BOROUGH COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 3218, 18 January 1876, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met at half-past seven last evening, present— the Mayor, Messrs Bevan, Walker, Fowler, Paterson, Craig, Learmonth and Jack.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From Mr W, M. Purkiss to the following effect : —

Gentlemen, — I am instructed by Mr Robt. Stewart, of Sale-street, to communicate with you with reference to the Hokitika Pound. It appears that this pound was erected on land adjoining his residence and contrary to the wish expressed by petition and otherwise of himself and his neighbors, who then pointed out the very great nuisance such sin erection was likely to become. Since the pound has been in üße, it has worked, as was anticipated, a very great nuisance to my client. I understand that pigs have been impounded, that they have been allowed to die and not been removed from the pound ; and that the Btench from accumulated filth and the dead carcases has made the air unwholesome. On another occasion a bull was impounded for some considerable time, the bellowing of which made day unbearable and night hideous, and this at a time when Stewart had serious illness in his house. Now this matter, inasmuch as it impinges upon the enjoyment of my client 'a proprietary and personal rights and goes to the extent of materially interfering with the ordinary physical comfort of human existence, is an actionable nuisance.

I am instructed therefore , to, state that should such a condition of matters continue, my client will be reluctantly compelled to have recourse to law proceedings.

Received and referred to the Publi c Works Committee.

TINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The following report was read and received : —

Gentlemen,— Your Committee have the honor to report: —

That the following sums were lodged in the Bank of New Zealand during the month of December— Wharfage dues> £84 6s 9d; rates,rent, &c, £15 18s 6d; total, £100 Ss 3d. The amount 6f cheques drawn during the same period was, £217 4s Hd, leaving the amount of overdraft on 31st December, 1875, £1209 14s 9d; since when miscellaneous accounts for salary, day labor, &c, amounting to £106 10s 2d have been passed for payment.

Messrs Walker and Learmonth drew the attention of the Council to the faot that the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand had declined, to allow the Council any further overdraft. He said he would not be a party to the Council breaking the law. The present overdraft could not be increased a single shilling.

RIVER PROTECTION.

The Council went into Committee to consider the report of the; Public AVorks Committee, held over from the last meeting, on the necessity of initiating works for river protection.,

After a long discussion the. report with a slight amendment was agreed to, on the understanding that a final effort should be made to get some assistance from the Government in the matter, as the Council was destitute of funds. It was also decided to endeavor to get Messrs Higginson, O'Connor, and Mueller to report on the state of the river. Failing assistance from the Government, the Council decided to go into Committee of Ways and Means at its next meeting.

WHARFAGE DUES.

A long discussion took place respecting the rates to be charged for wharfage. The scale of charges proposed by the Public Works Committee, held over from the last meeting was read. Mr Learmonth moved that all wharfage rates be increased twenty per cent. That would maintain the wharf revenue although the amount of business had diminished.

Mr Fowler seconded. He thought it' better to make one uniform advance.

Mr Walker objected to the imposition of any more indirect taxation, and finally the motion was lost.

On the motion of Mr Fowler, seconded by Mr Bevan, the charges on bran and sugar were placed at the old rates. Mr IBevan moved that the wharfage dues on drapery, clothing, and boots, which he considered luxuries, should be two pence per foot. Mr Learmonth, who also thought drapery a luxury, seconded, Messrs Fowler and Walker opposed the motion, which was lost.

Mr Bevan moved that the dues be increased twenty-five per cent, leaving out bran, chaff, flour, grain, potatoes, sugar, and butter.

The motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

On the motion of Mr Jack, seconded by Mr Walker, the tariff as amended, was adopted.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Two long and irregular discussions took place on the subject of striking the' rate, and the recent unauthorized action of the Town Clerk, respecting Gass Square, but in neither case was a resolution arrived at.

The meeting adjourned at half-past ten o'clock till Friday next.