BOROUGH COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2787, 28 February 1882, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

An ordinary monthly meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was held last evening. Present —His Worship the Mayor and Councillors Jackson, Bush, Gabites, Cullman, Shepherd, Gibson and Sherratt. MR RHODES’ CLAIM. Copies of letters that have passed between the Mayor and the Government, relative to payment of £505 8s compensation to Mr Rhodes for land taken for road purposes at the north end of the town, opposite Mr Elworthy’s, the old road having been taken for railway purposes. The amount has now been paid from the vote for the year for the HurunuiBlufir lines and branches. BUILDINGS IN THE BOROUGH 1 A letter was read from the Registrar General’s Department, inquiring the number of inhabited houses in the Borough on January 1 of this year. The Clerk stated that he had sent the information desired. There were 73 buildings intended as domiciles, of .which 31 were however, unoccupied. In 1880 the number was 676 ; in 1879, 670 ; in 1877 540. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £563 9s lid on Waterworks account, and £53 2s 2d on general account, were passed for payment. water f: T,7 ' ~r. Y. A letter was read from Air Allison Smith, Locomotive Superintendent, asking the Council to reduce the charge proposed for water to bo supplied for railway purposes. The Council had Gxed the price at Is 6d per thousand gallons. Mr Smith stated that at Oamaru the price charged was is 3d, and at Dunedin is per 1000, and the quantity required hero would bo about the same as at Oamaru.

Cr Gibson, moved and Or Shepherd seconded—“ That the price be reduced to Is 3d per thousand plus rent of metre,’! but a former resolution fixing the price at Is 6d, and Or Jackson saying he wonld not agree to the rescinding of that resolution, the motion could not be put, and Cr Gibson gave “ notice" that he would move it at next meeting. It was urged by some that the price should be kept up, because the Government had no buildings liable to the water rate.

A letter was read from the N.M. and A. Company., asking for a “connection” to be made between the main and their motor engine. The Mayor stated that the requisite pipes had been sent for, and the connection would be made with little delay. Mr Dobson and the Council’s solicitor wrote concerning a survey of a portion of the water-race reserve, required in,order to bring the whole under the Land Transfer Act.

It was resolved that the survey be obtained as soon as possible, Mr Dobson to be asked to superintend the work.

Mr J. Meikle wrote, stating that he had been charged for a water supply for 22 stalls, and had paid it. He found that he should only be charged for the maximum number of horses kept, and that was ten. He therefore asked to have the overcharge refunded. It was resolved that the refund be made as requested, and as previously promised. The opinion was expressed that the Inspector should occasionally go and check the number of horses kept on premises, and other points affecting the consumption of water. The Inspector of Waterworks having asked for 700 standards for fencing the race, and for three dozen plates for marking the sites of fire plugs, the Mayor stated that, they being wanted in a hurry, he had got them supplied without asking for tenders. A resolution was passed approving of the action of the Mayor, though Crs. Jackson and Bush expressed some dissatisfaction at tenders for the standards not having been called for publicly, A number of carters, carriers, expressmen, and others wrote, pointing out the “ sufferings from drought ” that horses working in the town would be subject to if the Council carried out their expressed intention of closing the public wells, without providing other means of supplying horses with water. They suggested that a trough should be placed at the corner of Strath all an street, near the cab-stand, and another near the Council Chambers. A discussion took place upon the advisability of erecting horse troughs at all, at one place or other. Some of the Councillors said it was not usual for Corporations to supply these. In other towns water troughs were to be found in the streets, butjthey belonged to, and were entirely kept in order by publicans. An application had already been received from Mr Stone, of the Com-, mercial Hotel, for water to be used in a trough which he proposed to put up. On the motion of Cr Sherratt, the Mayor and Crs Gibson and Bush were requested to consider the matter and report at next meeting, to take also the subject of urinals under consideration and report thereon. It was agreed to write to Oamaru, Dunedin, and Lyttelton, where similar water supplies exist, to ascertain the practice at those places. It was resolved that the Foreman of Works be directed to close all the wells, and that the pumps be taken up and sold by auction. Communications were read from Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Oamaru, in reply-to inquiries respecting the practice in those towns, as to the charges made for supplies to stores, for lavatory purposes, and it was resolved—“ That any stores not requiring a full domestic supply, and paying the percentage provided by the Act, be granted an half inch connection for sanitary purposes.” Mr Howe, Inspector of Waterworks, reported that he had laid a 3-inch main, through Reed’s paddock, connecting with Arthur and Church street mains. A 4-inch main had been laid from Whale’s Creek to Mr Perry’s. In consequence of the Levels Road Board cutting down the west side of the Town Belt, he had had to lift and re-lay eleven chains of main. Up to date 179 house services bad been laid. A2f inch pipe had been laid along the right-of-way from Church street to Mr Ziesler’s, 6 chains. The contractor had commenced the extension of the main from Mr Perry’s up the Wai-iti Road, but would be unable to make much progress until certain castings were received from Dunedin.

Mr Rowe being present, Cr. Jackson asked him if it were not possible to have the gullies and sewers flushed frequently or if it were not possible to have streams of water constantly running through them, as well as allowing the spare water to run down the Otipua Creek. Mr Kowe replied that it would require a constant watch to be kept at the pipe head, while any scouring stream was running, and the general pressure would be reduced. STBEET WOEKS. The Foreman of Works reported that the contractor for filling the hollow in King street had completed the work, but £2 more would be required to finish it properly. The Council’s men had completed the cutting down of the hill at the bottom of Butler street, but the material obtained was about 50 yards short of what was required to fill up the Arthur street hollow. A concrete top was wanted for the well at the corner. On the sanitary condition of the streets he reported—“ I have been very much annoyed by people leaving dead rats in the streets, otherwise, with the exception of surface drainage in several places, I can report very favorably of the premises I have inspected.” DRAINAGE. Referring to the Foreman’s report rc filling up of Arthur street, Cr Bush remarked that he understood the Council’s men were directed to go and clear out the channels and look after the footpaths instead of doing formation work. A piece of channelling in North street was in a bud state ; it would breed a fever if something was not done to it. Cr Gibson suggested that a piece of concrete channelling should bo tried at the spot referred to by Cr. Bush—from the Queen’s Hotel to the Main road. The Mayor said they must be careful how they opened up new sources of expenditure. The Council was about £IOOO in debt already. Concrete channelling would cost £6 10s or £7 10s per chain. No doubt it would be a success, but no good could be done by “ pottering ”at the drainage. His idea was for the Council to go to the ratepayers for power to borrow a sum sufficient to do the work properly.

Cr Cullman moved and Cr Gabites seconded—■“ That the Foreman of Works be instructed to prepare plans and specifications of concrete channelling, to be laid down between Barnard street and the Main road in North street, and tenders be called for the work, to be in by next ordinary meeting of tho Council.”

Cr Gibson approved of tire motion. If a short piece were done, and were found to be successful, the people would more readily vote for a loan for drainage purposes. Something must be done or the water supply will be a greater nuisance than no water.

Cr Bush agreed with the Mayor that the work should not be taken piecemeal.

The Mayor pointed out that if they commenced putting down concrete channelling they would practically commit themselves to a system of surface drainage. They ought to enquire which was best and cheapest— surface or underground drainage. The motion was put and carried, the Mayor and Cr Bush voting against it. The meeting then terminated.