TOWN COUNCIL.

Western Star, Issue 261, 7 September 1878, Page 6

TOWN COUNCIL.

At the usual fortnightly meeting of the Town Council on Tuesday evening, the Mayor presided, and Crs Horr, Locke, Mills, and Daniel were present The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. RESERVES. Cr Horr, on behalf of the Reserves. Committee, reported that the Committee had agreed to recommend the Council to lease certain reserves by auction for a period of fourteen years. The report was adopted. The Works Committee reported that they had arranged with Mr Calder to put a drain through railway embankment opposite section 19, Bath Road. The Mayor read a telegram from Dr Hodgkinson requesting plans to be forwarded to him of reserves applied for by the Council. UNCERTIFIED ACCOUNTS. The Mayor said there were a number of uncertified accounts on the table. He had before stated that unless the accounts were certified to and rendered in voucher form they would not be passe 1 for payment. Every Council meeting a lot of time was wasted over these accounts. The accounts ought to be considered by the Committees and certified to prior to coming before the Council. Ultimately two small accounts were certified to by members present; the remainder were held over till next meeting. Cr Mills referred to his having been requested to sign a cheque in an irregular manner. He refused to do so, as all accounts ought first to be passed by the Council before cheques for the amount were signed, Cr Daniel explained that the amount was for a few day’s labour performed by i Mr Wood. He (Cr Daniel) signed the cheque, and requested the payee to get another member of the Finance Commit, tee to sign it; but he understood the account had been passed bj the Council. DOWNING STREET. Cr Mills moved, That tenders be called for widening embankment about six feet in Downing street between Palmerston street and Bath road. The road (Cr Mills said) was dangerously narrow, and it would be far better to widen it than have to pay damages in case of accidents. Cr Daniel thought the work was premature. The day was not far distant when there would be a level crossing instead of the present bridge, which it would be better to block up-and divert traffic the old way. He thought the advice of a competent engineer should be taken on the subject. He moved as an amendment, That the matter stand over till that day three months. Cr Mills would be sorry to see a level crossing, as it was a notorious fact that these were far more dangerous than over crossings, ample proof of which would be found in the fact that in Victoria they were in some places substituting the latter for the former. The present case was one of greater urgency on account of its being a main road; and as for adopting the old track, it was scarcely possible for teams to turn there. Cr Daniel said he would support the motion if it was altered to twenty instead of six feet. He considered it wouldonl j be throwing money away to widen it by six feet. Cr Mills objected to the alteration; the width could be increased at some future time if it was found necessary. Cr Daniel considered it necessary that the opinion of a competent engineer should be obtained on the matter. Cr Mills considered he was as competent as any engineer to judge of the dangerous nature of the road, and thought it would be throwing away the funds of the Council to get a professional opinion on a trivial matter like that. The motion on being put was seconded by Cr Horr, and carried—Cr Daniel’s amendment not being seconded. DRAINAGE OP THE SWAMP. Cr Daniels enquired if the Council intended taking any cognisance of the report from the Medical Officer, and the petition from ratepayers in north end of town as to the necessity of draining upper end of Palmerston and Havelock streets. Only the other day a person was summoned for riding upon the footpath, and he stated in defence (hat he was compelled to use the footpath as it was dangerous to go upon the road. The Magistrate said the road was in a disgraceful state, and were it not that it might establish abaci precedent, he would have disdlssed the case. Ho (Cr Daniel ) had seen horses up to their knees in mud, —Cr Horr said he had driven his horses up Havelock street without wetting their feet. —The Mayor said Cr Daniels had a notice of motion which would test the question.— Cr Daniels then moved his motion, as follows -.—That advantage be taken of the presence of Mr Hunt, sur-

*eyor, aud that he be instructed to ex- j amine and report upon a method for, rectifying the stagnant and swampy c m- j dition of the ground at the upper end of j Palmerston streets. —On exception b-ing j taken to Mr Hunt being employed, j on the ground that Mr Bevvs’ services had been retained for corporation work, Cr Daniel agreed that the latter gentleman's name be inserted in lieu of Mr Hunt's. — Cr Mills seconded the motion pro forma. Cr Ho it opposed the motion, as be considered the ground referred to was well drained, and even in the depth of winter he could walk over any part of it. The past winter had been a very severe one, and floods were common, but under ordinary circumstances the drainage was ample. There were far more needful works to be done than that of draining ground where nobody lived. He would like to see the whole of the street made if they could afford it. He was not aware that there was more sickness than usual in town, and he thought it a remarkable circumstance that at a time when no drainage had been provided, nothing was said about sickness, aud after all that had been expended in drainiugthelocality mentioned sickness should now be prevalent. —Cr Mills said they had been endeavoring to drain the town as fast as they could, and he certainly thought the people at the upper end of the town had no reason to complain with regard to expenditure. He did not think there was a swamp at the top of Havelock street; the present season had been an extremely bad one, and things were at their worst. He did not hear about sickness years ago when there were no drains. Before any general scheme of drainage was undertaken, something would have to be done with the ground above the township, the Maori reserve, and.—Cr Daniel said Cr Horr stated that there was not more sickness than usual in town ; Councillors would have to decide whether they would believe that gentleman or the Medical Officer. He (Cr Daniel) contend-d that the upper end of the town was not properly drained. His motion did not commit the Council to undertake the work at the present time ; all ho wanted was for a competent engineer to examine and report upon the best method of drainage. In former years there was a natural drainage, which had since been obstructed by the railway embankment. The drainage already done consisted simply of open ditches, and this in the face of the fact that they bad drain pipes lying in the yard rotting. He did not expect to carry the motion, but he would at anyrate have the satisfaction of placing it upon record. On the motion being put, Crs Mills and Horr voted against, and Crs Daniel and Locke for. The Mayor gave his casting vote against the motion. ENGINEERS. In accordance with notice of motion, Cr Daniel moved, That the Chairman instruct the Clerk to lay on the table a memo, of the amount paid to the Engineers employed by the Council during the last six months, and the works carried out by them. The memo, showed that the amount paid had been nil, and that the only work upon which an engineer had been employed was the Havelock street contract, for which 5 per cent, on amount of contract was to be paid. THE HOSPITAL. According to notice given at last meeting, Cr. Daniels moved, That the trap and drain across the road close to the Hospital is stagnant for want of fall. A fall of 20ft can be obtained within a length of one chain. While the drain is not r tinning the Hospital ground near the well is flooded with refuse, &c. Resolved —That Mr Hunt be requested to give the necessary gradient, and superintend the drain being properly carried oU t. —Cr. Locke moved, and Cr. Daniel seconded. That the Works Committee be authorised to get the work done.— Carried. Cr. Daniel moved, That between the front Hospital fence and the edge of the metalled road are 40ft mostly of a sticky mud. The Hospital authorities desire permission to shift their fence 15It of that distance to enable tree planting that will be temporally protected and without the trees growing too close to the building. Tho ground will not be alienated from the town, and at any future t : rae when required can he taken for footpaths or other public purposes. Tt L needless to say that while the building will eventually have the shelter, yet the trees themselves will become town property.—Resolved—That the desired permission to temporally enclose a depth of 15ft on the southern aspect he given to the Hospital authorities. —It was resolved to refer the matter to the Hospital Committee of the Council, which was about to be elected. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr. Locke moved, That tenders bo called for making permanent crossings in Palmerston street.—Cr. Daniel said be

would hare supported the motion a few months ago, but now that the fine weather had set in, he thought they were unnecessary until the approach of next winter.—There being no seconders, the motion lapsed. Cr. Daniel called attention to _ the damages done to the road in South Rivertou by a sledge, and suggested that the Council should not allow it to travel on the roads.—Cr. Horr did not think they had the power to prevent the veichle in question from bring used on the roads within the town.—The Mayor said people in North "Ward were only too glad to get firewood, by this means.—Mr Burgess, having obtained permission, explained the nature of the vehicle, which sat so low upon the ground tha - it scraped the surface of the road. Mr Burgess also referred to a statement made by Cr. Horr at last meeting, in connection will the proposal to repair the road in South Riverton, to the, effect that the very people who signed the petition to get the road repaired were those who now signed another petition to have it made through private property where there was no road lint. He (Mr Burgess) wished to know if such petition had been presented to the Council and also to see the names of those who signed it, as the names of those who signed it, as the residents in South Riverton denied having signed any such petition.—The Mayor said there had been ®nly one petition presented with regard to the matter.

On the motion of Cr. Horr, seconded by Cr. Daniel, it was resolved to repair part of the road along the railway line. Cr. Mills moved—'That the Mayor telegraph to the Colonial Secretary to urge upon the Q-overnment the necessity of immediately providing street accommodation in Bath road in lieu of that taken for railway purposes. —Seconded by Cr. Daniel and carried. Cr. Daniel said he had been presented with a bill for arrears of rent for lease of municipal reserve. He knew he was legally liable for the rent, but be con sidered the Council should forego the rent as he had not been able to make use of the sections since the railway was commenced, before which time they were quite dry.—Crs. Mills and Horr considered the Q-overnment was responsible for damages, and a motion by Cr. Mills, seconded by Cr. Locke, was carried, referring Or. Daniel to the Q-overnment for redress upon the matter. The election.of a Hospital Committee resulted in the return of the Mayor, Crs. Horr and Locke. Cr Daniel’s motion—'That the Council in future meet at 7 p.m. was carried. The Council then adjourned.