BOROUGH COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1889, 10 July 1888, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting was held last night. Present : The Mayor aod Crs Williamson, H. Friedlander, Bird, Roberts, Scaly, Reid, Thomas and Scott.

mayor's statement. The Mayor said that the debit balance at the bank was £966 13s lid. The amounts whioh had been reoeived sinoa last meeting were :— Dog .licensee, £i 10a ; excise lioenscs and sundry, £203; earth, £2 3s; library, 16a; rents reserves, £17 10; rates 1888, £10 18s. Total, £238 17s. CORBE6PONDENCE. Letters were reoeived :— (1) Prom Mr R. H McLean, Inspector of Audit, requiting to know whether disallowed payments had been refunded and paid m to the Borough's credit at the bank. — The disallowed payments amounted to £15. — The Mayor Baid they would certainly have to take Borne steps m the matter. If the amounts were not speedily made good the Department would take proceedings and then legal expenses would be added. There were ten Councillors and 30s from each would pay the amount. — Or Thomas said that he thought the payment of £10 5s for expenses of delegate to munoipal \ conference was a perfectly proper one, and he thought they should test its legality.. He was ptepared to pay £5 towards the expense of having it tested. — After disoussion the Mayor said that he thought the proper way would be for eaoh Councillor to pay 30s.— Or j Thomas said he would pay no 30s. He thought it monstrous that they should have to pay out of their own prookets the. expenses of «» delegate who was sent to Wellington m the interests of the burgesses at large. — Or Roberts moved that the matter be allowed to

take its ooarse and that the Inspector of Audit be informed to that effeot.— Or Thomaß seconded. — Or Friedlander moved as an ! amendment that the Inspector of Audit be informed that the Council has no funds at its' disposal and cannot comply with his request. —Or Williamson seoonded. He thought it better to faoe the difficulty, but they would probably hear from the Department before action was taken.— Or Scaly did not think the amendment met the cage. Crs were individually oalled upon to pay up. The Council could have Bnapped their fingers at the Audit department by voting a sum to the Mayor to pay off the amount, but beoause they aoted straightforwardly they were jumped upon. — Or Reid agreed with neither motion or amendment.

He thought they should vote a sum to the Mayor to meet the amount. — Or Thomas said that before they aoted on Cr Reid's suggestion they should ascertain if the Auditor had the power he arrogated to himself. He thought that the amounts for expenses of Municipal delegate and for hire of hall for burgesses' meeting were quite legal, though he had some doubts as to that for hire of hall for Sir J. Vogel's meeting. If the Act did permit suoh aotion on the part of the Auditor the sooner it was amended the better, and unless some Council took a firm stand it would never be amended. He reiterated his intention of refusing to pay up as requested by the Auditor. —The Mayor Btated that the item for Sir Julius Vogel's meeting had been paid. He agreed with previous speakers that it was monstrous the other items should be disallowed by the Auditor. — Some disoussion arose as to arranging for a test oase against one member of the Council, to asoertain the legality of the payments.— Cr Friedlapder's amendment was lost by five to four- — After Borne discussion Or Scaly suggested that the matter be allowed to stand over. There were a number of other Counoils m the same position and they might gain the knowledge they desired at somebody else's expense. He moved " That the matter be allowed to stand over."— Or Scott seconded Cr Sealy's amendment.— Cr Friedlander said that the objeotion to Cr Sealy's amendment was that eaoh Oonncillor might get a Bummons. He thought the beat way would be to ask the Auditor, if he intended to take action, to bring a teat oase against one of the Councillors.— Cr Sealy's amendment was lost ; and Cr Friedlander moved " That this Counoil regrets that it oannot comply with the request of the Auditor-General, and that His Worship the Mayor will accept servioe of summons on behalf of the Councillors, who will abide by the deoisionof the Presiding Magistrate." — Cr Reid seconded. — Cr Scaly and Qr Sootfc thought Cr Friedlander'a amendment inadvisable.—Or Bird, who was not a member of the Counoil when the payments were made, left the room while the voting was being taken, and Cr Friedlander's amendment wbb carried, Or Sooit o»ly dißaenting.— (2) From Messrs A. and T. Burt with reference to pipes. — Deoided to reply that the Counoil had determined not to sell any more of its pipes.— (3) From Hampstead Town Board, stating that it saw no reason for reconsidering its deoision re fires, because if suggested code of signals were adopted, no expense for horses for fires at Hampstead would be incurved. — Councillors pointed out that m present oiroumstanoes the adoption of a code of signals would be impracticable. — Cr Scaly said that at a recent fire at Hampstead the brigade had prevented serious loss through saving from destruction houses adjoining the obs m which the fire originated. He thought ttiia should be pointed out to the Board. He moved that the Mayor interview the Chairman of the Town Board, and explain the circum. Btances. — Cr Roberts seconded. — Cr Scott bore out Cr Sealy'e remarks,— Or Williamson thought it a hardship on the Counoil that thege matters should be continually cropping up. The Council gave thp neighboring bodies the use of the brigade and plant free of charge, only asking the expenses aotually incurred, and yet these bodies asked the Counoil to conform to regulations whioh they could not adopt m regard to the Borough. He thought that these neighboring bodies should not only pay expenses, but should pay something towards the support of the brigade, .fie moved that a reply be ganfe ,to the i 'Hampsteadf Town Board 'tha£ the Council has no wish to press the servioes ot the brigade upon them, and unless fair ar-

rangemen.tß are qoine to the services of the Brigade would not bis extended to the town district.— Or Thbmaa seconded the amendment. He had been moving m this direction j for two or three years. The Boards m the vioinity of the town should toe put on a proper footing, and subscribe towards the maintenance of the brigade, and if they did not do so the OounpiJ sjjoulcj deoline to allow the. brigade^ fp cr6fis their' borders.— After Borne discussion Or Williamson's amdndinanj; was carried, Councillors generally agreeing with it.— (4) From Mr (J. BraddelJ, the late Clerk, returning thanks for good wishes expressed m Counoil's letter to him. (5) From Messrs H. 0. Segers, J. Scaly, and W. Patching, making application for new leases, Containing compensation olauaes, of their reserve^.— fpha wag held over till the Fair ' Rent 'BiH'hlad been 'disposed of.— (6) From Fire Brigade, reporting occurrenoe'b'f tv?O /ire's sinoe last meeting. An account for expenses W39 anolpged,— The account wa'a paeaed, and it was decided tp applj to the local bodies m whose districts the fires had occurred tor refunds.— (7) From Mr B. W. Jones, m reference to the Merryweather steam fire engine. — The letter was, after discussion, referred to the Fire Brigade Committee. — Borne lottpjrs were held over till later m the evening, and 'Some others of an unimportant nature were dealt with.'' ' ' THE DISALLOWED PAYMENTS. Some further discussion took place on this matter, which was ultimately referred to a Committee consisting of the Mayor and Or Friedlander, with power to give effect or otherwise to the resolution previously passed.

RESERVES COMMITTEE. | A report from the Reserves Committee was S lead and iealt with. •' "" jrjßß fcBKjiAEE COMMITTEE. ' The Fire Brigade 'Committee reported that it could not reoommend the amalgamation of the two brigades.' It' was recommended that a small grant be made to the Western Brigade. The Report was adopted, and notice was given rescinding the resolution, stopping all payments to the Western grjgade, whioh was I previously passed*

engineers' report. The Engineers' reported as follows:—Planting : By direotion of the Works Gommittee we have put on a man to dig holes for planting yaoarit places jn the plantations, and as soon as apotnejr hprse can 'he procured, portions of the ten aor y e planting reserve; where suitable will be prepared for sowing gums,' etc—The Government workmen ape removing the pinus insignis m the East street railway reserve and replaoing them with deciduous trees as re* quested by the Council. The firemen is going to sink some trial holes m the vaoant spaoe near the bridge to ascertain the quality of the soil.— Bemovmg buildings, eto, ; The Works Committee reoommend that a deposit be required from applicants to remove buildings within the borough, and also on building license b where scaffolding is ereoted on the footpath.— Metalling ; The oontraotor has suppled, the 600 yda t of shingle origfaally •.''^^&» i^%^vi.:r-- : - : --- .•-.-..'■:

intended for oertain streets, and is now delivering some m East Btreeb and elsewhere intended for certain streets, and is now delivering Borne m East street and elsewhere, where needed for repairs. — Electrio lighting and water supply : We have had a conversation with Mr Brown on details of his soheme, but have not been able to go into the matter so as to report upon it. It will be necessary to get estimates from experts for much of the expenditure. Mr Brown has promised to prooure or supply certain estimates re the eleotrical apparatus.

It was decided to forward the thanks of the I Oounoil to the Railway Department for re- j placing with deciduous trees, the pines m the plantation on the railway reserve. It was decided to call for tenders for repairing bad places m the asphalt footpath. STBAH FIRS ENttINH. The Fire Association's letter of Jane 4, was considered. It stated that the grant of £70 could not be made unless the class of steam fire engine stipulated for at the time were prooured. The Association also pointed out that much time had elapsed einoe the grant was agreed to be made and asked if the order had yet been seDt.

It was decided to reply that the Oounoil had now under consideration a high-pressure soheme, and asking that the matter be left m abeyanoe till a deoision had been arrived at. mtt.t, INTAKE. / At the instance of Or Friedlander, Or Williamson was deputed to represent the Oounoil, at a oonferenoe of the County Oounoil, Borough Oounoil and millownera m reference to the intake of the mill-raoe. BBIDGB. The balance of the money owing on aooount of the traffic bridge, £363 8s Id, was passed,

JTIBEB IN HAMPBTEAD. A motion was proposed and seconded to the effect that owing to the aotion of the Hampstead Town Board, m deolining to pay expenses incurred by the brigade attending fires m that district, it be notified that the brigade will not m future turn out to any fire that may occur there. At the wish of other Councillors the motion was, however, postponed till the following meeting, so that the Town Board might have another ohance. MISCELLANEOUS. Acoounts were passed, and miscellaneous business transacted. AN EXPLANATION.

Or Friedlander said that before the Counoillora left the table, he had a duty to perform, which, he regretted to say, waa of an unpleasant nature, and he hoped it would soon be disposed of. The Counoil would remember that at the last meeting he had stated that before the present meeting he would decide what steps he would take m conneotibn with a matter that had arisen over the eleotion of officers. He had said that if he was sure the Mayor had voted for both parties he would resign. He had considered > the matter, and he had come to the oonolusion that m a matter of the kind a Connoillor should not consider his personal feel* iDgs at all, but the interest of the burgesses he represented. He did not say that. the report m regard to the double voting was true or untrue ; that might be seen later on. Be that as it might, it was the duty of every Oounoillor to look after the interest of the burgesses, and he accordingly felt it his duty to withdraw the remarks to whioh he had previously alluded, and to continue to aot as a Oounoillor without reference to his personal feeling m the matter. He withdrew the remarks he made at a former meeting, but having done so he thought it only fair to Oounoillora at the table that his Worship, should satisfy them if he was guilty, intentionally or unintentionally, of that whioh it was reported he had done. He thought all the Councillors were, as things were at present, implicated, and he thought that his Worship should explain. He hoped that his Worship would take his remarks m good part, and if he repeated the explanation he was reported to have given when he (Cr Friedlander) was not at the table, no doubt the Couuoil would acoept it. The Mayor said that sinoe Gr Friedlander had spoken m so moderate a manner it would be found that he would also act moderately. He had made the statement to whioh Gr Friedlander referred and it was a true oge, Although, some of tho remarks that had been giade were not nice he was not going to get i < back up. He took it that if he refused to answer how he voted m this matter the Council had no right to ask an explanation of him. However, if it would oreate good feeling he would state that if he had not given hia vote for Mr Fooks the omission was inadvertent. His intention had been to vote for Mr Fooks all along. He oould go further m this matter, but he did not think it necessary. The Oounoil then adjourned,