ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 81, 1 April 1880, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

A special meeting of tlxe Ashburton Borough Council was held last night in the Borough Chambers, for the purpose of considering the questions of water supply, bye-laws, etc. There were present his Worship the Mayor, and Messrs. Saunders, Parkin, and St. Hill. Mr. E. G. Crisp was present to explain the proposed building clauses in the bye-laws, and Mr. J oseph Clark attended as agreed upon at last meeting to report on the probability or otherwise of objections being x-aised by tlxe freeholders to bringing the water down the gully. THE BUILDING BYE-LAWS. The first matter discussed was that of the building bye-laws. Mr. E. G. Crisp, Borough Solicitor, explained which portions of the town were to be included in the building bye-laws. The districts proposed to be included commenced at Friedlander's store, thence to the corner of Burnett stx-eet, thence down Havelock street to Butler’s Hotel, thence to Moore street, and back to the starting point. Mr. St. Hill took exception to the area proposed to bo a fleeted by the building clauses, as likely to drive people to build outside the township. Mr. Crisp then proceeded to read the clauses as he had prepared them. They defined the chax-acter of the buildings to bo erected, etc., but before he had finished, His Worship suggested that the matter be referred back to the Bye-laws Committee to report at next meeting. Messrs. St. Hill and Parkin were added to the Bye-laws Committee, and the Mayor’s suggestion was adopted. WATER SUPPLY. Mr. Joseph Clark stated his belief that the various owners ®f hind, abutting on the old watercourse had agreed to the water being brought down that course. An agreement, signed by a large number of them, was road, to that effect. H : s Worship pointed out that the agreement did not meet the Council’s conditions, as it did not provide fox- persons who "may object. Mr. Clark said ho did not think any objection would be raised, as he had seen most of the section-holders. He knew of only one probable objector, and with him he thought an arrangement could be made. Mr. Saunders pointed out the disadvantage of using the old gully from the absorption and evaporation that would take place. His own mill-race was instanced, and Mr. Hunt’s attempt to bring water on to his land, and in both cases the difficulty he referred to had been encountered In the latter ease, it had taken thewater two months to flow where it was wanted. It appeared, too, that Mr. Williamson, who held the key of Mr. Clark’s scheme, was an objector, and that was sufficient to put an end to the whole thing. He would propose — “ That this Council, having considered Mr. Clark’s scheme of water supply, wishes to thank him for the trouble he has taken in drawing up plans and getting information, but thinks it advisable to carry out the scheme adopted at their last ordinary meeting, and for which tenders have been called. ” Mr. St. Hill seconded. His Worship expressed his regret that they could not make use of Mr. Clark’s scheme, after all the pains he had taken. It was advisable to go on with the work at once, and therefore he would put Mr. Saunders’ motion, which was carried, Mr. Saunders stating that if the’ gully freeholders wanted water they could proeux-e it through a sluice in the the miff race. Tlxe lenders for the work wore then opened. After a long discussion, in which the advisableness of accepting tendex-s for the outfall drain only was considered, seeing that no provision was made for constructing a dam iu the domain; and in the

course of which it” was stated that the whole work necessary was not provided for in the specifications, Mr. Fooks, the engineer, said a lot of timber belonging to the Council could be used for fluming. Mr. Parkin said it was worthless. Mr. Fooks said it was good enough for a temporary job like this. The tender question was disposed of by Mr. James Wilkie declining to take any part of the work less than the whole. In the course of discussion, Mr. Saunders said he was of opinion that Mr. Fooks had scarcely caught the idea of the Council, and had not prepared a perfect scheme to be tendered for, so that what was before them was a half-and-half sort of thing. He (Mr. Saunders) was of opinion that if the work were let that night, and also the extras included in Mr. Wilkie’s alternative tender, the whole job could be done in a fortnight. Mr. Parkin saw no need for delay. The work had been before the public from a date anterior to the declaration of the municipality, and everybody knew all about it. Mr. St. Hill was quite sure that if somebody prospecting for gold managed to get, near the belt, a quarter of an ounce to the tub, water would be in in a day or two. The Mayor declined to put any resolution not in accordance with the advertised terms on which the tenders had been made. After some further talk the reporters were requested to withdraw, as the Council were in Committee, hut we understand all the tenders were rejected, and the Engineer was instructed to prepare fresh specifications and advertise for tenders, to be opened at a special meeting on Saturday week.