ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1536, 19 April 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held last evening. Present : The Major and Crs Williamson, Friedlander, Eeid, and Harrison.

MAYOB'B STATEMENT,

The Mayor said the debit balance at the Bank was £1470 15b :4d. The amountß which had been received since last meeting were : Borough Beal, £1 Is ; oulvert, £2 ; Library account, 12b ; excise licenses, £4 ; dog licensee, £7 ; rents of reserves, £6 13s 4d; rent pound, £2 10s; rates, 1887, 2 6a ; do, 1886, 14b; After consultation with the Borough solicitor it had been decided to affix the Oounoil's seal to the document m connection with the right of way applied for by Mr William Anderson. Since last meeting he had seen the Chairman of the County Council m reference to the advisability of holding a local jubilee oelebration. That gentleman was strongly of opinion that before any step was decided upon a public meeting should be called to ascertain m what direction the publio wished the oelebration to be, and what support would be likely to be received. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read (1) From Buller County Council with regard to Charitable Aid. That Council thought that the present system should be amended, so that a larger proportion of the charge should fall on the more wealthy classes. The Buller Oounoil devoted a long statement to directions, in-whioh they thought more ecoaomioal administration of charitable aid might be secured.— The Council were unanimously of opinion that the present Charitable Aid Aofc pressed most unfairly on this district, and after discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Friedlander, seconded by Or Harrison, that as the Borough was joined with the County for the purposes of the administration of oharitable aid, the Mayor should confer with the Chairman of the County Council on the matter. — (2) From the Chnstohurohffubilee Oelebration Committee, stating that it had been deoided that the most appropriate mode of celebrating the Jubilee would be the ereotion of a home for the indigent of both sexes, and soliciting the Council's support.— (3) From the United Oharitable Aid Board, stating that the amount due by the Ashburton Borough on account of oharitable aid for the year ending March, 1888, was £43 Is 3d.— The Mayor stated that the amount required this year waß small, owing to the fact that last year the Board then working m the dark, the result of being newly constituted, levied a very heavy rate, and had now a considerable Burpius. — (4) From Mr Andrew Orr, m regard to the building bylaws. He said that at the time of his receiving notioe from the Council he was under the impression that the building bylaws had been suspended. He was now willing that the buildings he proposed to erect should be oonstraoted of brick to the satisfaction of the CounoiJ. — It was resolved that if Mr _ Orr were willing to comply with the conditions of the building bylaws, and to pay the expenses incurred by the Council m connection with the matter, no further legal proceedings would be taken.

engineer's report,

The Engineer reported that Mr J. Crum'a tender had been accepted for labor m connection with putting down conorete corners m the S.E. Belt at 295. The work wbb being satisfactorily proceeded with. The labor gang had been engaged m the ordinary routine week.

The report was adopted. RESERVES.

The Reserves Committee reported that alternative tenders had been invited for lease of Hinds Reserve for 2, 7, or 14 years. If let for cropping, the land was to be laid down m English grass with the second orop. The Committee had inserted m the conditions that the Counoil would find the grass seed, the tenant to sow it to the satisfaction of the Council, or anyone it might appoint. Tenders would be m on the 29th inst., and would be submitted to the next meeting of the Council.

The report was adopted. NUISANCES.

The Inspeotor of Nuisances submitted a lengthy report. He stated that he had served notices upon several persons to remove straw. In some cases the notices had been complied with, but m others they had not. • A dog had died m Burnett street, but the owner refusing to remove it, the Inspeotor had it buried at a cost of ss. He complained of certain cattle trespassing m one of the Council's plantations. It was decided to inform the Inspector to carry out the instructions given to him at last meeting of the Counoil, viz., that the by-laws should be strictly enforced. As it was stated that the fence around one of the plantations was insufficient, the matter was referred to the Works Committee. Instructions were also given, to the Poundkeeper to impound all cattle found m the Council's plantations,

BALANCE-SHEET,

The halfyearly balance-sheet was liaid on the table.

BTJBBISH.

Permission was, on the usual conditions, granted to Mr H. Gates to burn rubbish.

BTJBGEBS LIST.

The next ordinary meeting of the Council was appointed as the time for ' hearing objections to the Burgees List.

MILL RACE.

Cr Frieaiander and Or Williamson, the Committee appointed at the last meeting of the Council, reported that they had conferred with Messrs Wright and MoLean, the Committee appointed by the County Council, and Mr Brown, as representative of the mill--owner, m reference to the maintenance of the mill race. As a result of the interview, there was reason to believe that the County Council would, m consequence of benefits it received from the water, be asked to vote a sum of money towards the maintenance of the race. The Borough's contribution would continue on the same basis as at present, and this must, considering the benefits acoruing to the town, be considered very satisfactory. JUBILEE CELEBRATION. It was resolved, on the motion o£ Cr Williamson, seconded by Cr Harrison, after a long discussion, that the Mayor, m conjunction with the County Chairman, provided that gentleman give his consent, call a public meeting to take into consideration the advisablenesß of celebrating the Queen's Jubilee. f . PAYMENTS. A * Accounts amounting to £59 13s 8a were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.