TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2989, 24 October 1882, Page 2

TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening for the transaction of ordinary and special business Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Bash, Gibson, Jackson, Gabites, Hill, Annette, Rowley, Allen, Jones, Bower, Sberratt, and Delaney. The ordinary business, commenced at 7 o’clock, was as follows : COEEBBPONDENOE. From the Harbor Board, agreeing to the proposed charge for water at the wharf, viz.—ls 3d per ton. Prom the same, enclosing a letter from Mr Henry Green, requesting the Harbor Board to obtain a report on the condition of the fence at the rear.of the lighthouse. The matter was referred to the Works Committee, to report at next meeting. From.Mr J. Allpress, asking the price of water supply by a 3in. pipe for general purposes. The matter was ordered to stand over for consideration at next meeting of the Council. From Mr McKenzie, mason, of Saltwater Creek, complaining that the overflow from the water-race, in Saltwater Creek, was damaging his quarry, and ‘ insisting upon compensation for such damage.’ The Council, on the motion of Cr Gibson, seconded by Or Jackson, declined to entertain Mr McKenzie’s request. The caretaker of the water-race, Mr Spooner, reported that cattle were destroying the fence between Mr Ray nor’s property and the race,and attended

tion of a barbed wire fence for the, existing one. The Council adopted the suggestion, and ordered the work 10 be done. Malcohnson and.... 16 .others wrote asking the Council to build a foo'brideo (or giant sufficient timber 10 build one) over the gull-, which the .petitioners .stated..was becoming daily, more dangerous to cross. The matter was referred to the Works Committee to report upon at next meeting. REPORTS. The report oi the Works Committee was read. The Committee recommended —■(!) That two lamps be erected in Heaton streetj according to application, but not until March next, as the lights would not be much wanted during the summer months. (2) That Mr James Bruce be allowed to turn the waste water from his engine-house into the Grey street sewer, on condition that the work be satisfactorily done, and the Council held blameless for any damage that maj 7 result from the connection being;made. (3) That Mr Bruce’s request for the asphalting of the footpaths in Grey street be acceded to, on his paying half the estimated cost. (4) That the application of Mr Hamersley re right-of-way in front of the Royal Hotel, , could not be granted, as the granting of it would involve a contravention of the law.

The Finance Committee reported - (1) Re Mr Kerr’s letter respecting advertiaingj that as the “ Timarn Herald” had been appointed the official orgafl lof this year, the arrangement cotlld hot be upset, but recommending that in future the papers should get turn about. (2) That in future the cost of maintaining the Waterworks should be charged strictly against receipts, and only extensions be charged against the loan. The reports were adopied. The meeting then adjourned, to allow of special business being taken. All the Councillors remained.

His Worship stated that the meeting Iwas called to consider the water ; supply extension.

| The Town Clerk here submitted hie .report oh the valuation. From this it jappeared that he had valued the property from Whales, to Waimaitaitai Creeks, belonging to persons who bad promised to take water if the extension were carried out. That valuation represented £63 per annum, income from this Source, and say £4OO mii’ht be expected from the suburbs altogether. His Worship explained that the connection with the reservoir would cost about £looo,and the additional pressure so secured would be BJd lbs, per square inch. „ Or Hill—Will the work be carried out by Mr Dobson. His Worship Certainly, we cannot work a thing of this kind ourselves. : Or Hill then, with all due deference to the engineering skill of Mr Dobson, held that be was in error. It didn't want any engineering skill to find out that the pressure was 101 bs. f He had made a calculation, and he also held plans prepared by a.man who knew all abdut it. ’ - ■ . , •

The Town Clerk here placed on the table "the, plans of ; Messrs • DbhPn, which were referred to, in discussing certain details. - v ’

Or Hill moved for the appointment of a Committee to confer with Messrs Dobson re connecting the mains with the reservoir. Cr Jones seconded the motion.

Cr Jaokson thought a necessity for alteration should be shownij and it, should be proved that there really existed a demand for increased pressure; and he did not see that any additional pressure was needed.

Or Hill said he did not wish to be egotistical or profess to show MrDobsoa his work, but a.fool might show a wise man a good deal sometimes.

Or Bush thought if anything was done, filter-beds ought to be piade, Or Hill said his reasons for moving the resolution were to secure additional pressure and clear water,; He ,advocated a .screen tower or valve, tower. 5. If suburban extensions were made in Mr Archer’s direction and to Wai iti, the pressure into town would be materially weakened.! : He t ad^dcat^d, carrying 'out both the alteration and extension. At present, the reservoir keeper had to let off the by-wash into the supply well at . night, and so stop > the therefore,if fire broke out imtown, water would not be' available. Besides; the» Water in the mains at present was not kept clean, they were full . - of silt.',-. He agreed with Cr Bush as to the necessity" for filter-beds, > • ■ > I

Cr Jones recalled the remarks of Mr Cowburn that ,f the water supply was a failure.” He had combatted that statement, but he certainly believed direct connection of .the mains alone "would set the supply right. Cr Jaoksou thought as custodians of a certain balance of the loan, the Council ought to look to making it reproductive, by extending it to the suburbs. As to increased pressure for motors, which would pay best, that or extension ? He thought extension would pay best. Cr Gibson thought things had got' mixed. The special meeting was called to discuss the water supply extension; The resolution was not in order, accord ■ ing to the questions (submitted to Conn* oil I ora, in the notice of meeting. The extension had not yet been carried out, simply because the Council at that time had desired .to be.cautiou.in their outlay. He believed in Mr Dobson’s estimate of B£lb pressure. He felt sure that was right. The Reservoir, to keep up that high pressure, would need to be fall always. He thought the matter now resolved itself into “ extension ” or “motive power.” Which would they do ? He would move, as an amendment, that it was desirable to extend the reticulation into the suburbs. He would not speak to that amendment yet, but referring to the resolution, he warned the Council, that Timaru could never compete with Oamaru for motive power. He. could not understand anybody putting down extensive plant,; in face of the possibility of an acciHeit happening by which the supply might be 'shut off. Of course the Council in granting motor supply would have to secure itself against any claims for damages, and the loss of a manufacturer might be very heavy. ■His Worship thought the resolution, was not in keeping with the business; but, as Chairman, he disliked putting down any motion moved by any: Councillor, Or Hill warmly contended that his resolution was strictly in order. Water extension involved the matter of his resolution. Cr Gibson now submitted his amend-, meat, seconded by Cr Jackson, Cr Bush thought Cr Gibson’s so called amendment could not fairly be considered an amendment on the resolution. His Worship remarked that Mr Dobson bad stated that the extension could be carried out, according to his plan, without his personal superintendence. . Cr ! Gibson asked the mover and seconder to alter their resolution, so as to do away with a “Committee to meet Vlr Dobson " on professional questions. He did not desire to depreciate the engineering abilities of any gentleman present, but he certainly had more

Cr Hill was willing to make the alteration. |

After a long pause, during which, th« Crs appeared to bo immersed in thought,-..--,. ■ - . Cr Borer r suddenly asked:-What is befor» tlie Council,your Worship? His Worship said the altered resolution was being made ready to bo submitted.

Cr Hill thereupon altered his resolution to read—‘‘That the water mains be extended to connect with the reservoir, with a view to give increased pressure and supply, and to give purer water to the town.” -

_Cr Jones seconded it, and Cr Gibson withdrew his amendment.

Cr Hill claimed the right to speak to this motion.

His Worship wan 'not in favor of allowing Councillors; to speak continually. Cr Gibson recommended adding the filter beds.

Cr Bush spoke in Favor of these, but Cr Hill said he believed he wou'd have , quite; enough.; to do to carry his motion without saddling it with filter beds.

Cr Bower thought the two parties in the Council had a shrewd idea of their mutual dependence, and had perceived that neither could carry its point without the aid of the other, in fact, they had agreed together—(laughter and “ Hol Ho !”)—-to help each other. He did' not believe in the* extension as a source, of reyen ue. HoJpoked. upon the, filter bed as a necessity at the reservoir. As for the danger of the supply being cut off by accident, he thought the existence of- such a danger only, showed the necessity for having- a supplementary reservoir. He believed in a good town supply. He mo.yed as an amendment—“ That the completion of the waterworks as per original plan at the reservoir, be deferred, and that Mr Dobson be asked to .furnish a probable estimate of the cost of extending the supply to those districts outside the Borough, according to applications recently before the Council, and that the same be laid before an early meeting of the Council.” Cr Jackson seconded this, i Cr. Gibson said . filter beds were desirable, but their being constructed would saddle the Council with a heavy debt. • ! ’ Cr Hill wished Cr Bower had spoken before he withdrew his (the speaker’s) motion. As to Cr Jackson’s allegation that he would- deny the supply to outsiders, he would say that he desired to grant it. As'to purity of water, the caretaker had himself told them, the sand got into the mains and impregnated the supply. The more demand there was the more impure, under present arrangement would the water be,'Whereas, the Screen tower he proposed would lensure purity. He believed there were no plans of the work before the Council, though they had been spoken about ; (His Worship interposed—Mr Dobson had the plan, and it could he got down in a couple of days.) Cr Hid, continuing, predicted that an extension to the suburbs would, lead to constant abuse and waste, add quite weaken the pressure into town. Cr Bower said there was no proof that the water was scarce or impure. The income being limited, the water ought to be put into the market at a marketable rate. The Council’s position was thajtil ought to obtain' revenue as early ’as possible. Or Jackson concurred. He wanted water at half the price it now cost. An increased number of consumers fvould bring reduction of rates. V

, Cr G-ibson believed in deferring the matterfor a time, but there was no heed ti) get Mr, Dobson/ The Works Cornmittee, under the directions given by Mr Dobson, could carry out the work by their , own-. Inspector. - To get Mr Dobson here would coat money, and it would, be a waste of money. 1 > > Or Bush thought it would be simple waste of money to carry out the water extension, while neglecting to purify the water.

His Worship here remarked „ that within 1 the last few days he had'beeh informed by Drs. Macintyre and Hogg that since the waterworks had been at work, all sickness had abated in.the town. , r --'..j .. J ; Cr Allen mildly suggested that it was getting late.., i -

f I Hisi Worship thought Councillors Uphold hot grumble at an hour ortwo. ■'He himself had been much interested in the water scheme, all through. He wal at adoss to understand what the excitement was about. Of course he knew interested in getting motive poWer were clamouring for pressure. There was no use blinking it. As to filter beds, he looked on them as an unjustifiable luxury in the present financial state of the Borough. The waterworks revenue was not equal to what it ought t 6 be. As to motive power, he did not believe in there being any such number of consumers as was stated. In the suburbs a good income awaited them; 'ln a short time there would bo £3OO a year from the Wai iti road alone. He wished to see water,carried up Church street, r and also .towards- Bpohanan’s paddobk. ” Hefernhg 'agaih''td locd industry, he did notibelieve in this cry, except to advance individual interests. Or Hill rose to correct his Worship. He had no motives, as His Worship seemed to impute. ’ His Worship—Ate you going to make a speech ? I cannot allow you to make a speech, you know; only an explanation. Or Hill—l wish to say that I have no personal motives, but I may tell you that it is currently rumored that the gas interest works against the-wafer interest. 1

Or Allen—These twice repeated in* sinuations are a little too strong. Am I allowed to speak, your Worship ? . t ‘ His Worship—-You will have an op. tunity of speaking to your motion. : Or Bower’s amendment was lost. : Or Jackson asked what was to be done with the resolotion of last meeting, appointing Mr Dobson ? His Worship pointed out that the resolution instructed Mr Dobson to prepare plans, it did not put any work in hand ;:and did not therefore collide with the resolutions now under discussion, ■'' ' Or Gibson .—Yes, I believe your Worship's ruling is right. Or Bush:—Well I main tain, Or Gibson that His Worship might rule wrong. Or Gibson Ah 1 You see; you are not in the chair, Cr. Bush. Or Bower:—May I have your Worship’s permission to ask the clerk for his opinion as to whether the amendment is in order ? His Worship Well, I will do so;of course, but I think I may consider myself as well able to decide as the clerk. - Or Bower:—Quito so! I think your Worship Is almost infallible. ! Or Jackson moved the adjournment of the debate to the same time and place, to-mofrpw or some other evening. This was carried by 7 to 6. Cr Bu-h asked if the motions put under discussion would be ; taken up on that night. Cr Gibson expounded the by-law on the subject, whereupon Cr Bush retorted he had a perfect

ing Messrs Dobson down to meet the Council., ' Cr Bower thought the Council should come to its decision as to what to do before consulting Mr Dobson. It was de-ided to send for Mr Dobson to meet the Council.

The adjournment was then resolved upon, His Worship to arrange .with Me-srs Dobson, if possible, to meet the Council on Monday night next. Reverting to the ordinary business, a tender for sewerage near Bruce’s ipili in Grey street, was opened. Being considered low, it was generally deemed advisable to accept it. It was £SO 15s. Cr Delaney objected that though the tender might be low, the acceptance of it was not business. He knew half a dozen men who would have tendered. Worship Why did they not tender? The work was advertised. * Cr Hill asked if it was advertised in both papers ? If it were not advertised in ihe evening paper n of course nobody likely to apply ever saw it. The meeting then adjourned.