BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 43, 28 November 1913, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho 'monthly meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr 1). Stewart), Councillors John Begg, J. Wilkins, C. E. Naish, D. Ritchie, J. Danskin, J. Clark and E. J. Boyd. Apologies were received for the abseneo of Councillors 1). T. Fleming aud Jas. Sheddan. CORRESPONDENCE. . Robert Ronton wrote asking for transfer of lease of section 8, block V., from himself to Thos. SinclairGranted.

A. McDonald, clerk Clutha County Council, wrote that the committeo set up by his council to look into the question of abattoirs considered that tho establishment of an abattoir at Balclutha more directly affected the inhabitants of the borough, and for this reason "was of opinion that the borough council should arrange all preliminaries in con- j ncction with the matter, such as charges for killing, accommodation for stock, provision to be made for the killing, handling of skins, etc., on the basis of an agreement with the South Otago Freezing Company. When these had j been arranged tho county council could ( then be a;.ked to delegate its powers to establish an abattoir as provided in section 15 of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1900.—Referred to special committee already set up. j Robert Kerr wrote applying for permission to erect additions to his house in Stewart street. —Granted, subject to building inspector's approval. I). Mackenzie (for the Import Company) wrote applying for riverbank reserve on llasborough road for a site for the company's powder magazine. The present site of the magazine was flooded with any rise of the river, and the company had sustained a loss of £BS in recent floods through the powder being wet. Owing to the difficulty of getting to the magazine where it now was the company was compelled to keep a limited supply in the stores, but if given the riverbank site there would be no necessity for them to store explosives on the business premises.—A memo, from the Inspector of Explosives was enclosed, which stated that the proposed site on the reserve on llasborough road was suitable for a magazine to store the quantity of explosives required. The magazine should be well within the hollow and protected from the road and dwellings by the intervening v hill.— Referred to Reserves Committee.

J, 11. Bateman, Bruce County inspector, applied for 20 yards of the gravel pumped up by the steamer near the traflic bridge, the gravel being required for a footpath in Lyne street. North Balclutha.—-It was pointed out that the council had only the right over 2000 yards of gravel, and could not give permission to have any of the balance taken away by anybody, but to save time the clerk was instructed to arrange with the Clutlia River Board to get some gravel for the Bruce County Council.

WORKS AND WATERWORKS. John Chimsido, day man, reported on work completed and in course of completion as follows: —7A chains formation and gravelling of Ann street, I>JJ chains gravelling Francis street, formation of footpath in Glasgow street fronting-Mr Adams' property, cutting down tree at school, grubbing gorse and broom on Hasborough road and North Balclutha and part of reserve near railway bridge, ami necessary general surfacing. John Sheddan, waterworks engineer, reported on operations for the mouth. The reports were adopted. SALEYARDS AND RESERVES.

Henry MeFeeters, yardsman and poundkeeper, reported on work done during the month. He had impounded one horse and three cows, and had two horses, in the pound which he would sell on sale day. There were a lot of complaints about people running soap suds into the water channels, and he would like to know what he was to do.

The report was received, the police to be requested to warn householders who run soapsuds into water channels.

The Yards Committee's report is dealt with elsewhere. .

GENERAL. Councillor Boyd was appointed to attend the Arbitration Court on December 16 and give evidence on behalf of the borough in the dispute, Otago Labourers' Union v. local bodies. As the Finance Committee did not meet before the council met the accounts were held over for certification before being passed, with the exception of the wages account (£lO3 13s 3d), which was authorised to be paid. The Mayor said that the £2600 for the river protection loan had now been paid over to the council, but as the money would probably not be required for a little time he would suggest that £ISOO be placed in the bank on fixed doposit for six months, £6OO be placed in the Savings Bank, and the balance bo kept in current account in the bank.— A motion to this effect was carried.

It was decided to take proceedings against all carters who have not paid their licenses within a fortnight. Councillor Wilkins. brought up the matter of overlapping and thick hedges alongside footpaths, which were a nuisance in wet weather.—This matter was referred to the Works Committee. The Waterworks Committee was instructed to make arrangements for water being run in the water channels at intervals during dry weather. As the Saleyards and Reserves Committee was composed of three new councillors, the personnel of the three com' mittees was altered, making it as follows: Workis-CiJUacilWi'B Wijkias, Clmlj

and Danskin; Saleyards and Reserves— Councillors Bogg, Boyd and Naish; ( Finance—Councillors Fleming, Sheddan and Ritchie. Trott and Elliot's (Dunodin) modified tender for the erection of the Carnegie Library was accepted, the total cost be-ing-within £IOOO. The clerk reported' that he was unable to-obtain any further quotations for pipes for extending the water main ia Charlotte street.--The matter was referred to the Waterworks Committee for a further report. The council resolved to increase tho salary of Mr T. Drain, gatekeeper at the reserve, to 10s a wook. Matters in connection with land for embankment were discussed in committee. The Mayor reported that he had received a lottcr from Mr McElinis, Public Works engineer, about the land required to be taken, and as a result of the letter he went to Dunedin and consulted the engineer. He explained the position and what had been done, and the council approved of his action. As the next ordinary meeting of the council would fall on December 30, it was decided to hold the meeting on Friday, December 10, instead. I