RANGIORA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3488, 16 June 1879, Page 4

RANGIORA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of this Council was held at the usual placo on Friday evening j present —Tho Mayor, and Councillors Boyd, Burt, Good, Johnston, Robinson, and White.

TnE UNEMPLOYED. The Mayor said that as the meeting had heen convened for the purposo of discussing tho question of giving work to the unemployed in tho Borough, - it was for tho Council to decide how they Bhould provido that work. For his port he was avorso to offering day work, but thought thafc a fair valuation ofthe cost of forming certain streets, such' as Edward street and others, should be mado, and thot tho work bo offered to those residents who were really in want of work, and had signed the petition. The Town Clerk had received signatures of twonty persons anxious to obtain work, and it was therefore before the Council how thoy should be assisted. . Councillor Robinson objected to the discussion on the quostion being publio, and moved — " That tho Council go into Committee on the matter."

Councillor Good seconded &iis, which was agreed to. # After a lengthened disomsion on tho question, the Council resumed, and it was resolved — " That as a temporary measure the streot known as Edward street, bo formed '46ffc wido, and, that after being ploughed, the unemployed be offered the formation of tho road afc the rato of 8s per chain." Also— " That in addition to this, stonebreaking be let to them at the rate of 2s per cubio yard, for boulders — thoso in King street pit being the first to be broken." THB TOOIPATH BY-LAW. Councillor Burt then moved the resolution of which he had givon previous notice, to ttoo effect — "That a by-law be framed in accordance with the following clauses of tho Acfc: — 1 The Counoil may lay onfc footways on one or both sides of tho streets, and may construct tho samo of such dimensions and of auoh materials, and in such manner in all rospects as it thinks fit. Tho cost of so constructing all suoh footways, or such proportion of saoh cost as tho Oounoil from timo to time direots, shall boa charge upon the owners or ocoupiers of the lands and buildings fronting on suoh footways.' " The mover urged that this was tho only plan of getting anything like improvements made, and he urged fche necessity of adopting the bylaw. Councillor Boyd seconded tho motion. Tho Mayor advocated thafc tho proportion | to bo borne by the ratopayora and owners of property should be definitely laid clown iii tho by-Jaw, as, withoub such a stipulation, there would be no satisfaction, and it would be in the power of tho Council to impose a heavier charge upon some properties. Ho would advocate the addition of the stipulation that tho Oinwrs be called upon to pay half the cosfc of

the work. This would then be a uniform ayatom. Councillor Good objected to the by-law altogether at present, niore especially as there was a shadow of doubt with regard to the remainder of the by-laws, aud if one waa going to be added ifc should be added when fche others were proved valid. Another objection was, that' where a good path was made, it woidd bo in the power of the Council to remake it and charge the owners of adjoining - property with what they themselves did not want, and he hoped thafc therefore the motion would be negatived afc once. Councillor White agreed with the Mayor's suggestion that tho proportion to be borne by the owners should be inserted, and moved an amendment in accordance. This waa not, however, seconded. The resolution was thon put, Oounoillor Burt having briefly replied to the remarks made, aud it was carried, Councillors Burt, Boyd, Johnston, and Robinson voting for it, and Counoulors Good, White, and the Mayor against ifc. THB BT-LAWS. Tho Mayor stated that he had retained Mr Gresson to watch the case to be heard on Tuesday on behalf of the Council. The Oouncil then adjourned.