Borough Council.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 389, 22 October 1903, Page 5

Borough Council.

The ordinary meeting of the Alexandra Borough Council was held on Monday evening last, when there were present —His Worship the Mayor (Mr J Kelman), Crs Spencer, Schaumann, Buchanan, Appleton, M'Math, Laidlaw, Anderson and Ryan. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved Inward correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : —Letters were read from Mr Hay, engineer, with reference to plastering contract. —Received. —Letter from town clerk of Dunedin, in reply to the council's letter, stating that galvanised iron pipe was not used in Dunedin for laying on services from the mains to the building line; and that with regard to the cost of laying half inch services, any Dunedin plumber could supply the information required.—Received. —A letter was read from the Alexandra Jockey Club asking permission to take a half-inch pipe from the main near Mr Gunion's residence, to the racecourse. Cr Buchanan said that some little time ago the council had discussed the advisability of laying water on to the cemetery from the mains, ami Cr Ryan and himself had been appointed to obtain an approximate estimate of the length of pipe required. This th9y had done, and it was found that the distance to the cemetery from the main near Mr Spencer's residence, and from the main near Mr Baker's residence (the two nearest points to the cemetery) were very much about the same, with a slight advantage in favour of the former. The speaker said that, with the council's permission, the Jockey Club intended to put on a pipe from the main to the course, and for a considerable distance the line of pipe would lead in the direction of the cemetery. If the Cemetery Trust decided to lay on a pipe, the cost could be borne between the two parties interested, and the Trust and the Jockey Club would thus both be benefitted.

Cr Laidlaw said that the people in the Borough should first be supplied with water, before the question ot laying a pipe to the cemetery was considered,

The Mayor said that this had nothing to do with the loan money or with the Borough General Account. The cemetery had been self-supporting, and the account was considerably in credit. The cost of laying a pipe would come out of the cemetery funds, which could not be used for any purpose otherwise than improving the cemetery. Crs Spencer and M'Math agreed that if the cost of laying on a pipe could be divided with the Jockey Club it would be advantageous to the Cemetery Trust. Eventually, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr M'Math, seconded by Cr Spencer, that tenders be called for laying a galvanised-iron pipe from the main to the cemetery, and that a special meeting of the Council be held on Friday evening next to consider the matter, and that the Jockey Club be asked to send representatives to the meeting. —Mr T Short wrote complaining that the water service was not laid to the building line of his section, and also that he was put to considerable inconvenience owing to Kenmare St not having been opened. The Mayor pointed out that Kenmare St was one of the streets through which the mains had not been laid, but this would receive attention when the pipes proposed to be purchased were obtained. After some discussion re the opening of Kenmare St, it was resolved, on the motion of Or Schaumann, seconded by Cr Laidlaw, that the Mayor interview Mr Short on the subject. Cr Ryan here took his seat. A petition was read from Mr W C Nicholson and seven others, residing outside the boundary of the Borough near the Alexandra bridge, asking if the council could supply them with water under pressure, for which they were agreeable to pay the usual water rate.

The Mayor, Crs Spencer, Buchanan, Ryan and Laidlaw, expressed themselves to the effect that it was, firstly, the council's duty to provide their own ratepayers with water, before considering any request from those residing outside the Borough. The opinion was expressed, however, that if after the Borough residents had all been supplied, and it was found there was water to spare, a request such as that contained in the petition might be favourably considered. Cr Buchanan moved, and Cr Spencer seconded—That the petition lie on the table meantime, and that the town clerk write and explain the council's views.—Carried, —The Inspector of Stock, Clyde, wrote r« the poisoning of the Borough endowment, requesting that this be attended to. Or Spencer moved, and Cr M'Math seconded—That the town clerk communicate with Mr Jopp, asking if it would be convenient for him to lay poison on the endowment when poisoning the adjoining run.—Carried, The Borough dayman reported that some protection was required for the pipe line where it crosses a bye-road. It was pointed out that the road in question was not a surveyed road. After some discussion as to what steps should be taken to protect the pipes, Cr Spencer moved and Cr Anderson seconded—That a fence be erected to prevent vehicles crossing the pipes.—The motion was carried. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that some residents had not carried out his instructions to clean up their premises; and he asked for further instructions,

Or Ryan moved and Or Buchanan seconded—That legal proceedings be taken against all residents whose premises are not properly cleaned up by Monday next, 26th inst.—Carried, The report of the inspector of the reservoir plastering contract (Mr D M'Connochie) was read and received.

—Mrs Jane Robinson wrote complaining that a service pipe had not been laid on to a section owned by her. Or Appleton pointed out that the section comprised an acre, and as the main passed the section, it was only fair that a service should be laid to the boundary, especially as a motion had already been passed by the Oouncil that a service should be laid to the building line of every section in streets through which the mains passed. The Mayor said the omission to lay on a service in this case was the result of an oversight. Or Laidlaw moved and Or Appleton seconded —That a service pipe be laid on to Mrs Robinson's property as requested.—Carried. The Mayor stated that some 1290 ft of |-inch lead pipe was required to complete the work of laying on services throughout the town. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Schaumann, seconded by Cr M'Math, that the necessary quantity of pipe be procured at once. It was resolved that the spare 5-inch mains be used for the intake at the reservoir. After some discussion, in reference to putting on a pipe or chute, leading from the end of the discharge pipe at the lower end of Tarbert-street, so as to avoid damaging the embankment, it was resolved that the town clerk interview Mr Terry re price of pipes offered by him for the purpose. Cr Ryan pointed out that Mr Ah Wing had opened a race across the road leading towards the coalpit, and had caused a good deal of inconvenience to carriers.

The Mayor said that Mr Ah Wing had obtained permission to open the race only on the condition that he put in a pipe where the road crosses. Or Appleton moved and Or Buchanan seconded—That Mr Ah Wing be informed that the pipe supplied by the Council must be put in at once ; otherwise the water supply will be stopped —Carried.

Or Ryan also pointed out that a race owned by Mr A, Brown was damaging the road leading past his residence to the coal-pit. He moved—That Mr Brown be written to asking him to put in a proper crossing at the place referred to. Or M'Math seconded the motion, Cr Appleton moved as an amendment, and Or Anderson seconded— That the road in question be fenced off. The amendment was lost. As a farther amendment, Or Buchanan moved—That the Works Committee visit the ground, and make the best arrangements possible with Mr Brown in regard to the crossing. Or Ryan withdrew his motion, and seconded the amendment, which was carried. The question of continuing the waterworks reticulation plan throughout the town by l|-inch pipes was then discussed, and finally on the motion of Cr Laidlaw, seconded by Cr Buchanan, it was decided that the town clerk be instructed to ascertain as eaily as possible the probable price and cost of laying of one mile (more or less) of l|-inch iron pipe. Mr Ohas Duncan waited on the Council and asked that the street near Mr Deady's be opened, as now that the neighboring sections were fenced, several residents were put to a great deal of inconvenience. The proper street line was fenced. After discussing the matter, Cr Ryan moved and Cr Anderson seconded—That the persons interested be notified to shift their fences, and that the street be opened for traffic, — The motion was carried. Mr W Thompson waited on the Council, with a request that water under pressure should be laid on to his and the neighboring sections at the upper end of the Borough. The Mayor explained the action that the Council intended to take in this) matter.

Mr Thompson said that having heard the discussion at the Council table, he was satisfied that the Council were doing their best, but he wished to point out how important it was to thoae living on the outskirts of the town that water should be supplied to them. Cr Appleton asked if in a case where a man had (say) four sections, all of which he irrigated from one pipe, would he be charged the same rate as a man who only had one section with one pipe.

A good deal of discussion ensued on this point, and the general opinion seemed to be that if there was plenty of water no hardship would be inflicted on anyone if one person used a little more water than another. The Mayor explained that the regulations provided that if the Council found that any person was using more than a fair share of the water, there was power to charge him extra for an " extraordinary supply." The statement of balances was read as follows:—Dr General Account. £739 10s 3d; Or Interest Account, £3ll 4s sd; Or Charities Account, £lO2 6s 4d ; Or Contractors Deposits Account, £59 10s -3d; Or Cemetery Account, £4B 6s 4d; Or Library Account, £l9; total Dr balance, £199 2s lid. The following accounts were passed for payment:— W Bowler, £1 2s 6d ; Stark and Co (Library Account), £l6 Is 9d ; J Travis, £lO 16s ; Charitable Aid Board, £ls 18s 4d ; 0 M'lntosh, 3s 9d; M'Kechnie and Fleming (Waterworks Accounts), £245 Is. The Council then rose.