BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1714, 18 August 1879, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

RANGIORA. The fortnightly meeting of this Council for despatch of business was held ou Friday evening. Present —Tho Mayor (Mr Blackett), Crs. Burt, Boyd, Luxton, and White. A letter from Or. Lilly was received, stating he was too unwell to attend. Letters were read—From Mr J. E. March, in reference to a case for charitable aid, pointing out that the applicant was from statement made well provided for, and had a relative who might contribute towards her support. From Mr Lilly, superintendent fire brigade, stating ho had tested the two Abyssinian pipes with both engines, and found plenty of water in tho one opposite tho Church of England, but at tho one on Ashley street the'o was not a supply sufficient in case of fire. From Mr AY. Yuughan, asking if tho Council would pay him, as trustee, tho balance due for tho borough map. From J. T. Ford and Co., forwarding £7 10s, rout duo by Mr J. C. Boyle for (he endowment reserve at Rakaia. From Mr E. Clark, solicitor, forwarding opinion on section 203 of tho Act, in reference to proportion to bo paid and manner in which notice should be given of the intention to form paths, to cost of which owners would bo required to contribute, which might bo decided under this clause and resolution of tho Council. After some discussion on tho letter, Cr. Burt moved—“ That tho town clerk communicate with tho town clerk of Christchurch, inquiring in what manner tho cost of forming the footpaths was paid between tho Council and owners of property.” Cr. Johnston seconded the motion, which was agreed to. From Garrick and Cowlishaw, enclosing a bill of costs. Tho report of Mr 0. Gulf on the drainage of the district, to tho Mandevillo Road Board, October, 1876, was brought up and road as follows :—“ Having been requested to report on tho hollow or creek running through the property owned by Mr Bassingthwaite and others, and emptying itself into the railway ditch from his land and which I should consider very suitable for a water course for tho purpose of drainage, &0., he had taken the levels at several points, and also from its outlet at tho railway drain to creek, and find that by deepening the railway drain and cutting a drain through on Bassingthwaite’s land any fall required could be obtained and tho work carried out at n small cost. But from tho appearance of the creek or hollow ho took it to havo been nothing more than a flood or storm water, hollow and that the Board would not be entitled to deepen it or carry any other drainage or sewerage more than storm water as the same after its crossing High street and Carter’s lane to South street being obstructed in such a number of places with accumulation! of rubbish rendering it useless for the purpose of drainage. In addition to reporting on tho above, ho had taken levels and made a plan, suggesting for tho consideration of tho Board that it would be desirable to conduct tho water in a more direct course, as ho found by the levels that by deepening tho side drains in High street, and slightly altering tho levels of tho streets running into the same, that the whole of the water can be carried down High street to tho railway gates, and thence into the present ditch alongside the railway to thc°oi;tfall creek, there being a fall from the surface of water at creek to side drains at railway gates of over 20ft. From that point to junction of South street, of over 9ft., which is more than ample for any drainage. The same could bo carried out from tima to time without any large expenditure to initiate the work, as the deepening of the railway drain would answer the double purpose of carrying off the water from creek at point marked A on plan, as well as forming outlet for storm water if carried down High street to railway gates. If tho Board should approve of this idea, at some future time a large concrete channel might bo made on the north side drain of High street, which would add to tho healthiness of the town by preventing any eewerego from percolating into the ground, as from observations of tho deposits placed in present creek, tho Board would shortly, for the sake of health, have to order the same to bo filled up.” Tho Mayor observed that Mr Cuff apparently had no idea of tho quantity of water which would come into this drain, and ho did not say anything about taking the water from the creek except by filling it. Cr. Bart agreed with filling in the old water course. Tho Mayor could not see in that case how tho quantity of water at certain times could be taken away. Tho town clerk reported that Mr Smith was agreeable to open another gravel pit at the West town bolt, and into tho pit thus made tho head of the old water course would bo emptied. Cr. White thought this proposal a very good one. A discussion of a conversational nature ensued on tho subject matter of the report and the question of drainage. Tho town clerk stated he had been too much occupied to prepare a report on the general question of drainage. It was resolved that the drainage of King street, and the water from tho gully near Mr Bramley’s property, be taken into a culvert in George Street. The balance in the Bunk was reported to bo £o4D l<Ls lid. Accounts amounting to £l2B Ha 83, wore passed for payment. Attention was drawn to the manner in which tho Drain road was being cut up by carting shingle between Rangiora and Southbrook, by the contractor's carts, who was metalling the Drain road. The road in places was said to be so much cut as to be dangerous, and the town clerk was requested to see that any dangerous holes wore were filled, but it was not thought desirable to metal the Council’s portion till the Road Board’s contractor had finished his work. Cr. White drew attention to tho want of shingle at tho bottom of his street, which it was decided to attend to. In the matter of a road from Ashley street to East belt, tho clerk was directed to write totheCommissioner of Railways. The Council then adjourned.

An apparatus of simple oharact er for recording continuously the direction of th.o wind is now in use at the Observatory of Lyons. It was constructed by M. Rcdier. A weathercock of suitable form is supported by a sort of tripod of grooved wheels running upon a circular rail of steel (the wheels having individually a horizontal axis, but collectively, a vortical). From tho weathercock passes down a vertical rod to connection with a cylinder (placed with axis vortical), which is supported below by a steel pivot reeling on a plate of agate, and is guided at tho upper part by horizontal pulleys. Thus each movement of tho weathercock is transmitted to the cylinder. Tho latter has wound round it a sheet of paper, graduated vertically and horizontally (the vertical divisions representing the hours, the horizontal tho directions), and a pencil applied to the paper is moved iu vertical directions by clockwork. It will thus be scon that tho tracing obtained on the paper indicates the successive positions taken by the weathercock, and, accordingly, tho direction of the wind for any given time.