BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 26, 31 January 1891, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

At the ordinary meeting of the Borough Council held la3t night there were present : His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. "Houldaworth), Crs Smalo, Patchstt, Sinclair, Norgrove, Bythell, Hooper, Tunnicliffe and MoArtney. FINANCS. The statement of receipts and expenditure was laid on the table. The general account was £1842 6s lOd overdrawn. CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read and approved. Mr E. Muacaster wrote re the clock belltower, it was infested by pigeons, and suggesting that wire netting b 8 put up. Resolved that the letter be referred to the Public Works Department. Tne Railway Department wrote to the effect that the holes on 46 Opawa would be filled up when the rails were laid. Mr R. H. Priddle again called attention to the holes on the fcotpath m front of his hotel. The Mayor stated that this matter was referred to m the Works Committee's report. Mr M. Ahearne asked for a copy of the letters Mr Mair had written respecting his discharge from the gasworks. Cr Patohett moved that Mr Ahearne be informed that it was considered inadvisable to accede to the request. Cr Smale seconded the motion. If the inspector had control of the men at the gasworks, and the Council considered tha reply satisfactory, he thought there was no reason to go farther. Cr Bythell moved that a copy be Bent. Had the Inspector simply dispensed with his services, without a reason, it would have been all right, but having given a poor reason (as he understood it, though he had not read it) he had given Mr Ahearne a ground for complaint. Cr McArtney seconded the amendment. It had been thought advisable not to make the Manager's reply public, but he thought m fairness Mr Ahearne was entitled to a copy of the letter. Cr Sinclair said he had spoken to a legal gentleman on the matter, and he held it to be a privileged communication between Mr ] Muir and the Council. The amendment was put and lost, and the motion was then carried. Mr T. L. Buick, M.H.R. reported having waited on the Government respecting the Nelson Street bridge. The Mayor thought it satisfactory that the matter had been so soon attended to by Mr Buick. The clerk was instructed to write him a letter of thanks for his promptness. INSPKCTOB UP NOISANCES BSPOBT. The Inspector reported having examined the pigstyes m town, and made sundry recommendations with a view to improvments. Professor Augustus complained of water lying on Mr Falconer's section, and he asked the Council to deal with the matter. Resolved that the necessary notice to abate the nuisance be sent to Mr Falconer. diS BBPOBT. The Gas Committee reported that they had not been successful m making arrangements for a coal supply. As to the rate collector they were not satisfied with the arrangements made as to gas accounts, and asked that it be not confirmed. They recommended that tha attention of the Inspector be called to the matter of cleaning the lamps. Report adopted on the motion of Cr Sinolair. wokhs committee's bkpobt. The Works Committee reported, recommending that Mr Priddle's footpath should have a concrete kerb. They could not recommend the lamp askei for at Mr Clouston's corner, it being too close to the one m Wyne# street; that the hand rail at tha east end of the footpath m High Street, near the old wharf be fenced and painted ; and that the hole m Nicholson Terrace be filled up. The Co-operative drain contract was progressing satisfactorily. Report adopted. THE B.VTE COLLECTOR. The Mayor said that before appointing the rate collector he thought the matter should be reconsidered by the sanitary committee, or the Council as a whole. Cr Sinclair thought the Council should consider it, and then defer it for further consideration. He moved that the Couucil should go into Committee on the matter. Carried. The Council then went into Committee to reconsider the conditions under which applications should be asked for. On resuming, the Council reported m favour of increasing the salary of Inspector of Nuisances from £25 to £40, leaving the percentage on dog tax at 20 per cent as before, and on rates at 2^ par cant. The main alteration made was m leaving out gas accounts paid before the 20 of the month, and giving 5 per cent m place of 2J on all unpaid by that date. The report was adopted, and the Council adjourned for a week, when a special meeting will ba held to open applications.