Hamilton Borough Council.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4437, 25 June 1910, Page 2

Hamilton Borough Council.

The ordinary meeting of the above was hold last evening, when there were present;— His Worship the Mayor, Mr J. A. Young in the chair, and Crs Atkin. Carton, Bettley, Few, Furze and Roche. Leave of absence was granted to Crs Gillies, Northcroft and Tidd. The Governor. A wire was received from His Excellency, Lord Islington, thanking the Council for the telegram of welcome sent to him upon hia arrival in the Dominion. Water Supply. Dr. Brewis wrote accepting the terms offered by the Council in regard to the water supply, and asked the Council to procure the necessary powers from the Railway Department to lay a pipe across the railway bridge.—The Railway Department notified the conditions upon which the right of connection would be granted, and it was decided to do the work so soon as the necessary legal agreement indemnifying the Council has been executed.

Cr Furze moved that the necessary six-inch pipes for the purpose of carrying the water supply to Hamilton East he affixed to the new bridge prior to the old structure being removed, the money to be advanced from the general fund in the meantime. He said this would effect a considerable saving.—The Mayor seconded the proposal, which was carried. An Amendment Wanted. The Bruce County Council asked the Council's assistance in bringing about an amendment in the Rating Act by making it compulsory upon conveyances or owners to give written notice of change of every ownership and occupancy of rateable property.

The Mayor said it was already compulsory by law for such changes to be notified, but no penalty was provided for non-compliance, and consequently the matter was generally ignored.

It was decided to inform die Bruce County Council that the Council was in favour of the proposal, which their representative would be asked to support if it came before the forthcoming conference. A Drainage Matter.

The Whitiora Bowling Club drew attention to the blockage of a drain in Jersey street, which it asked the Council to remedy. The Engineer stated the matter raised the question of the Council's liability in regard to storm water drainage on private property, and in his opinion the work should only be done at the expense of the owners. The application was not entertained. Traffic Bridge. A letter from Mr G. M. Fraser objecting to paying a claim for demurrage was deferred pending the final adjustment. Mr Upton made an offer in regard to the extension of the standards for now lamps on the tratlic bridge, which was accepted. Two tenders were received for the removal of the old traffic bridge, namely, Mr G. M Fraser £515, Messrs Gunn and Hayter £SO and the material. The committee went into Committee to consider the matter, and upon rising it was reported that Messrs Gunn and Hayter’s tender would be accepted on satisfactory arrangements regarding indemnity being made, the Legal and Finance Committee being empowered to arrange with the tenderers in the matter. Town Hall. The report of the Legal and Finance Committee contained a recommendation to the Council not to entertain the proposal of Mr A. C. Symonds. unless the applicant interviewed the Mayor and Town Clerk and satisfied the Council as to his bona tides. Cr Roche sproke strongly against entertaining the proposal in any way. The hal! was for the public use, and he did not approve of giving one man a lease of it for an indefinite period. Cr Barton expressed similar views, and stated there were a lot of things to be considered. Several other Councillors having spoken, the report was adopted. Building By-laws.

The Engineer reported as folltvs: —■ With reference to buildings erected in Coates street: The only building erected for which no permit has been obtained is on section 23 of lots 65-6, owned by Mr William Branch, and erected by R. H. Coorabes. An iron chimney has been erected in contravention of the by laws. 1 have called on Mr Coombes to submit a plan and obtain a permit as required by the by-laws. Cr Fow considered the report unsatisfactory. It seemed ridiculous that a man could build any class of house ho liked in defiance of their by-laws, and then apply for a permit. He instanced one or two other cases wherein the by-law had been contravened.

Cr Barton said the only thing for them to do was to enforce the bylaw.

ll pon Cr Fow’s motion, seconded by Cr Furze, who stated he knew of houses being erected without permits being applied for, the Engineer is to be instructed to enforce the by- ! laws, and to take legal proceedings if necessary. Tenders. The following tenders were received for painting the fire brigade buildings;- J. A. Bailey. £5 18s; Brice, £7; A. and G. Lymburn, £8 4s fid; ! T. B. Booth, £lO 10s. Mr Bailey’s tender was accepted. Victoria Street. The Engineer reported re foot crossings in Victoria street; to improve existing crossings in \ ictoria street 1 would recommend that the top three inches be removed and replaced with freshly tarred atone and top-dressed with a coat of light screenings. Owing to the soft nature of the formation of Victoria street, where not tar macadamised, combined with the heavy and constant traffic, it will he a difficult matter to keep foot crossings clean in wet weather, unless they receive almost constant attention. 1 think the Council should consider the question of extending the tar macadam formaI tion to the railway crossing at an early date. —It was decided to leave the matter of the crossings in abeyance, and the other portion of the report was received. Cr Fow moved: “That the Engineer bo instructed to prepare permanent levels from the Bank of New Zealand to the bridge.” The consent of the property-owners interested had been obtained, and he thought it desirable to pet the levels fixed without delay. —Carried. Miscellaneous. An offer of a framed portrait of the late Mr U. J. Seddon by Mr K. Parr, on behalf of the subscribers, for hanging in the Public Library, as a companion picture to the one of S ; r George Grey, already hanging there, was accepted with thanks. Mr T. W. 11 elf ran asked the Council to put the footpath in Cook street, east, in repair.—Referred to the Works Committee with power to act. The secretary of the Whitiora Bowling Club asked permission to use a fence which they were erecting in Jersey street for advertising purposes. —Granted. Mr A. Swarbrick asked permission to remove the surface of the earth in London street, to bring the same to its proper level. - Granted, provided the work is done under the supervision of the Borough Engineer. .Mr J. H. Anstiss asked for the grounds of the Council’s refusal of his application for improved drainage to S. Gallagher’s property in Selkirk street. —Referred to the Legal and Finance Committee. A driver's license was granted Harry McCann. It was dec ided to employ a man to trim various trees in the borough under the supervison of Crs Furze and Roche. Tim Mayor and Clerk were authorised to give Colonel Bell, who is an ex-Connciilor, ami v.lio is shortly leaving on a trip to England, a letter bearing the seal of the Council, Cr

Atkin bearing testimony as to the value of such an introduction when travelling: either in the Homeland or in America.

The wages and salary list for the fortnight, amounting to £53 2s 6d was passed. The next meeting night of the Council will fall in Winter Show week, and it was agreed to meet to make and levy the rates as notified in Thursday’s issue, and then adjourn.