ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1607, 12 July 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly mooting was hold last evening. Present— -The Mayor, and Cra R. Friedlander, Sparrow, Tucker, Williamson, Harrison, H. Fried! and er. An apology was read for the absence of Crßeid THE MAYOR'S STATEMEIST. The Mayor Baid that the' debit balance at the Bank was £661 3s 6d f Jhe amounts which had been received since last meeting were :— Dog license, 10s; Library account, 19s ; asphalt, £4 4s 7d ; excise licenses, £45 ; rents of Reserves, £68 3s 4d ; rates, 1887, £110 3a lOd ; auctioneers' licenses, £200; tota', £419 0a 9d. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read (J) From the New Plymouth Borough Council, pointing out that owners of property other than land and buildings did not contribute towards the Hospital and Charitable Aid rates, and requesting the Council's co-operation m endeavoring to secure an amendment m the Act, so that matters would be put on a more equitable basis.-— The Mayor thought the Taranaki Council were moving m a right direction — Cr R Friedlander though the Council should communicate with the County Council who were equally interested m the matter. He moved that the Mayor consult with the Chairman of County UounciL— The motion was carried. — (2) From the Canterbury Fire Insurance Association, stating m reply to a letter from the Council, asking whether the As eociation would make any contribution towards the first coat of procuring a steam fire engine or to increase the annual grant. The Association stated that -& did contribute towards the .» purchase of fire extinguishing plant, arid that as the question of making grKuta was considered annually no promise for\the future could be made It was added that if the Association decided to j make any donations during the current year, those towns hav : ng the moßt efficient fire-extinguishing plant would receive the preference, and that as the question of rates m country districts! would most likely shortly come up for consideration, it was not improbable that those places most advantageously situated so far as fire-extinguishing apparatus was concerned, would be most favorably dealt j with.— (3) From the Charitable Aid | Board, enclosing receipt for amount of j Gounqil's contribution, engineers' RBroRT. The Engineers reported as follows ;— Water Supply for Hampatead Town Board : We have gone carefully into this matter, and cannot see that the Borough Council can guarantee any oertain supply from the present system, exoegt a small quantity at the junotion of Moore street with the Town Belt, whioh might be taken through the Trevorton portion of the Town District. To provide a certain and sufficient supply for the whole distriot a Beparate delivery would have to be made at three points, namely (1) at the junction of East Town Belt, and North East Town Belt; (2) at the Wakanui road, at its JunotioH with the South East Belt; and (3) at the foot of Moore street before mentioned. The supply for No. 1 delivery could be brought down the North East Belt from the corner of Winter's road, but the main supply would have to be taken m the present course through the Domain, and under the railway to the Postoffiee corner m East street, and as a larger amount of water would have to be carried extra, or larger pipes would have to be laid from the Domain Reservoir to East street, and a speoial ohannel with pipes or culverts for the Hampßtead water would be required m the Wakanui road from East street to the South East Belt outside the town ; also from the Domain to the intake at Williamson's, some .alterations would be necessary m the way of enlargements of the portions of the race, culverts, etc. In addition to the question of expense to be considered, we presume that Mr Turner should be oonsulted as to the extra amount of water to be taken from the race. — Biver Encroachment: Last week's flood, the highest for some years, has done considerable damage m encroachment ana aeßtruuuuu ux leucseu. m the River-bed Reserve below the bridge the belts of plantations m paddooks Nos. 2 and 8, along the. river bank, together with the greater part of the fenoing, have been carried away, and a deep stream is now running along the boundary, a oertain amount of scouring still taking place. Portions of the fencing were saved by the Foreman. Afc the Old Men's Home proteotive works a very heavy stream set m against No. 2 groin, which resisted it for two days, but was at laat completely earned away. We are happy to say, however, that no great damage has been done to the bank, though many chains of the willow fenoing has been destroyed. The outer face of No. 3 groin has been disturbed, but the willows saved the main body of the groin. In the reserve recently let to Mr Norman, the outer fence on the upper Bide, and about eight ohains of the willow fenoing nave been washed up, and the main ohannel is now running on the line, and has scoured away a portion of the Western oorner of the plantation. Other, portions of the fenoing have . been shaken, but not much further damage to, the reserve except by the deposit of silt wbiob, we may add, has covered more or less all the paddooks below the bridge. The last two days we have been [collecting gorse for fasoines, eto.,J for any groins that may be required. Clause 3 related to the opening of a gravel pit. The remainder of the report was of a routine nature. Clause 1 was adopted. It was deoided to forward a copy to the Hampatead Town Board, and to inform that body that if they required plans and estimates the Engineer would supply them at their expense. For the information of Cra a minute of the Works Committee was road. It was to the effect that if the Rampstead Town Board desired to do any work to the footpaths on the Belt it would have to : be done with the approval of the Council and the supervision of the Counoil'B Engineer ; also that until the Belt was formed to its proper level the Council , cbuld not decide the question of mainten-anoe.-—Ke£erenca to this minute, it was explained, had evidently been inadvertently omitted from the Engineer's report, —It was deoided to forward a copy of the minute, together with Olauße 1 of the Engineei'a report, to. the Hamn«r«ad Town Board. ; . r _ ; .. ,T Clause 2, River Encroachment.— This clause was referred to the Works Committoe, with power to act. It wag Btated that the river was cutting into the Coun^ oil's reserves bblow the bridge In a aeriouß way, and areat damage would most likely result unless immediate action were taken, Clause 2, Shingle.— Referred to Works Committee. INSPECTOR OP NDISANOES 11EP0RT, A report from the Inspector of Nuisances was read. — The Inspector was instructed to Bee that the conditions of the nightsoil contraot, aa regarded the disposition of the nightsoil were carried out.— ln reply to a query by the Inspector it was decided to inform him that stook were not to lo driven along East street; with the exception of that portion between Kertnode street and the bridge, FIRE BRIGADE. The Fire Brigade enclosed a few acoouotsfor payment. INFECTIOUS DEBASES. In view of an outbreak of diptheria near to the town, Cr H. Friedlander asked f the Council had any power to require the local medioal men to report to the Council whenever any case of infectious disease made its appearance.— The Mayor could give no definite opinion on the matter, but he said that the had power to conjtitote itself a local Board of Health.— It was ultimately resolved on the motion of Or H . Friedlander, " That a committee, consisting of the Mayor, Cr Williamson and the mqver be appointed to consider .th£ best n*>ans of giving effect to 1 the ; " Public health Act, 1876, v wd to. report : at next meeting*" ■': . v. BYBAM W ENGINE, With reference . to this subject Cr H. Friedlander desired to make a personal explanation. He said that at the time he moved m the matter ho did ho upon tho uaa?ißte»4iPg tyat m default of the.

Borough procuring a Bteam fire engine, the Association had determined to withhold the concession of the 25 per cent allowed on Insurance premiums. In ignorance of the Mayor having instructed the Clerk to write to tho Association, he had done so himself, and had received a reply to the same effect as that received by the Council Aa thin was what ho considered evaaivo, he did not contemplate moving further m the matter as things were at present Tt was ultimately resolved that the question of calling a publio meeting to consider the advisabloness of procuring a steam fire engine be left in' abeyance. PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £425 wero passed for payment, and the Counoil adjourned. . .