ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1734, 13 December 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tho ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above Council was held at the Council Chambers, Baring Square, last night. Present— -Hia Worship the Mayor, and Cra K. Friedlandsr, H. Friedlander, A. Harrison, O. fieid, G. F. Scott, J. Tucker, and D. Williamson. THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT. The Mayor Bald that the debit balanca at the Bank was £1420 Ba. The amounte which had beon received Bines last meet* ing were :— Library account, 6i ; earth, 3i ; expenae of firs at racecourse refund. £L 10a ; licenses, £1 ; rents of Reserves, i^6 1 5a ; aapha'.t account, £9 10a ; ratea, I§B7, £2 15). The atmemt of rates reracining uncolloctod was £43. Au anonym jus letter had been received m regard to the mana^omott of the reading room, but unle33 the author signed his name he did not think it v?ould be advisable for tha Council to consider the letter. CORRESPONDENCE Letters wura read (1) From Mr W. Jameaon, forwarding balance sheet, duly audited for Its'; year. Ttie auditor did not sco his way to allow the Item hira of hall for candidatea to addrenß the rate- .. payers, and for Sir J Ulus Vogel's meet- . iug ; also an item, Clerk to Licensing Committee, bat probably legislation this session would be passed legalising tho passing of the latter item The Mayor said that under the present Aot it would be unlikely that the Item for hire of hall to consider the fire engine question would be allowed, — Consideration of ther matter was deferred till a later stage m the evening ; (2) From Mr W. O. vVateer, forwarding copy of Municipal Corporations ' Aot Amendment Bill, and asking for suggestions. — Received; (3) From the Upper Ashburton Road Board, approving 'of Oounoil's resolve to procure a steam fira engine, but Btatlng that ths Board'a funds were too low to allow of a grant being made; (4) From Fire Brigade, with reference to ateam fire engine, offering suggestions, and expressing willingness to meet the Council m regard to this matter ; (6) From the Bame m regard to the custodian.— Referred to the Fire Brigade Committee; (6) From Mr G. Jameaon/' asking price of large iron pipes belonging to the Council.— -Left In the hands of the Mayor; (7) From Mudle and Co., London, enclosing catalogue of books.— Referred to the Library Committee ; (8) Telegram from Auditor-Genera?, asking information as Ito what fund ex--, pansea of Borough elections hid pie- ■ viously been paid outof. —The information had bean forwarded ; (9) From tho Minister of Publio Works, through Mr W. C. Walker, M.H.R., stating that ha ? did not ccc his way to reverse the decision of his predeceeoor In regard to the Moora otreet oroßsing.— The Mayor thought tho. Council should continue to urge the '• necesuty for the crossing, upon the notice of the Government. — Or Tucker moved that the matter beallowed to stand over for the present; He thought that with the appointment of ft , Railway Board the Oounoil would have a better ohaace of • having its wishes attended to, —Or Reid moved as an': amendment that the mattar ba again urged upon the notice of the Government, bat the araendruant lapsed, aud Or Tucker's motion was oarried. (10) From I" the Coauty Council, enclosing account for Borough's share of work done In connection with the traffic bridge .—Amount passed ; (11) From the Secretary of Agdcultural Society of New South Wales, with reference to. exhibition to be hald |n Wney. -Kooeirod ; (12) FromMr W.\ Mitchell, offering to lease reserve on" whioh stood the old library Referred to 1 Reserves Committee; (13) From Mr P. Grace, with regarJJto Wreeo's eMth-cloßer, a model of which was forwarded, BOROUGH RESERVES. A letLer was read from several ocoupiera' ot Borough reserves aeking the Oouuolt to take Into consideration the question oi affording them relief, they aasortln* that the rents whioh had been fixed m eood times were now preastng heavlly-OTrtnerai —Or H. Friedlander thought a spßcial meeting should be held to oonatder the whole quoetion.— Or Harrison agreed with this view whioh was adopted. ENGINEERS REPORT, ' ■ ' The Engineers reported having iooepted tenders for dog oollara and for • compiling tha vulua#on roll, • these matiera having bean referred to them River Protection : The river bankß have been secured from damage excapt for a short length at the lower part of the * reserve below the bridge where a strong stream has saf In.- We have had Boma gorse faßoines and willow and poplar saplings placed at this point and have had willows planted In reclaimed land and wherever available —The remainder of the report referred to work that had been done by the labor gang. Th<£Engineera report was adopted as read. BOARD OP HEALTH, The report of the Committee of tho Looal Board of Health was as follows and adopted : — Your Committee have the honor to report for the information of the CoonoU" " as followa,— Your Committee recommends that the Government be askeJ to conatUiite the Dorough of Ashburton, tha Hampataad and Tinwald town districts, aud part of No. 5 Ward of the Upper Ashburton road rl/atrlofc, a united district under the Public Health Act 1876, and that tho expenaa necessary for its admlnls^ ' trarion to borne by the various bodiea ia proportion to population. FIRE. A letter was read from Mr J. W > Baker, Secretary to the A B hburton Fire" ff 8 fl? e » feportf ng that a fire toot place off the bouth Belt, and that the fire rcanltod m the burning of Mr B. Hughe's dwelling house. An acoount of 5a for expenses wasgenolosed, and paeaed n for payment, r * MAYORAL ELECTION, The Returning tfficer reportedithat the annual oleotlon for Mayor had resulted In the return of Mr A. Harrison, carriers' licenses. In reply to Or Keid, the Mayor said It was probable the By-law Committee would take the hint and hold a meeting with reforenca to the feea oharged for carriers 1 licenses. The Clerk road > motion passed at a previous meeting to the effect that tho fees for carriers' licenses remain as at present, DISALLOWED EXPENSES^ Or Tucker, drew atteatioa to the imonnts that had been disallowed by the pablic auditor to cover certain exJensos, and a discussion of a desultory lature eneued, during which the Mayor jointed out that with reference- to" the tern disallowed for the Clerk to the -licensing Committee, the Borough reieived the benefit of all the licensing fees ;od yet they had no power to pay tha Jlerk, or any other expenses m conneeion with the licensing elections. Or Williamson thought that m view of resh legislation on the matter this essloo, it would bo wiae to allow tho aatter to remain m abeyance for tba roaent. i T «?-,£ rayor waa of the Bame opinion as -r WiUlamaiou m the matter. The mattar wa3 allowed to standjfovee ir tho present. MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. A circular lofebor *a 9 road from tha fork to Municipal Conference, detallig some of tha bualnaaa transacted uring the meoting, and asking the Council > give an oxprassion of opinion aa t> the ivisablon.o33 of forming a permanent Lunielpal Association, : Cr Williamson thought the beat answer 13 Council could give would be that io Cqudo',l would be prepared to 00-^ ?er»te iv the formation of a permanent* ssjciattoo when the neoe33aiy le'islatioa « brought \n forge akatborjalag tb*

Councils lo vote money for tho, necessary expenses. He moved :— "That this Council would be m favor rf ft permanent Municipal Corporation* Association being established as Boon as the neoestary legislation ia passed authorising the various Councils to defray the necessary expenses In conneotlon with tho Association." Cr H. Frledlander seconded the motlou. Or B. Frledlander spoke In support of It. The motion was put and carried unanimously. MEETING. On the motioD of Cr R Frledlander, !t waß decided that tho next ordinary meeting of tho Council should be held on Wednesday, 21at mat, immediately after the Installation of the new Mayor. BURNING KUBBISH. Cr Soott moved — "That when a burgess has obtained permission to barn rubbish he Bhall give notice to the Firo Brigade of the time at wblce it waa intended to barn." Seconded by Cr R. Frledlander. On being put, the motion waa lost, several Councillors being of opinion that It would be better to have|tho matter as M it atanda at present. FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE. Or R. Frledlander drew attention to the vacancy caused by his resignation of his positlonjoa the Fire Brigade Committee. Cr Williamson expressed a hope that Or Frledlander woald see his way to withdraw his resignation, He moved to this e fleet. Cr Soott aeoonded the motion. Cr Reid, and the Mayor supported the motion, and each spoke of the valuable aorvlcea rendered by Or Friedlander during the tltno he had been on the Fire Brigade Committee. Cr Frledlander said he "vould gladly fall m with the vlewa of the Council, but while thanking them for tho kind manner m which they had Bpckon of htm, he could not Bee his way to reconsider his former decision. Or Thoiuae had doubted the correc'neaa of a report, he (Cr Frlcdiander) had brought up, and as he bad not seen hia way to withdraw the remarks made on the occasloD, ho could not act on the Fire Brigade Committee with Or Thomas. (Jr H. Friedlandcr addrersod the Council. The motion]was put, and carried unanlmoußly. Cr B. FriedUndor, In view of the unanimous vote of the Council would aßk leave to withdraw the resignation he had tendered at the previous meeting. Leave was accordingly granted. VALEDICTOBY. Cr H: Frledlander moved— "That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded his Worship the Mayor for the able manner tn which he had presided over tho Council's affairs during the past year." Cr Friedlander said that he had always toted with pleasure tho vary fair and im. partial manner In which the Mayor had fulfilled his duties during tho piot twelvo months. He was eorry tho burgesses had! not seen fit to o'ect the Mayor for a ■econd term, but In saying this he did so without any disrespect towards the Mayor elect. Cr Williamson seconded the motion, and In doing bo endorsed what Cr H. Friedlander had said. The speaker paid • very high compliment to the Mayor, and assured him that thongh the majority of the ratepayers had not Been fit to elect him for a eeooni term, it was not by any means because they bad lost confidence In him. He hoped the Mayor would allow himself to be nominated fos the vacancy that would necessarily ccour m the Council, and he felt cure tfcafc the burgesses would give a very emphatic expression of renewed confidence m him. Cr William■on spoke at considerable length, and Bald that the Mayor had shown his fitne.-s for the position m a very marked manner Indeed. Ors R. Frledlarder, G. F. Soott, J. Tucker, and C. Reid alro Bpoke m eulogistic terms of the Mayor's conduct during hia term of office. The motion was put, and catrrled onanimously, amidst applause, The Mayor briefly repUed. ADJOURNMENT, After passing accounts tho Council adjourned.