BOROUGH COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 2788, 9 March 1878, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Friday, JUahch 8

The Council met at half-past sev en. P.-esent— The Mayor, Messrs Walk.er, Cross, Cooke, Johns jton, Tait, Ramsay, Linstrom, and Hanseoi. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confinmed.

COEEBSPONDENCE.

From the Benevolent Society, askingfor payment of their subsidy. [Referred to the Finance Committee to report.

From Messrs Atkinson, Henderson, and Hinchcliff, offering land as site 3 for slaughter-yards. Received.

From Mr John Sham, Inspector of Public Halls, stating that he had giveoi a

certificate to the agents for the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre. Received ; and resolved that a license be granted on payment of the fee of £5 sa. From the Secsetary of the lßt Westland Rifles, to the effect that the necessary repairs had been effected ; also, from the Inspector to the effect that the building had been repaired to his satisfaction. ! Received ; and license ordered to be issued. From Mr John Sham, forwarding a report on the state of the Rechabite Hall. Received. From Mr 11. Jacobs, asking if Mrs Nelly had been gazetted pound-keeper, and if she was permitted to bring horses to the pound, from beyond the Hit or Miss Hotel. Received; and referred to the Public Works Committee to report. From several ratepayers, respecting the necessity of drainage in Fitzherbert-street, between Hampden and Park-streets. Received. Mr Cooko thought a drain should be put across the road, but that it was almost a job for the residents themselves. The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee to report. From the residents on sections opposite Weld, Hampden, and Stafford-streets, as follows : — 1. That your memorialists are ratepayers of Ilokitika, and are resident upon those sections in Revell-street opposite Weld, Stafford, and Hamilton streets, which were originally reserved for the purposes of forming a continuation of those streets, and which have again been withdrawn from aale by your Council. 2. That your memorialists would draw your attention to the well-known f.ict that :it the time the adjoining sections to those now referred to were sold, business in Ilokitika was in a much more flourishing condition than at present, and consequently ground of much greater value. 3. That your memorialists have heard with surprise and regret, that it is your intention to charge a much higher price for the sections proposed to be be sold than was charged for the adjoining ones. 4. Your memorialists are of op» lion that under any circumstances, but more especially taking into consideration the present depressed state of trade in Ilokitika, that this will be a great hardship to them. 5. That your memorialists were uuder the impression when erecting at considerable cost suitable premises for the conduct of their businesses, that they would not be placed at and disadvantage with their neighbors in the purchase of their respective sections. The letter was received. Mr Walker thought that though these petitioners bad had the use of the money tor many yeari»,still land was not so valuable now as it was some years ago. He would ] like to know if the Council had to abide by j the valuation of Mr Mueller. Perhaps | Mr Mueller might reconsider his valuaj tiou. j The Mayor thought if the Council letf | the matter in his h mils, he would report to | (lie Council by the next meeting. ' Mr llausen did not consider the land i was much less valuable now. The people I had been in possession of their sections for ten years, and had paid nothing for them. Mr Tait contended that, until the Council objected to the valuation of Mr Mueller, there was uothing for the Mayor to report upon. The Finance Committee wished to fix a date for the sale of these sections. Mr Walker, to test the feeling of the Council, asked leave to move that the price of the land be fixed at £1 10s per foot. The Mayor ruled that the motion could not be put. EECEirXS AND PAYMENTS.

The receipts since the last meeting were £104 4s sd, and the payments £209 5s sd. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The following report was read and received, and ordered to be considered clause by clause ;— Your committee have the honor to report: — 1. The following sums were paid into the Bonk of New Zealand during the months of January and February: — Rates, £577 6s 3d; licenses, £19 11s-, cemetery fees, £14 6s; potfjudage, JE7; rents, £8; police fines, £14 ss; contract- deposit, £2; sale of lamps, £1 10s; dog registration, £27 10s; total, £671 8s 3d. During the same period accounts were paid to the amount of £509 16s 7d ; bank overdraft, Ist March, £3134 11s 3d. Your committee have the honor to recommend to your Council — 2. That the watering cart be dispensed with. 3. That in the absence ot contagious disease, the services of medical officer be dispensed with. 4. That tenders be invited for printing and advertising for 12 months. 5. That a horse and dray be purchased for Corporation work. 6. That the Council incur no large amount of expenditure on public works until the bank overdraft is considerably reduced. Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to. Clause 3. Mr Walker moved the adoption of this clause. As the financial condition of the Council was so bad, and there was contagious disease, the Council could

dispense with the medical mau's services. Mr Hanseu asked if the Council could dispense with the doctor's services. The doctor was appointed by the Board of Health. Finally the clause was struck out, and

referred to the Board of Health. Clause 4. Mr Walker moved the adop - tion of the clause. Mr Tait said the committee found that £195 had been incurred during the last six months, for p rioting and advertising, aud they considered the amount could be reduced. The clause was agieed to. Clause 5. Mr Walker moved the adoption of this clause. The day labor man could easily take care of a horse. Messrs Tait and Hanseu supported, and Mr Cross opposed the clause. After some discussion, the clause was agreed to on a division, the Mayor, Messrs Walker, Johnston, Tait, and Hansen voting in the majority. Clause 7. Mr Tait moved the adoption of this clause. Mr Hansen opposed this clause. It would be a dead letter. No large works could be undertaken without the consent of the Council. It was impossible to spend less money on public works than was the case at present. Finally the clause was struck out, and the report as amended, adopted. POUKD-KEEPER. Mr Tait wanted to know what was to be done with regard to a pound keeper. The Mayor presumed that Mr Nelly, having forfeited his situation, fresh applications would have to be called for. The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee to report. The Council adjourned until Friday nest at 7.30 p.m.

It is said that a National Bank is soon to be opened in Victoria, and that Government notes will be the only recognised, medium of payment.