ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1736, 10 January 1888, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Oounoll was held l*st evening. Present: The Mayor and Ora Willhmaon, Tnoker, Scott, K. Friedlander, Reid, H. Friedlander, Roberta aud Thomas. MAYOR'S STATEMENT. , The Mayor said that the debit baUnoe at the B*nk wai £1484 8a lOd. The auiountß which had been received since last meeting ware —Library account, 81 ; license^ £1 63 ; renta of reserves, £6 la 3J ; rates. 1887, 17s ; toui, £8 11s 3J. The amount of ratea remaining unoolleoted was £40 1U 21. correspondence. Letters wore read — (1) From Audit Offio •, applying for the sum of £4, cost of audit of account* of Bnroagh. Passed for payment. — (2) From Treasury, stating the intention of Government to dlooont nue pjyraant of rates 01 Government property after 31st March, 1888. The Mayor said £31 10* was tbe amount the 0' uaoll would lose through this action on the part of the Government. — (3) From Ah Sim, asking permission to take a branch race through bis property from 'he 009 m Winter's road. Re nudertook to return the water to the race The application was granted, aubjaot to the uiual conditions, the work to be oarrled out with the approval of the Engineer. engineers' report. The Engineers reported that the labor gang had been engaged m forming Mona Square and William street, clearing side ohanneU, puttng m willows at rear of Old Men'a Home, repairing plantation fences, cutting grass round trees, sooop ing and patting m bags at the head of the mill race, watering streets, attending to water supply, etc. The Engineer was sorry to say that the foreman met with •n accident en Saturday by which one of his fingers was dislocated, which would Incapacitate him from work for a week. He would, however, be able ti super* In ..end the work and look after the horses as usual. The report was adopted. FIBEB ON THE BRIDGE . The Fire Inspectors reported that it had been brought under tbeir notioe that a fire, diattuot from the one on the occasion of which the Brigades had been called oat, had occurred on the bridge, but had died out, possibly through there being no brerze to keep it alight. They recommended to the Council's favorable consideration a plan suggested by Lieat. Dolman, and which they considered cheap and efficient, viz,, to place a number of buckets along tho handrails with ohaioa Attached, sufficiently long to allow of water to be drawn from the etreams. Tbe Mayor said that It had be n already decided to bring under the notice of the County Oounoll the desirableness of some plan, anoh as that suggested by the Fire Inspectors, being adopted. Or H. Frledlander promised to bring the report under the notioe of the County Oounoll. Or Reid said the matter was an Important one, as coma men who were on the bridge on Saturday put out two fires, caused doubtless by some persons dropping lighted matches. COUNCILLOR. The Returning Offioer reported that Mr T. Scaly had been oleotad, unopposed, to the vaoant seat on tho Council. EXTENSION OF TIME. The Fire- Brigade Committee were allowed an extension of time till next meeting to bring up their report on various matters. BOBOUGH RESERVES. It was resolved that a special meeting to consider tho petition of lessees nndei the Council for a reduction of fsnte should be held on Monday, the 23rd instant, at 7 o'clock, STEAM FIRE ENGINE. Or Roberts reported that, including a promised sum of £5 which was almost certain, the sum of £200 wbioh the Oounoll had resolved should be subscribed before proouriog a steam fire engine, had now been all promised, with the exception of £12 9s. Or Tucker pointed out that the engine oould be procured on very easy terma. Maoterton, which had gone m fok an engine a Bize larger than theOoaniul now proposed to obtain was paying £66 a yooi for nine years, the money outstanding bearing interest at the rate of 6 per oent. After an irregular disoaiaion, the mattei dropped. FINANCES. Or Williamson moved— "That the Finance Committee take steps to place the Oonnoil'a banking account on the most favorable terms available, and report at next meeting." Or Reid seconded the motion, which was oarrled. MAN-TBAPS. Or Thomas [drew the attention of the Oounoll to a dangerous place m West street — a deep drain on the railway side lof the street, near the Burnett itrcet orosilng. Of Rold and Or Tucker referred to holes m the footp»ths. The various matters spoken of were referred to the Engineer. LIBRARY RESBRVE, It was 'resolved to invite tenders for portion of the reserve on whloh tbe library stood, COMMITTEES. Or Soaly was appointed a member of those Committees, seats on which bad been vacated by Or Harrison on his eleotion to the office of Mayor. RUTRE CHMBNT. Or H. Frledlander said that ha had waited m order to see if tha Mayor would propose any scheme of retrenchment, as the latter bad spoken so strongly on the subject at a recent meeting. If the Mayor had nothing to move m tho matter, he (Of Friedlandei) had something to propose. The Mayor would be happy to reoelve any motion from Or Friedlander. At the public meeting he had no speolal subject of attack In connection with the Borough finances, but he had simply wanted to point out the desirableness for studying eoonomy, when suoh conld be done. Subsequently Or H. Fried 'ander gave notioe of the following motion :— " That a Committee consisting of Hla Worship the Mayor, Ors Williamson, Thomao, Scaly, Soott, and the mover be appointed to inquire what savings, if any, can be effected In tbe general expenditure of this Oounoil." LICENSES. A carriage and driver's license were {ranted to J. Hefford. PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £60 3s 4d were passed for payment.