ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1434, 20 January 1885, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Council Chamberalaatevening. Present—HiaWorahip the Mayor and Crs A. Orr, T. Sealy, R Bird, S. Nelson, G. Jameson, and A. Harrison. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. NEW COUNCILLOR. Or Jameson signed the usual declaration and took his seat. mayor’s statement. The Mayor stated that the debit balance at the bank was L 1477 7a lid. The amounts received since last meeting were : rent of water, L2 ; library, L 3 14s ; licenses, L 3 ; rents of reserves, LSI 5s ; dog licenses, L 3 10s ; rates, L4l 7s 6d. Total, LB4 16s 6d. VALUATION LIST. The valuation list for 1885 was laid on the table. COBRESTON DENG K. The following correspondence was read : (1), From the Ashburton Fire Brigade calling attention to the fact th »t the halfyear’s subsidy due from the Council to the brigade on 30th November last had not been paid. (2) From the Ashburton County Council stating that a committee from that body would be pleased to meet a committee from the Borough Council to confer in reference to the construction of the Ashburton traffic bridge ; a committee, consisting of the Mayor, OrsJ. Orr, A. Orr, Soaly, Harrison, and Thomas was appointed to meet the committee from the ounty Council. 13), From Mr Wm. Lake stating that the gravel pit near the Gasworks* encroached upon his sections i Nos 905 and 906, and requesting that the latter bo restored to their natural level. The matter was referred to tho Works Committee with power to act. (4) From Mr G St Hill resigning his appointment as Fire Inspector. The resignation was accepted. engineer’s report. The Engineer’s report wm read as follows : 014 Offices; The Works Committee recommend that the consideration of letting or otherwise disposing with the old offices be postponed for the present, as they would require some alterations before they would be easily let as a dwelling-house.—River bed: We have gone over the land in the river bed that has be n practically reclaimed by the railway protective works, and find there is no danger from the river threatening the land near the pound at present. There does not seem to have been any water in any of the overflow channels near the boundary for some time past. It would be advisable to define the portions of river bed from which shingle can be taken. The plan defining the land will be ready by Wednesday. We are sorry that the necessary survey has been unavoidably delayed. —Building By-laws: We have had our attention directed to a shed recently erected in East street, within the building block. It has not been understood that the law compelling the use of brick or stone applies to any but buildings used as dwellings, stores, shops, workshops or offices, although the by-law does not specially designate this, borne time ago it was proposed to alter and make more definite the present bylaws. In any case, notice ought to be given of the proposed erection of any building within the Borough.—The labor gang have been engaged in finishing off Aitken street, filling in holes on railway reserves, scooping in river bed, putting in concrete steps at Library, repairing concrete channeling, attending to water supply, etc. OLD COUNCIL BUILDING. Ab recommended by the Works Committee, it was resolved to defer letting the old Council buildings. Cr Harrison suggested that better accommodation for the Fire Brigade might be provided in the building. The Mayor explained that the room allotted to the Brigade had been hurriedly furnished, and was only intended to be of a temporary character. Crs Bird and Sealy said that considerable expenditure would be required to render the building suitable for occupation as a residence. LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The report of the Library Committee was read as follows t Your Committee has the honor to report having received the enclosed letter from Mr Farley offering to supply books from London, the latest publications, at London published prices, and to allow the Council three months after arrival for payment of same. Your Committee recommend that a trial order be given to the extent of from L 5 to L 7 10s. Your Committee recommend that the English Mechanic and the Athenaeum be procured for the reading room. Your Committee has much pleasure in reporting that the improvements in the reading room, the matting, extra table, etc., have given general satisfaction.” NEW BOONS. On the motion of Cr A. Orr, seconded by Cr Nelson, it was resolved to entrust Mr Farley with a trial order for L2O worth of books. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The Reserves Committee's report was read and ad opted; THE POMVIN. Cr Harrison enquired if anything had yet been done in the direction of transferring the management of the Domain to the Council.

The Mayor replied in the negative, and Or Harrison added that he thought the time had arrived when the Council should do something to acquire control of the Domain with a view to better its present neglected condition. The Mayor thought it would be hardly graceful for the Council to initiate steps for the acquirement of the Domain. It would be better if the Hoard would seek the transfer, and ho suggested that Cr Harrison as a raemberof the Board should sound that body in reference to the matter. He fully concurred with Or Harrison’s estimate of the importance of placing such an important place of public resort on a creditable footing.

Cr Harrison explained that his right to occupy a seat upon the Board as successor to the late councillor, Mr St Hill, had been challenged by that gentleman, and he (Or Harrison) was practically powerless in the matter. Or Jameson said that in view of the position in which Or Harrison appeared to be placed, it might be better to address ac official letter to the Board on the subject. On the motion of Or Bird, seconded by Or A. Orr, the Mayor was requested to wait upon the Chairman of the Domain Board and ask him to ca I a meeting of that body for the purpose of discuasjng the matter. RIViSH ENCROACHMENT. Or Nelson called attention to the river encroachment above the Old Men’s Home, and suggested that slops should be taken to divert the current. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. MOORE STREET CROSSING, Replying to Or A. Orr, the Mayor said that the Minister of Public Works had not yet redeemed his promise to inspect the Moore street crossing. On the motion of Or Orr it was resolved to write to the Minister and ask when it would be convenient for him to inspect this and other works required in the Borough. SID 3 CHANNELS. Or Jameson directed the attention of the Works Committee to the fact that the courses of several of the side channels were obstructed by debris Or Bird, Chairman of the- Works Committee, promised renewed attention to the matter. INSPECTOR OF W IGHXS AND MBASURIS, '!fhe Mayor suggested the appointment of a local Inspector of weights and measures.

Ce Orr thought it would be wise to first invite tho Christchurch Inspector to visit the Borough and adjust the weights and measures of tradesmen.

The whole matter was relegated to the Mayor with power to act. COMMITjCEB. Cr Jameson was appointed to the Com* mittees on which the Mayor had served previous to his installation, viz, —Finance, Fire Brigade, and By-law. by-laws On the motion of the Mayor the by laws of the Council were referred to the Bylaw Committee to report upon. FIRE BRIGADE. The Mayor referring to the letter read from the Ashburton Fire Brigade, said that he considered the Council had been j treated very improperly by the Brigade. It was evidently the determination of the Brigade to retain the LAO they had received from the Fire Association, and also | to claim the Council’s annual subsidy. He had felt disposed to request the Brigade as a whole to resign, but if the Council thought it better to refer the question to the Fire Brigade Committee he would concur. It must, however, be clearly understood, although the Brigade appesred to have lost sight of the fact that the whole of the plant and accoutrements were the property of the Council. He was fully satisfied that the Improper conduct of the Brigade w«s instigated by a few disaffected individuals, whose removal would restore the unanimity which should exist between the two bodies. Ora Harrison and Bird concurred with the remarks which had fallen from the Mayor. <he Mayor moved, that this Council request from the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade the immediate refund of the LAO, which they received from the Fire Association, and in the event of their not complying with the request the Council i take steps to disband the Brigade; further, that the custodian do not allow , any of the Council’s Fire Brigade property | to be removed from the station without consent of this Council. The motion was seconded by Cr Nelson and carried. It was resolved to send a copy of the motion to the Fire Association , ’ LICENSES. The following licenses were granted : : Carriers, J. Heffoid (2) ; public buildings, i Oddfellows’ Hall. 5 ACCOUNTS. ° Accounts amounting to Ll2l 19s Id were passed fur payment, and the Council | adjourned until 2nd February.