ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 837, 9 January 1883, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the above was held last evening at the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Harrison, Friedlander, St Hill, Ivess, W. Roberts, and Nelson. Mayor’s Statement. The Mayor stated that the overdraft at the Bank was now LI, 123 15s lOd. The amounts received since last meeting were—Rates, L 4 18s ; asphal r , L2 17s 91; Upper Rangitata Road Board, L 5 ; dog licenses, L2 10s ; excise, ss.

. The Dog Tax. —Letters were received: From the Sergeant of the Police, enclosing 10j for a dog found without a collar.— Prom Mr W. Zander, stating that a dog of his had slipped his collar off and had been caught by the police. To regain the dog he had to pay 10s, besides the ICL registration fee.—Or St Hill objected to such summary jurisdiction being exe - cised.—Cr Friedlander thought that the police had carried out the by-law in the due execution of their duty, still he considered that the fee having already been paid once the case was fully met. He thought the 10s should be refunded.— Or Harrison agreed with the last speaker, —Cr St Hill moved, Cr Ivess seconded, and it was carried—“ That the sum of 10s be refunded to W, Zander.” The Resident Magistrate. —A letter was read from the Department of,Justice, stating that arrangements have now been made with the R.M. of Timaru to hold sittings at the Ashburton Courthouse twice weekly.—His Worship the Mayor said that this would not meet the requirements of the district at all. He knew.for a fact that a great many jpersons objected to have cases brought into Court, through there being no Resident Magistrate on the proper Court days to hear them. Such being the case a considerable loss was sustained. He thought that a strong resolution on the matter should be carried by the Council.—Cr Harrison moved, and Or Friedlander seconded —“ That this Council is of opinion that a Magistrate sitting twice a .week will not meet the case, and that the district will not be properly served until a Resident Magistrate be appointed to it—Carried unanimously. Engineers' Report.- The Engineers’ report was read as follows : The Labor Gang have been engaged in forming East street, footpath between Grey and Cox streets, and also part of Cass street for material for filling. We have bad the surface soil stripped from the latter street deposited on the Council reserve, section 874, which lies very low. We believe it would be wise to reserve all, or at all events, as much as possible, of the vegetable soil on all the streets, for filling up low-lying sections, especially in this quarter of the town where the natural contour of the ground is very irregular. We have had to take on W. Turton for fitting culverts and foot-bridges at the concrete channels at the street junctions now being constructed. This makes us short-handed at the carts employed in formation, as the culvert fixing being a twohanded job, we have to take a man from Spicer’s party. —Culverts : The old culverts laid down by the Road Board are now fast going to decay, a good many have been replaced by the Council, but the remainder are in a bad state, several requirng to be replaced at once. — Ashburton, January Bth, 1883 : The Labor Gang have been continuing the work in East and Cass streets, clearing streets of rubbish and extra soil, etc., and have carted a considerable amount of surface soil for filling sections, also attending to water supply, clearing channels and making dam at head of race. The carpenters have been making and fitting foot bridges and culverts to the concrete channelling at the street junction, which arc now completed on the N.W. side of the railway. Or Nelson asked why W, Turton, Hayes, and Bruce were put on the Council staff sby the Works Committee. —Cr St Hill said that they were taken on by the Works Committee to do the extra work for culverts required at the time. Cr Nelson said he objected to the way in which these men had been taken on after the Works Committee had decided to dispense with their services.—The Mayor said that these men were required to finish certain culverts. —Cr Friedlander thought the explanation given by His Worship satisfactory.—Cr Nelson said he would certainly bring the matter before the Works Committee.—The matter then dropped. —ln speaking on clause 2, Cr Nelson said*that the culverts were not in a finished condition, when they were taken over that morning.—Cr St Hill said it was nothing of the sort. —An argu ment here ensued between Crs Nelson and St Hill on the matter of bridges and culverts.—His Worship called Cr Nelson to order.

Inspector of Nuisances Report. —The Inspector et Nuisances report was read as follows:

i. I have to report that one closet has been cleansed and new pan substituted that was in a bad state, also may state that the new nightman has commenced his duties, and all complaints are being attended to as quickly as possible.—2. Re slops and other refuse matter.—A fair quantity of rubbish has been removed, also the night soil mentiened in a former report from below the terrace behind the Cemetery. I have also been informed that some one has again deposited night soil or other refuse of an objecj tionable kind in the same place, but on going there on Saturday last I could perceive no smell, and could find nothing with the exception of a very small deposit of night soil. If possible, should the notice board erected by the Council not have the effect of stopping the nuisance, I will try and find out who deposits any refuse there, and report to the Council at once.

A discussion ensued on the matter of accepting the new scavenger’s tender, and it was ultimately resolved to accept the report of the Inspector. A Request.— Or Harrison handed in a letter from the secretary of the Fire Brigade, requesting the Council to examine the condition of the channel floodgates, which were slightly out of order.— The question was referred to the Works Committee.

The Domain.— Cr St Hill spoke of the condition of the Ashburton Domain. - He' ~ was sure that owing to the disgraceful state in which it was kept the grass would be liable to catch fire at any time, aud if so very great damage.would ensue.--At a later stage of the proceedings Cr St Hill moved—“ That the chairman the Do- , main Board be written to, and informed that this Council is preprred to take over the management of the Domain, it being within the Borough.” —Cr Nelson seconded, and it was carried. " .7

Ashburton Traffic Bridge. His Worship the Mayor said, in reference to the new business before the Council, he would ref> r to the necessity existing for a traffic bridge over the Ashburton, as a vote of L 5,000 had been granted. There was no time to loss, as the financial year would expire at the end of March next. 7 Mr Wright,. M.H.R., had spoken to him ('he Mayor) about the work, and he Had . Stated that the bridge would cost about LB,OOO. This was less than he had anticipated. The County Council had, unfortunately, no funds at its command, but he- ( had been assured that some funds would' be received shortly from" the Geraldine' County Council, on account of ' the"" Upper Rangitata bridge. Of course tilt/* County Council would have to have ref course to rating the district tu provide the necessary funds.' The importance of the work was apparent to everyone. Ha would move—“ That this Council would respectfully draw the attention of the County Council to the necessity which exists for a separate traffic bridge' over -the * Ashburton River, in a line with the South road, towards which a Parliamentary vote of L 5,000 is now available, which would have to be supplemented by, say, about L 3,000. The Council would be to take the necessary steps to provide' ' fair proportion of the latter sum, if the County Council will undertake the work.” —Cr Ivess had much pleasure in seconding the resolution, also in congratulating his Worship in bringing the mat er of this bridge up. In fact, he was surprised tha<| the County Council had not moved in thenmatter before this. He considered there would be no difficulty in getting sufficient funds to do the work, as the different Road Boards would contribute towards it. The resolution was carried unanimously.

Stray Cattle. —Cr Harrison said that cattle and horses were doing a very groats deal of damage to the road and side' channel in Winter street and on the Alford Forest road. He had expected Ip ' see that the matter was referred to in thefy Engineer’s report, but that was not thw case.—Cr St Hill also drew attention to the dangerous state of the road owing to cattle and horses straying in this neighborhood.—The Mayor said he would draw ’ the attention of Sergeant Felton to the matter.

Accounts. —Accounts to the amount dfi L6l 12s 7d were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned. . ...