HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 3469, 15 May 1880, Page 2

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Friday, Mat 14. The Council met at half-past seven. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Messrs Cooke, King, Johnston, Eisf.-lder, Heinz, M'Goldrick, and Sbafirey. Tho minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. NEW MEMBER?. Messrs King and M'Goldrick, the recently elected members, took their seats. Mr King made a few remarks on taking his aeat. He briefly alluded to the financial difficulties- which loomed before the Council. He hoped these would be overcome and Hokitika would resume its " old glorious state." Mr M'Goldrick did not know if it was customary for new members to make speeches. He hardly knew yet " what was the matter." However he trusted the Council would work hirmoiri >usly. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the Board of Health. Received: From the Treasurer, Wellington, forwarding the sum of £2s 8% fees and fines for the month'of April. Received. From the Resident Magistrate, Hokitika, re employment of hard latnr prisoners for the Hospital, and stating that he had represented to the Gevernraent tint it would be inadvisable to remove the prisoners ju^t now, from Cass Square* Received. Mr Cooke was surprised that aaether body should have applied for the use of the hard labor gang, until the work they were engaged en, w.is finished. He moved that the letter be referred to the Public Works Committee. It was evident that Dr Giles was opposed to the removal of prison labor just now. The Mayor thought it would have been in better taste if the Hospital Committee had consulted the Borough Council. Tha Council had expended a large sum of moaey ia improving Cass Square, an I he quite concurred with Dr Gile:'s views on the matter. Mr Johnston said that in two month's time the prisoners would be available for the hospital. Mr Eisfelder also protested against the removal of the prisoners. Mr Shaff.ey moved an amend men t that this Council is of opiuioa that it is unexpedient to remove the hard labor gang, until the trees are planteJ. Mr M'Goldrick seconded the amendment which was carried. From several ratepayers residing in Haoipden street, calling atttntion to the state of the drains east of Sila street. Referred to the Public Works Committee to act. From Messrs Chesney, Jones, aid twenty others, asking that a lamp might be placed at the junction of Bealey <and Park streets. Referred to the Pub ie Works Committee to report.

From Mr James Hyndtmn, offering to lease reserve 471, at £2 per annum. Referred to the Finance Committee to report. From the Secretary of the Gas Company, forwarding a circular respecting opal glass for street lamps, and a sample of the same. Referred to tue Finance Committee to report. From the Town Clerk, D anedin, asking (he Council to join in remj as t rating against the proposed withdrawal of the Government subsidies from municipalities. The object of the letter was to el cit the views of the Hokitika Borough Council on the matter. Mr Shaffrey moved and Ifr Eisfelder seconded, a resolution to the effect that the Council would cordially co-operate with the Dunedin City Council ia this matter of subsidies. Carried without dissent. RECEIPTS AND PA.TMEKT3. The receipts since the last meeting were £33 11s 6d, and the payments £146 15 a sd. Bank overdraft, £1140. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S EEPOBT. The following report was read, received, and ordered to be considered clause by clauss : — Your committee have the honor to report 1. Having visited the slaughter yards ia consequence of a letter from Mr Cleary complainiug of the stench still arising from that locality, your committee fiad that the proprietors had carried out the instructions given them. There is an ample supply of water. Tbe box drains to the sea were perfectly open to allow of liquid matter being carried off, and the yards of Messrs Campbell and Reddy were perfectly clean. Mr Jones, the owner of a piggery adjoiniug has had notice to clesn asmp, which he has done. Laborers have bean employe J, during the past week, in cleaniag and deepening tha open drain on the North Town Belt, half the cost of which will be payable by the County Council. The premises and drain at the rear of a slaughter yard, long unused, have also been cleaned, the co3t of which will be recoverable from the owner of the land, who had been served, with notice, but bad neglected to comply with same. The Resident Engineer li.ia also been requested to have sooiß stagnant holes on the Railway Reserve filled. When these im provements are completed, it is anticipated that the causes of complaints heretofore made will bo removed. 2. Recommended that tenders be called for levelling the gravel pit, at the corner of Stafford and Sale Btreet, on a uniform slops from Stafford street. 8. That a draught horae be at once purchased for Cass Square work, and which could also be occasionally utilised for scavenging the town. 4. That the monument in Weld street bo removed to the Cemetery. Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to without discussion. Clause 3 was ordered to stand over. Clause 4. Mr Cooke moved the adoption. It had been brought forward to ascertain the views of the Council.

Mr Johnston seconded. The monument is not an ornament in Weld street. Mr Eisfelder supported . The monument is an obstruction where it i°, and there were several other more convenient sites Mr Shaflrey ako supported the adoption of the clause. Agreed to. Tbe report, as amended, was adopted. auditors' tees. Mr Shaffrey moved and the May<T seconded that the auditors' fees for the year be £8 83 each. Mr Cooke moved and Mr Eisfelder seconded an amendment that the amount be £6 6j each, which was carried. EXHIBITION COMMITTEE. The Mayor, in the absence of Mr Peake, moved that a sum of £30 le voted to the Local Committee for the Melbourne Exhibition. Mr Johnston seconded. The Council should do all in its power to develope the resources of the place. 'Ihere was no necessity to expend the whole of the vote. Mr Cooke would like ti know what there was to send. He failed to see what benefit it was to send nonsensical pieces of wood to the Exhibition. He moved, after reiterating- his opinion, that there- was nothing to send worth while sending, an amendment that the sum be reduced to £5. Mr King seconded the amendment, Mr Shaffrey said now was the time to decide the matter. It was rather a narrow minded view for Mr Cooke to take of the matter. It was a mistaken notion to fancy, as Mr Cooke evidently did, that Hokitika, because it was an out-of the- way place, had nothing worth tending. The Mayor poiuted out that Westland took six prizes at tbe Sydney Exhibition. This was a new country, and its products should be shown at Melbourne. He could not understand men who bad so little public spirit as to shut themselves and the ratepayers up in a shell. Mr Eisfelder was not opposed to the rote, providing tbe exhibits sent were good ones. He objected to spend any of the ratepayers' mtnej unnecessarily. The resolution was carried on a divi'ion. Ayes: Messrs Johnston, ShafTrey, M'Goldrick, and the Mayor ; Noes : Messrs Kintr, Cooke, Eisfelder, and Heinz ; the Mayor gave his casting vote with the aye?. SUB-COMMITTEES. Mr King was appointed to the Finance Committee, and Mr M'Goldrick to tbe Cenetey Committee. The Council adjourned for. a fortnight.