MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 838, 30 May 1868, Page 5

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The members of the Municipal Council met last evening at the Council Chamber, Revell street. Present — His Worship the Mayor ; Councillors M'Beth, Barfclett, Higgin, Paterson, and Boyle. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed,

The Mayor asked the state of the Finances at the present time. He made this inquiry lor the purpose of knowing what steps it would be necessary to take in order to collect the rates. Now that the position of tho Corporation was definitely settled, he~ thought that some steps should be taken to collect in the rates, so that the Public Works might be proceeded with. It was well-known that hitherto the operations of the Corporation had been greatly impeded by Mr Klein and others, and he trusted that the citizens would now sec the propriety of assisting the Corporation in the discharge of their duties. Cr M'Beth inquired whether the exis* tence of the Council, as a corporate body", had been settled ? The Mayor— Yes ; . His Honor the Judge has settled that, | The Town Clerk said that the overdraft at the Bank amounted to 1 L 917 18s 2d, exclusive of what had since been paid in. The debts amounted to about LllOO. The Hate Collector said that the sum received on account of tht new rate, after deducting the second moiety that had been returned, was LBl4 CORRESPONDENCE. The following letter from the .Chairman of the County Council, inquiring what steps had been taken with reference to the subject of the Hospital was read. County Secretary's Office, Hokitika, May 19, 1868. Sir — I am directed by Mr Bonar, to refer you to the letter which was addressed to you on the Uth March last, forwarding resolutions of the County Council on the subject of Hospitals in Westland, and to request you bo so good as to state, as early as possible, what action, has been taken in the matter. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, James Heawood, For the County Secretary. The Worshipful the Mayor, Hokitika The Mayor said ifc had been thought advisable that he should call a public meeting on the subject, but the state of society had been such that he had not thought it advisable to do so. He would, however, now call a public meeting — probably next week. The following letter from Mr Bonar, enclosing another from the Hon. John Hall, was next read : — Hokitika, 9th May, 1868. Sib — With reference to the subject brought before Mr Bonar by a Committee of the Muilicipal Council on the 9th ult., I am directed to state that the matter was referred to Mr Hall, and he wrote to Mr Bonar a letter, of which the enclosed is a copy. I have the honor to be, Sir, •Your obedient servant, G-. S. Sale, County Secretary. Tho Worshipful the Mayor, Hokitika. [copy] Hokitika, 4th May, 1868. Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 527, dated the 24th ult., and in reply to inform you that the Government considers it extremely inexpedient to sell land bo exposed to encroachment from tho sea as that in question, and the protection of which would be liable to entail upon the local authorities a large aud continued expenditure of public money. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, John Hall. Tho Chairman of the County Council, Hokitika. ■ Cr Higgins said that it would, perhaps, be advisable to see whether the Government would give the Corporation possession of the land if the proceeds, when sold, were devoted to beach protection. Cr Paterson had no doubt that, if representations were mado to the Government to that effect, they would have no objections to jcede the land ; and from tho proceeds they could at once proceed to the improvement of the beach. Cr Boyle did not think many people would be found willing to purchase the land on the beach in its present state. The Mayor said that, under the circumstances, the discussion was, ho thought, premature, for the simple reason that the whole subject of the sale of lands would have to be investigated at the next silting of the County Council. Besides, he did not think there was much chance of revenues ever being derived from that part of the town. At any rate, judging from the nature of the land, it would have to be sold at a very moderate price. Cr Higgim begged to move that the letter be received. Communication received. The Town Clerk then read the following letter, also from Mr Bonar, touching the leasing of the Wharf: — County Secretary's Office, Hokitika, 29th May, 1866. Sra — I am directed by Mr Bonar to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yester-

day's date, and in reference thereto to inform you that the lease of tho wharf is now in course of preparation, and would have been completed by this time if the Supreme Court had not been sitting. With regard to the charges proposed to be levied, the scale suggested by the Corporation will be submitted to the Government for their decision. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, a. S. Sale, County Secretary. The Worshipful the Mayor, Hokitika. The communication was x'eceived. A letter from certain ratepayers ' in Bealey street was read. Cr M'Beth said that there were a number of very respectable properties in that locality, and the state of the road was such that the inhabitants could scarcely get to their doors. He thought something ought to be done in the matter. Tho communication was referred ' to the Public Works Committee. A letter from Mr King, late sexton of the Cemetery, was next read, praying for an investigation into the affairs of the Cemetery whilst he was hi charge of it, offering to give all necessary explanations in regard thereto. Referred to Public Works Committee. Letter from Charles Bond was read, and referred to Committee of the whole A communication was read from the Secretary of the Fire Brigade; the Council deciding that the matter should be attended to as soon as possible. A letter from Cheffing and Whitton, representing that the continued freshes in the river were injuring the punt, and requesting the Corporation to repair or purchase the same. The consideration of the letter was referred to the Gibson's Quay Committee. A communication from Captain Dyason was nest read, and referred to the Public Works Committee. The following report from the Town Surveyor was then read :—: — Eepoet, No. 34. To the Mayor and Councillors of Hokitika. Gentlemen — I have the honor to draw your attention to the very bad state of Revcll street, between the river and Hampden street, and would recommend that the mud be removed, and, where necessary, a few loads of ■ gravel laid in the hollows. Estimated cost, L 45. I have also to lay before you a scheme for a temporarory supply of water in case of fire. I have examined the creek which crosses Park street at little above the first terrace, and find that there is a considerable quantity of water flowing regularly. I propose to carry this water, or a quantity of it, down to Eevell street at the top of Park street, into an underground box culvert, with an opening of eighteen inches to two feet, made perfectly watertight. This culvert would run along the kerbiug, on the east side of Revell street, into the river. | At the mouth of the culvert near the river, there would be fixed a stop-gate. Openings j could be mado every hundred yards or so in j the top of the culvert, which could be taken j advantage of in case of fire. Tho water running in the creek already mentioned, would be sufficient to keep this box culvert always full, and the waste water or overflow at the mouth of the culvert at the top of Park street could fee led into the Tancred street culvert.

When full the box would contain sisty-one thousand [61,000] gallons, and would keep the fire-engine working fully ten hours, at the rate of one hundred [100] gallons per minute before tho box would be oinpty, supposing no further supply was entering the dox.

The opening of the top of the box would be of great service to the channels in Eevell street, as all tho water, which now remains stagnant would be swept into those openings ; and by lifting the flood-gate at the river occasionally the whole could be sent into the river. Rough estimated cost, L 750.

If the Council thought well of this scheme, I could by the nest meeting ascertain the exact quantity of water running in the creek, and a more accurate estimate of the cost. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your moat obedient servant, John C. Fbew, Town Surveyor. Town Surveyor's Office, Hokitika, 29th May, 1868.

The report was referred to the Public Works Committee.

The Mayor said that the correspondence being concluded, he would read the fol-. lowing motion by Cr Paterson, seconded by Cr Boyle — " That the present occupiers of town sections outside the triangle be offered the purchase of the same at five shillings per foot frontage; and in the event of the occupiers refusing to purchase at the fixed price of five shillings per i'ool frontage, the land should be sold by auction at an upset price of L4B per acre, with the valuation for improvements added."

Cr Button said that he should support the motion.

The Mayor put the motion to the Council and it was carried.

Cr Bartlett moved, and Cr Boyle seconded the motion — " That the section of land set apart for the Literary Society be enlarged, so as to give a frontage of fortyone feet." Carried. Cr Button mo\ r ed, and Cr Bartlett seconded the motion — "That the Council do go into committee." Carried. IN COMMITTEE. 1 Cr Button in tho chair. Compensation to Mr Bond and others first came under the notice of the committee. Cr Higgin said that the matter had been in abeyance for some time, and he thought it was necessary ifc should be settled as soou as possible. If the Council thought it nccessaiy under present circumstances, it might be left over for a short time. Either purchase at once or postpone the matter for twelve months. The Mayor remarked that it would be better that tho present section holders should be allowed to remain in possession for another six months. It was a matter which might very well come after other subjects requiring the more immediate attention of llio Council. Cr M'Belh said that it had already been resolved at a former meeting of the Council to open up Hamilton street. Cr Paterson remarked that the buildings, especially in case of fire, would bo dangerous, and ought to be removed. Besides he thought they were an obstruction to a very good street. Cr Higgin said that there wero parts on the other side of the street, especially towards the north, which required opening up. Ifc was moved by Dr Patorson, and seconded by Cr Boyle — " That the subject be adjourned for a fortnight." Carried. COUNCIL EESUMED. Report in committee read and adopted.

The Town Surveyor, in reply to a question from Cr Higgin, concerning necessary repairs to the beach, and costs, said that L2OO or L3OO would be of very little use if expended. The Mayor thought it would be better for property holders on the beach if they 'Were to remove their dwellings from their present positions. . Cr Paterson remarked that special meetings had been called on the subject, but no attention had ever been paid to them; and questioned whether it would not be better to empower the Town Surveyor to spend the L2OO or L3OO, when and where necessary. After some further discussion it was moved by Cr Boyle, and seconded by Cr Bartlefct — "That a special meeting be called for Tuesday evening next, at eight o'clock, to consider the subject." Motion on being put to the Council, was carried.