THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 916, 29 August 1868, Page 2

THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening at 7.30. Present — His~^ Worship the Mayor, Crs Barllett, Button, Ecclesfield, M'Beth, Higgin, Boyle, Pa* terson. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. PBOCLAMATION OP THE BOEOTTGH. The Town Clerk read the following telegram :—: — Wellington, August 28, 1868. To the Mayor of Hokitika. Hokitika proclaimed a Borongh under the Municipal Corporation Act;, 1867. JohnHaix. The following letter from the Town Solicitor was read :—: — Camp street, Hokitika, August 23, 1868. J. Lazar, Esq., Town Clerk. Dear Sib — I have the honor to inform you that I have this day received a telegram from the Hon. John Hall, informing me that Hokitika is proclaimed a Borough under the " Muuicipal Corporation Act, 1867." Under the 34th section of the Act, the prosent Mayor and Councillors will retain office until the tune fixed by the Act for the first election. I have tho honor to be, Dear Sir, Yours obediently, G. W. Habtet. The Town Clerk stated that as the fourteen clear days' notice required by the Act could not be given in time for the elections, the present Council would have to continue in office until 1869. All or any of tho Councillors could of course resign. Tho Mayor said it was by a most extraordinary coincidence that the citizens had been deprived, as it were of their right of electing Councillors under the new Act. For his part he should certainly resigu. He had already served in the Council for two years, and "would certaiuly not tako advantage of the .circumstance? to. remain in office longer, and would consequently take an early opportunity of rosiguing, in fact he would nave resigned some time ago, frit as the time for -which they had been elected was noarly expired, he did not wish, to put the citizens to tho trouble of a double election.

Ci Button also said that he should resign. The Town Solicitor said, in reply to Cr Higgin, that ho believed the Governor had power to alter the dajrjof election.

CORRESPONDENCE.

• Letters from Messrs B. Osborne, Gibsou, P. Cameron, andDysoni asking permission to l?eop yi^s in the tqwn.

Cr Button moved that the letters be received, and that permission bo granted subject to the revision of the Inspector of Nuisances. Cr M'Belh seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr Button moved that the Inspector of Nuisances have power to grant such permission in.- ftfture. Cr Eccle&field seconded the motion, 'n'nli was agreed to. J^PLettei 1 from Mr Samuel asking pewnisto erect a verandah in front of his premises. Referred to the Town Surveyor with power to act. Letter from the Secretary of the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company stating that in the opinion of tho Directors tramways were not liable to be rated. , Cr Higgin moved that {he opinion of the Town Solicitor bo taken on the question. Cr Patersou seconded the motion, whick was agreed to. Letter from Mr South, stating that Mr Armson was preparing a plan for tlie erection of a new building for him (Mr South) in Hamilton street, so as to remove any obstruction in the street. — ■ .Received. Letter from King aud party, asking permission to mine for gold on tho reserve near Tudor street. Permission granted subject to the approval of the Town Surveyor. A similar permission w as given to Bradbury and party. A letter from Mrs M'Leau, asking for compensation in case she had to remove her house, was ordered to be referred to the Public Works Committee. Letter from Mr Sandildnds, Revell i

street, complaining that Captain White had removed his house on-to his (Sandilands') property. — Received. Mr Sandilands to be informed that he had to seek his remedy at law. Letter from Mr R. Hart, stating that he accepted the oiler of compensation made by the Council, and would, remove his house as quickly as possible. Letter from the Country Secretary, stating that tlie sum of £166 13s 4d, pvogortidn of suirplus revenue due to the orporation was ready for payment. Letter from Mr W. Moffat, asking permission to occupy his premises up to July, 1869, but stating that he considered the sum of £250 offered to him as compensation for removing the Provincial Hotel and other premises was far too small. He suggested that the amount of ai'bitration should be fixed by two arbitrators Cr Button moved that the letter be received, and that Mr Moffat be informed that the Council adhered to their former decision. iNSPECTOB OF NfflSAlFCEs' BEPOHT. The following report from the Inspector of Nuisances was read : — Council Chambers, Hokitika, August 28, 1868. John Lazar, Esq., Town Clerk.

Sir — I hare the honor to report that, as instructed, I vi3itcd the slaughter-yards near the Montczuma on Wednesday last. A more unsuitable site for such a purposo could scarcely be found iv the district, situated on the public high road, immediately outside tho town boundary, on a sand bank, in front of which, is an abandoned diggings ; teliind, a stagnant swamp, itself a nuisance. On this strip of sand arc erected three slaughter-houses, and a place for curing hides and skin*. Largo numbers of cattle are slaughtered there

weekly without any attempt having been mailo

to procure a water supply for cleansing purp,. poses. JTroni the natui-.il formation of the r ground, the whole of the drainage first flows . into the swamp, then by a narrow passage over a low part of the bank into tho old workings close by the tramway, where it becomes stagnant. In wet weather the surplus, or such portions as .become sufficiently diluted, find an outlet to the sea by a small creek, about 200 yards favther north.

On the pi-emises I found score 3of pigs, which are fed on the place with the offal, all the refuse and offensive matter becoming deposited in tlie swamp. At the rear of the buildings there were

numerous large patches of a thick slimy pulp of considerable depth, consisting of putrid animal and decayed vegetable matter. That the yards are a very serious nuisance, and their removal urgently required, I think there can be but one opinion if the health and comfort of the travellers northward, and along the much frequented road leading to tho Groal and Cemetery are considered. I have had a conversation with the pojicc authorities on tho subject, and find that they have already taken action for their removal by *~ laying an information against some of the parties in the Warden's Court under the Oroldfield Regulations, the result of which ■will be known in the course of a few cluys. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, P. Clayton, Inspector of Nuisances Qrdered to be received. BEMOVAL OF THE ELIZABETH. Cr Prosser moved — " That Tenders be invited for the removal of the Elizabeth to the wharf." He said that he believed that the Elizabeth would be useful to form a wing-dam. Cr Ecclesfield seconded the motion. Cr M'Beth suggested that the tenders should include the fixing of the vessel as a wing dam. After a slight discussion, it was resolved, on the suggestion of the Town Solicitor, "That the Harbor Master be requested to call for tenders." PABK STBEET. Cr Boyle moved. " That Park street be formed and drained from Revell street to Bealey street." On consideration he thought that the matter had better bo referred to the Public Works Committee. Cr Buttan seconde I the motion. * \ Cr Prosser suggested that the question of entering into new contracts be left to the new Council, especially as contracts amounting nearly to £4000 had already been entered into. Aftor some remarks by Cr Higgin and the Mayor, Cr Higgin moved, " That the discupsirn of this and other similar motions on the notice paper be adjourned for one [week, in order to enable the Town Clerk to prepare a financial statement." This motion was agreed to. HAMPDEJf STBEET. The Bate Collector stated in reply to Cr Paterson that the sum of £72 5s 6d was yet due from Hampden street. Tho sum of £145 4s 6d had been received. CUTTING THE CHANNEL. Tho Town Surveyor stated that up to to-night from £85 to £90 had been expended in cutting a channel on the South Spit. v The Standing Orders having been susponded. Cr Proeser moved — " That tho further sum of £50 be placed at the disposal of the Public Works Committee for tho purpose of completing the work of cutting the channel. Cr Button seconded the motion, and stated that ho believed if tho river could only be led to flow in that direction in

order 16 meet-the sea, the channel would be pcrmnueutly opened. Tho motion was agreed to APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOHS.

The Council fixed the remuneration for two Auditors of the accounts of tho Corporation at £7 7s each, and appointed Messrs Winter and Wilkinsou as auditors, then tho Council adjourned to Friday next.