MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 685, 4 December 1867, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The Council met last evening at halfpast seven o'clock. Present — His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Button, Bartlett, Higgin, Patorson, Boyle, Ecclesfield, and M'Beth. The minutes of the preceding meetings were read and confirmed, after one portion had been amended. The Mayor said that he hardly expected to have been able to return so soon, and again to have the pleasure of meeting them. He was not. aware whether the new Corporation Act had been under the consideration of tho Committee, but he would urge upon them the necessity of taking it at once into consideration. There was also another matter which he thought might be well, considered, and that was the erection of a Town Hall. This, he believed, would be necessary, if they decided to adopt the provisions of the new Act, as they would then, have to hold a Court, which would be a source of revenue, as the Corporation would be entitled to all the fees and fines for breaches of the Municipal bye-laws. Besides, he believed that a Town Hall would in itself be a re-productive work. At present they had no place in Hokitika for public meetings, levees, or soirees, other than the Prince of Wales Opera House, and he believed that a Town Hall, being let for these objects, together with the revenue to be derived from the establishment of a Court, would bring in a considerable revenue, and thus lessen the burdens of the ratepayers. He thought that both these matters were well worthy of serious and early consideration. The Town Clerk said he believed that the sub-committee on the new Act would be able to report progress at the "next meeting. PETITION. A petition was read from Mr Watkins and others, praying tho Council to order the rails of the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway to bo taken up iv JS orth Revell street, and tho terminus removed to the

town boundary, as at present it injured petitioners' business and was dangerous to children. On the motion of Cr Button, seconded by Cr Bartlett, the petition was relerred to the Public Works Committee. COBBES'PONDEIfCE. A letter, from Messrs Pizzey and Co., Weld street, asking permission to deposit in front of their premises for a few days some loads of earth, which have to be removed from their premises in consequence of alteration^. Referred to the Town Surveyor with power to act. A letter, from Mr M'Kellar, asking permission to hold the Christmas sports at -tho junction of Weld and Revell streets. On the motion of Cr Hisjgin, seconded by Cr Button, the necessary permission was granted. A letter frem Mr John Nicholson and others, requesting that a creek in Hampden street might be filled up, was refer* red to the Town Surveyor, with power to act. Three letters were read from the Goldfields Secretary, on the subject of the beach protection, the effect of which has already been published. Letter from the Inspector of Police, stating that the attention of the members of tho force had been directed to the necessity of endeavoring to discover persons who were in the habit of depositing night soil within the precints of the town/ but that hitherto no report had been received on the matter. Letter from Mr Henderson, on behalf of the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company, giving notice of intention to ask permission to lay a line of rails along Haast and Sewell streets to the wharf. The letter was ordered to be received. A letter from Mr Kenny, asking permission to lay certain building materials, and to erect a scaffold in front of Ins premises for the purpose of making certain alterations, was referred to tho Town Surveyor, with power to act. A letter from Mr J. M'Lean; with reference to a dispute between himself and the Town Surveyor, as to the contract for the removal of a tree from the beach, was referred to tho Public Works Committee. A letter from Mr Clarkson, asking permission to erect a verandah with posts in front of his premises in R evell street, was referred to the Town Surveyor, with power to act. , BEPOUT OF THE FINAKCE COMMUTE. The following report from the Finance Committee was read :—: — Rbpobt No. 14. — Finance Committee. December 3, 1867. To the Members of the Town Council. Gentlemen— Your Committee met this day for the special purpose of considering an application from Hokitika Volunteer Fire Brigade, referred by the Council to this Committee, and asking the Council for a' sum to carry on the necessary working expenses. Your Committee recommend that the sum of L2OO bo granted to the Brigade for the ensuing year, to be paid in quarterly instalments of LSO. C. E. Button, Chairman. The Mayor said that ho hardly thought the Committee had been iiberal enough _ in their recommendation. However, if necessary, a supplementary grant could be made. On the motion of Cr. Button, seconded by Cr. Higgin, the repjrt was received and adopted, TOWN StTHVE YOB'S BEPOBT _ The following Report from the Town Surveyor was read : — ' Repoex No. 24. Town Surveyor's Office, Hokitika, Dec. 3, 1867. To the Mayor and Councillors of Hokitika. Gentlemen — I have the honor to inform you that, according to instructions, I have examined the landing place at the South Spit, and estimate that a good landing stage, 4 feet x 9' feet, could be constructed for L 35. I beg to inform the Council that the proprietor of the Stafford street Tramway has not done anything to prevent the trucks from running down the incline ab such a rapid pace as they have hitherto been doing, although I l~avo twice ordered him to do so. The track to the gravel reserve is in progress, and I daresay would have been finished if tho weather had not been so wefc. If the weather kcop3 fine it will be finished in another fortnight. There are two cottages on the gravel reserve which will require to be removed, aa tho best of the gravel is in their direction. I have to draw tho attention of the Council to several fences being erected at the back of tho premises situated in Revell street, and on the lines of Weld and-Stallbrd streets. I have objectod to the same, but the holders of tho ground seem to thiuk it very hard that they are uofc allowed to refence the ground which they have already had fenced. Tho buildings complained of in Tancred street have been removed. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, John C. Fbett, 1 . Manager. On the motion of Cr Bartlett, seconded by Cr Higgin, the report was referred to the Public Works Committee. BEACH PROTECTION. Cr Higgin laid on the table a plan for protective works on the beach. APPOINTMENT OF MESSENGEB. The Town Clerk stated that he had received eighteen applications for the situation of messenger. On the motion of Cr Button, seconded by Cr Boyle, it was resolved that the appointment be left to the Town Clerk. APPOINTMENT OF ASSEBSOBS. Tho Council then proceeded to consider the applications for two assessors for making a new valuation of the property liable to rates, when applications were read from the following gentlemen —

On the motion of Cr Button, seconded' by Cr Bartlett, tho Council resolved itself into Committee of the whole for the purpose of considering these applications. The Committee to sit with closed doors." On the re-admission of the public, Cy

Bartlett, as Chairman of tho Committee, reported to the Council that the Committee recommended Mr B. Jarvis, who had seven votes ; and Mr W. Wilkinson, who had six votes. On the motion of Cr Bartlett, seconded by Br Button, the report was adopted. bobbowing L 20.000. On the motion of Cr Bartlett, permission was given to him to postpone the motion standing in his name with regard to borrowing L 20.000 for street-improve-ments. STATFOBD STBEET. Cr Patterson moved "That a narrow dray track be formed and metalled as soon as the Corporation funds will permit along Stafford street from Revell street to Sale street." Cr Boyle seconded the motion. Cr Button moved as an amendment — " That the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee." Cr Higgin seconded the amendment, which, .was passed. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On the motion of Cr Button, leave of absence to Cr Prosser was given for four n weeks. SCAVENGING. Cr Higgin in the absence of Cr Prosser, moved — "That instead of the present system of scavenging, the Corporation should purchase a horse and dray, and engage a man at sixty shillings per week. The Mayor said he thought that the matter ought first to be investigated by the Public Works Committee. The matter was ultimately referred to the Public Works Committee. The Council adjourned to the 13th instant.

WHAT WE KNOW OF THE RELATION SUBSISTING- BETWEEN MIND AND MATTER.

Mr r. Zohrab „ F. Dick „ P. Clayton „ A. Scott „ H. Reeves „ J. H. Middleton ... „ Jno. Hirst ... „ W. D. Banks „ E. TV. Jones and W. Eenderson „ J. Craig „ J. H. Stapleton „ H. Homer „ B. Jarvis „ J. L. Smither „ Cr. Connon ... „ P. Gunn „ W.W.D.Dunbar... „ G. F. P.Ord „ W. King and W. Stevens ... „ W.Wilkinson ... £4D 0 40 0 37 10 45 0 90 0 45 0 40 0 25 0 100 0 50 0 25 0 35 0 40 0 30 0 40 0 94 0 40 0 42 0 55 0 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 >Q 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0