MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2944, 1 September 1882, Page 2

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF BURGESSES OF THE

SOUTH-WEST WARD

A meeting of burgesses of the southwest ward of the borough of Timaru, was held last evening in the Reehabites’ Hal I, Bussell Square. About 30 persons attended j and Mr 0. W. Cowburn was voted to the Chair. The Chairman read the advertisement convening the meeting, and explained that it was called for the purpose of taking into consideration municipal matters in connection with -the recent division of the Borough into wards. This end of the Borough had been neglected, and in order to obtain fair representation he had moved in the direction of obtaining the division into wards, for the purpose of .ousting the present members of the Borough Council, and nominating new ones. He would be glad if someone present would nominate members for a working committee. Ho read an apology from Mr Robert Harvey who, owing to a sudden attack of toothache was unable to attend, but sympathised with the objects of the meeting, and was willing to_ do all in his power to assist. He desired to call upon them not to sleep in this matter for wolves worn in their fold. The present

councillors were not worthy of confidence. The majority of them were gas shareholders and they did not observe the proper regulations about lighting the Borough. . Mr Bush objected to this statement, as incorrect in certain particulars.' ; The chairman proceeded to say that the Council discouraged local industry by putting a prohibitive price on water, merely to force- people' to use gas for machinery. He would ask Mr Bush (a Councillor) who was present, to explain the waste of the reserve fund for water supply of-the Borougbr Mr Bush explained that there was £11,300 to the good twelve months.ago, which the Council spent outside, ; the Borough, This he had always opposed, and would continue to oppose. It had been so expended that it bad now dwindled quite , away. He did not believe in expending the money.,outside the Borough, : Mr Heed, the Council’s former engineer, could' have done the work for £40,000. Mr Dobson might be a very good man, but there was something wrong with the, motive power. He would always do his duty, as he always had done. He wanted to see a good engineer for the Borough, to take charge of the streets, the water supply, and drainage. If a drainage scheme could be carried out, for a rate of 6d in the £/that would be no more expensive than the scavenging, and he would prefer the drainage scheme. The town.would soon be unhealthy, if something of that sort were not done. gas, ho would advocate using kerosene again, if the gas supply were to continue so expensive. The mode of lighting the town was a violation,of agreement. • The Chairman said be bad found the rating of Timaru to be 10 percent higher than in any other town in New Zealand. 1 ‘ Mr Bush recommended the election of good working men to the Council, who could handle the water scbbUie properly, 7 -- ’ ! ' y/ The Chairmansaid he had authority for saying that the''road near Shepherd’s corner ~ was raised to suit his (Dir Shepherd’s) convenience,‘and he further understood that Or Jacksba was agent for’ Alston. and Brown, who supplied water-pipes to ,the and he assisted in . passing the accounts. He might say,' as illustrating the ‘ way in which the paid,servants of the Borough abused the ratepayers, that, when he called npon tbe Town Clerk yesterday, he was awaited : by that official, with a torrent of abuse, and bis (the Clerk's) son; had left his ■ duty to call him (the Chairman) an old fool. He contended that the Town Clerk was the Council, and he tfas . overworked. Besides the Town Clerk’s office was a family nursery. As a private ’individual, he believed Mr Lough was a very fine fellow ; as a Town Clerk he objected to him.

. A burgess—l don’t think, Mr Chairman, there’s a soft spot in him. If 3on go to pay rates, you’ll find that out,/ The Chairman, said the burgesses ought to form a Tigihince Committee to watch, the Council., He knew reso)u r tions were often written put in the Town Clerk’s office before they were submitted to the .Council;-; He would urge the formation of a Ward Committee;.

Mr Hunt proposed the formation of a Working Committee, consisting of Messrs Kay, Delaney, Ohiffey; Anrfetts, Harvey, ■ Cowburh, and the mo veri Mr Delaney seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.. A burgess suggested ',that' the Chairman should be nominated for a seat in the Council.

The Chairman declined ; he bad worked unselfishly. The only, present Councillor",he would support would be Mr Bush,.. who had always acted, honestly, though be had often been jumped upon. Mr Bush moved, and Mr Benshaw seconded, a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was earned unanimously.

The proceedings then terminated