BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 412, 7 October 1875, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

KAIAPOI. Tuesday, October fi. The fortnightly meeting of this Council for the despatch of ordinary business was held on Tuesday evening. Present, the Mayor, Crs Blackwell, Funston, Parnham, Porter, Kilson, Ellen, and Smethurst. A letter was read from Mandeville and Rangiora Road Bor.rd re Saltwater Creek bridge, asking what sum the Council would contribute towards its repair; also forwarding £3 part cost of repairs to North road. Cr Blackwell moved—“ That the town clerk acknowledge receipt of the foregoing letter, and state the Council regrets it cannot contribute to works outside the town, as the Act only allows the funds to be expended within the borough.” Cr Parnham, in seconding the motion, pointed out that the Board should not require assistance, the Provincial Government having given it a special grant for the bridge. The motion was agreed to, Cr Porter, chairman of river reserves committee, handed in a statement of the agreements in existence, when made, and the date of the expiry of each. It would be found that one or two had lapsed, and another would soon to do so. He suggested that the matter should be considered by councillors, and discussed at a subsequent meeting. It was resolved, on motion of Cr Ellen, seconded by Cr Smethurst —“That the report be now received, and considered at nextjmeeting.” Cr Milsom, chairman of sanitary committee, said that at the next meeting ,the committee hoped to present an elaborate report on the sanitary matters of the borough. Cr Parnham, chairman of works committee, reported several works having been completed. It would now be only requisite to keep on one man, with the foreman. The notices cautioning persons not to damage trees had been erected. Some amount of damage was being incurred to the Charles street embankment by persons allowing cows to stray. The Mayor promised, in reference to the latter question, to bring it to the notice of the police. Accounts —Labor, £5 17s; carting, £4 9s; carpenter and painter, £5 Is 3d ; Northern store, £4 5s 6d ; foreman, £4 10s ; town clerk, £8 10s 6d ; total, £33 3s 3d—were passed for payment. The Mayor, as chairman of fire prevention committee, had instructed that the alarm bell tower should be raised. The superintendent of the fire brigade had resigned, as he could not hear the alarm, But had since been induced to withdraw bis resignation. On the motion of Cr Blackwell, seconded by Cr Parnham, it was resolved —" That the fire prevention committee be authorised to have the fire bell tower and look-out painted.” Cr Ellen drew the works committee’s attention to tramway crossing Charles street from Rhodes' store to river. Referred to works committee. Cr Smethurst enquired if Oram’s right-of-way was under Council control. The Mayor replied in the negative. Cr M'Donald’s resignation having been sent in, the Mayor intimated he should take Steps forthwith to fill the vacancy. Cr Blackwell moved —“ That tenders be invited for supplying 10,000 ft heart of black birch in 16ft lengths, Sin x Sin, delivered at Kaiapoi railway station.” He pointed out that if this timber could be purchast d at a reasonable price, it was time several of the paths in the centre of the borough were kerbed, Cr Parnham advocated the ci rrying out of the kerbing in those streets, Raven street and North Road, where it had been promised for a long time. Cr Ellen considered the question was beyond the Council’s resources. The kerbing on the North side was done partly by private contributions, and the same principle should be acted upon throughout. It would be well to consider if concrete kerbing was not likely to be cheaper in the end. He opposed the motion, trusting councillors would see it to their advantage to go in for concrete or stone kerbings. Cr Funston pointed out that black pine or totara previously agreed to, would be found more durable than black birch. On account of the cost the Council had held over the work, and he did not see that it was in a better position now, added to which the paths in the North Road and Raven street were as good as in any other portion of the town. He opposed the motion. Cr Porter, although he did not approve of wood kerbing, had seen several who wanted it, and if the people wanted it, he was in favor of the Council passing the motion, so that while it would do a deal of good to outlandish portions of the borough on the road to the railway station, it might also be advantageously used in the inhabited parts. He hoped the works committee intended to adopt the principle that those who wanted kerbs ought to pay part of the expense. Or Milsom supported the motion. The kerbing, if completed, would lessen the present great cost of clearing side channels. The cost of concrete and stone put them out of the question for the present. Cr Smethurst opposed the motion, preferring to ascertain cost of concrete as against timber for kerbing. The Mayor opposed the calling of tenders for black birch. He was told this timber was not durable, and liable to twist and buckle in the work for which the Council required it. He suggested that the motion might be withdrawn, so as to get an estimate of concrete, and the works committee might be authorised to carry out a portion by way of experiment. Or Blackwell replied, pointing out that the timber kerbing on the north side of the town had been down fourteen years, which gave evidence of the durability of timber. The motion was then put, Crs Bl«ckwell, Porter; Milsom, and Parnham voting for ; Crs Smethurst, Funston, and Ellen against. The Mayor saying he should not vote, declared the motion carried. Or Milsom gave notice of motion—“ That the public works committee, by way of experiment, lay down concrete kerbing from Middleton’s corner to corner of Hilton street.” The Council then adjourned.