Borough Council.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 87, 17 December 1885, Page 2

Borough Council.

The Borouqh Council met on Tuesday evening. Present — His Worship the Mayor (C. A. DeLautour, Esq., in the chair), and Crs Townlev, Lewis, Wilson, Joyce, Tucker, and Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the outgoing correspondence disposed of. Engineer’s Report. The Engineer’s (Mr Reynolds) report was then read and adopted : — Aberdeen It mJ.—Ten loads of gravel have been used in making good the holes in the road. Gladstone Road Footpaths.—These are being repaired with beach shingle. About sixty loads will l.e required. Inspector of Nuisances Report. The Inspector of Nuisances (Mr Faram) reported

At your hist meeting I was directed to port to your Council whether the bye-law relating Ito 'ankd was named out. In my opii.ion it is; bid nt the wmc t.me I will submit a esse (and there are others the same) for you to consider. Mr Matthews owns a house and shop, at present occupied by Mr Cooper, and there is no tank. But at the same time (here are three shops and a dwell* inghouse on the section (|-acre) and tanks holding 1,300 gallons of water. Mr Matthews refused to supply a tank, his refusal being based on the bye-law making the occupier liable. Mr Cooper refuses also; his excuse is “ as ho is only a monthly tenant he docs not comn under the term occupier.” The Chairman thought it would be better not to press the bye-law too harshly. It seemed to be pretty generally kept, and it was no use to strain a straw rope too much. His own view was that it had better be left alone. Cr Joyce agreed with the Chairman to a certain extent, but he thought the byelaw should be enforced in the thickly populated part of the town. He had seen fires where there was not a drop of water to be found until the buildings were half down, whereas if there had been a little water at the first the fire could easily ha'tf , been suppressed. If one person had keep the bye-law the whole should do so. After some further discussion it was resolved to let the question rest for the present.

The Chairman said the meeting of the Finance Committee had lapsed for want of a quorum, but there had only been a few formalities to go through with respect to the loan, and he had taken upon himself to do that. Cab Stpnds. Cr Wilson, in speaking to the notice of motion which stood in his name, said at the present time the cabs loitered about and stood just where they liked. He understood that there had been a bye-law framed upon this subject, and he now moved that it be enforced. In response to a request from the Chairman the Clerk read the bye-law referred to, and stated that it had been framed and passed by the Council some time since, but had been shelved as some councillors thought the town was scarcely sufficiently advar.ced enough for such a measure. Cr Townley said there were a number of the bye-laws which required amending, and he though the matter might stand over until the whole revision took place. Was there any great hurry or necessity for proceeding with the measure at once ? Cr Wilson thought it was time the whole of the bye-laws were re-formed. He would make a motion to that effect.

Cr Lewis having seconded, the motion was carried. After some further discussion Cr Townley moved that the mot’on stand over for the present. Cr Wilson having signified his wish to v.’ithdraw his motion, ieave was given, and the amendment was substituteu and carried. The Water Difficulty, The motion standing in the name of Cr Smith to the effect that the Council take steps for the acquiring of the water shed in the Waihiuri Block was then read. Cr Smith said it was now clearly apparent that the Waihiriri Stream was, if not the sole source to which they could look for a water supply, it was one of the most important ones. The matter was one of great importance to the town, and must force itself upon them in the immediate future. He had scarcely gone into the question as to how the Council ought to proceed in the matter, but he supposed they would have to take what they wanted under the Public Works Act. The block contained some G,coo acres, and no doubt the owners would have to be reasonably compensated. The question of a water supply must force itself upon them, and something would have to be done. Cr Joyce, in seconding the motion, said they would have to determine how much of the block they wanted. They must Lave the water shed, but it would only be a small portion of the block. The Chairman pointed out that the Government had really no power whatever to act ia the matter beyond given by Act of Parliament. The Govenment could not give the Council any power to take what it wanted beyond that contained in the Act. They might be able to effect something through the Native Land Purchase Department. He thought that if the motion was passed, Cr Smith hammer out a plan to lay before thw authorities. , V Cr Smith called attention to the Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court being present, and that the matter might be submitted to him. It was so difficult to learn anything about Native lands. Cr Joyce proposed that the Borough Solicitor be asked how to go about the matter. Surely he knew what powers the Council possessed in this direction. If there was no law under which the land could be taken, why—(Cr Smith : “ Make them”) —yes. ask the Government to make some. Cr Townley thought they should know what they wanted, before they did anything else. He thought about jooo acres would be found enough to fence in, and they shouid determine whether they really meant to take it, before they took any oilier steps whatever. Cr Joyce moved, and Cr Wilson seconded, “ That the opinion of the Borough Solicitor be obtained as to the power ef the Conncil to take any special land for the purpose of a water supply, storage and reservoirs under the Public Works Act, and under what potvers, if any, such powers can be exercised, and the liability of the Council in the due exercise of such power.” After considerable further discussion lhe motio 1 was withdrawn, at the request of Cr Townley, and the subject was held over. Dog Collars. It was resolved that the Clerk call fo tenders for dog collars, and that Crs Joyce Smith and Wilson, form a committee to approve of the samples. The Council then rose.

Payments. Insurance .. £4 17 6 Watering streets .. 6 17 9 Brown and Smail (ironwork for bridge) .. .. .. .. 0 4 8 W. II. Clayton ., .. .. 1 8 0 O’Neal (carting) .. 5 0 8 Morgan (carting) .. .. .. 4 2 6 Ilepairs to bridge .. .. 17 14 «