KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 287, 15 April 1869, Page 2

KAIAPOI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

♦ Tuesday, Atril 13. Present: The Mayor, Councillors Newuham, Birch, Kerr, Middleton, and Orani. Tlie minutes of last m&eling, and copies of outward correspondence . wore read and approved. The following letter's were read: — From W. Burnip, asking permission to remove the Northern Hotel Concert Room from its present position to the front of his premises in Charles street. Permission was granted. '. -From P. L. Nielsen, stating that he had con tVrred with the Public Works committee respecting the leasing of a strip of land on

the Ferry Reserve, Cookson street, 9 feet wide, as a right of way to his section. Ke wa9 willing to enter into a lease, and to pay £9 per annum for the same, for three years, the Council to covenant with him for a renewal for another term of three years at the expiration of that time, provided it was not required for other purposes. j From the Provincial Secretary in reference to the same section, stating that the Commissioner of Police informed him that he required the land in question to erect a residence for the Sergeant of Police, and that to afford sufficient room the whole of the section would be required. If the Council had made no promise to Vlr Nielsen it would not be expedient for them to do so. From W. T. Newnham, asking the Council to extend the lease of the river reserve held by him, from 14 to 21 years. Leave of absence was granted to Councillor Dudley. in reference to Mr Nielsen's application, Councillor Birch said that there was ample space for a sergeant's house over and above that required by Mr Nielsen, who only required it for a rosd, and as such.it would be available to both parties The original correspondence between the Provincial Government and tho Borough Council was then laid on the table; also, a report of the Public Works committee (adopted), recommending that Mr Nielsen's application should be granted. On the motion of Councillor Newnham, seconded by Councillor Birch, it was resolved that a copy of Mr Nielsen's application be forwarded to the Government, with a recommendation that it be granted, and that all the bearings of the matter be fully explained. Councillor Birch moved, and Councillor Middleton seconded, pro forma, that Mr Newnham's application be granted, but that it should not be taken as a precedent. Co mcillors Newnham and Oram retired from the discussion as being interested parties. ' Councillor Birch considered that the extension should be granted, the Council had done the same thing in other cases less deserving than this one ; there was no section on which greater value had been put, and he was surprised that his proposition met with opposition. The reason he had added to his motion that it should not be taken as a precedent, was that in aome cases improvements of a sufficient value had not been placed upon the land ; in this case the value of the improvements was palpable. Councillor Kerr objected to the hurried way in which the matter had been brought forward; he had not «had time to consider it, and thought notice should have been given. Councillor Middleton objected to the motion ; it was unjust to the town to grant an extension at such a low rent. At this point it was resolved to adjourn further discussion till next meeting, to enable members to consider the subject. The Bridge Committee brought up the following report :— 1. Your committee are of opinion that before any steps be taken towards putting the bridge in a state of repair, the Government should be written to requesting an early aniwer regarding the proposed financial scheme for building a new bridge. 2. That having conferred with Mr R. Wright, we are of opinion that the best plan to be adopted under existing circumstances, is to repair the present bridge, and instead of a swing as at present, to nvike a double draw with 30 feet clear opening. Mr Wright's estimate for this work is roughly calculated at about £1170, but he is prepared to abide the 1 decision of either Mr Thornton or Mr Cuff, as to the fairness of his estimate. Traffic to be closed for a period not exceeding two months. 3. We therefore have to advise that in the event of a favourable answer being received from the Governmeut, that plans be obtained for the work ou the above principle, and the contract let to Mr \i. Wright without further delay, in accordance with his above offer, subject to modifications on either side on plans being prepared by an engineer. 4. In the event of the work not being commenced at an early date, Mr Wright claims from the Council the sum of £75, giving him the preference for the work, whenever contracted for, failing however his obtaining the contract, he demands from the Council the sum of £150 as an indemnity for non-fulfilment of contract. The Council proceeded to discuss the clauses of the report seriatim. In reference to the first, it was decided to write to the Government, in accordance with the recommendation conveyed in it, and postpone the consideration of the remaining clauses till after an answer should be received from them. The Clerk was directed to procure and furnish the police with a list of the proclaimed footpaths in the town. An account from Mr G. B Johnson of £2 6s, for his expenses as a witness in the late trial Beswick v. the Council, was presented. The Mayor askod the Clerk if he thought it would be advisable for the Council to prove their claim against Johnson's estate. The Clerk replied in the negative. On the motion of Councillor Oram the account was ordered to stand over for consideration that day six months. The address to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, beautifully illuminated, was laid on the table for inspection. The Mayor said that Mrs Porter, remembering the great expense the Borough Council had been put to on a former occasion, had herself emblazoned a copy of the address, and commissioned him to make a present of it to the Council. ' tt was resolved that, the thanks of the Kaiapoi Borough Council be presented to Mrs Porter for the /.elegant address ahe; had executed for {resentation by the Council' to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh.