were taken into consideration both the sale of " War Cries," book-agenta, and theatricals be taken into consideration. Cr Wilson seconded. Cr Whinray considered that such a course showed a very retrogressive spirit. Cr Tucker could not understand Mr Burch's request. Were they going to make every newspaper-runner boy pay £2 29 for a lic3nse .' They could not mako one pay unless they made the other. Cr Joyce said one was printed in the district and the other wa3 not. The Chairman thought with Cr Whinray. It would be a great pity to interfere with any religious sect. The amendment waa withdrawn and the proposition carried. PALMEKSTOX ROAD CONTRACT. Mr A. J. O'Neill, contractor, wrote stating he had discontinued the Palmerston Road contract, as the Public Works Committee had {not passed a month's work. He asked for an explanation. A letter from Messrs Devery and Friar (sureties) was also read, and was to the etfect that they did not recognise Mr O'Neill as aub-contractor, but offered to make some arrangement as to the work done. The Town Clerk said the Public Works Committee had referred the question to Mr Finn, and an answer was expected tomorrow. The Chairman suggested that the matter be left over until that opinion was received. Cr Graham asked whether the Committee had authorised O'-Neill to go on with the work. If there were any such understanding it waß hardly fair that he ahould be kept out of his money. [Continutd on fourth paey).