BOROUGH COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 1083, 12 March 1869, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Borough Council took place yesterday afternoon, at half-past four o'clock.

Present— Crs Button (in the chair), Cosgrave, M'Beth, White, Patterson, and Macfarlane,

Tho minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE

Letter from Mr Hoos, County Chairman, asking what steps the Council had taken regarding the management of the Hospital ; and also, that the sum of £350 was standing to the credit of that institution.

Some conversation ensued, the majority of the Councillors being of opinion that the hospital management did not rest with the Council.

The Town Clerk explained that some correspondence had previously taken place between the Mayor and the County Chairman, but it had not been recognised by the Council.

Cr White thought that the County Chairman was under a mistake in reference to the Act, and would move that a subcommittee be appointed to consider the matter, and to draw up a reply to Mr Hoos' letter, and that Crs Button, Cosgrave, aud the mover be the committee. The morion was seconded by Cr Cosgrave, and carried. Letters from a number of shipping agents in reference to the crate on the north beach, asking that it be removed, as in the case of a vessel going ashore, it was most dangerous.

Cr White moved, and was secomled by Cr Cosgrave, that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act.

Letter from Mr Hawkins, in reference to the filling in of I ancred-street, between Weld-street and Hamilton -street.

Cr Button explained that by a former resolution of the Council, the »round was ordered to be filled up by rubbish and dirt from other parts of the town.

Cr White said he had visittd the place in the morning, and had failed to see any evidence of recent deposit He would, move (acd was seconded by Cr Cosgrave,) that the letter be referred to the Public Works ConnnittLe.

Cr Co°grave said that a large sum of money had already been spent on the street, and that it was not desirable that any more should be spent at present. Cr M'Beth was averse to spending more money on the street at the present time, but would support the motion. Tue motion was put, and carried.

REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEK. Report No. 62.— Pdblic Works Coai-

JUTTEE,

9th March, 1869. To the Members of the Borough Council. Gentlemen — Your Committee met on the above day, and have the honor to report — 1. That the Town Surveyor's report, No. 56, referring to a drain in Beach-street, was held over until the next meeting of this committee.

2. J. Ward's letter of the 26th ult., asking for some remuneration for lighting and attending to the lamps on Gibson's Quay over a period of thirty-four weeks, was considered ; and your committee recommend that he should receive the sum of £10 up to the 14th inst., and from and after that time, he be allowed 10s per week.

3. The application of Charles Martin, for the Council to place a bridge over the drain in Tudor-street, was held over for the present.

4. The application of Messrs Macfarlane and Davidson and of Mr Joseph ITishwick, to erect certain buildings «n Gibson's Quay for repairing vessels, &c, was considered ; and your committee, with Mr Mshwick, having examined the spot, recommend that as there are two applicants, it will be advisable to invite tenders, the highest or any tender not necessarily to be accepted. James M'Beth, Chairman.

Moved by Cr White, and seconded by Cr Paterson, that the report be considered in Committee.

REPORT OP RESERVE COMMITTEE.

Krpoet No. 2. — Resebve Committee. To the Members of the Borough Council. Gentlemen, — Your Committee met on the above day, and have the honor to report — That the application of Mr Geo. Davidson, to purchase the section on Eeserve No. 488, iiealey-street, was considered, and your committee recommend that the report of this committee adopted on the 16th October last, be carried out — that is to say, that frontages on Gibson's Quay be 5s per foot frontage per annum ; the other sides of the square £is per foot frontage per annum, on a lease for seven years, and that those terms be conveyed to Mr Davidson.

James M'Beth, Chairman,

March 9, 1869. Moved by Cr M'Beth, aud seconded by Cr Macfarianc, that the report be adopted. Carried. cr macfarlane's wateb scheme.

Cr Macfarlane said that as he had been accused by some of the public of obtaining his information in a discreditable manner, he would explain where he got it. The plan he held in Mb hand had been compiled from Mr O'Connor's surveys on it ; the line that water could be brought in from the lake to the Blue Spur was traced; but before the scheme could be brought out a working plan would have to be made. While he had been applying to the Council for their co-opera-tion, Messrs Robinson and others at the Kanieri had applied for, and got protection for thirty-four heads. He had also applied for thirty-four heads, but against that an objection had been lodged. He had also received information from Mr Prosser, who gave him the plan of the Leviathan water-race. He believed that the Council were in a position to take tae matter up, but of course that would form matter lor consideration. The water in the lake was very pure, and fit for the use of the townspeople, and it was very desirable that the Council should take the matter up. The other company only brought the water on to the terraces, and afterwards, to be useful to the town, water-pipes would have to be laid down to convey the water into the streets. This would cost a deal of money. The Chairman said he intended to have looked into tb». Act, so us to be prepgrecl

to go into the matter. He would, however, read part 22 of the Act, which referred to water works. The Act read very wide, and there was power to construct water works, but the matter would have to be approved of by the Governor. He further said that the right and title of bringing the race over Crown lands would have to depend on the licenses under the Goldfields Act, but such Act might be rescinded at any time. This Council might, however, berome lessees of the Crown ; lie was not. however, aware that any power to grant such leases was in the Goldfields Act. He thought it was better to obtain a short Act, to cover the matter, at the next sitting of Parliament. Cr Macfarlane said that unless the work proceeded it would be impossible to hold < the right to the water under the Gold- j fields Act.

Cr White considered that the Council had nothing to do with supplying the miners with water. Their bu-iness lay entirely with the town, and he would state that this Council was not a trading Corporation, and he would object as a member to any co-operation in the matter. He appreciated the energy and trouble taken by Cr Macfarlane, but thought that the scheme was far too stupendous for this Council. There had been schemes proposed by others to bring iv water which would cost a great deal less, and more within the means of the Corporation, and he considered that the scheme as proposed could not be eu'ertaified by the Council. I Cr M'Farlane would ask if Mr Tuke s scheme included the laying down of pipes, or onlj to bring it on to the terraces.

Cr White said that Mr Tuke's scheme was to supply the town with water, and would cost about £4000.

At this stage of the proceedings the Chairman proposed that the matter should stand over until the next evening, in order that the matter might be thoroughly ventilated.

Cr M'Farlane was willing that the consideration i f the matter should be postponed until this evening.

Cr M'Betli thought that it was desirable that the scheme should be considered at once. There was another scheme before the public, and it was palpahle that both water races could not be supported. He considered that the matter of constructing the water race would be met by a short Act in Parliament, nnd he did not think there would be any difficulty in getting such Act.

Cr M'Farlane said he had no desire to run counter to the other scheme. If they wer ■ reasonable in the d mands from the Corporation, he was quite willing that their scheme should be favorably consi ered ; but he was of opinion that their present demand would not be entertained by the Council.

It was moved by Cr Cosgrave, and seconded bj Cr Patterson, that tho master be adjourned until this evening, and to form the first busines-'. REGULATIONS UNDER THE BYE-LAWS. In Committee. The various sections of the bye-laws presently coming into operation were read and considered. The v-irinns cl uses were passed. The Council then resumed. It was moved by Cr Button, and seconded by Hr Whito, that the further consideration of Cr Macfarlane's water scheme be adjourned until this day at eight o'clock in the evening. Carried. The motion for postponing the Public Works Committees' report was carried. Cr White moved that tenders be called for kerbin* and channelling Weld-street to Tancred-street. Cr Patterson seconded the motion, which was referred fo the Public Works Committee. The Council then adjourned until this evening at eight o'clock.*