TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2965, 26 September 1882, Page 2

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The newly-elected Council met last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors , Gibson, Bush, Jackson, Gabites, Annetts, Rowley, Allen, Delaney, , Hill, Jones, Bower, and Sherratt. DECLARATION. Each Councillor made the statutary declaration, provided by the “ Municipal Corporations Act, 1876,” for newly-elected' councillors, subscribed the same, and took his seat. CORRESPONDENCE. The inward correspondence was read as follows : Prom the Postmaster, Timaru, re regulating the clock. Prom the Government Insurance Agent (Industrial branch), Mr Thomas Tait, asking permission to number the houses of Timaru at a scale.

The Town Clerk explained that a by-law of Christchurch required the numbering of houses, but no such by-law yet existed in Timaru. The matter was therefore deferred.

From Messrs Dobson and Son re delay in bringing the waterworks under the “ Land Transfer Act,” and undertaking to have the plan completed in about a fortnight. Prom Mr Newton asking the water rate to be remitted in his case and time allowed him. Prom Mr 0. W. Cowburn dated Wellington, protesting against the alleged illegality of the recent Borough election. J .

Prom Mr R. B. Sibley, asking for three weeks extension of time for his broken metal contract! Granted.

Prom Mr Rayner, asking that gbrse be removed from his land near the water-race.

It was decided on the motion of Mr G-ibson, to allow one of the Council’s men to assist Mr Rayner in doing this.

ME COWBUEN’S PROTEST,

His Worship said that he had- been much surprised at a visit from Mr Cowburn, while in the House. He had gone with Mr Cowburn to the Law Officers of the Crown, and they had agreed that the roll was defective. , Mr ; .Lough, it must be remembered was acting under the advice of the Council’s solicitor. As the ratepayers did not appear to be moving in the matter, it appeared to him that it might as well be allowed to drop. The matter dropped. TOWN 'CLOCK. In reference to the letter of Mr Cook, postmaster, asking the Council to undertake the regulation of the town clock. His Worship the Mayor explained that he had already instructed, the Town Clerk to state, in reply to Mr Cook, that the Council, having already contributed liberally in connection. with the clock, which benefitted the whole district, ought not in fairness to be .called upon to be at any further charge, and boh-' sidered it the duty of the Government to do what was needed. The Council approved this action., ■ FINANCE. ; ' His Worship said this being the first meeting of the new Council he con r sidered it advisable to place the financial position ,of the. Council before them as follows : The general account had an overdraft of £368 2s 3d and they had outstanding liabilities on tbe same account of £5,18 7s Bd, including the pay-sheet of £172. 12s 9d.. Against this they had £l6 2s 6d in band, and a balance of £445 due of unpaid rates. This left a deficiency of £415 7s sd. The next rate would be struck in December. Regarding the Waterworks account, the facts of the case were simply these They had a fixed deposit of £SOOO in tbe Bank, and there were £2IOO due to the loan account. This,had been borrowed to. make up interest due in London last January. The plant and stock in hand was worth in all £1829, and £2096 12s 7d had been paid forwork done; since .last December, The credit to account at this time was £7074 14s 3d. As to the special rate account there had been received £4llß ,Is lid £2IOO of which, however, had been borrowed from the loan account. As explained above'no further interest payment would be due till January next, when £2125 would be payable in London. He had observed with regret while in Wellington, that during the election some very wild statements about the waterworks had been made, calculated to do a good deal of injury. He thought the explanation contained in the financial statement now furnished would be a sufficient reply. He believed if the Council acted with liberality in extending the waterworks outside the Borough, the Council would be better off than any othfer Council in the colony in this respect,and he further considered that those who had carried the scheme through were fairly entitled to the thauks of the ratepayers. MEETINGS, COMMITTEES, &C.

The Council considered the most suitable times of meeting, and the formation of departmental committees. A great deal of discussion took place on the subject of the appointment of a Finance Committee, Or Gibson withdrawing Jhis name from the proposed list.

His Worship and several Councillors vainly tried to shake Cr Gibson’s deter* mination,'

Cr Bower said Or Gibson bad promised tbe ratepayers to do all he could for their interests, and be therefore ought not now to retract from the Finance Committee’s work.

Cr Gibson—l never promised anything, Cr Bower; I told them if they chose to elect mo I should do as I always had done—my best in the Council. It was then resolved —“That a Finance Committee be formed, consisting of Crs Gabites, Bower, and Hillj His Worship the Mayor to be Chairman ; three to form aquorum.’’ “That a Works Committee be formed, consisting of Crs Jones, Sherratt, Jackson,'and Bush, three to form a quorum ; Cr Jackson to be Chairman.”

“That the meetings of the Council should be held every second and fourth Monday in the month, at seven o’clock.” “That any two Councillors• sign cheques for paymentof v. authorised vouchers.” . ,

His Worship requested Councillors to leave their signatures at the Bank forthwith. reservoie-keeper’s report. • Mr Spooner reported all well, 1 ' and stated that he had had, on several occasions lately, to stnp the pressure in consequence of the thickening of the water, he also detailed certain repairs he had made.

Cr Hill asked how tbe water supply was regulated. ; His Worship explained that there was a regulator at the Reservoir, and Mr Spooner gave a detailed account of the apparatus and its working. WATERWORKS SUPPLY TO THE HARBOR ' BOARD. In reference to the water supply for wharf, Or. Jackson thouught the Harbor Board should be charged only the same as the Railway Department, for water supply. • Or. Gibson said it had cost the Council nothing to supply the Rail way,whereas the connection to the wharf was very costly. Finally he moved, Cr. Bower seconded, and it was, carried —•“ That, in order lo simplify matters in ■ connection with the supply of water to the wharves, the charge be Is 3d per ton all round, instead of as per. waterworks by-law, this proposal be submitted' for the approval of the Harbor Board.’’ FOREMAN OF WORK’S REPORT. The Foreman’s Report was read. He estimated the cost of clearing the Bank street gully at £lO. He further esti-' timated the cost of an approach to the new Railway Station would bh £6l 14s. Cr Jackson moved thp immediate adoption of that .part of the Foreman of Works report which dealt with the Bank street gulley. This was a most necessary work, there , was stagnant water there, and it was a dangerous nuisance. The Foreman of Work’s being called On to explain this, did so, andfinally the Council decided to carry out the work suggested. i His Worship strongly supported it. i Regarding the approach to the Railway, it was decided to leave this to the Works Committee. 1 • KING STREET PERMANENT LEVEL. : Or Hill said the plans for .cutting down the hill in K : ng street, near Stone’s brick cottages had been approved by the Council two years ago, and it had; been decided to.undertake the work..,-Yet tothis day it remained undone. This was a.great injustice to property owners in the locality. He understood some time ago that it was deemed unadyisable to do so as the rqad was a macadamised one ; and now, as it was to be remetalled, if the\c,utting down, was to be done at all, it should be done forthwith, or the same reason would again fee urged against it. He moved and Cr Allen seconded—“ That the bilinear Stone’s brick" cottages, King street, be' cut down to the permanent ley eh according to plans prepared by the' Foreman of .Works, and recommended in'the report of the’ Works Committee;/dated 19", 1880, and that the Foreman of Works prepare specifications’ and' call for tenders to be sent into the Council at Ihe next ordinary meeting.” His Worship corrected Or Hill as to the rekscm for the work not having been done. Or Hill must have information of - which the Council knew nothing. It was not because of the macadamizing, it • rvas; simply;;.,beoausethe Council had not funds wherewith to carry out th’e work. J I ' 1 " Or Gibson said this sort of thing was to be heard go where you would in the Borough. Or Hill was not, the only man with a grievance.

Gr Hill reiterated his dissatisfaction. The whole affair was unaccountable*. st ; had been put aside, and nobody seemed to know anything about it. His; Worship said 1 Or Hill’s remarks conveyed an insinuation, and ho would not sit there and allow; any Councillor to insinuate that the funds of the Council had been spent in a partial manner* • This Or, Hill \yas doing* and, it did- not ,ldpk well for a Councillor to; come there rto look after the interests: of his- own property. . • * Or Gibson proposed as an amendment, —“(That the Foreman of Works be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for editing down King street, opposite Catherine street, to the permanent levels, with' an estimate of cost, ' and lay them on the table at the' next 'ordinary meeting of th« Ooupcil.” . '' ".'CjfSherratt.seconded this.,' ’ ~ Or Bower—-What relation does this bear to the.resolution . your Worship? His Worship., said King street tand Main road were the same. Cf Jones—l suggest turning up the minutes referred to by Cr Hill. ...It. would not take long.

His Worship—The Council, is not, going to sit here all night to go into things of this kind. The amendment was carried.

, The Council then rose at 11'p.m., having sat four hours.