ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1477, 8 February 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

■» . The ordinary fortnightly meeting wan held last night. Present : Tho Mayor ani CrsFnedlander, Williamson, Roberta, Bird, a.'&Reid. apology was received for the absence of Ur Harrison. mayor's statement The Mayor said ihe debit balance at the bank was £1278 7a 7d. The amounts which had been received Binoe last meeting were :— Library accou >t, £2 2* ; 1 censes, £1; cog licenses, £4; pipes sold, £4 Is 8i ; Bampatead Town Board, expenses of fira, £3 4i , /eats of reserve?, £18; rent of pound, £8 19 ; pawnbroker's license, £20 ; rates on Government pro perty, £31 IO«. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were received— (l) From the Ashburton Domain Board, m reference to an account forwarded to it for a re» fund of expenses inourred m connection with the recent grass fire m the Domain. The Board trusted that m view of its having no funds the Oounoil would treat the matter as one affecting tho Borough. Had the Board sufficient funds at Its disposal it would gladly pay the account. — It was resolved not to relieve the Board of Jts liability, bnt at the same time not to press for . Immediate payment.—(2) From the Domain Board, intimating the date of meeting gf that body. — The Mayor said that m company with the Engineer ha had waited on the Board, whioh had agreed to the Oouncil's suggestion with regard to the removal of a fence.— (3) From the Fire Brigade, m reference to a variety of matters affeotlug the Brigade. — Messrs W. B. Oompton and F, Hltohings were approved aa members of the Brigade. It was deoided <o advertise, as required by l»w, the resignation by Mr O. Ray of his office of Fire Inspector. The remainder of tha letter was referred to the Fire Brigade Committee.— (4) From the Hamputead Town Board, stating that It was willing to pay a fair proportion of the work done on the East Belt, and referring the Oounoil to certain clauses m the Publio Workd and Muniolpal Corporations Act, — A letter was also read from the Engineer, Mr Q. E. Fooks, m reference to the same matter. He stated that the work had been done at the request of the Chairman of the Board, and with the understanding that that body should bear the cost — Or Williamson, as Ohalrman of tho |Wok,3 Committee, Bald that since he had ascertained that the work had beun done he had asked the Engineer not to undertake any more without obtaining the sano'ion of the Council and the writteu request of the Board. He had noticed that repudiations sometimes took place when matters were loosely done. At the same lime, it would be as well for the Hampstead Town Board not to raise the question of cost, as a great deal of work had been done on the town sida ot U;e Belt and the Board might be called npon I (o bear a proportion of the expenditure. —Or Bird said the work had been started without the sanction of the Works Committee, — The Mayor said the Act seemed pretty conclusive. If the Borough were called upon to bear the oat of part of the work done for the Board, the Beard should be called upon to bear its proportion of other work done on the belt— Or Williamson said that it seemed to have been that the Engineer thought he was at liberty to do the work when he was satisfied that the Board would bear the cost. — Or Roberts said that the matter had been first mentioned m a report by the Engineer, which was. referred to the Works Committee. Before that Committee's report came before the Council tbe work had been commenced. — After some further discussion, during the course of -which it was pointed out that the Wak*nul Road Board ~had always defrayed the coat of similar work, it waa decided that the matter could not be gone into m the absence of the Engineer, who was then too HI to attend the meeting of the Oounoil. — (5) From Or Oralghead resigning his seatfliu the Oouncil, as he intended voting the Old Country. The resignation was aooepted, and the Returning Officer was Instructed to take steps to fill the vacancy. engineers' RBrouT, The Engineers reported as follows : — Water race In paddocks, River Bed Reserve : The tenants of paddocks Nob. 2 and 3 have been asked if they will contribute towards this work, and have deolined to pay any portion of the cost. — The labor gang has been engaged at the formation of Winter street and the Wakanul Road West and carting soil, making, repairing and fixing bridges, making and hanging wicket gate m plautation, repairing fire alarm staging, clearing streets, attending to water supply, etc. The supply of water required m the Domain reservoirs, owing to recent freshes m the river and the clay we had put on the exposed shingle, does not exceed the quantity neoessary before the alterations •• that Is, there 1b now very little or no lobb by absorptlou. In regard to the matter referred to m Olauso 1, it was deoided to take no immediate aotion. STREET LIGHTING. The L'ghtlng Committee reported the receipt of tenders from the Gas Co. for lighting the town for one year at £4 15a per lamp, or for three years at £4 12s 6d per lamp, the Oounoil to have the option of breaking the latter contract after the firat year had expired, provided that all arrears were paid up at the rate of £4 15s per lamp. After some discussion, Or Williamson moved that the offer of the Gas 00, fot one year be accepted.— Or Roberts seconded. Or Bird moved an amendment to the effect that the offer of the Gas 00, for three years be accepted. — This waa seconded by Or Reid. The amendmett was carried, Or Friedlander abstaining from voting. ITIRE. BRIGADE EXPENSES. In reply to Or Reid, it wa3 stated that the Upper Ashburton Road Board had absolutely declined to pay the expenses inourred at Qainton's fire. Home discussion took place, and it was ultimately resolved to notify the Board that unless the account be paid forthwith the Brigade would not attend any fires m the Upper Aehburton Road Distriot. It was also further resolved that m case the amount were not paid, an advertisement be inserted m the local papers drawing the attention of the ratepayers m that portion of the Upper Ashbutton Road Dhtrlot adjaoent to the Borough to the state of affairs, and to the fact that unless the amonnt be paid the services of the Brigade would m future be withheld. DISPUTED ACCOUNT. It was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor, that the Worka Committee should inspect the E ist Belt, with a view to acquainting themselves with the position of affairs, and what work had been done for the Hampstead Town Board. TENDXSS. The tender of Mr P. Norman at £6 wbb acoepted for the lease of a river bed reserve, subjeot to certain details being arranged PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £57 (U 4d were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.