BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1374, 19 October 1886, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held at the Council’s Chambers, Baring Square West, last evening. Present: The Mayor and Councillors Thomas, Williamson, Eoberts, Harrison, Sealy, Reid, and Bird. An apology was received for the abaauce of Cr Craighead. mayor’s statement. The Mayor said the debit balance at the Bank was £1312 17s lid. The amounts which had been received since last meeting were Library account, cata'ogues, 2s ; Do. subscriptions, 17s; dog licenses, 5s ; rates, 188 G, £ls 19s. Total, £l7 3s. The amount of rates remaining uncollected was £59 5s Bd. The half-yearly balance-sheet and Auditor’s report have been laid on the table. The Government had appointed auditors, and in future all the accounts of boroughs would be audited by them. Mr J. C. Dolman had handed over 3 long service medals for members of the Fire Brigade, and also a sackful! of Fire Brigade plant which he had had in his possession for some time. The medals and plant would be handed to the chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee for despatch to the proper quarters. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read: —(l) From Mr Clark, Westport, asking information regarding the iron pipes which the Council had for sale.— The Mayor said he had replied to Mr Clark, quoting a price. (2) From committee of Management in connection with banquet to Mr Alan Scott in re( ognition of his services to the Midlaand Eailway, asking what number of councillors would be likely to be present at the banquet which would take place on the 21st instant.— Matter left over, for councillors to make their own arrangements. (3) From the Secretary of Fire Brigade, submitting name of Mr Undrill, who was a candidate for membership on the Fire Brigade, for Council’s approval.—The Council agreed vo the Fire Brigade’s suggestion.—(4) From Mr J. L. Brown, requesting permission to buru rubbish.—Granted subject to the usual conditions. (5) From Mr J. Henry, stating that water had been cut off from a reserve leased by him.—The matter was referred to the Works Committee, with a view to the water being again led on to the reserve. engineers’ report. The Engineers reported as follows: Planting and Fencing on River Bed Reserve Domain Improvements—The unemployed (16 in number) with the Council’s labor gang have made good progress with the work directed by the Council. About 11,000 willows and 2000 poplars have been planted on the river bed reserve above the Government protective works, and the fencing will be completed we expect to-morrow. The work in the Domain is going on well. The dam would have been very nearly finished had not the carting been delayed by two of the horses being required fnr other work, but we expect little will be required to be done to it at the close of the present week. We calculate that the unemployed can be kept at work for another fortnight with the money given by Government, by which time we trust all the improvements contemplated will have been carried out. Tank for filling water-cart —The Works Committee have had this matter under their oonsidertion, but did not come to a final decision, awaiting further information we expect to obtain. Not having yet received all the information Jnecessary we would respectfully request an extension of time for the report. Public Urinal: The Works Committee report, after having considered all the circumstances, that they do not consider it advisable that the Council should undertake the erection of a public urinal at the present time. The ordinary routine work of regulating the water supply, clearing side-channels, etc., has been duly attended to.

The Mayor and several Councillors expressed their satisfaction with the work which was being carried on in the Domain and river bed under the superintendence of the Engineer. Clauses 1 and 2 of the report were adonted.

With reference to Clause 3, Or Harrison considered the work in question a most necessary one. He moved that the Works Committee be requested to report on the matter at an early date, Cr Thomas seconded the motion proforma, but it was lost, Cr Harrison alone voting for it.

The clause was then adopted COMMITTEES.

Cr Williamson moved—“ That all the present Committees of the Council cease to exist after next meeting, with a view to their remodelling.” Cr Thomas seconded the motion, which was carried. LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. The Mayor said he wished to draw the Council’s attention to a notification which had appeared in the newspapers in reference to Government loans to local bodies. Should the Council desire to avail themselves of the provision made by Government, their application would have to be sent in before December 1. The rate of interest they were at present paying to the Bank on their overdraft was considerably higher than that which was charged on the loans from Government, viz., five per cent. He would not suggest to the Council the action it should take, but he deemed it his duty to bring the matter up.

Cr Harrison moved “ That tho Council endeavour to reduce its overdraft, and that under no consideration should it borrow.” He believed the tendency which was manifested in the colonies to borrow was a very bad one, and he advocated strict economy. The m tion was not seconded, and therefore lapsed. Cr Thomas thought the question of borrowing was made a bug bear of. The Government had brought forward a scheme by whieh local bodies could borrow at an extremely low rate, viz, five per cent. If he could obtain money at five per cent he would not feel inclined to pay nine or ten per cent for it, and what applied to private individuals also applied to public bodies. He said that it they obtained a loan they could pay off their present overdraft, on which they were paying a high rate of interest, and also undertake some necessary works, to which he referred at length. He moved “ That the Council make application to the Government for a loan of £3OOO, and that the revenues from the reserves be set apart for interest and sinking fund ; this amount to be employed in paying off the overdraft, in making £BOO worth of channelling; £320 for bath, and the balance in general work.” Cr Williamson raised the question as to whether the motion could be considered at that meeting.

Cr Thomas accordingly gave notice of his intention to bring the matter forward at next meeting. LICENSES. Licenses were granted as follows: Carriers: A. Bean, H Dailey; carriage, H. Dailey ; driver, 11. Dailey. PAYMENTS, Accounts amounting to £B-1 7s Id were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.