ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1063, 2 October 1883, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held last evening in the Council Chambers, when the following gentlemen were present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs St Hill, R. Bird, >V. Leggett, T. Sealy, A. Orr, A. Harrison, and S. kelson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. mayor’s statement.

The Major said that the debit balance at the Bank was LBB9 13s 2d. TRANSFER OF LEASE. Mr A. Spillard wrote, asking that the lease he held from Mr Lublow be cancelled a,nd a new one issued, —The application was granted. PROTECTIVE WORKS. A letter was received from the Clerk of the County Council, thanking the Council for their action taken re protective works. THE RAILWAY STATION. Mr Burnett wrote to the effect that the stagnant water at the railway station would be attended to. THE FIRE BRIGADE CARETAKER, Mr W. B. Dolman wrote asking the Council to fulfil the promise made to him relative to the fitting up of the house allowed to him, which was at present uninhabitable.—The minutes passed at a previous meeting electing Mr Dolman, was read by the Clerk, and the Mayor thought that that motion warranted the Works Committee making the house habitable and another room added.—Cr St Hilluuder stood that nothing woulcl be done till fresh financial arrangements could be made with the Bank.—-After some further conversation it was resolved on the motion of Or St Hill, seconded by Or A. Orr, that a lean-to be added so as to make the caretaker’s residence a threeroomed cottage, the cost not to exceed L3O (to include a kitchen range). , INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES. The Clerk of the Upper Ashburton Road Board wrote, forwarding a L 5 cheque as contribution to the salary of the In spue tor of Nuisances, adding that they did not intend to continue their contribution in future.

The Mayor pointed out that when the arrangement was made it was decided the agreement should terminate at three months’ notice, but the Upper Ashburton Road Board wished to end it immediately. He would move that the letter be considered as a notice.

This was seconded by Or St Hill, and carried. BURNING TUSSOCKS. Mr J. G. Rostell wrote asking permission to burn tussocks on his land- —Leave was granted on condition that they were burnt on the ploughed land. RESERVES. The Reserves Committee’s report was read and adopted. surveyors’ report. The Surveyors’ report was read. It stated that it had been decided by the’ Works Committee to fill up hollows at the junction of Cox and William streets, and in other parts of the town. Mr Burnett had been authorised to carry out requisite work in connection with the railway drainage. Thejreport as read was adopted. THE RAILWAY RESERVES.

The Mayor moved that the services of the labor gang be employed in doing the necessary work on the railway reserves, as suggested by Mr Burnett, the Borough Engineer to superintend the work.— Carried. SOIL. Cr Nelson moved that persons obtaining soil should be made to pay for it, after the purchase of each hundred loads. —Carried. • LICENSES. ’ A carrier’s license was granted to S. Elliott, and cab licenses to Scott and Newman, and A. Dee. ACCOUNTS. The fortnightly accounts, amounting to L 99, were passed for payment. The Council then adjourned.

London, Sept 19. In consequence of the refusal of the British Government to annex New Guinea and the New Hebrides it is proposed to hold a meeting of the Australian colonists in London in order to support the colonial Governments in their demands for annexation. The Government of the Hawaiian Kingdom have protested against the proposed annexation of the New Hebrides and other islands in the Pacific by the French. Sir Wilbam Morgan, of the firm of Morgan and Nephew, of Noumea, who is now in Paris, and who it was alleged was making arrangements for the introduction of French convict labor into the :Hebrides, denies that he is interfering in the matter.

A trial of the torpedo boats which were built to .order of the New Zealand Governfneat, was made to-day. The trial was moat successful. The French authorities have decided upon an immediate renewal of hostilities in Madagascar, and commanders of French men-of-war in the vicinity have accordingly received instructions to bombard the towns and villages situated on the cast coast of the island. The latest advices from the seat of war at Tonqoin show that a severe engagement has taken place at Haipong between mercenary troops engaged by French and the Black Flag Forces. The mercenaries were eventually defeated. The ill success of the French forces in Tonqnin is causing immense dissatisfaction in France.’ The Left party are demanding a convocation of the and the position of the Ferry ' Administration is i regarded as critical. The meeting Which was arranged to be held by the Irish National League at Milltown, Malbay, a town in County Clare, Ireland, has been prohibited by the authorities. London, Sept. 22. The announcement that the New Zealand Government intend to convert the loans of that colony into inscribed has been freely discussed iri -financial circles, and the proposed conversion is denounced by holders of the Four Per Cent, debentures and the proposal to issue Treasury bills is regarded as an underhand attempt to float a further loan of L1,80Q,000. A letter from Si? F. D. Ball, Agent-General of New Zealand, appeared in the Times this morning, explaining the reasons which induced his Government to resolve on converting their debentures into inscribed stock. Referring to the adverse manner in which the proposal hfti: teen) criticised! by) the debenture holders, the Agent-General emphatically denies the report that the Government had acted in an underhand . way. The relations between England and Turkey are somewhat strained, owing to a decision of the authorities at the Porte to adopt a protective tariff The Mediterranean fleet his been directed to proceed to the .Dardanelles tc make a demonstration. Theßoard of .Trade has. commenced its ; inquiry into the sinking of the Orion Company's steamer Austral in Sydnej harbor. Captain Murdoch, who was ir i charge of the vessel at the time, enterec ; a protest against the inquiry being belt in Lpndsn; but his objection was} over ruled! ‘ ’