BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1098, 13 November 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs Andrew Orr, Sealy, Leggatt, J. Orr, R. Bird, Nelson, Harrison and St. Hill, mayor’s statement. The Mayor reported that the debtor balance at the Bank was L 928 15s 6d. Amounts received since last meeting, Wakanui refund fine—L3 17s ; culverts, L2; licenses, L 6 15s; rates, Lll 15s; earth, L 2695; rents of reserves, LSO 3s 4d. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr T. Bullock, enclosing account sales of the Borough reserves leases. Or Harrison moved that Mr Bullock’s action re reserves be confirmed, —Agreed to. The Wakanui Road Board wrote stating that they intended to give three months’ notice to terminate the engagement with the Inspector of Nuisances. REPORTS. The Inspector of Nuisances report was read and adopted. The Engineer’s report was read and adopted. qufstio.vs. Cr St Hill said he was prepared to answer the questions which certain councillors had spoken about at the last meeting of the Council when he was absent. This was the matter of carting soil. He thought that the remarks of Cr Nelson were uncalled for. The labor gang had ploughed and carted at the rate of 100 loads of earth per day whilst on the Alford Forest road. Cr Nelson said he would always look after the interest of the ratepayers. Ha thought that if it took 38 minutes to get one load away the work was not paying. Ur St Hill thought that the remarks of Or Nelson reflected the greatest discredit on the Council. The Works Committee had been in existence for four years as at present constituted. 'the cost of carting soil had not exceeded 2s per load, and had paid the Council well. NEW BUSINESS. The Mayor stated that it was requisite to appoint a valuator for the Borough for the ensuing year ; also the question of supplying dog collars. He would move—- “ That tenders bo invited for the supply of dog collars, also for the valuation of the Borough. ” Cr St Hill seconded.

Cr Bird said he hoped that a better class of collar would be provided, L as those supplied last year were useless for tying up. Cr Harrison suggested that a metal badge or some other design should be given, and let each person find the leather portion of the collars. He agre d with Cr Bird that the collars supplied last year were useless for large dogs. Or Bird proposed as an amendment, Or Harrison seconded—“ That the matter ot dog collars be postponed until next meeting. ” Or J. Orr thought that as it was a tax, the collars ought to be made serviceable He would suggest that the kind of collars be similar to the one produced by Cr Bird. It was ultimately decided after some discussion to call for tenders for collars like the one submitted by Cr Bird, also like those of the previous year as well. Cr Harrison would ,like to know if it was the rule to call for tenders for all works or contracts over L 5.

The Mayor stated that it was the rule with perhaps only a few exceptions. Or Harrison would propose all cases public tenders bo called by advertisement for all works over L 5. ” Cr St Hill seconded the motion, but would like to know whether it |was time that the Chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee had accepted a tender for the Fire Brigade cottage, j He had seen it in the papers, and would like Or Harrison to explain. Or Harrison said he had acted for the beat, and the tenders having been given into his hands he thought that in order to save time, and the matter being rather urgent, he had accepted a tender on behalf of the Fire Brigade Committee. The resolution was carried. THE EAST STREET PEBBLES. Or St Hill proposed, Cr Sealy seconded —“ That the labor gang be employed for one day to take off the boulders in Fast street. ” Cr J. Orr said that he felt sure that it would well repay the Council to water East street. The Mayor agreed with Cr O.t, and thought that the Council could undertake the work if the street residents would pay a watering rats. Cr Harrison thought that East street would never be in a good state until it was metalled with broken metal. If some arrangement could be made to water tl e street in question he felt that it would well repay the Council, and the cost would be trifling if each resident in the street paid a fourth of the cost.

The motion was carried. BOROUGH RESERVES. Or Harrison moved—That the Reserve Committee call a meeting at an early date for the purpose of patting up reserves to the highest bidder. Cr Nelson seconded. Cr Bird suggested that the reserves be let for five years. Cr Harrison agreed to add that to his motion. Or St Hill thought that they should wait until after harvest before letting any more reserves. He would propose, as an amendment—“ That the lettiug of them be deterred for sir months.” His Worship the Mayor thought that something might be gained by the delay. He would second the amendment. After considerable discussion the resolution was put and carried, as originally proposed. LICENSES. The following licenses were granted : Rountree, Hefford, and Williams were granted drivers’ licenses. ACCOUNTS. The usual accounts having been'passed for payment, the Council adjourned.