ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1538, 12 May 1885, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held at the Council Chambers, Library Buildings, last evening Present—His Worship the Mayor and Ors Sealy, Quill, J. Orr, Bird, Nelson, Harrison and J»u eson, mayor's statement. The Mayor said the debit balance at the Bank was now L 1,556 17s 6d. He had interviewed the manager of the Bank with reference to the overdraft, and had promised that a considerable reduction would bo made in the course of a few weeks Since last meeting he had called a special meeting of the Council for the purpose of considering a communication received from Sir Julius Yogel, with reference to certain amendments in the Municipal Corporations Act. No quorum had, however, assembled, and the meeting therefore lapsed. The question would come up for consideration that evening. He had also called a public meeting in connection with defence matters, and he was glad to see the admirable spirit in which the matter had been taken up, a volunteer corps of over fifty members having been enrolled. Or Sealy deserved the thanks of the community for taking the initiative in this matter. He had noticed that the County Councd in their published statement of accounts had in hand the balance of the Library grant, and ha had directed the Town Clerk to apply for the amount The rates were coming in very slowly, and he suggested the Council should take stringent measures for their collection. corbespondenceThe following correspondence was read: —(1) From the Ashburton County Conned enclosing the balance of the Library vote. —(2) From Mr C. W. Purnell, solicitor for Mr M. Priedlander, demanding payment of Ll2 10s, the value of a horse drowned in the Council’s water race, and also demanding the removal of the body of the horse,- On the suggestion of the Mayor the letter was referred to the Council’s solicitor, (3) From Messrs Wilkin and Co enclosing transfer of lease of reserve No 2,443, from Robert Jeffs to Robert Wilkin, for the endorsement of the consent of the Council.—lt was agreed to consent as requested. —(4) From the Secretary of the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade, enclosing the names of two now members of the Brigade, F. D. Lowe and D. Hamburgher, for the approval of the Council.—The members were approved of —(5) From the Colonial Treasurer to the following effect:—“ It ia under consideration to increase the rating 'limit within boroughs from fd to Id in the £ on the capital value, in order to give an income from rates as they possess under a system of levying la in the £ on the annual value. I should be glad to learn the view of your Council on the queftion, and also to know whether if the law were altered in this direction the Council woull be willing to adopt the Rating Act, ; 882, and rate on the capital value, thereby saving the present annual cost of valuation. An early answer would oblige.”— The Mayor said he had called a special meeting to consider the communication from the Colonial Treasurer, but no quorum had attended. It would now devolve upon the Council to deal with the matter. Personally he was not favorable to the change .suggested by Sir Julius Vogel.— After a brief discussion it waq resolved, on the motion of Or Harrison, seconded by Or Sealy, to adhere to the present system of rating.— (6) From Messrs Merriweather and Sons, of London, giving particulars of their . steam fire engines —(7) From the Property Tax Commissioner, Wellington, requesting the Council to afford intending valuators under the Property Tax Act facilities to inspect the rolls and maps of the Council. —It was resolved to grant the facilities asked for. —(8) From the Kaiapoi Borough Council, asking if it were the intention of the Council to take any steps to secure the exenpfcion of firemen from service la the Militia.—On the motion of Cr Bird, seconded by Or Nelson, it was resolved to take no action to exempt firemen from service in the Militia, and to reply to the Kaiapoi Borough Council to that effect. Cr Harrison asked leave for himself and Or Q nil to withdraw, as they had important business which required to be attended to that evening.—The request was acceded to. Cr Harrison then asked that his notice of motion with respect to the Ashburton Domain Board be postponed till next mooting, and this application was aiso granted. engineers’ report. The Engineers’ report was read and adopted as follows:—Supply of Shingle : Six tenders were received for the supply of metal, and the Works Committee accepted that of Mr Charles Brown, at Is 2d for road, and Is 41 for footpath, We expect he will start delivering to-morrow. —Protective Works: The recent rains and freshes in the river have delayed the completion of the protective works. The last groin has been commenced. Bo 1 and No 2 groins, which bear the greatest stress of water in a fresh, stand very well and we belieye that the work generally will bs found satisfactory, and efficacious in preventing any further scour of the bank. The labor gang has been engaged working at the protective works, forming Havelock street, scooping in river at the bead of mill rice, cleaning side channels, attending to water supply, etc. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES REPORT. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read as follows :—Since last meeting of the Council I have the honor to report that the horse lying in the watar race ofl Winter’s road was buried by the Council's men, as Mr M. Friedlander, who is the owner of the same, declined to do so. I have also to state that I have again had complaints with *stpeot3 to the side Channel from Mr Larioaater’s butcher’s shop in East street to the East' street channel. Ido not think, however, it is from any want of attention on Mr Lancaster’s part, but to the defectiveness of the ohanpel. I have attended to the matter of blocking of channels] for ducks and geese complained of at last meeting. The Mayor said complaints were repeatedly being made of the nuisance from Mr Lancaster’s shop. Perhaps the Inspector, who was present, would give ' some further particulars of the matter.— ' Mr Davison, the Inspector, explained that the nuisance was caused through there not being sufficient fall from *he point where Mr Lancaster’s drain enters the side channel in street to the East street channel. The debris from Mr Lancaster's shop through this defect was net carried away, but remained in the channel.—The matter was referred to the Works Committee to report upon, ■ RIFLE CORPS. A report by the Mayor in respect to the Honorary Rifle Corps was read as follows: —I have the hqnpr to inform you that, as req nested at last meeting, I palled a meeting of those wishing to form a Reserye Corps for Ashburton, which was held da he 6th last. The attendance was not arge and the only business done was passing a resolution to the effect that tho e present form themselves into a Committee to make further enquiries, and o obtain tfya signatures of those willing to join an Honorary Rifle Corps. Captain Douglas, of the Ashburton Rifles, was present, a id supplied much valuable information. FIRF. INSPECTORS. 4 letter was read frbm the Fire Brigade Association, suggesting that none but comber? .of the local Fire Brigades should re appointed Fire Inspectors for the BorHigh. —On the motion of Cr 'ealy, se- ; udrd by Or Jameson, it was resolved i.pi oint the Captain and Lieutenant of <>tch Hrigade as Fire Inspectors for the trough, 1

ASHBURTON POUND. The Council wont into Committee to consider the report of the Pound Committee. On resuming the Mayor reported that he had been authorised to arrange for the transfer of the pound from the County to the Borough Council. BATES. It was resolved, on the suggestion of the Mayor, to advertise the intention of the Council to take stringent measures to collect overdue rates. LICENSE. A driver’s license was granted to T. Price. PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to L 125 6s lid were passed for payment. STREET LIGHTING. Cr Bird said he . had recently noticed several street lamps extinguished earlier than they should have been under the agreement with the Gas Company.—Cr Nelson had noticed the same thing.—lt was resolved to communicate with the Gas Company on the subject. ADJOURNMENT. The Council f.hen adjourned.