BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1039, 4 September 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers last evening, there being present —His Worship the Mayor and Ors St. Hill, Nelson, Bird, Roberts and Harrison. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. mayor’s statement. , The Mayor stated that the debit balance at the Bank was L 924 10s 7d. The Borough solicitor had given as his opinion that the steps taken re Martin’s rates were justified. The pipes sold to ,the Rakaia Road Board had been dispatched* MOUNT SOMERS RAILWAY. Mr E. G. Wright wrote stating that he had obtained a Royal Commission from the Government to report upon the mo-t advisable route for the Mount Somers railway, which he thought would suit all parties. —Received. RAILWAY SITES. Mr Wright wrote in answer to a communication from the Council re the railway sites, as follows : , lam in receipt of your letter of the 22nd August, further explaining the views of the Borough Council upon the question of railway sites, and concluding with an expression of opinion on behalf of the Council that with the exception of the leases held by Messrs Friedlander Bros, and Messrs Matson, Cox and Go, ; the conditions of all the other leases have been and are being broken. You further state “That the Council would be prepared to take over the whole of the reserves not required for railway purposes on a long lease.” Whilst making this proposal it would seem desirable that the Council should have stated whether its intention was to at once cause the, removal of the whole of the present buildings or to grant sub-leases with fixity of tenure (instead of being subject to a month’s notice as at present) at a higher rental, with a view of increasing the revenue of the Borough. Being guided by your letter of the 25th July, I must assume that the former course is what the Council intend to adopt, and now that I am more fully informed of their wishes I shall take the earliest opportunity of bringing the question under the consideration of the Minister for Public Works. You state that the list sent on the Bth August was to enable me to see at a glance , who were and who were not conforming to their leases, but this is at variance with your letter of the Bth August, where you say : ‘ The conditions of the lea-es are very vague, and the words other material may be taken to mean grain, Jtimber, coal, or machinery ; or it may apply to general storekeeping or offices.’ There being thus so much doubt as to the right of the railway tenants, it appeared to be undesirable to act precipatitely, and I should have preferred that a public meeting had been called to discuss the question.. Or St Hill thought that if it was impressed upon the Government that the Borough had been deprived of their subsidies, then the leases might be made over to them He moved that Mr Wright be informed as to what the Council intended to do with the reserves if they were entrusted to them. This was carried. BURNING RUBBISH.

A request from Mr A. Connelly to be allowed to burn rubbish on his land was granted, with the usual proviso. FENCING. Mr A. Connelly wrote stating that he intended to erect a fence round his land adjoining the Council’s reserve.—Before according permission it was decided that the writer should say what kind of fence he intended to put up. BANK OVERDRAFT. Mr A. Shury, Manager of the Union Bank, wrote stating that that institution was willing to allow the 'Council an overdraft of L 1,500 against rates and revenue at 9 per cent foi 6 months. The Mayor said that he saw no other course open to the Council but to accept the offer, as it was not likely they would get any better terms from other banks. In answer to a question from Cr Nelson, Mis Worship said that he had enquired of the Bank of New Zealand, and they would not undertake an overdraft. It was decided that the conditions of the Union Bank be accepted. PROTECTIVE WORKS. Re a letter received from Mr J. E. March concerning river encroachment on his property, it was resolved that th# Engineer prepare a plan and estimate of the cost of the required works, to be forwarded to Mr March. THE ROYAL COMMISSION. Mr Hugo Friedlander wrote as follows: I hope you will not consider it presumptuous on my part to address you upon a matter which will affect this borough more-perhaps than it would appear at first sight. I refer to the Mount Somers extension. I am aware that your lion. Council has urged upon .the Government very strong reasons why the line should be extended in the direction of Alford Forest, and although the Council has also been supported by just and influential petitions advocating the same route, the Government, for reasons of their own—or to be nearer the mark, to favor one of their supporters—have appointed a Royal Commission to report as to this extension. Why such a waste of money should be allowed is one of those questions which M.H.R.’s can more readily answer than the writer. _ Still the expenditure will be made, and it is for [this very reason, and with a wish of seeing some good result arising from the labors of this Royal Commission that I venture to suggest, with your hon. Council’s kind permission, that a committee be appointed to collect and be in readiness when the Commission comes down here, with such substantial and undeniable proofs as would once and for all settle this, for 1 this S Borough’s interest in particular, vexed ( question. Your Council can rest assured that the other will side do their utmost to make the best out of their, bad cause, and as the same will undoubtedly be strongly and energetically advocated, through fair or unfair means, by private and influential interest, it will be neces- < sary for your hon. Council not to lose any 1 time but take such immediate steps as would j

successfully put aside all future quibbles about this important extension, not only be a just boon to tWsvfioroiijjn, the* Alford Korest and most of the Mount Sobers settlers, but to the colony af large, jus it Wwild then not be one of those politibal 1 railways pf which unfortunately we have already too many* and for which we here, in common with others feel the unjust and heavy weight. The Mayor scarcely thought that it was the place of the Council to appoint a Committee fo# the purpose suggested by Mr Friedlander ; a public meeting would be the best means to decide such a question. Mr Friedlander had been nominated for one of the vacancies in the Council, and as the Commission would not be likely to sit before .the election came off, the matter might well stand over. This course was decided on. surveyors’ report. The Surveyors’ report was read and ap proved of.

inspector’s report. The report of this officer was read and agreed to. ■• . , FIRE BRIGADE. - , (v 'T The Secretary'of' the Fite Brigade reported that the members of the Brigade had attended a fire which took place on the North-east Belt, and the accounts in connection with, the same were passed. RESERVES. Cr St Hill said he had a suggestion to make. It did not altogether come from himself, but, it had been mentioned to him by Mr Bullock. It was that the less valuable reserves should be put up to auction, and let for what they would fetch. ThejOouncil was earning nothing from many of these reserves, although they were responsible for the fencing. Half a loaf was better than no breadj and he thought the course suggested’ would be wise. He moved that it be a recommendation. to the Reserves Committee to let certain reserves’in the Borough. ' Cr Nelson seconded this, and. in doing so said he thought that it would be well if it were clearly stated that no reserve would be placed upon the land when it was put up. The motion was carried. PUBLIC MEETING.

Cr Harrison said that he had,been asked to frame a petition ■to the Council, to the effect that a public meeting should be called so that the candidates for the vacancies in the Council might address the burgesses. Whether the petition were granted or not the meeting would take place, and he saw no reason.why his idea should not be carried out.

Cr Nelson seconded the motion pro formd. Cr St Hill was of opinion that the meeting suggested was unnecessary, The reports in the newspapers were quite sufficient to. show people interested in the matter what took place in the Council. Those who wished this public meeting should put their hands in their pockets and pay the piper. Nor should Jt be forgotten that what the Council were enabled to do was governed by circumstances, and it was therefore impossible for candidates to ■promise anything unless they, realised these circumstances. He would oppose the motion, although he .would be glad to give his time at the meeting if the petitioners paid for it. The .amount required for the hall and other expenses in connection with the meeting would be L2 10a, and this would pay for a chain of channelling, and that would be a better way of spending the money. Cr Bird agreed with what Qrßt Hill had said. The meeting would be a waste of money. Cr Harrison’s motion on being put to the Council was declared lost. TIME-SHEET. Cr Roberts moved that in; future the fortnightly time-sheets should show what work was done in each street during that time.—Carried. COMPLIMENTARY. Cr St Hill said that as it was possible that he would not again sit at the Council table, he wished to-say a few words of farewell. He had always received great courtesy fi;ora the Mayor, and if some hard words had passed between himself and other Councillors he felt sure'that on both sidos these arose from a desire-to do the best for the ‘ratepayers. Should J tie not be returned to the Council again, he would always recollect the ‘consideration he had met with at the hands of the Mayor and his fellow Councillors. • Gr Roberta .also briefly thanked the Council and the Mayor, and the Councillors expressed, their appreciation of , the retiring members* services. ACCOUNTS. The uaual.fortnightly pay-sheet having been passed for payment, the Council adjourned.