ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1378, 12 November 1884, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Special Meeting. A special meeting of the Council was held last evening to confirm the following resolu ion, adopted at a special meeting of the C tuncil held on Monday, 13th v’ctober, viz : “That the lease of'part of Borough reserve No. 7b6 to the vsliburton public library trustees be cancelled, and this Council assumes the control and management of the said library, and that the balance of the sum expended by the Library Committee in erecting the nuilding, exclusive of fixtures and furni ture, after paying off mortgage and in terest, be invested with this Council at current rates of interest >.s ruling from time to time ; and that the said interest, together with subscriptions, donations and ali other moneys received on behalf of the library, be expended in maintaining tho same, and in the purchase of books or other reading matter, or in the formation of a museum ; and that this Council will recognise the rights and privileges of life members at present on the books of the library, as if no change in the management had taken place.” Present —His Worship tho Mayor and Ora Friedlander, Nelson, A.Orrand Sealy. The minutes of the previous special meeting were read, a"d on the motion of Cr Friedlander, seconded by Or A. Orr, the resolution then adopted was confirmed.

Ordinary Meeting.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Council w.s held last evening. Present— His Worship the Mayor, and Cra Friedlander, Nelson, J. Orr, Sealy, Harrison, Leggett, Bird, Thomas and A. Orr. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. mayor’s statement.

The Mayor stated that the Bank overdraft was L 712 2s 2d. The amounts received since last meeting were; —Licenses, L2 15s ; excise, 5s ; oorough seal, LI 1s ; Inspector of Weights and Measures, 2s2d; earth, Lh; rents of reserves, Ll 3 ; rates, L 8 8s; total, L 26 11a 2d. He had consulted the borough solicitor in reference to the tether rope nuisance, and had arranged that the next offender should be prosecuted. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read: expressing regret that he was unable to alter his previous decision in reference to the Moore street crossing.—(2) From the same to the same effect in reference to leasing certain sections of the railway reserves.—(3) From Mr W. 0. Walker, M.H.R., acknowledging the Council's letter thanking him for his attention to the interests of the Borough. —(4) From the same acknowledging the receipt of the ratepayers' petition, praying that the Moore street crossing be opened, and stating that the Minister of Public Works had promised further consideration to the question.—(s) From Mr H. J. Shaw, soliciting an order for brooms, samples of which had been forwarded to the Council. VALUATION ROLL.

The tender of Mr John Davidson at L 23 for the compilation of the valuation roll was accepted. DOO COLLARS.

The tender of Mr f. Tait for the supply of dog collars at Is each was accepted. LIBRARY.

The Mayor said that having determined to take over the Library, it became necessary to appoint a Committee to superintend the details of management. Be propost dThat Cra A. Orr, J. One Leggatt, Thomas, and Harrison be the Library Committee ” Cr T omas declined to act upon the proposed Committee. He assured councillors that it had been his intention to maintain the position he had taken up at their last meeting in reference to the Library resolution and he regretted that owing to a misunderstanding he had not been present at the special meeting to support his contention with the authorities he now held. However, he gathered from the tenor of the Major a proposition that the resolution had been confirmed, and he (Or Thomas) wished to enter his protest against the whole proceedings, which he held were illegal and might involve the Council in many serious consequences. He deprecated the tone adopted towards him by the Mayor at the last meeting, and disavowed any desire to raise frivolous objections. The Mayor had distinctly ruled that no amendment could be moved upon a resolution to which a previous amendment had been defeated, but he (Cr Thomas) was prepared to show that fifty amendments could be moved, and the matter saving gone so far he bad determined to take legal steps to nullify the whole proceedings. He called attention of Councillors to the 157th clause of the “Municipal Corporations Act, 1876,” which he contended held Councillors personally liable for the repiyment of any raorey improperly borrowed for Library purposesThe Mayor substituted the name of Or Nelson for that of Cr Thomas, and the amended motion being seconded by Cr Bird was carried. The Mayor said that it would be necessary to provide the Committee with the necessary funds to discharge the pressing liabilities of the Library. Cr Thomas proposed—“ That no money be expended upon the Library for one month.” The proposition was not seconded, Cr Bird proposed—“ That the Committee be authorised to pay pressing claims up to LSO at once, and report at next meeting in reference to the remaining liabilities. ”' Cr Harrison seconded the proposition. He said that he held with Cr Thomas that his amendment should have been accepted, but seeing a large majorl y of the Councillors were in favor of the resolution adopted, he (Or Harrison) had not felt justified in maintaining a futile opposi-

tion. He was sure the action prooosed by the Council met with the approval of a majority of the burgesses. At the same time he disapproved of the provision made by the resolution for the adjustment f accounts and interest between

the Library and the Council, which he regarded as a complication of a very si ii pie matter of account, Cr J. Orr said that Or Thomas had positively asserted that the action taken by the Council was illegal, and it might be judicious to consult thetr solicitor before moving further in the matter. (Or Thomas: “ Hear, hear. You shoul I have done that before.”) The Mayor might have erred in declining to put the a mend meat, but if it had been submitted to tlie Council they would undoubtedly have arrived at the same conclusion

Or A. Orr did not agree with Or Harrison as to the futility of the accounts provided for by the resolution. He suggested that Or Thomas should be allowed to seek legal advice on the question, and that the Council should act with independence, not run to their solicitor whenever the holder of some fad impugned the legality of their proceedings. The Mayor said that it had not been his intention to speak bn the, subject, but Or J. Urr’a remark that he (tho Mayor) might have erred in not putting th-i amendment called for some explanation. As a matter oji f<*ct no amendment was tabled. Or Thomas had asked if he might put a further amendment, and ho (the Mayor) had rep ied “No.” There vfaa no amendment submitted, and the proceedings were of a conversational character between Or Thomas and himself What had been stigmatised as aq improper ruling was merely a hurried opinion, and Cr Thomas had entered no protest or taken other stops, &x the imputes would show, to record hi*

dissent. They were now threatened with I he terrors of the law, but he regarded it | ss a mere storm in a teapot, an ocunr-1 retvce of which no Court of law would take 11 any cognisance. I Gr J. Orr said that he had not wished j to impute the slightest impropriety to the j Mayor. J The resolution was then put and car- j tied., I engineers’ report. I The Engineers’ report waa read as fol- I lows : j The Works Committee discussed the ques- I tion of the proposed erection by Mr Turner of I a cottage at the head of tne mill-race for the I residence of a man to attend to the regulation I of the supply of water, and it was resolved that I the matter should be brought before the Council J with a recommendation that some steps be J taken in this direction. The labor gang have I been employed in fo ming Grey street and I footpaths in Aitken street, filling up footpath I in Burnett street east, carting soil to Kermode street, shingling along side channel in Moore street, forming footpath on S.E. Belt to fall width between Burne t and Havelock streets, making and fixing culverts and bridges, cleaning out water channels, attending to water supply, etc, MILL RACE. Some discussion took place in reference to the appointment of a caretaker at the head of the race, the cost to be borne jointly by Mr C W. Turner and the i Council, and it was ultimately resolved to allow the matter to stand over until the next meeting of the Council. The remainder of the report was adopted. LICENSES. ) The following licenses wore granted'.— - Drivers; William Fox, Francis Maofar- - Une, Robert Maofarlane. Kerosene; , Fciedlandec Bros and A. Orr. a - ACCOUNTS. 1 The usual fortnightly accounts amount, log to L 135 13s 6d were passed for pay' ment, and the Council adjourned.