ASHBURTON BOROUOH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1411, 4 May 1886, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUOH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held at the Council Chambers, Baring Square, Ust evening. Present: The Mayor and Cri Thomas, Roberts, Sealy, Craighead, C. Reid, Williamson, Bird, and Harrison. MAYOB’a STATEMENT. The Mayor said the debit balance at the bank was L 1,278 19a 6d. The amounts received since last meeting were . Library account, 5i ; dog licenses, L 5 10a ; rates, 1886, J 57 7a; earth, LI 10s. Total, L 64 Is 2d. The meeting with regard to the proposed stock saleyards had taken place, and a resolution had been passed which he had been asked to present to the Council, and this he would do when the proper time arrived. COIUIBSPONDBNCB Correspondence was read as follows: (1) from the Resident Engineer, at Christchurch, with regard to the barbed wire around the Courthouse fence, asking if there were any by-law in force in the Borongh in reference to barbed wire. From the posision in which the wire was placed no damage could result to any person except he intentionally came into contact with it —A. short discussion took place, and the Mayor undertook to see if a by-law affecting the use of barbed wire in public places were In force, and reply to the District Engineer. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor accord ingly. (2) From Mr James Uavidsou, of Dunedin, with regard to the Council's iron pipes.—The Mayor said he had been negotiating with Mr Davidson with a

view of effecting a sale. If successful, he would report at the next mooting of the Council. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor. (3) From Mr T. Holmes, agreeing to the conditions with regard to one of the Council's reserves. BOROUGH LEASE. Mr John Orr waited on the Council , with regard to the lease of a Borongh | reserve held by him. | After briefly stating the circumstances of the case, Mr Orr withdrew, APPLICATION. | From Messrs T. Bullock and GJ. F. , Lublow, applying to have the footpath , in Tancred street, from the Union Bank ' corner to Timtuo’s boarding house—a distance of about two chains—asphalted, , »“d agreeing to contribute hatLoost of j the same. —-r Biid moved, “That the application be granted.” A long dlscnar sion ensued. Ultimately Cr Williamson moved, as an amendment, “That the footpath between East and Gass streets be asphalted on the usual conditions.” Cr thomas spconded the amendment. Or Bird withdrew his motion, and that of 8 Or Williamson was carried. r LIGHTING,

Mr C. W. Baker wrotwatating that the removal of the lamp from the site of the old Fire Brigade station was a great publio inconvenience—a number of streets meeting at that p tint, and the nearest lamp being a considerable distance away. The Mayor said that when he replied to Cr Harrison at the last .meeting of the Council that a lamp was near at hand he was under a misapprehension. It was ultimately resolved, on the motion of Cr Harrison, to re erf ct a lamp at the point Indicated by Mr Baker, the details of fixing to be left in the hands of the Lighting Committee ENOINEEk’3 report. The Engineer reported as follows : Extension of outfall drain : Messrs Brown and Phelps’ tender for earthwors, at 6£d per cubic yard, was accepted by the Works Committee ; they have commenced work, but have been stopped by the recent wet weather. All the pipes have been placed on the ground ready for laying, and all necessary preparations made for beginning this part of the work. Ws have advertised for tenders for labour 10 (He sumps, and mould ask the Council to authorise the Works Committee to accept one. The labour gang has been engaged in carting pipes to and making preparation for extension of the outfall drain, clearing side channels, attending to water supply, etc. Some discussion took place with regard to the new outfall drain. Or Reid asked if 'he pipes were large enough to carry off any storm water that might accumulate after heavy rain. The Mayor said that the Engineer had given his opinion that the size of the pipes was ample to carry off any water that came down the channels. Cr Bird said the ordinary supply that ca ne from the reservoir could be shot off at any time that the channels ware over taxed with storm water DEFAULTING RATEPATEKS. The Kate Collector forwarded a list of ratepayers who had failed to pay their rates since 1879, and who could nut be found, It was resolve! to take the necessary steps to recover the amount of the rates. FIRE BKIOADB LAMP. Cr Thomas drew attention to the lamp at the Fire Brigade station. It was of no use whatever for lighting purposes Ifafew inches of the coloured glass at the bottom of the lamp were removed its usefulness wonld be improved without Impairing its efficiency as a mark of the site of the Fire Brigade station. The matter was referred to the Fire Brigade Committee. In reply to Cr Harrison, the Mayor said that the matter of letting the cottage on the Fire Brigade site was in the hands of the Committee. A DARK LOCALITT.

Or Harrison mentioned the need of a light of some sort in that part of the town near the corner of Grigg and Wills streets. He said that several people had come to grief on dark nights at the corner in [question owing to the absence of a light Ho was aware that the gas main did not extend so far, but residents would be satisfied with a kerosene lamp, and, he was sure, would undertake to attend to its lighting and cleaning themselves. He moved, “That steps be taken to erect a lamp, either kerosene or gas, at the corner indicated.” Cr Williamson seconded the motion pro foniui. A desultory discussion ensued, in the course of which Cr Thomas suggested that a dozen kerosene lamps should be erected In various parts of the town in order to ascertain if that mode of lighting were cheaper than gas. Several councillors objected to a gas lamp being erected at the corner of Wills and Grigg streets as suggested by Cr Harrison, but said they would support a proposal for a kerosene lamp. Or Harrison's motion was lost, but one subsequently moved by Or Bird, that the Lighting Committee bring np a report on the subject, was carried.

Cr Thomas moved to the effect that a doz3n kerosene lamps be erected as an experiment, but there being no seconder the motion lapsed. SPECIAL MEETING It was resolved to hold a special meeting on Tuesday next at 3.30 p.m., to consider the auditors’ report and the balance sheet COMMITTEE. The Council wont into Committee on the subject of Mr John Orr’a lease, with reg td to wbiph that gentleman had waited ou the Council at an earlier stage of the meeting. It was decided to adhere to the firmer resolution on the matter. THE PROPOSED STOCK SALEYAED S, The Mayor presented the motion which had been carried at a public meeting on the 30 h instant, to the effect that the Council should take steps to erect stock saleyacds within the Borough. Cr Bird thought that the mattei was a too weighty one for the Council to undertake, seeing that the district was well servded (a the natter f yard*

Gr Reid thought the proper course would be to appoint a Committee to consider the cost and details of the scheme Be moved, “ That a Committee be appointed to consist of the Mayor, On Roberts, Harrison, Williamson, and Sealy. ” Or Williamson thought all the members of the Oouooil should be included in the Committee, and that a month should be allowed in which to draw up a report. If that were done be would second the motion. He would give the scheme his hearty support if it could be shown that it would be a benefit to the town. Or Thomas did not think it was in the Council's sphere to erect saleyards. The expense of erecting suitable yards would be about L2ooo, and if the Oouncil entered into competition with the present company he knew which body would come to grief. Or Sealy thought the proposal should have approached the Saleyards Company and endeavoured to get it to remove its yards within the Borough. He spoke on the matter at some length, and ultimately moved, “Jhat the present Saleyards Company be communicated with in such a way as to ascertain if it is in favour of removing its stock saleyards within the Borough."

Or Thomas seconded. The Mayor spoke in favour of Or Seaiy’s motion. Or Harrison also spoke in favoar of the motion He did not think the Ooanoil would be wise in going into the business o/ erecting and maintaining stuck yards. He fe!t sure that if the work were undertaken by the Oouncil it would result in a loss to the ratepayers. After eom« desultory difcnasion the motion was withdrawn, and the amendment, on being put, was carried unanimously. PAYMENTS. The usual monthly accounts, amounting to L 69 16s 3d, were passed for payment, and the Counoi) adjmrned