BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1056, 22 January 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Cooncil was held last evening in the Council Chambers, when there were present his Worship the Mayor, and Crs A. Orr, W. Leggett, R. Friedlandor, S. Nelson, T. Sealy, R. Bird, A. Harrison, and G. H. St Hill. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. mayor’s statement. The Mayor stated that the debit balance at the Bank amounted to L 1 ,134 10a 7d. FENCE AT THE OLD M'SN’s HOME. A letter was re-d from Mr J. E. March in reference to a motion passed at last meeting of the Council stating that the matter should hdve his earliest attention. —deceived. inspector of nuisances. The Committee appointed to consider what should be done in respect to the Inspector of Nuisances reported that they had come to the conclusion that the best course would be to re-appoint Mr Davison at the present salary, namely, LSO a year. The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the report, said that Mr Davison had notified that he would accept the sa’ary mentioned, as the Wakanui Road Board and the Upper Ashburton Road Board had decided not to continue their contributions to the Inspector’s salary. He thought, however, that the Wakanui Board at any rate would need to employ outside assistance. Cr Friedlandor seconded the motion.

Cr Nelson thought it would be as well to amalgamate the offices of Inspector and Foreman of Works. Cr Friedlandor said that the Committee had fully considered whatCr Nelson mentioned, but they had come to the conclusion that it would not work.

Cr Orr would like to see a larger salary, say LIOO, given to a man who would undertake the duties of both Inspector and Foreman. He would not, however, oppose the report. After further conversation the report was unanimously adopted. WESTERN FIRE BRIGADE. The Secretary of the Western Fire Brigade wrote asking that the Council should either grant a subsidy of Ll 5 to the Brigade or take over the plant on condition the overdraft was liquidated. Cr St Hill spoke in support of the application, and said that it was absolutely necessary for the existence of the Brigade that the request be granted. Cr Harrison suggested that a notice of motion should be giv,en so that the councillors might give the matter, which was an important one, farther consideration. The Mayor said that a notice of motion was not necessary, as it waS simply an application to the Council from an outside body. He thought the request was a very modest one, and he would support the giving of the subsidy asked for, as he would not be in favor of the Council taking over the plant. Or Leggett would oppose the request on the ground chat if the money were given it would either rob the other Brigade which was supported by the Fire Associations, or it would come out of the pockets of the ratepayers. He would not have opposed the grant if he thought that the Western Brigade was of the slightest use, but he thought that if the whole plant was seized and sold up it would be the best thing that could happen. Cr Nelson also opposed the grant.

Cr St Hill moved that the sum of Ll 5 be granted, and answered what had been said by Crs Leggett and Nelson. Cr, Bird seconded the motion.

Or Sealy.thought it would be better for Ashburton if there was only one Fire Brigade. In far larger places, as in Christchurch, they had only one body controlled by a single individual. The borough already paid too much for protection from fire, and now they were asked to increase it by Ll 5, and he was sure that that sum would be greatly augmented in future. Or Harrison wished to point out that the gentleman who now asked for this LXS was the same gentleman who opposed a vote to the Ashburton Brigade on the score that 12£ per cent, of the rates was already spent on this connection. It had been recognised that a better engine was what was required for the Fire Brigade, but if they did what was suggested they would bo taking a backward step, as they would bo buying a smaller engine. He would like, to see the Western Fire Brigade flourish, but he could not conscienciously support the motion. Or Orr said that the question was whether the Council should support the Western Brigade, or abandon it. The Council had already given something to the Brigade, and as the sum was small he would be in favor of granting it, at any rate for one year. Q|Cr Friedlander had been inclined |to vote against the motion before Or Harrison had spoken, but now he agreed with Or Orr’s views, and as the Council had already given some support to the Brigade, he thought that the sum asked for should be granted. Cr Leggett moved as an amendment—- * ‘ That the request be not granted. ” He considered the whole thing a waste of money. If he remembered rightly, Or St. Hill bad said some' time ago in the Town Hall that he was in favor of tho rates being reduced to Qd, but he should like to know how they were gqing to s<? this when they found that a Is was insufficient to meet the demands made . upon their funds.

Cr Harrison seconded the amendment. He said that if the Council granted this l money to the Western Brigade, the bur- l gesses would, he * as sure, think that the other Brigade, which had always worked well, as being slighted. The Ashburton Brigade, he could tell the Council, was losing heart, and if this motion were carried it would not improve matters. Cr St. Hill said that the best feeling had always prevailed between the two Brigades. He explained that Cr Leggett’s remarks showed that he had misapprehended what had been said by him (the speaker) All he said was that when the principal works were . done and they abstained from borrowing, they would he able to do with a 6d rate. The amendment was then put and declared lost, four voting for it and five against it. The motion was then put and carried. THE WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. The report of the Committee was read and adopted. THE LABOR GANG. Or Nelson suggested that as there was very little work doing just now, the labor gang should have two months’ leave so that they might go harvesting. -Cr Friedlander thought that the matter should be left in the hands of the Works Committee to decide. He would move to that effect. Or Orr seconded this, and it was carried. STREET LIGHTING. The Mayor called attention to the fact that the time was approaching when the streets should be lighted. He suggested that a Committee should be appointed to report on the question at next meeting. Cr St Hill moved that a Committee consisting of Crs Harrison, Bird, Sealy and the mover be appointed. Cr Nelson seconded it, and it was carried unanimously. THE RAILWAY COMMISSION. It was resolved that the Mount Somers Railway Committee meet on Wednesday at 3 p.m., re the evidence to be brought before the Commission on Friday and Saturday. LICENSES. A cab license was granted to Donald Mcßae, and a driving license t* J. W. Mcßae. ACCOUNTS. The usual accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting then adjourned.