ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1686, 16 July 1879, Page 4

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held on Monday nighfc. Present— The Major, and Crs. Friedlander, Williamson, St. Hill, Roberts, and Saunders. The Mayor said that since last ordinary meeting of the Council a meeting of the ratepayers had been held re the .£15,000 loan. At that meeting there appeared to be some misunderstanding in reference to tho loan, and some ratepayers had expressed dissatisfaction with the way in which the funds had been spent. Many of these expressions were unworthy of notice; hut, some seamed to treat the loan as though it were a matter of personal advantage to the members of the Council. The Council would, doubtless, remember that this loan had not been suggos.cd until complaints had been made from every quarter of the town about the state of the streets and the want of drainage. There was not a Councillor who had not had suoh_ complaints made to him, and it was with a view to undertake works that would remove these complaints that the loan was suggested. Councillors had thought over the matter most thoroughly, and would not have advised such a measure as asking for a loan if they had not been thoroughly assured it was for the general good of the town. Correspondence was read from tho County Council offering a subsidy of -Cl for every raised by the corporation for planting purposes. The clerk was instructed to acknowledge the letter and tender the Council’s thanks. In reply to a request from the borough, the County Clerk forwarded a list of persons in the borough who had taken ■out dog licenses for tho year. Mr Williamson and Mr Friedlander both said they hold licenses for dogs, hut their names were not on the hat supplied. The Mayor said it would be a good thing if the Press would incorporate the hat given above in their reports, and then those residents who had paid their license fees would bo able to report to the Council it they were not included in the list, A letter from Councillor Ivesa, resigning his seat, was then read. Mr "Williamson said he was astonished at Mr Ivess’ sudden subsidence. Though that gentleman had not always moved along smoothly with some of the Councillors, he had been an active and zealous member, and he was surprised to seo that activity and zeal so suddenly cease. TTn would movo the resignation be accepted, letters were read from Scott Bros, Christchurch, stating that they had met with some delay in the manufacture of tho lamp posts, to supply which they were under contract with the Council, but would now be able to make the posts at the rate of one per day. A lotto was read from tho Upper Ashburton Road _ Hoard, offering to bear half the expense of forming and metalling the belt that bounded their district. A petition that had been presented to tbo Ashburton Road Board by a number of ratepayers, praying to have the South-east Belt pnt in passible condition, was deferred until next meeting, by which time the loan question would he settled. The matter of tho belt could not bo dealt with until the outfall drain question was disposed of. Mr P. Qribbin, night watchman, wrote asking tho Council to contribute towards bis remuneration. The Council did not see its way to contribute to the support of such an officer. A petition from ratepayers residing on the East Town Belt, asking that the road he re-shingled, was referred to tho Road Board, with an offer to bear half tho expense. A report from the engineer was received and adopted. Mr Crisp was appointed Borough solicitor. Mr Williamson suggested planting a row of trees from the Immigration Barracks, and also planting willows at the river to protect tho town from tho wiuilest quarter. It was resolved in future that all works tenders should bo opened and disposed of by the works committee. Three tenders for forming and metalling, &0., tho North-east town belt were referred to the committee. A discussion arose on a motion by Mr St. Hill to take further steps re the rural endowment, but after some remarks lay the Mayor and others to the effect that tho borough had been well treated regarding reserves, the subject dropped. Out of thirteen applicants, Mr Harry Friedlander was appointed collector at 2h per cent, commission. _ Mr Saunders was added to the by-law committee, and it was decided to request the committee to use the utmost diligenco in getting tho by-laws into force. Accounts to ,£157 lls were passed, and tho meeting adjourned.