TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2515, 12 April 1881, Page 2

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the above was held last night. Members present —His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Cullman, Gabites, Shepherd, Gibson, Foss, and Filmer. CORRESPONDENCE Was read from The Secretary to the Timaru Volunteer Fire Brigade, asking the Council to to furnish the Brigade with a minute book, roll book, and a small supply of stationery. It was resolved that these necessaries be supplied to the Brigade. From Messrs Harper and Harper, solicitors, Christchurch, intimating that they were instructed that Mr R. H. Rhodes was in a position to prove the encroachment upon town section 279

part of rural section 730, and that no dedication of the road had been made by him. The letter added that Mr Rhodes had instructed Messrs Harper to claim damages for a much larger en croachment made by the Borough Council upon town section 270, part of the same rural section, and that as it appeared that the Council intended to set up a title to the encroachments, they (Messrs Harper) would be obliged to bring an action in the Supreme Court unless the Council would consent to give the District Court jurisdiction in the matter, and so save much expense and time. A letter having reference to the above was read from the Council’s solicitor stating that it would be more advisable to allow Mr Rhodes to take his case to the Supreme Court, and further intimating that should Mr Rhodes take proceedings, probably by consent a case could be stated'in which the questions involved might be expeditiously and cheaply settled. The Mayor said it would he impossible to avoid a law-suit over this matter, and that Mr Rhodes appeared determined to have his pound of flesh. Perhaps it would be as well to allow the matter to stand over for a month in order that the Council might communicate with Government to sec whether they would he willing to aid them in meeting Mr Rhodes’ claim. This would be better than allowing the matter to go to Court. Cr Gibson moved, and Cr Shepherd seconded, the following resolution which was carried:—“That the Mayor, Cr R,oss, and the mover he elected a committee to consult and advise with the solicitor as to the best course to be adopted in ro the claim of Mr Rhodes, and report to an adjourned meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 13, at 7 p.m.” An application from Mr Jas. Straohan to erect a temporary wooden partition dividing his shop was granted. From Mr J. G. Allen, of the Bolford flour mills, calling the attention of the Council to the state of the footpath in Brown street at the rear of the Phoenix brewery.

Referred to Works Committe to report. From Messrs Miles, Archer and Co. applying for permission to make a tunnel under the road at Le Cren’s terrace to enable them to continue their siding and connect their upper store with the railway. The letter added that the arch would of course be constructed of sufficient strength to carry the traffic above with safety. It was moved by Cr Gibson, seconded by Cr Cullman, and carried—“ That the application of Miles, Archer and Co. be granted, subject to the work being done to the satisfaction of the Foreman of Works, and that they comply with all Borough regulations. This concession is only made subject to the tunnel being removed at any future time on notice being given by the Council to do so, should the street levels require it, or to facilitate a system of water or sewage for the Borough.” An application from Mr Shepherd that the Council would asphalt footpath in front of his new premises in North street was granted, on the condition that the applicant contributed towards the cost of improvements on the same terms as the ratepayers in the main street had agreed to and paid.

TOWN LEVELS. The report of the Committee re town levels |was read, and it was resolved that it (as well as the plans submitted by the Engineer) should be received and laid on the table for the information of the Councillors until next ordinary meeting of the Council. MUNICIPAL RESERVES. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Gibson, seconded by Cr Cullman. “ That tenders be called for leasing Municipal sections, Nos. 326, 363, 317, 318, 232, 233, 110 and 111, in terms of the Work’s Committees’ report, and according to the provisions of the Muncipal Corporations Act Amendment Act 1878, tenders to be in by May 9, at 7 p.m." It was further resolved on the motion of Cr Ross, seconded by Cr Cullman. ‘‘That His Worship the Mayor communicate with the Government with a view to getting the Timaru Market Reserve vested in the Council as it is desirable that sanitary improvements of a costly nature must be undertaken for the prevention of fever now so prevalent about the locality named, and that in order to utilise the market place for the benefit of the town, it is now absolutely necessary that the Council should assume full local control of the reserve, and therefore the title thereto is of the first importance to the Borough.” FO T PATHS, It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Boss, seconded by Cr Filmer —“ That tenders be called for the formatiomand shingling of a footpath on the northwestern side of King street, commencing from William street to opposite the Commercial Hotel in High street, and also for the formation and shingling of the footpath on the northern side of North street, abutting the Public School grounds, -from the corner of Grey road to the southwestern corner of Theodocia street, tenders to be in by next ordinary meeting of the Council. BOROUGH RATE. Moved by Cr Gibson, seconded by Cr Shepherd, and carried—“ That an annual general rate of one shilling in the £ on the rateable value of the properties as appearing on the valuation roll for the Borough of Timaru, now in force, be made on April 25, 1881, for the year ending Dec. 31,1881, such rate to be payable to the ratecollector for the Borough of Timaru, at the Town Clerk’s office, in two equal instalments of 6d in the £ each on April 30,1881, and on Oct. 31, 1881.” TENDERS. Several tenders were read for the construction of a drain in King street, that of John Jones being accepted at £ls 10$. It was resolved that tenders he called for Waterworks contract No. 24 SPECIAL RATE. It was proposed by Cr Ross, seconded by Cr Filmer, and carried for providing for the annual interest on the special loan of £60,000 for supplying the Borough of Timaru with water, and doing all other acts and things necessary for or incidental to carrying out that purpose, a special rate of Is in the £ sterling, upon the rateable value of all rateable property within the said Borough be made on the 25th of April, 1881, such special rate to be an annual recurring rate payable in equal por tions half-yearly on every 30th day of April, and 31st day of October, from the said 30th day of April, 1881, and to be levied year by year without further proceeding by the Council until the said loan is paid off.”

WATERWORKS REPORT. The Waterworks Committee reported —“ This Committee are of opinion that the first step towards regulating the water supply is to make a by-law for that purpose, and the Committee are o opinion that the Council should at ° nce take the necessary steps to do so. ihey are also of opinion that in reference to the application of Mr LcCren the Council should supply water by a inch main to the residents on the Wawti road on Mr LeCren guaranteeing to pay £l2O per annum by two half-yearly instalments of £6O, in advance, when the water is laid on, and the supply shall be regulated by the same bye-law that may be adopted from time to time by the Council for regulating the supply of water. Any arrangement may not be for a longer time than four years. The report was received and adopted and it was resolved —“ That the Committee be*requested to rough draft a bye-law as suggested in the report and that the necessary steps be taken to legalise the same.” ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment as follows:—Waterworks account, £lll 17s 4d ; general £l7B 13s Id. The Council then adjourned.