HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume XX, Issue 3092, 27 January 1906, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Hamilton. Borough Council was hold last evening. There were present: His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. W. C. Davis, C. L. MacDiarmid, C. J. W. Barton and G. Stone. The object was to appoint a half-holi-day for the ensuing year. Wednesday was the dayjchosen. The ordinary meeting was held directly afterwards. Crs. Young, Brewis and Edgecumbo took their seats. THE NEW COURTHOUSE. The Under-Secretary, in reply to a communication from the Council pointing out that the Hamilton Courthouse proposed to be erected in wood is situated within the brick area. No. 1, stated that the Borough by-laws did not apply to the Crown. [Since that date a letter bad been received (which has already been published by us) stating that fresh plans were being prepared for submission to the Cabinet.] 818 JOBEI’H WARD. Sir Joseph Ward wrote thanking the Council for an invitation to visit Hamilton, but regretting that his official visit to Rome would prevent his acceptation. If, he added, the Council would make their wants known by writing ho would bo pleased to consider them. It was decided to communicate with Sir J. G. Ward, and the Mayor and Crs. Edgecnmbe and Davis were appointed to deal with the matter. RAILWAY MATTERS. The General Manager of Railways, in reply to the Council, said he was not altogether clear what was meant in urging the necessity for increasing the passenger accommodation on trains to Hamilton. Ample provision was already made for the conveyance of all traffic offering, and special provision was made to meet the demands of the abnormal traffic which has to be dealt with during the Christmas and Easter holidays. If the complaint referred to any particular instance he would be glad to receive particulars. He regretted being unable to include Hamilton in the round trip Auckland to the Thames. The inauguration of round trip tickets to Hamilton would not induce any increase in business, and the rate to Hamilton was the same as charged to all places similarly situated. It must be recognised that localities which possess natural attractions such as Rotorua always have advantages over places not so favourably endowed. The concession was made to meet the requirements of tourists and others who desired to travel overland to see the wonders of the Hot Lakes district and return by sea or viceversa. As neither the existing or prospective traffic warranted the expenditure involved he could not sec his way to run an early train to Morrinsville to enable the Thames Valley people to visit Hamilton and return the same day.—Received. The Mayor said as far as the Futaruru train was concerned, all that was required was that the train should leave Rotorua earlier, and no special service was necessary.

Cr. Young said some misunderstanding had evidently arisen over the question of round tickets. AH they asked for was that people should be allowed to obtain round tickets here for the New Zealand railways. At present one had to write to Wellington or take a trip to Auckland, in which case no refund was made. The position was an absurd one. Both these matters were referred to the committee appointed to communicate with Sir J. G Ward.

BILLIARD-ROOM LICENSE. Mr W it. Aislahie infoimed the Council that he intended to make considerable improvements to his billiardroom as soon as ho could obtain seasoned timber, and he forwarded a dedosit of .CIO, to bo forfeited if the work is not carried out to the satisfaction of the inspector of buildings, SALEYARDS PRIZE. Mr F. E. Smith, architect, again applied for the .£2O prize awarded to him for the best competitive design foa the saleyards ; in default of which he notified his intention of taking legal proceedings. It was decided to inform Mr Smith that the council’s solicitor was Mr A. Swarbrick, of Hamilton. REPORTS. The Works Committee, in their report, recommended that the wages of the borough surfaceman should be increased to 8s per day.—Cr. Young moved, as an amendment, that in addition to the foreman all the workmen be allowed Gd per day extra - Cr. Brewis seconded.—The amendment was lost and the report adopted. The Legal and Finance Committee recommended that the request of Mrs Evans— viz., that the Council accept the surrender of Mrs Evans’ lease of Lot 43a, and issue two fresh leases, one to Mrs Evans for the back portion and the other to her nominee for the front portion—be acceded to.

SALEYAEDS. The engineer presented plans and specifications for the Hamilton saleyards, which were referred to the special saleyards committee with power to call for tenders. The committee will meet on Wednesday next. BOROUGH LEASES. A communication from Mr A. Swarbrick regarding the lease of sections 1. 2 and 9, Hamilton East, was referred to a committee, consisting of the Mayor and Ors. Edgecombe and Barton, for their report. STANDPIPE. An application from Mr G. Edgecombe for a standpipe at Eostievorstreet was referred to a committee consisting of the Mayor and Qrs. A’oung and Davis. HORSE TROUGH. On the motion of Cr. MacDiarmid, secondod by Cr. Young, it was decided to erect a horse trough in Victoriastreet, somewhere in the vicinity of the Hamilton Library. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer. OLD COUNCIL PROPERTY. A committee, consisting of the Mayor and Crs. Brewis and Young, was set up to enquire into the position of the land adjoining the old Council Chambers, Hamilton West. TENDERS. Messrs Ellis and Burnand’s tender for the supply of timber was accepted, and that of Mr E. J. Pauli for printing was also accepted. BLACKBERRIES. It whs decided to call the attention of the Inspector of Noxious AVeeds to the growth of blackberries all over the Borough. LIMESTONE. Cr. Young moved that the limestone be blindeb with the material at present being taken off the road. Cr. seconded, 'The Engineer recommended that screenings alone should be used, and, after some discussion, he was requested to furnish a report on the matter as soon as possible. It was also decided to gather up the loose metal from the sides of the road, to blind the stone, and haue the road rolled as soon as possible, and to place the remainder of the limestone on the road from the railway end to London-street. On the motion of Cr. Davis, a committee consisting of the Mayor and Crs. Barton and Edgecumbo were appointed to consider the advisability of obtaining a quarry of their own, and obtaining a crushing plant of their own.

Or. Edgecumbe said this matter had been considered years ago; but he thought something might be done in the direction of amalgamation of the various local bodies with this object in view.

hitching, posts. In accordance with notice of motion given, Cr. Barton moved that the Council take the necessary steps to deal with the question of all unattended horses on the main streets and hitching posts, giving as his reason the safety of the general public. He suggested that posts should be erected in Hood and Kuox-streots. The Mayor seconded the motion, and said he would be glad to assist in framing a by-law dealing with the question. After some discussion the motion was carried unanimously. ACCOUNTS. Harwood. .£3 18s 9d; freight, £l9 IDs 10d;N.Z, Insunmco Co., 13s; treasury, .£BB 4s 6d ; Davis, £1 4s ; I ower, £4 4s ; Kirk, £1 4s ; Revell, £3 17s ; J. Wright, 17s0d;R. Wright, 3s 6d ; Finley, £0 ; Brakon, £1 18s ; Schneider, Ss. On the motion of Cr. Edgecumbe, it was decided to pay the foreman’s wages in full during his illness.