ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1347, 21 September 1886, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was hold at the Council Chambers, Baring Square west, last evening. Present The Mayor, and Crs Thomas, Roberts, Bird, Williamson, Reid, Sealy, Craighead, and Harrison. MAYOR’S STATEMENT. The Mayor said the debit balance at the Bank was £I2OO 7s Bd. The amounts received since last meeting were :—Dog licenses, 2s ; Library account, 18s ; earth, lls; rents of reserves, £7 XOs ; excise licenses, £2O ; rates, 1335, 8s; do, 1886, £SB 17s. _ A letter had been received from the Chairman of the County Council with reference to the unemployed in Ashburton. The Mayor explained what steps that gentleman and himself had taken with regard to this question. The Minister for Public Works had promised £IOO to be expended in relief works for Ashburton unemployed, and Mr Walker was willing that the Borough should provide work upon which that sum should be spent. The rate of wages would be the same as given in Christchurch, 4s 6d per day. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read—(l) From the County Council, stating that the Railway Department had promised to give the matter of planting railway reserve consideration.—(2) From the Railway Department on the same- subject, stating that this season they had no trees for planting, but that that portion of the reserve between Eermode street and the railway bridge would be prepared in time for next season’s planting.—(3) From the Colonial Secretary, with reference to a proposal to present H.R.H. the Prince of Wales with a testimonial in recognition of bis services in connection with the Indian and Colonial Exhibition.—The Mayor said he had acknowledged the letter; He bad received promises of outside support.—Or Williamson moved that the matter be left in the hands of the Mayor.—Cr Bird seconded the motion, which was carried.—(4) From Mr G. Cates, requesting permission to burn rubbish on his section. —Granted, subject to the usual conditions.— (5) From the County Council, asking if there were any works within the Borough on which fifteen ot the Ashburton unemployed might be engaged.—The Mayor said that about twenty applications had been made to himself and Mr Walker for 'work. Of‘these they had selected ten of the moat urgent. The Government had authorised the expenditure ot e sum of £IOO. The rate of pay be had already indicated, and it was now for the Council tc decide what should be done.—Cr Williamsor moved that the Council undertake the expen diture of the money.—Or Thomas seconder the Imotion, which was carried.—Regardini the finding of employment, the Mayor sug Rested the cleaning out of the creek in thi Domain, which was fast silting up, as om matter which might be put in hand A verj suitable site could be found for a swimmini bath in the Domain, and if the work of clean ing out were decided upon preliminary step in this direction could be taken.—Cr Bird sai( he had spoken with the Engineer regardinj the matter, and he recommended the ereotioi of a dam at the higher end of the creek. Thi would intercept the silt spoken of by thi Mayor.—Cr Harrison spoke in favor of th proposal to erect tbe dam. He suggested tba the islands in the Domain should be cleare< of the rank growth of grass and weeds.—C Thomas said the reservoir was gradual!; being overgrown with weeds.—Cr Williamsoi advocated the planting of a portion of thi Council’s reserve in the river bed still re maining unplanted. Something might b ; done in this direction, and also in that indi cated by the Mayor.—The Mayor said th Engineer had agreed to meet the Works Com L mittee to-morrow and lay before them a state ; ment of suitable work.—Cr Sealy thought i would he advisable that the work should b ‘ divided as suggested by Cr Williamson.—C 1 Thomas moved that the Works Committee h

i authorised to select works on which to engage the unemployed.—Cr Eeid seconded the motion, which was carried. —Cr Craighead 3 asked permission for the Swimming-bath > Committee to bring up a report at next i meeting of the Council.—Granted.—lt was r decided, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Thomas, to suitably acknowledge Mr W. G. Walker’s courtesy to the T Borough Council in connection with this i matter. —(5) From the Ashburton County , Council, forwarding statement of accounts in . connection with the Ashburton traffic bridge, and asking for the sum of £162 3s 3d, the ■ balance of the Borough’s subsidy towards the . erection of the bridge.—The Mayor said the i Council’s total contribution only amounted to £862 3s 3d, instead of £IOOO as bad been 1 estimated. The Borough was to be oongratu- ■ lated on obtaining such efficient means of i communication with the district south of the river at such small cost.—(6) From Mr S. Findlay, making an oiler for certain of the i Council’s reserves.—Consideration deferred. J engineers’ report. The Engineers’ report was read as follows : ’ South-East Town Belt; At the request, and t at the expense of the Hakatere Town Board, . we have had two culverts fixed and are cleaning out and re-forming the side-channels ’ at the south-east side of the South-East Town “ Belt. In consequence of this action, it will 1 be incumbent on the householders on that - side of the Belt who wish to take vehicles r across the footpaths into their properties to have a culvert or bridge placed on the sider channel. As the Town Board has no juris--3 diction on the Town Belt, the Chairman has i requested us to lay the matter before the Borough Council, also as to the removal of sundry gorse hedges overhanging the footpath, and to ask if the Council will give the necessary notice to occupiers. River En- \ croaohment: The banks of the river where it encroaches in No. 3 paddock has been protected with gorse fascines, and the fences made good. We should like to have a few

[ iron piles to strengthen the fence, and ask tl ! Council to authorise the purchase of a ton 1 iron rails, which, we understand, oan now 1 obtained at £3 per ton. William Street ! Ee Mr Denshire’a application: We hai I examined the locality with the Chairman ( the Works Committee, and find it is require to form the footpath on the north-west sid of William street, between Cox and Aitke streets, five chains in length, taking 100 cubi yards of filling-in William street and aboi 40 yards in Aitken street, also about 10 yards of metal, and a culvert in the roadwa in Aitken street are wanted. After some discussion, consideration c clause 1 was deferred till the Council bad a: opportunity of satisfying itself as to th nature of the work carried out. Clause 2—The Engineer was instructed ti obtain the necessary rails. Clause 3—Cr Bird explained the conditioi of the street at the point in question.—Aftei some discussion, the clause was adopted. FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE’S REPORT, ' The Fire Brigade Committee reportei having met, and considered the varioui matters referred to it:—(1) Buies—The proo copy of the rules, etc., was carefully gom through with the Committee of the Fir< Brigade, a few corrections made, and th< proof returned to the printer. (2) Foremar to hoist flag—The Committee of the Brigadi explained that this request was only intendec to apply to flags for the usual fortnightly meetings. The foreman could run up tht flag before leaving for work in the morning a card showing the dates and the particulai flag to be used would be posted up in the engine house. For any other meetings the Brigade will hoist the flags themselves Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Foreman be instructed to do do this, (3) Your Committee recommends that the Fire Brigade be requested to appoint a Committee to meet the Committee of the Council on its evenings of meeting half an hour before the business is commenced, in order to confer on matters concerning the Brigade, By this means, believes that time would be saved and matters made more smooth both lor the Council and the Brigade. (4) Your Committee begs to recommend that the Chairmen of the various Town Boards surrounding the Borough be interviewed with the object of coming to soma arrangement as to the payment of the Brigade at fires in their respective districts, and for this purpose recommend that His Worship the Mayor and the Chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee be a deputation to wait on the Boards at their next meetings. After some discussion which arose on the last clause, the report was adopted. MUSEUM. The Mayor reported that the cabinet the Council had ordered had arrived, and had been put in place. RETURNING OFFICER’S REPORT, The Eeturning Officer reported that at the election for three Borough Councillors, Messrs Tucker, Sealy, and Thomas had been returned, TOUNDKEEPER, RANGER, AND INSPECTOR. The tender of W. B. Compton, for the combined offices of Poundkecper, Banger, and Inspector of Nuisances was|aooepted.

REDUCTION OF B'SNT. "X. Stee'e and Brown’s applications lor a redaction in the rents of the Borough reserves occupied by theca was referred to ™ Reserves Committee. An amendment moved by Or Thomas, to the effect that the matter be dealt with by a Committee of the whole Council, lapsed. COMMITTEES. Cr Tucker was appointed a member of the Works Committee, Fire Brigade Committee, and Library Committee. Crs Sealy and Thomas the re-eleated Councillors were sppointed to the places on various Committees formerly occupied by them, Cr Beld was appointed a member of the Reserves Committees, as was also the Mayor. PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £IOO 16s 8d were passed for payment. reserves. Mr Findlay’s application for leasing certain Borough reserves was referred to the Reserves Committee, and the Council adjourned-