BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 37, 18 December 1897, Page 9

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

J-wourd'prevent' J. filled .with .solid to j the; Works : CprnraiH^ ! A petition from . ratepayers in Tay street— blocks 52 and 53 —asking that the water cart

Thursday, Dec. 16,

Before the ordinary business was taken up the Mayor-elect, Mr H. Mair, was duly installed in the Mayoral chair for the ensuing year. The ceremony was preceded by an address from the retiring Mayor, Mr J. A. Hanan, in which he reviewed the events of the yeai from a municipal point of view, and in closing thanked the Crs. for their consideration and bore testimony to the efficiency of the staff. At the instance of Cr, Roche, seconded by Cr. Watson, a motion recognising the manner in which Mr Hanan had discharged his duties was passed unanimously. This having been duly acknowledged Mr H. Mair took his seat, and was handed the keys of office. Before proceeding with the business he referred in highly complimentary terms to his predecessor.

The Crs present, in addition to those named above were —Crs. Allen, Goldie, Rose, Thomson, Longuet, Stead, Smyth, and A. McKellar. The Invercargill Cricket Club asked that in future, on the occasion of sports or shows, the gate leading from the show ground to the cricket reserve be left open and a man with passes stationed there. At the late show the gate was nailed up, tarred on top, and members of the club had to climb over, and this, too, after paying for admission to the show. — The letter was referred to the Reserves Committee. A letter was read from the Southland Frozen Meat Company stating that, with slight alterations, the Wallacetown works would be most suitable, both on account of easy access and means of obtaining paddock accommodation, for public abattoirs.—Referred to the Sanitary Committee.

Auctioneers’ licenses were granted to the following:—William Todd, W. S. Hawke, John Batger, J. A. Mitchell, G. Froggatt, John Stronach, O. W. H. Strettell, C. Howells, R. B. McKay, and John Gilkison, The Engineer submitted plan of a gully trap or cess pit suitable for use at private residences, and which

should pass in front of their premises, was referred to the Works Committee for report. Two tenders were received for the

lease of the swimming baths one from T. B. A. Daniel, quoting £ls for one year, and the other from Robert Miller, Bowmont stieet, for £ls, £2O, and £25 for one, two, and three years respectively. • Referred to Baths Committee with power to act, .., r Thfe. following report was read from the Works Committee : Your Committee recommend — 1. That the Engineer be requested to define the boundaries of section 13, block 18, according to the certificate of title, and show the position of erections thereon. 2. That the secretary of the Marine Department, Wellington, be informed that this Harbour Board approves of the proposed alterations to make it compulsory that all vessels between 20 and 100 tons gross register, when lying alongside of any wharf, exhibit a light from sunset till sunrise for the purpose of marking the most suitable

place for persons to leave or board the vessels. 8. That the Engineer be authorised to procure 1000 yards beach gravel from the foreshore as he requires it. Your Committee report—4. That Manson and Curran’s letters re leasing Grasmere. Domain is held over for consideration. 5. That Captain Sundstrom’s letter is held over for consideration. 6. Having fully enquired into the allegations contained ia Mr Hatch’s letter referring to the recent boating accident ia the estuary, and recommend that he be informed in reply that the Council is satisfied that there are no grounds for the allegations made by him. The report was adopted. The Finance Committee reported — Your Committee recommend—1. That the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade be authorised to alter the system of fire alarm in accordance with the model exhibited and recommended by him. 2. That in view of the state of the finances of the Corporation the Council do not comply with the request of the Fire Brigade for the financial assistance referred to in the secretary’s letter. 3. That the Waterworks Engineer’s requisition for 1000 feet fin pipe and fittings (cost £lO 10s) and sundries to the value of £2 11s be granted. Your Committee report—--4 Having examined accounts amounting to £777, viz.—Public Works, L 205 7d ; Loan Account, L 45 9s 4d ; Reserves, Ll 6 16 4d ; Harbour, L 43 2s 7d ; Sanitary, L 57 16s 2d ; Fire Brigade, LlB 10s ; Gasworks, L 174 18s lOd ; Waterworks, L 65 19 lOd ; Municipal, Ll5O 5s Id ; and recommend that same be passed for payment, excepting Mr Duthie’s account for L 3 16s 6d, which is held over for further consideration. An alteration was made in clause 2 to the effect that £lO be voted towards expenses, and clause was amended to read that Mr Duthie’s account be paid in full.—The report was adopted as amended. The Mayor’s honorarium was fixed, as before, at £IOO. Crs. Roche and Goldie were elected to represent the Council on the Park Board of Management, and the Mayor was appointed the Council’s delegate to the Half Holiday Association. Cr. McKellar was appointed a member of the Finance Committee. The Council, on rising, adjourned for a month.