ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1760, 7 February 1888, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Iho ordinary meeting of the Ashbqrton Borough Coanoil was held last evening. Present: 0 mnolllors Bealy, Williamson, R. Fried Under, Tucker, Scott, H. Fried lander, Roberts, Reid, and Thorn is. In the abieooß of the Mayor whose absenoe was apologised for, Or Setly was voted to the chair.

chairman's statement.

The Chairman »ald th»t the debit hilanoe at the B»»k wis £1593 Os 21. The amounts wbfoh had been received ■inoe last meeting were :— Refund expenses fire at Hampsteid, £1 53 ; otilverls and bridges, £2 ; earth, £4 U ; grasi on Baring Sqaare, £1 ; dog licenses, £1 10s ; kerosene lloenses, £5 ; library »oo>unt, £1 4i ; rents of r««ortes, £2 10* ; r»»es 1886, 17» ; 1887, £2 3j. Total, £U 10. The amount of rates remtluing unool looted was £35 19i 2d. OOBRKfIPONDENOI. Letters were read (1) From Mona^er Union Bank stating that li ter^t to be charged on the Council's overdraft for the ensuluK half year would be 7 per cent.— The Chairman said thnt ho understood the letter applied to the " ourre'it " half year.— Acknowledged. (2) F.-om Sydonham Borough 0 )oroll «sklng for even lr n pipes.— Tho pipe* had been nent a; requested. (3) (from Mr W. 0. Walker enclosing letter from Minister for Public Works on the matter of planting trees on railway reserve. The MluUtar said It wai too late to do anything this session, and Uwiald moreover necessitate the taking of portion of Un 4 that had been leased. When tho qunstion of re-leasing came up, tho Government would, however, Uko the qupstlon of planting into consideration. The Chairman stated that he had been given to understand that tho work would be oarrled out, i-ut It now appeared they were as far off ao ever from attaining what they desired,— Or Willlnmson moved that the Government be asked to plant all the nnleastd land as soon as powlbJe, the other land when available. (4) From Hampata&dTown Board enclosing cheque fot expenses Incurred by .'AihbaKtomr Brtptfe a t rannnt fire, and stating that the Board ooalrf not ,iecoa;a!Be the olairo of the Western Brigade or^ other persons who asilited •t tht fire.— lt appeared that the expenses Incurred by the Western Brigade had already been paid by the Council, and It was decided to •train apply to the Board for a refund (ft) From Mr T, Harrold, off-ring to •ent oertain Borough reserves.— Referred to the Reserves Committee, with power to act. (6) From the Ashborton Fire Brigade enoloslug account for expenses Incurred by Brigade at Woollen Faotory fire The Brigade complained of having had no lntlmatiou of the Coonoll's resolution to pay only for the ringing of one bell. The Brigade had paid an amount, for ringing second bill, ;and anked for a refund, The Brigade also aokod that the Clerk shoald pay all moneys on bohalf of Brigade. An Invitation to attend at the annual meeting of the Brigade was extended to the Mayor and Chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee.— The j several matters referred to la the foregoing were dealt with. It was decided to refund the 5s asked for by the Brigade, and also that the Council should In future make all payment!. It was dooided that the Chairman and the Chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee should represent the Council at the annntl meeting of the Brigade. Unimportant correapondonnce was dealt with

RKTRRNOHMRNT

Or H Frfodhndop, the Chairman of the Committee appointed to look Into the Council's flnanofis, read the Committee's report as follows : — yoar Oommltteo appointed to look Into i the Ooonoil'fl finances sad ascertain' what 1 savings, If any, can be effectad, met on , Moudsy last, when there were present : Hlb Worship the ij»yo«- f Gra Williamson, Scaly, Spott, and H. Frledlander. The ahuenoo of Or Thomas was apologised for. Your Committee beg vow to report as follows :— Fire Brigade j W« recommend that no farther expense be incurred m ooonootlon with the Western Fire Brigade It being the opinion of this Committee that one Brigade isscffi ilent for tha place, and as muoh aa the Council o»n tlijiently maLtaln — 2 Ltbor Gang; Tne question of abolishing the labor gang was vxhaus* tively considered, and tho Committee recommend that the preeent system b<* conttnaed, aad thnt all largo works bo lot by contraot as heretofore —3, Library : The expenditure on account of the L brary was reviewed, nnd His Worohlp>he M»ynr . ondbrtook to otll the library Oomralteo together »nd rppnrt opon the qupttion Yoor Oof^mlitoe have for *,he prfltent no •ther iugge«tlon fa m^ke.— £, Offios Bx- i pendlture and Snglneer'a salary j Triii motter has reoeited the most oarefa oonild<*rttlon at the handi of yotn Committee. As nsaal, when questions ol this nature are considered, those under taking snoh |dnty hare a my unpleasnt task to perform, frequently Inrolvl'g sodh reooiumendatlons aa " notice bolig «Jren to dtserying o^cer^ that tbir servloos are no lonper teqalred, or tlat their salarlea should be ' reduced," or other similar dlskgreeable rooomraoidatlons. Sjblll, however ' unpleasant iuob duties may bo, jastioe to tho and burgesees at large reoommendr that they •bould be carried out In an invsrtlal manner. Tho reoommendatlons, therefore, yoof ojmmitfce find it nepoßiry to make under this heading are ;— (I) That io their opinion the Borough (no«ne does not^w*rrAßi; the present ejponiture by w»y of salarlea.— (6) That the Engineer and Clerk reoeivti thrpe mopt's' notlpe terminating tbelr Qn^sgamento rlth your Council. — (o) That the Oouoll iuvite applications to fill these ofßoeHoparatefy i r con j )intly at a ye«rlj e»la^ or salaries of £, (d) That the ClerkVoffioe hoar* shall be from 9 a.m. to lvn>. dsily — («> Thai the O juncll appoint* OommUtee fodrtW op»iob84ul«p; driei for eaob PffiOft ■ ' • .... .., „-.

Or Friedhnder said that the Committee had been unanimous, on all the mattora mentioned In the ri»pntt. I', had bef n ', uoosldered that the Council coo'd do wUh one Fire Brcpude ; and bo do without the donble expense. It was not often neoegu»ry for thn two eDginea to be at a fire and •f there wan need for the servlcao of the llttlo engine It oould always bo mot for. ft had not been deemed alviaable to dlapeooe with the labor g»np as there were always little works needing atter* 'ion ; all Urge works as hnre-ofora wonld \ be done by oontrßot. The Mayor hud undertaker* to oall a meeting of the Library Committee and tee if any saving ooald bo effuotsd In that direction. Tn« most serious matter m the report was that referring to the offioe expendltare. He reiorred to the unpleasautnnHs of the duty that had fallen to the Committee's lot, In dealing with this question. The Commlttce »ully recognised the valae of their offiolers' services, bat the Ooanoi oouJd no longer maintain them on the saute terms as at present. Many pabllo bodies had the offices of olerk and Engineer combined m one person, but the Committee had left the nutter open so that the present officers might have • chance of applying AR-tin In order that the successful applicant for tlio clerkship might have time to do private work, the Committee had arranged the hours so that bo would have the afternoon to himself. He spoke at length upon the various reoommenda* tlon m (he report. Or Williamson also dealt exhaustively with »ha report With reference t:> tha B-tgftdes, it was thought an amalgamation might be effectad. Although the Committee advocated the retaining of the labor gat-g. It was open with the Ooanoll to redaod the gang to two or three men The report was aonaldered' striatitn. C'auee I— Or H Frledlandormovud th« adoption of the clause. Or Roberts amended. —Or Reid laid he favored amalgam* tlon, but the report said nothing as to that. He wonld not like to lee the Western B.lgade entliely done &wty with aod ha thought the abuse ihoald be referred to the Fire Brigade Committee to see If amalgamation «onld not ba effaoted.— The Chairman said that the Ocmmlttee bad not recommended an amalgamation, beoauae it was oatslde the Committee's province to do so. The members favored amalgamation, bat left the matter m the hands of the Council.— Or Thomas took reception to the olaasc . The Western Fire Brigade hnd done good service. It bad been first at nearly every fire that took place In Ashbnrton. When the other Brigade «is quarrelling, the Western stood to thalr posts and trero the only safeguard against fire In the town. He thought the olau;e at It at present stood oast a alar on the Western Brigade. He favored amalgamation bat thought that the engines would have to remain where they now are. — Or Sjott to k "xooptlon to Or Thomas' remark that the Wastdrn Brigade was always the first *t fires. They h*d enly been before the Ashburton BHgade twice during the last two ye»rs.|Or Williamson thought it wan a pity Or Thomas did not attend the Oommlt(e) meeting Instead of adversely crltfsing his colleagues now;— Or Tucker tooght that Bomeraeana should be deviisdh to prevent both Brigades being brought out at an alarm. If it was understood that only the Aahburton Brigade should turn out at an alarm, the Western to oome If their assistance was required and sent for, it would be sofflolont, because then the double expanse woald be nearly always avoided.— Tne rlauaa was otrried, Or Held obj -rating. —Or H, Frledlander moved that the olaase bo referred to the Fire Brigade Committee —A long dieousslon took plaoe, dnrlng whloh Or K. Frledlandor iutimated his intention of not acting longer on the Fire Brigade Com. mltiee an he did not consider the matter w»a one that could be dealt with by that 0 mmlttee now In the faoe < f the w> rding off the olanve just oarrrled,— The m tion waiourr ed.CeR. Friedlafider distorting. ".^i.^f a^ 2 '"~ Lftbor G « Q K~Or Thomas ftdvooated an u»o *^v u«i« o .»....„ uy contract, whioh ooarse he maintained wonld reanlt m a great saving —After dlaoasslon the olaaso was adopted, Or Thomas objecting, The clause referring to the officers came In for some adverse criticism at the hands of Ors Thomas and R* Frledlander. The Chairman and Or Williamson replied to the remarks of the latter. Or R Frledlander wished to again speak when Or Williamson rose to a point of order. The Chairman ruled Or Frledlander ont of order and said that he had no right to •peak farther «a the explanation of Or Williamson and hlmielf hid been evoked by Or Friedlaoder's remarks, which o aid only be taken at a reflection upon the motives of the Committee m this matter. —Or R, Frledlauder asked to be allowed to make the explanation he desired otherWise be could not continue to sit at the Oounpll table.— The Ohalrman asked If my one else desired to speak,— Or H. Frledlander proneeded to combat the remarks of Or R. Frledlander when the Utter left the Ooanoll table The olause was adopted, Or Thomas dissenting, After a lengthy dlsouselon m regard to the appointments of a Committee to draw up a schedule of dutlen for the new rffioes, the matter was deferred till next meeting. knciinbek'h B«roRT. The Eoglnent'a reported that by Instructions of the Works Committee they hid dismissed all the men except three, namely the Foreman, the driver of the water cart, and the man who attends to the water supply. It had become necessary to do noiue works i»t the head of the mtll race aod thpy had accordingly put on the necessary men. The ordinary routine work had been, attended They had been Instructed to sell two of the horee« j one was put up on Saturday and realised £12. The report was adopted. AN IN?EBkr.BNT. An SQOOunt of Gt for buryiog a dog found dead wua passed and the Inspector of Nulsnnooo was instructed to recover from tho owner if ho oould ba found. OUTSTANDING KATES, It was rosolvod to tak^ action for the recovery of outstanding ralfe«>. XIGBTINO THR {•TftEJSfIS, It was resolved to o wtinuo the arrangermnt with tho Gas Company fcr another yei.r. NCrCK Of M> TION, Or Thomas gave notice < f motion " That It bo » rale of this Oounol for the future that no Committee be app >in<ed, to bWng up reports^ containing a aitjorlty cf the Ooonoll, Deoauie euoh appointment •Imply means gagging the Oounoll and oowpelllng it to pass whatevor reoommen- 1 datlbn the said (Joipin^tee may bring m." r^YMENra Accounts araountlDg to £70 7* 5d were passed for payment and iha Ooaaoil adjourned,