ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1700, 1 November 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Aehburton Borousrh Oounoll was held la the!* Chambers, Baring Square, lait evening. Present— Ors Williamson (chal* . man), R. Frledlander, H. Frledlanclsr, A. Harrlsoo, 0 Reid, A. Robert., Q. F. Kootfc, D. Thomas, and J Taeker, THE OHIIBMAN'a STATEMENT. The Chairman said that the debit balance at the Bank was £1166 5s lOd. The amounts which had been received Binoe last meetiog were :— Earth sold, 4s j library account, £l^lia6nm^£Sl 15s; refund cost of. lew, ,£^;.Baj teat of pound, £U 16. 8d; rents £76; rates, 1887, £1 6s 5 total?£lo9 S« Bd. The amoun< of rates remaining anoolleoted was £60 14* 7d. ■ CORBBSPONDBNCE. Letters were read (1) From Mr Walker, M.H.R., stating that be had arranged to en Jeavor to have the Ashbnrton Borough and Ooonty consititated a separate Oharltable Aid district.— Reoeived. (2) From Mr F. Main waring, applying for permission to light a fire m his baok yard. It was resolved to refer Mr Malnwarlng to the by-laws. (3) The To wri Oldrk applied for permission to conduot the County Ooaooil eleotlon.— Granted. (4) From Mr Graham, objecting to sign a lease of a Borough reserve unless some, ot tht stringent conditions were abandoned.-— Matter left over till the Mayor came baok from Wellington. (5) From the Colonial Secretary's offiae, furwariiog olreolsr 8a ragard to Melbonrne Exhibition. STTIMMINS BAH*, - Seventy reaideuta petitioned the Oouaoll to take into consideration 'the- matter of erecting swimming baths m the Domain, Oonalderation was deferred till liter* la the evening. ' v The Engineer* report wisi reftdas follows: — ■■■ ' ?l' yr \ ''■■''; ';.:„ Protective WoEkfl.~.Tht river jii oontloued to ran high, and has shifted its coarse several times during the last fortuight, bo that It has required continual attention at the Reserve below the bridge. The bank behind two of the groins was scoured oat, and the groins have sunk several feet, bat were not carried away. At the first groin below the bridge we feared s> considerable breach would have been nude, but the men succeeded by means of gone faeoinea and trees to stop the scour, so that the. worst part is now being filled op with silt and shingle, and the deep stream taken another course. The lower part of the Reserve is now the principal point of attack, but we, have taken, we beltevt, sufficient precaution, and do not anticipate further damage. Some ohains of the river bark require refaclng with fesotnei and willows, and- with a few extra poles to strengthen the outer fencing and arranged so as to form what may be termed skeleton grolair. We believe this frontage may be made secure against ordinary floods. We consider that tha ocßt of the necessary work would be about £20. The protective works at the Old Men's Home* have received ne 1 damage, and are doing their work satisfactorily. We are oompletlng.fenelng and planting willows on land that has been roolalmei during the last few days. The adoption of the report was moved. To test the feeling of the meeting Gi Thomas moved that no more money be expended m the rivet bed.' Or Soott seconded ' v Or B Frledlander said tUt.if Coon, olllors only thought for »> Aonvrot they would agree that it was wiser to fight the river where It now 10, than wait till it got to South, or Dobion, or perhaps Moore street. - Cr Harrison thought that It would be perhaps wise to expend the £20 which the Engineer considered was necessary ; but be thought this money should be the last. He thought a belt of willows should be planted a chain or so baok from the river bank. He did not think thj river j would come over at the lower streets, ts apprehended by Or R. Frledlander. Or H. Friedlander thought tt)o pro* poßal to cease the expenditure it this stage was a penny wise and pound foolish oee. Or Tucker pointed out that the river was now piling up a bank of shingle, and the expenditure of the money proposed would assist it farther In this operation^ The Chairman said that' after the Oounoil had acquired the paddocks m the river-bed It would be most unwise to allow them to be washed away. Besides, if they allowed the river to leave Us channel there wan no saying where It would stop, and what damage it Would do. It should be also remembered that the money ex* pended was mainly m the shape of wages, and did not leave the town, fie was not sanguine that the £20 would be the last of the expenditure, . but m a short time the willows would get up and afford an efieotual protection. '■.-.'., „ Or Thomas said that eight weeks ago he asked what was the estimated farther expenditure, and he was told £28 Every meetine since then the wages bill had been £30 or £40, though perhaps that expense was not all incurred oh protective works. Now he was told that £20 more was needed. He wished to eater his pro* test agaiust the Council's money being epent In that way. The Chairman said that when the estimate asked for by Or. Thomas' was given the preat enoroaohment of the river could not be foreseen. The work could not be estimated as aoourately as the expense of ereotlng a building or anything of that sort. The repoit was then adopted, without division. FIRE BRIGADE. - The Fire Brigade O mmittee reported as follows : — Uniforms: It was resolved to procure at onoe the suit of uniform of large efzi asked for by tye Brigade. Your Committee have also requested the Brigade to forward to the Council the names of its members who resign, Steam Fire Engine : The Committee having had more information on this matter before it now begs to reoommend that the Council procure one of Shand, Mason's B vertical engines, at {a cost tfot exceeding £500, delivered In Ashburton, provided that the Fire Insurance Association contributes the sum mentioned m its letter. Further, the Committee wishes to state, whan the question was before the Council at a previous meeting, It was stated that a substantial aum would be forthcoming from private sources. Or Thomas took exception to the correctness of the report. Or R. Friedlander, m moving the adoption of the report, expressed his confidence that it was a correct reflax of what occurred at the meeting of ths Committee, The Committee had come to the conclusion that it was wise to procure a steam fire engine, provided It met the approval of the Association. It would be within the memory' of Councillors that when this matter came op some time ago several gentlemen promised handsome subscriptions towards the purchase of a steam fire engine. • ■: Or Thomas said m regard to the correctness of the report that one member of the Fire Brigade Committee had promised to go round sod find out the probable amount of subscriptions. This was not mentioned la the report wbioh was therefore not correct. The Ohaiiman eald that the Mayor) before going to Wellington to attend the Municipal Conference, told him (the Chairman) that this matter of steam fire engine would come up at the Oounoil meeting. The Mayor said that he thought it would be advisable to defer the matter for a fortnight as there was a. likelihood of loglalation thi3 session on the question, and it probably would ale* )3 dlecaaaod at the Manioipai Oonfflf ecce, He (the Ohairaiau) agroea with thf TlftW

.•" & ? ibe Mayor that it w»b advisable to defer the matter till next meeting - Or Boberts said that he presumed ha wu, the member of the Committee referred to by Or Thomas. Ab a matter of fact, he said nothing at the meeting nf the Committee to the effect stated by Cr Tbouu, but afterwards he had agreed with Mr D. H. Brown to see what saboorlptlons oonld be raised. In reply to the Chairman, Or Roberts nid the report was a correot one j Or Tuoker aald that the report was ; substantially oorreot. It was mentioned j at the Committee meeting that praTiouely £ISO had been promised, which with the . £70, the likely subscription of the ' Association, wonld make nearly £200 j The Oommlttea felt that the Counoll was eaply justified In providing the remaining £300. fie Agreed with the Chairman that It froold be ai well to postpone the matter till next meeting. In reply to Or Scott, it was'etated that ghand, Mason's engine had been selected, M thoM makers were approved by the JRrt Inraranos Association, a body which wm la • position to have a knowledge of tks bast engines, Mr D. B. Brown, who was present at ftktaeetlcgln connaotlon with the subieet, wu invited by the Chairman to plaoe ftk views before the Ooanoil. Mr Brown «ld that he thought It was extremely ittirable tbat a town of the size of Ashksrton should possess a steam fire engine. If • Ire started m the oentre *f the town, as matters now were, £15,000 ov £20,000 worth of property wonld be •wept away In a few hoars. He had arranged with Mr Roberts to ascertain the probable amount of subscriptions, and although he iud not had time to go round, he was satisfied from conversations $» bad had, that £200 or more oonld be ■vised. Then there was the question of S5 per oent discount on insarances whtoh, ft bad been threatened, wonld be discontinued unless a steam fire engine were procured. If the Council deolded to pro-ears-the engine, he would do bis best to get In as many private subscriptions as possible. .. Or H, Frledlander did not think it VdvM be fair to t*ke subsorlptions from burgesses who, after contributing m this way, wonld also have to contribute indlreotly through the Borough funds to- j wards the balance of the money required. J3e thought, however, that the local) bodies, adjacent to the Borough, might lilrly be asked for a contribution, as they would participate m the benefits to be ierrred from procuring a steam fire •Mine. After a discussion between Ors Thomas fttd K. Frledlander, . Or Soott laid that the matter was one In whioh be thought the burgesses should iave a say. He would move m the direction of oaliing a public meeting to Consider the question. The Obairmao said that Or Soott's CKOtion would be more m plaoe at next netting, when the matter would be definitely considered. Or B, Frledlander then proposed a motion to the effeot that consideration of the question be deferred till the Mayor time home, and that the Fire Brigade Association be written to asking them if they approved of a B vertical engine, and If their offer of £70 was still available. Or Thomas asked if Of Friedlander Would add to his motion a query, whether the Association would oontlnue to allow the 26 per cent diicount if a steam fire engine were proonred. After discussion Or Frledlander said that he would not consent to the addendum. Or Harrison moved an amendment to the effect that the words In the motion referring to the Fire Insurance Association be struck out. After discussion on Cr Harrison's amendment it was lost. Cr Thomas then moved m the direction he had previously indicated m regard to the 25 per cent discount. Cr Harrison seconded. The Chairman d«d not agree with the proposal as he did not think it probable that the Association would allow itself to be bound m the manner suggested by the motion. Or Thomas said that he knew a little abont this matter. The ratepayers had the inducement held out to them that if they went In for a steam fire engine the discount of 25 per cent would be continued, but as matters were now it was just as likely to be discontinued if they bad a steam engine as if they had not. After a lengthy discussion, Cr Scott said that there were scores of houses m the* Borough which would not be benefited by a steam fire engine, which would only benefit a few business places. Cr B. Friedlander rose to a point of order In regard to Or Soott's statements. The Chairman said that Cr Soott was quite Ip order. Further discussion ensued, m the course of which Or Tucker aaid that the re. Imposition of the 25 per cent would oost property owners wlihta the Borough £1600 more annually for insurance. Or Beld objeoted to Or Thomas' proposal. Cr Thomas, In reply, said that he was one of those m West street for whom this engine was supposed to be obtained to benefit. Three years ago they had been threatened with the reimposition of tbia 95 per cent j he was not frightened then, and be was not now. He would also point out that they were »a likely co havo that discount diso ntinued with a steam fire engine as without one. He would vote against a steam fire engine being procured unless there was an undertaking en the part of tbe Fire Insurance Association to abstain from imposing the 25 per cent additional. Or Thomas' proposal on being put to the meeting was lost, BEREBVES. A quantity of business In connection with reserves was tonsaoted. The Committee eubmitted a lengthy report on tbe subject aid reoommended that a number of leases be put up by auction* The report was, after a long dlßcasaion, adopted. Complaint having been made of the great eipenee entailed by the present system of drawing up leases, Borne discussion ensued, and opon tbe motion of Cr 3. Friediander tbe Beaerves Committee were instructed to report as to the edvlßableness of having tbe forms of lease printed with a view to saving expense. SWIMMIKG BATHJ. Cr Har.rison brought up the question of tbe petition m regard to swimming baths, postponed from an earlier sta^e m the meeting. He'said that he was very much m favor of granting the petition could it be icn'e. It had been said that he was opposed any proposal of the sort ; thja was not so, he had only objected to previous schemes on account of the very large expenditure that would be entailed by their acceptance. It had again been said tbat he was opposed tobathtDg In tbe Domain^ bntthisal o was not correot. He thought that, with tho acquiescence of the Domain Board, a very convenient bathing placeatlittlecostooDidb3 constructed. By a email expenditure In loyiog concrete, batheti would not be compelled to wade through mud In entering or leaving the water ; a plaoe could also be set aside In whioh swimming might be learned. He moved " That this Council endeavor to obtain permission from the Domain Board to allow swimming to be Indulged In as a test bo to whether it will prove suitable ox acceptable." Ot R. Friedlander laid that he would second the motion. He expressed his pleasure at Or Harrison's support of the frojoot. Tbe matter was one that had beefl before the Couooil previously, and be «fcated what bad been tha outcome on tht foimer decision; He would Us 9ft life tilt |U e#pep to t oo '* ' *

neotlon with the ocoßainn to which be referred be la'ri on the table, and he would ask if Councilor Harrison would- add a provision to that effect to his motion. He wished these m order to refresh the memory of CuucoiUorß, who were then present and to acquaint the new Councillors with what had transpired. Cr Harrison said tbat he could not help thinking that there was something which was directed against himself m Cr Frfadlander'a proposal. ' Cr harrißon, who had by this time written ont bis motion, waa on the point of making a remark when a discussion arose ss to whether he was m order. This having been settled, Cr H, Friedlander said that as it was getting late he would move as an amendment to Or Harrison's motion, that the matter be left m a abeyance till next meeting and that the Clerk then lay all papera m connection with the question on the table. Cr Harrison reiterated the opinion expressed by him before In regard to the papers, and Or Reid rose to a point of order. After some disonssion, Cr H. Frledlander's amendment was carried. CHANNELLING . Cr Roberts wished to know if there were any funds available for channelling. The Chairman said that there were £100 on the estimates for channelling. LIUENBBB. The following licenses were granted ; — Carriage : J. Miles, J. Newman, G. F. Scott, H. Dalley and A. Dee ; carriers ; J; Canning, A, Bean, J. Miles ; drivers : J. Newman, J Miles, H. Dalley,' J, Canning, A. Dee, O F. Soott. PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £145 Is 4d wye passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.