Timaru Borough Council.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7080, 28 February 1893, Page 2

Timaru Borough Council.

An ordinary meeting of the Timaru Borough Council was hold last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Stumbles, Gabitps, Hill, Burford, King, Delaney, Bennett, Mair, Owors, and Bush. TUB BELIEF FUND. Among the correspondence read was a copy of a telegram sent by the mayor that morning to the Colonial (secretary : —“ Have you any reliable information rc Queensland relief fund, whether cash, food or clothing is most needed ? Awaiting reply.” To this the reply came —“ No information of the kind you refer to.” The mayor reported the holding of a public meeting and the appointment of a canvassing committee. Bo far £245 had been banked, and there were lists outstanding which would easily bring the amount up to £3OO, besides the contributions in goods. It was proposed to call in the lists on Tuesday and have a committee meeting on Wednesday to decide about sending the money. In order to assist the committee ho bad sent telegrams of inquiry. If food and clothing were more wanted than money bo would prefer to see the money spent here upon these requisites, than sent over to be spent there. If no information could be got he supposed they must send the money. Councillor Stumbles suggested wiring over to inquire, and Councillor Gabites that that was a matter for the committee, not for the Council. NATIVE LANDS A circular was received from the Native Lands Reform League, Auckland, requesting the Council’s support, and forwarding a form of resolution. SUBSET WORKS. The overseer reported on the work done by the surface men. The side of North street at the police station needed a good ploughing taken off, as it was too high now that the channel was down. 17 chains 27 feet of concrete kerb and channel had been put down in North street, and 4 chains 35 feet of stone kerbing and concrete channel in Barnard xtreet. Material had been mixed for nine

more aephalto crossings, seven had been put down, leaving five to do under the existing authorisation. He would ask for instructions

where the other four should go as three of those on the list should be left for another season as the sites named wore not in condition to receive crossings. There were six chains in Heaton street, ordered to be kerbed

and channelled, too low *o do until tbs street is raised. This deficiency was made up in

Worth etreet from Barnard to Latter street. } Six and a half chains in William street could > not be done until the street is raised, in the lowest place about 17 inches. This length was included in No- 1 contract, and should be made up elsewhere. Councillor Bush objected strongly to earth being placed on the streets, as was being done near the Queen’s Hotel just now. It was no use putting such scuff on roads. In lieu o£ the five crossings cut out it was decided to construct the fire following: Suggested by the mayor, one across North street at Barnard street; suggested by Councillor Delaney, cne across North street, school ground to Wakefield’s corner; by Councillor Gabites, one across George street at Barnard street; by Councillor' Xing, one across Stafford street at Shepherd’s corner: by Councillor Bennett, one across Sophia etreet at Elizabeth street. The overseer stated that the seven crossings put down, sft wide, had cost £3 5s each ; the stone crossings, 4ft wide, cost over £4 each. Councillor Hill urged that the streets referred to should be made up this summer, so as to be ready to bear crossings next year. The Mayor and works committee were authorised to select work in lieu of the 6£ chains of kerb and channel unfit to do. WATBBWOBKS. The reservoir beeper reported 17ft 6in in the reservoir. The depth had varied from 18ft to 13ft XOin, to 17ft 6in. The inspector reported lifting and storing the rider pipes in Barnard street. The reservoir got rather low since last meeting through winds filling the race with grass, straw, etc., making it impossible to keep a full head ou. The contractors had just completed raking out the racs and it was now in good order. They were just now busy with their painting contract, and what they had done was done satisfactorily. The application of Mr MoKeown and others, for a supply to houses up Wai-iti Koad, and the inspector’s and valuer’s reports upon it, were discussed at some length, and the decision left over until the applicants paid in the required deposits on the valuations. The same order was made respecting the application of Mr Mcßride and others for a . supply in Emerson street, | ’ BUILDING BY LAW.

Mr J. McKay Thompson wrote applying for permission to build an open buggy shed in iron adjoining the stables for Mr J. Gibson, and waited on th§ Council to explain the matter.—lt was resolved to give the permission subject to three mouths' notice to remove.

mechanics’ institute

The finance committee, to which the application of the Mechanics' Institute committee for remission of rates had been referred, recommended that the water rate and special rate be collected, and the general rate bo left in the hands of the rate-colleotor in the meantime to deal with. The town clerk stated that there was now £ls owing' by the Institute,—general rate £3, water rate and special rate £6 each, being the rates for half 1891 and for all 1892.

Councillor Gabites alluded to some information the mayor had respecting a donation of £SO by the Borough Council of Napier to the Athenaeum there. Further information was needed as to how it was done, and he thought that they might hold the whole matfcir over until they get that informntion. Councillor Bennett said that they could not give up any water rate ; that did not belong to the council but to people in Xiondon. Councillor Bush concurred.

The recommendation was put as a motion. Councillor Burford would oppose it. He would not remit a penny of rate to anyone who oould afford to pay it, and he was sure that those who made this application could well afford to pay a paltry £3. The institute was valued very low for rating purposes, and got a very good donation m that way, and they ought to be very well satisfied with that. Most of the members

were in a very good position, and could well afford to pay the rates.

Councillor Qahites thought the water rate should be paid, the same bb a batcher’s or baker’s bill, for value received. Councillor Burford: They will oak us to remit the one-third for the kerbing and channelling, I suppose F The motion to adopt the recommendation was put and carried, Councillors Burford and King opposing, A' discussion then took place as to what the motion meant. It was agreed that the collection of the water rate and special rate was to be insisted on, the penalty being cutting off the water; but councillors disagreed as to what the motion meant as regard to the general rate. The majority understood it to mean that the general rate was to be collected too, and the town clerk understood it that way. Councillor Gabites remarked that this resolution did not affect the question of a donation if the Napier information proved satisfactory. ACCOUNTS. The town clerk stated that the general account was in dr. £1925 Is Bd, the deposit account in or. £35 7s 6d, the maintenance account in cr, £BOI lls 7d, the special fund in dr. £24 Os lid, the special rate account in or. £443 13s lid. The mayor said the general account was in j debt £1925, but they were in credit in other accounts £1270. They would see a difference in the account before the end of March, as ratepayers would be getting ready to vote. Accounts were passed for payment—general, £lO5 14s lid; waterworks maintenance, £l2 12sj do loan and rate accounts, £l4 6s 3d. STBEET X/IQHTXNa. Only one tender was received for street lighting on the council’s specifications, for a three years contract, the gas company offering to light the existing 80 lamps, or any others placed over the existing lines of mains, at £5 10s per lamp per annum. (The late price under the expiring contract is £5 ss) The company submitted three alternative offers on their own specifications, at £5 per lamp for three years, £4 15s for five years, £4 10s for seven years. The specifications were similar to those of the counail, the chief alteration being the addition of a clause allowing the company to charge an advanced price if the price of coal were raised by a strike, the extra price to bo paid while the strike lasted. Councillor Xing moved and Councillor Burford seconded—“ That this Council un dertake to light the lamps with kerosene, finding the kerosene themselves, and employing one man to take charge of ail lighting.” Councillor Xing said the company seemed to think the Council must accept their terms, because there was no competition ; bat they could compete themselves and make money by it. At anyrate, they could tide over till they got something better. Councillor Owers regretted that the Council had not shown more energy about getting the electric light. There had been rather too much cold water thrown on it.

The Mayor said one of the electric light agents, Mr Poatlethwaite, had promised to make an offer. In regard to kerosene, it would cost £4O or £SO to disconnect the gas and connect again. Councillor King: If disconnected it will never be connected up again. Councillor Hill proposed to accept the gas company’s offer to light ot £5 per lamp, if they would strike out the “ strike clause.” Councillor Bush pointed out that the Council had not passed the company’s specifications, and therefore could not legally accept a tender on them.

Councillor Bush moved and Councillor Hill seconded a motion to the effect that the Council accept the company’s offer to light at £5 for three years, if they will accept the Council’s specifications. Councillors King and Burford agreed to withdraw their motion, on condition that the Council would support them in going in for kerosene, if the gas company did not accept the proposal just made. The Council appeared to be in favour of this course, and Councilor Bush’s motion was carried. The Council then rose.