MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 622, 21 September 1867, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

WEEKLY MEETING. The usual weekly meeting of the above Council -was held last evening, at the Chambers, Revell street. The members present being his Worship the Mayor, Crs Shaw, Ecclesfield, Prosser, Cum- «■ ming, and'Anderson. COBREBPONDENCE. The minutes of last meeting having been disposed of, the following correspondence was read by the Town Clerk : — A petition, signed by John M'Girr and forty-three North Revell street residents, requesting that Hampden street might bo opened out upon the beach by a right-of-way. Referred to the Public Works Committee. A letter from the Under Secretary, in reply to a communication addressed to the Government by the Council, concerning the sale of Stafford" street sections. The letter was received - r the Mayor remarking that the question was then under Government consideration. A communication from Mr Cleve, requesting permission to erect a verandah in front of the Christchurch Store, Revell street. Permission granted, subject to approval of the Town Surveyor. A letter from Mr Sankey and other residents of Upper Gibson's Quay, calling attention to the disgraceful state of that section of the footpath, and the ditch fronting it, that lays between the two saw-mills. Eeferred to the Public Works Committee. TENDEBS. The Mayor said that tenders which had been called for the performance of certain town works would now be submitted to the Council. He. might remark that the closing hour was fixed at half-past seven that evening, and that one tender had come in five minutes after time ; the Council must decide upon its being accepted. He considered that it should be, as no regular time was kept in Hokitika, and persons therefore were liable to be misled. Ho thought tho Council should, take some steps to provide a standard x>f time for the town, as much inconvenience and many mistakes had been occasioned from the want of it. This viewof tho question being taken by the Council it was decided to receive the tender. DRAINING THE SWAMP. According to tho Surveyor's plan 3 this work would involve tho construction of one main drain and thirty chains of small drains. Tho following tenders were opened and read, the largest sum being; for the construction of tho main drain, the lesser for tho small drains atuer chain.

Calculations having been made, it was found that Messrs Hope's and M'Lean's tvero tlio lowest tenders, the sums being 1 L2lO and L2l£^^lr Hope'a tender was, Forming a^H^ng Hamilton street. Two tenders' oiSiPwere seat in for this • work — one from Messrs Antony scad. Findlay, at the sum of L 491, with a deposit of L6O attached 5 the other from an iw' known" pei'son, as it bore no signature 1 sava"T?evellsfc!ket, contraf.i™*." -ttspeci- : fieel LBs9*as the'suni, and was accom- ! panied by a deposit of LB6. The Mayor remarked that it could . not be entertained, and that the deposit^ must be held in trust by the Corporation until the ownership was satisfactorily proved. It would lay with the Council to decide upon the acceptance of Messrs Antony and Findlay's tender. It seemed to him a very large sum, being LIOO in excess of the Town Surveyor's estimate. Upon the motion of Cr Ecolesfield, it was resolved that the tender should be held over and considered in committee. BEA.LET STBEET. Tenders for the construction of a dray track, twelve feet wide, in the centre of Bealey' street, were opened and read, as follows : —

The lowest sum being double that of the Surveyor's estimate this tender was also ordered to stand over for the committee's consideration. Obdees of the Day. JIDDBESS TO HIS EXCELLENCY BIR GfiOBGE GBEY. The following address from the Corporation of Hokitika to the Governor on the occasion of his departure for England, was submitted to the Council for approval by the Town Clerk :— To His Excellency Sir G-eoboe Gset, X.C.8., Governor and Coinmander-in-Chief of her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand, ! and Vice-Admiral of the same. Sib, — We, the undersigned, the Mayor and Corporation of the Town of Hokitika, desire to express to your Excellency, the profound regret with which we have learnt that the Colony is about to be deprived of your services as'its Governor. During a lengthened tenure of office as her Majesty's representative in New Zoaland, your Excellency has watched the development of its resources, the rapid increase in its commerce, and the growth of its political institutions ; and your Excellency's name will ever remain associated with one of the most interesting, and momentous periods of its history. We congratulate your Excellency upon the success which has attended your endeavors to establish peace between the British settlera iv the colony, and the aboriginal race, and upon the comparative tranquility that prevails at the moment of your abandoning the reins of power. Representing, however, those peaceful and industrial interests, the promotion of wWch we are awai'o has always been one of AJhe main objects of your government; we congratulate your Excellency still more upon the great extension of settlement, and the advancement of toade, which has marked the interval since you first arrived as the Queen's representative in Now Zealand. It will, we are persuaded, be amongst the most satisfactory recollections of a long pablic service— that the colony has so greatly prospered undor your rule. We had lately the honor of receiving your Excellenoy as a distinguished guest on your tour through the Middle Island, and mindful of the great interest you were pleased to manifest in tho dUtrict, and obliged by your subsequent remembrance of it, wo cannot allow you to quit the shores of New Zoaland, without tendering you this expression of our respect, and of our sense fe of the distinguished services your Excellency has rendered to the Queen and to the Empire. We have the honor to subscribe ourselves, Your Excellency's Humble and obedient servants, It was moved by Cr Shaw, seconded by Cr Anderson, and carried, that the address be adopted, with the understanding that it should be engrossed.and forwarded to Mr Moorhouse for presentation. Cr [Shaw moved — "Thatthis Council take into consideration that a considerable portion of th« town has been occupied by

persons who have no protection for their improvements, and to take such steps as may seem advisable thereto." In support of the motion Or Shaw said that although the question was intricate and difficult to deal with, and ho feared could be only settled by an Act of the Assembly, yet it vw^learly the duty of the Council to take siSie steps to guard the right of the citizens, and see that the question was clearly stated to the Assembly without loss of time should it be considered advisable to do so. He believed that the Government was not in a position to give any definate information, and he therefore thought that the Council should express an opinion upon a subject that affected the whole body of citizens, Legal advice should be taken, and the question considered by a committee of the whole Council. Those persons who took up sections under the Goldfields Act were pretty safe, but the large minority who had squatted upon sections since the withdrawal of the town from the operation of the Act, were at the mercy of the Government as the law now stood. They had taken up the land in good faith, and in many instances had expended their all in clearing it, and in a moral sense at least were entitled to compensation, in the event of being outbid at auction. The importance of the question could scarcely be overrated, and everyone in Hokitika felt more or less deeply concerning it. He feared the Government did not, and therefore thought there was greater reason for the Council to deal promptly with the matter. Cr Prosser seconded the motion, which was supported by the Mayor, who believed that the Government would receive with much pleasure an expression of opinion from the people through the Council upon so important a subject. He advocated an early meeting of the committee, and put the motion, .which was carried unanimously. Cr Anderson moved — '• That Tenders should be called for the filling up of certain holes in front of Hansen's Hotel, Sewell street. Cr Shaw seconded the motion with the proviso — that the filling up of a certain very dangerous place oppositie Mr Lockhart's store in the same street, bo included in the contract. Cr Prosser thought that the business of the Council was being carried on in a very peculiar manner. He remembered that many subjects relating to town improvements had been brought before the Council on previous occasions, and shelved on the plea of no funds. It appeared to In'™ from the action taken that evening, that the funds of the Corporation must be in a very satisfactory state, and he would, therefore, suggest there wero many other parts of the town that held a prior claim upon the consideration of the Council, North Kevell street to wit, and he therefore moved, as an amendment — " That the question of Sewell street improvements should be discussed in committee when the Bealcy and Hamilton street works were considered. Cr Shaw coincided with the last speakers views, but submitted that the Sewell street improvements could be carried out at a cost not exceeding Ll4. The ques'^^n- feeing put by the Mayor, GvJ^xoamv's amendment was carried. Cr Sfiaw^'moved that the question of those partTess-^hoby the encroachment of the surf had been> obliged to move their dwellings from the b^ach should be considered, and the Council assenting, he -£rvther moved that the moiety of the rates due from those parties on account of their deserted sections should uot be collected as their losses had been exceedingly heavy, and in some cases even ruinous, Cr Ecclesfield seconded the motion. Cr Cumming asked if Cr Shaw included both the first and second moiety of rates, or only the second. Cr Shaw — Both, most decidedly, but only in the case of the beach sites, the new ones which the washed-out people had taken up would be assessed directly. The Mayor deprecated rash action in a matter of very grave importance, as it seriously affected the public funds. He BUggested that the question be considered in committee. The amendment was put and carried. Cr Shaw said that in consequence of the municipal elections falling upon the -9th of October, a large sectisn of the citizens would be virtually disfranchised, as that day was held sacred by them. He therefore moved — " That the next election of Councillors for the Corporation be fixed to take place on the 10th, instead of the 9th, day of October, providing that the alteration could be legally made. Seconded by Cr Anderson, and carried. Cr Shaw moved — " That as the condition of that part of Sewell street in front of Mr Lockhart's store was exceedingly dangerous, the Town Surveyor should bo authorised to prepare plans, and that tenders should be called for making good the bad places referred to. The Council ruled that, as the motion involved an expenditure of money, and was moreover not an order of the day, it would first have to be notified in the usual manner, and come on for hearing at the next weekly sitting of the Council. Cr Prosser moved that Eevell street north should be formed and metalled, and that specifications should be drawn out and tenders called to that effect. This motion also involving an expenditure of money, it wa3 decided that due notice of the mover's intention must be given before the question could be considered. Cr Prosser asked whether all the citizens Jiad paid up their rates, as the Municipal Act stated that those who might be in arrearsontheday of election would not be entitled to vote. The Mayor replied that a great number of citizens were in arrears, and unless they paid up would, according to his interpretation of the Act, be disqualified to vote at the ensuing elections. He, as Eeturning Officer, should bo guided by the Act, and most certainly refuse the votes of those parties who had not complied with its provisions. He would, however, take , the opinion of the Town Solicitor. The Town Clerk entertained similar views. Cr Shaw regretted he could not see his way to concur in the Mayor's ruling, or the Town Clerk's opinion on this point. The words in the clause did not apply, in his judgment, to the rates as declared simply, but to those which had become due and payable. Now, the second moiety of the rates were but very recently notified as having become payable, and the non-payment of that second moiet/ would not affect the power of voting until six months had elapsed from the date of such notice to the ratepayers. Of course it was strictly a legal question, and they must abide by the opinion of their solicitor.

BEPOBTB. The following report of the, Town Sur- - reyor was read and adopted : —

Report No. 17. Town Surveyors' Office, Hokitika, 17th Sept., 1867. To tlio Mayor and Councillors of Hokitika. Genmuemen — As requested, I have tlie honor to inform you that I have examined Fitxher- ; •bet and Sale streets, and estimate tho cost of forming dray tracks, twelve feet wide, in the centre of the streets, at six pounds (L 6) per chain. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, John C. Fbew, Town Surveyor. The annexed reports of the Inspector of Nuisances was read and received : — Hokitika, Sept. 20, 1867. To the Mayor and Councillors. Gentlemen — I have the honor to 6tate that since my last report I have been engaged in serving notices and collecting second moiety of rates. Total amount collected — second moiety, LII4O ss ; amount paid during .the week by memorialists for beach protection, L 52 155., making a total of LlB2 15s towards LBOO promised. * The nuisances referred to me at the last meeting have had my attention. I visited the house kept by Miss Cambria, North Revell street, and hope shortly to be able to say that the" cause of complaint is removed. The nuisance on Gibson's Quay is to some extent abated by raising the roadway, but do not think it will be satisfactorily removed until the level of the street channel is altered on the box drain from right-of-way enclosed and carried forward to the river. I have the honor to remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, P. Clayton, Collector, &c. Upon the suggestion of the Tovrn Clerk it was resolved, that an advertisement should be published iv the local papers, convening the Council to meet on the Ist day of October, as a Court to revise the ratepayers' roll. The Auditor's report was laid upon the table by the Town Clerk for consideration at the next weekly meeting. Upon the motion of Cr Shaw a meeting of the Council was called for Tuesday nest, to decide by ballot which four of the Councillors should retire this year. It was moreover decided that the Council should then go ; nto committee to consider the terms of the above-mentioned tenders for town works. » In reply to Cr Ecclosfield, the Mayor thought that all the Councillors could not retire at once unless they were prepared to pay the fine of L 25 pi'ovided by the Act. The Council then adjourned to this evening at 7 o'clock, then to go into committee and consider the question of the sale of town lauds, according to the resolution of Cr Shaw.

Our Gi-rey Eivei- contemporary of the 17th instaut contains the following favorable account of tho Moonlight Creek diggings : — From various sources we bave received lrigbly favourable accounts regarding the diggings at Moonlight, "which, according to the information given to us, are extending considerably. The terrace or terraces recently opened at the bead of the gully are said to be turning out exceedingly well, every one on tbe ground being able to do something if only to make a living — which, is more than can be said of many of the West Coast diggings. At Nelson's Creek there has been a further accession of population, and new and payable ground has been opened. The various sluicing partiei are in full and profitable work, and a general aiv of prosperity prevails in this district. We are told that a number of miners are finding their way up to the Inaugah\ia and Little Grey from the Buller, and have set in with a determination to give the place a trial. The up-river storekeepers arc all hopeful, and expect that as soon as the excitement regarding the northern rushes subsides, there will be a great increase of population.

(For remainder of Neivs see 4.th Page.)

Brandy £161 0 6 Whisky 16 16 0 Genera 18 0 0 Liqueurs 21 0 0 ♦ Wine 13 16 0 Beer (in bottle) 9 10 0 ' Collee 5 12 0 Sugar '. 46 13 4 Tobacco 85 10 0 Cigars 13 18 5 Provisions 5 0 1 Oilman's Stores 2 10 0 Drapery 29 18 0 Hardware 419 5 £437 3 0

J* Eoberfc Hope . . . 150 Chisholm & M'Leau 189 Antony &Fincllay... 180 Turnbull& Packman 190 John M'Lean . . . 119 £ s. 2 0 4 0 3 7 1 17 3 7 d. 0 0 0 6 0

John. Kelloot . . . W. S. Oliver ... a s. 97 10 85 0