TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2320, 24 August 1880, Page 2

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the above Council was held last evening. Present —His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Gibson, Bruce,Jackson, Sherratt, lioss, Gabites, Shepherd, and Greenup. CORRESPONDENCE. Was read from : Jas. Rothwell, asking the Council’s assistance in aiding him to obtain the sum of 48s, which represented a week’s salary he had lost through being laid up in consequence of injuries received at the fire at Mr Shepherd’s store. It was resolved that the letter be referred to the Work’s Committee, and that they be asked to represent the matter to the insurance offices interested. From W. Cullman, stating that he had deposited the sum of £3 "with the Town Clerk, for a license for the Oddfellows’ Hall, and asking that a rebate of one-half might be granted, seeing that the license would expire in December,

His Worship the Mayor remarked that it bad come to bis knowledge that the Council really had no power to modify the by-laws. He then read a letter from Mr Arthur Perry, solicitor to the Council, stating that he had carefully considered the question of the legality of the resolution passed by the Council re granting Mr Stansell a license for the Theatre Royal, and that the Surveyor of Public Buildings having stated that there is not sufficient provision made in the building for egress in

case of lire, he (Mr Perry) was of opinion that the resolution was bad, and that unless the requirements of the Act are complied with a license cannot be granted. Cr. Bruce wished to know what experience Mr Lough, the Surveyor of Public Buildings had. The Mayor said Mr Lough was the Council’s Surveyor and his report must be received.

In reply to a question as to what improvements Mr Lough would suggest at the theatre, he said that the staircase communicating with the dress circle was an exceedingly dangerous one, or would become so in case of lire. He would suggest that the present corkscrew staircase be removed and a straight staircase substituted.

It was then proposed by Cr. Gibson, seconded by Cr. Jackson, and carried, “ That the resolution passed on August 9, 1880, by the Council authorising the issue of a license to Mr J. B. Stanscll for the Theatre Royal be rescinded.” It was further resolved, with regard to Mr Cullman’s application for rebate, that the request could not be entertained, the Council having no power to accede to the request. From Mr Bowkor asking permission to transfer the lease and mortgage of section 220. Granted.

From Mr W. Bell Freeman, asking the Council to give him the lirst offer to purchase the site of the town pump facing his buildings on the completion of the waterworks. The Mayor pointed out that the Act required that the owner of the adjoining land must be given the option of purchase. A REFUGE FOR LOST DOGS. It was moved by Cr. Shepherd, seconded by Cr. Gabitos, and carried—- “ That the underground cellar at the Town Hall buildings be appointed a place for the confining of dogs wandering at large within the borough of Timaru without the lawful registration badge, and that the Town Clerk advertise such appointed place. Also that 2s (id be the charge for maintenance of each dog, such fee to bo paid to the Town Clerk prior to the release of each dog.” ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment ; —General, £ll3 3s Gd ; Waterworks, £lO2, ICs. RETIRING COUNCILLORS. A ballot was held in the usual way (o decide upon three retiring Councillors, when the names of Messrs Bruce,Jones, and Gabites were drawn. TENDERS. Tenders wore received for Borough works as follows : Stone culvert in E street —T. Blatchford, £G4 15s (accepted) ; JD, McKenzie £72 5s Gd ; W. McGill, £97 J9s ; S. Bible}', £75 Is Sd ; J. Joues, £G7 ; JJ. Hannan, £9B 11s. Stone culvert in Strathallan street— J. Jones, £ll Us (accepted) ; I). McKenzie, £l9 12s Gd ; W. McGill, £2O 15s ; S. Sibley, £lB 10s ; D. Hannan, £l9 IGs. WATERWORKS. It was resolved that tenders be called for the survey of the water-race, according to plans and specifications now lai:i on the table. Tenders to be in by 7 p.m. on September G. ENG fNEERs’ REPORT. The following report of the Waterworks Engineers was read:— “ We have the honor to report that wc have gone over the line of the proposed race, and have examined the dam and service reservoir, and have also carefully considered the maps and working drawings prepared by your late engineer, and the estimate made by Mr McLeod for the completion of the works. The result of our investigation is that wc estimate the cost of completing the scheme commenced by Air Vvrigg on such a scale as to ensure a delivery into the service reservoir at the rate of one and a hall; million gallons per 2-1 hours to be about £30,000, and that we think the whole of the works may he completed and put in working order in about 15 months from the present time.” Separate estimates of the cost of the various sections of the work were then given. The report then proceeded : “The above estimate is for delivering water into the service mains at the rate of one ami a half million gallons per 2-1 hours ; but by slightly enlarging the race doubling the syphons, and putting in a second length of sendee mains between the reservoir and town belt, this duty may he raised to two million gallons without any alteration of the head works, the Humes, or the outlet works at the service reservoir. The above estimates provide for passing the water through strainers at the pipe head ; but, should it ultimately he desired to filter the water, filter beds may he constructed alongside tlm service reservoir, without losing any pressure on the mains, at a cost of between two and three thousand pounds.

“We should recommend that the pipes and valves required for the syphons, the iron work for the Humes, and the lire plugs, irregular castings, and the relieving valves required fur the reticulation, be ordered at once from England, and that the special castings required for the dam and reservoir be advertised for here, as it is of importance that the head works and the reservoir should be put in working order at the earliest possible date. The laying of the service mains can be proceeded with as soon as the completion of the outlet works at the reservoir enables water to be run into the mains to test the pipe-laying as it proceeds, as the rainfall will probably bo sufficient to put enough water into the reservoir for this purpose. “ The completion of the head works and the outlet works at the reservoir should bo the two first contracts let, and bj r the time these are in hand, we shall be prepared to let contracts in small lengths for the completion of the race, and for laying the service mains as far as the town boundary. The contracts for the erection of the flumes, the laying of the syphons, and the reticulation of the town, will complete the works, the execution of which should not take more than fifteen months from the present date. “With regard to payment we consider that it will be necessary to provide funds at the following rate, viz ;—First six months, £11,000; second do £12,000 ; last three months, £5000; leaving a balance of £2OOO to be expended subsequently in paying the balance of the repairing account and any contingencies which may arise.” The Engineers afterwards had an interview with the Council and explained certain proposed modifications in their plans. _ A draft agreement between the Council and Engineers was submitted and the Mayor was authorised to sign it. The Council then adjourned.