HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1332, 13 January 1881, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tim Council met on Tuesday evening in the Council Chambers. The members present were His Worship the Mayor and Councillors Jones, Hill, Price, McGrnrriyralf, Vialou, and the newly elected Councillor Tippin who whs formally introduced to his seat. A letter was read from the manager of the Union Bank directing attention to the state of the Borough account, and requesting that the overdraft be reduced in accordance with an arrangement entered into with the Finance Committee. The letter further recommended that the Borough revenue should in the meantime bo devoted to this particular purpose. A di&cu^son on the subject resulted in a committee consisting 1 of Councillors Hill, Jones, Price,ind the mover of the motion, Councillor Vialou, being 1 appointed io confer with the wj iter on tha bubject. It was incidentally stated during the discussion that the overdraft amounted to £625 9s. and the special fund to £178 18s Bd. The solicitors of Mr Seddon, wrote complaining of a trespass on his property occasioned by the operations of the Council, and intimatmg that an interdict would be applied for. Information was elicited from the Mayor and Town Clerk that the letter had been submitted to the Corporation Solicitors, and that they had given it as thair opinion that no ground for the complaint existed. The Council decided that the matter should be left entirely in the hands of the Solicitors. The Mayor directed attention to the state of the bridge piers, and suggested that an engineer should be appointed to enquire into the same with a view to ascertaining as to whether or not the river scour was causing damage to the foundations. Replying to a question, it was stated that the survey would not be an expensive job, as it wotikl not occupy more than two 'lays. The discussion resulted in an opinion that the work was one Government might very properly be asked to undertake, and a resolution was adopted that an application with that view should be made to the "District Engineer. Pursuant to notice given the Mayor moved—" That a committee be appointed to revise the standing orders with a view to modification thereof. He explained that the bj e -laws by which their procedure was at present arranged, was perfectly farcical. They might do very well for a big city like that of Auckland, but for a small borough like that of Hamilton, they were altogether too cumbersome and inoperative. As a matter of fact they were more honored amongst them in the breach than m the observance. He instanced a proviso that certain documents belonging to the borough should be locked up in a safe, and the Mayor, Clerk, and each councillor, provided with a key. Such a thing was absurd, and altogether uusuited to a place of this kind. What he aimed at was, that these standing oi ders should be superseded by a few simple bye.laws, such as those adopted by the Waipa and other County councils. If these bodies could opeiate satisfactorily under a few simple mles and regulations, surely the Boiough Council could very well afford to simplify its mode of procedure. C'r Jones agreed in the tenor of the proposal, but could see priave objections to tho carrying of it out, inasmuch ;is that it would involve the Borough in the expense of printing new bye-laws. Other members present ventilated their opinions on the point, the principal aigument adduced against the motion being that if they did away with the Standing Orders, there would be no restriction whatever on members, find Council meetings would be in imminent danger of getting flooded out with talk. On. the other hand, it was argued that by adopting a simple codification of the Standing Orders, much valuable time would be s.ivcd, as members would be enabled to ascertain at a glance what they had got to do, instead of having to wade through a whole labyrinth of printed mattpr before a .single contested point cotfld be disposed of. Replying to these, the Mayor explained" that all that tho motion aimed at was the appointment of a committee to draft a simplified, code of rules. These would be submitted for revision by the Council, when each member would have an opportunity for gettiug his views embodied before they were finally adopted. On that understanding, the motion was allowed to pass. Leave was given to the Mayor to withdraw a motion standing in his name, asking the Council to affirm tho desirability of holding meeting weekly instead of monthly, and in lieu thereof ho gave notice that he would move at next meeting that the regular meetings be held in future on tho third Tuesday of each month. A letter was read from the managing body of the Presbyterian Church, directing attention to the unsatisfactory state of a drain opposite the Church building, and requesting that certain improvements be made. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. The tender of J. C. Booth, for forming Heaphy's Terrace, being the only tender lodged, was opened. The price stated was 27s per chain. This the Council considered too high, and it was agreed the specification should be modified and fresh tenders invited. • The bridfre toll collector was re-appoin-ted, and a wages cheque for £10, ordered to be paid him. A report from the Works Committee, recommending that, Heaphy Terrace and Victoria street foot-paths be gravelled, was received and adopted. A letter was received from the Land Transfer Department, intimating that certain sections, amounting in all, to 63 acres, situated within the Borough, had been registered, and the Mayor was deputed to pay the fees, amounting to £17 14s 9d, and get up the certificates of registration. The Waikato Steam Navigation Company, applied for permission to erect on the site, at the end of the bridge, opposite the toll, au office. The Council decided the site should be offered for lease, by public tender. The salary of the Registrar, appointed under the Dog Tax, was fixed at one shilling per head, on each dog registered. All the accounts lodged were passed for payment, and at 10 p.m., the Council adjourned.

A Nevada* Indian is .going through life with the sweetly beautiful name of Drifting Goose. \