Borough Council.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 121, 29 October 1901, Page 3

Borough Council.

• The mouthly meeting of the Waimate Borough Council was held last evening, there being present —His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Coltman, Inkster, Cameron, Nicol, Barclay, tones and Bitohener. COBRBSPONDBNCB. Correspondence was received from the following:— . - From the Oddfellows' Lodge, agroo ing to fix the doors in the hail as instructed. _ > From tbo Sydenham Borough

Council stating that a conference of Borough Councils would be held in Christchurch on October 26, to endeavour to arrange that the Borough should rate on their own valuation rather than on the Government valuation. Gr. Barclay pointed out that a Government valuation would likely be more independent than a local one. His Worship said the Government valuation bad a tendency to become high, but he thought to meet that, the rates could be reduced. It was resolved to receive the letter. From Mr T. Kennedy, asking for leave to enclose a part of the footpath in front of Molloy's shops. The request was granted, proper protection to be given to the public. From the County Council regretting that they could not hire their grader to the Borough Council. j From the same, re the Borough Pound, asking that the Borough, Council should put the Pound in j order up to JUS, and charge two-thirds ] of the cost to the County Council. i Cr. Bitchener wa's of opinion that the County Council should put the pound in order themselves, but' they had asked for that body to boar a share of the cost. Crs. Coltman and Bitchener moved that tenders should be called for repairs to the Pound. j Cr. Jonos said the nature of the job I was more suited to day labour, as it would be hard to specify what wanted doing. He thotght it better to appoint a committee.

This course was adopted, the Mayor and Crs Bitchener and Jones being appointed. From Mr J. O'Leary, asking sanction to transfer the leases of his borough sections to Messrs Harris, who had purchased his hotel. —Granted, subject to Messrs Harris's acceptance. From Mr J. Ravenhall, asking to have his borough section, fronting on Studholme and Moorhouse streets, surveyed, as he thought he was paying for half an acre more than he had. His Worship said that in reference to this ground and the stretch from Victoria Terrace which they tad been in doubt about, he had ascertained from the Lands Department that it was a road line which they could close in due form, and which would then be borough property. Cr. Barclay said this was the position he had taken up, although he had been smiled at. The " smile " was now on his side.

His Worship : Well, you can smile now. (Laughter). After discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Crs. Barclay and Jones, that Mr Baxter be instructed to ascertain the correct boundaries of the land leased by Messrs Ravenhall and Smith.

The Borough roadman (Lillie) was granted 15s for extra work done in spreading shingle. It was decided to put a new crossing at the corner of High and John streets. The Sanitary Inspector's report asked for instructions in regard to dealing with Parsonage Road. The chairman said that Parsonage Road, by statute, was under the control of the Borough Council, which had as much power over it as over any street in the Borough. The Council could order the gorae to be grubbed and the hedges trimmed, and could have the footpath formed, aud charge adjoining land holders with a proportion of the cost.

It was decided to instruct the Inspector as to his powers. It was stated that Michael street was in a bad condition, and it was decided to have the levels taken with & view to having it formed. The Mayor said he thought the thanks of the Council were due to Major Steward for his attention to him in Wellington. He was very active in furthering any enquiries made on behalf of the Borough, The Glerk was instructed to convey l)v? Council's thanks to Major Steward. The Printing Committee made a recommendation, which is to be referred to the papers, the Gommittee to deal with the matter in the event of a refusal to accept the conditions. Cr. Freeman's notice of motion, that £1 lie, balance of money for uniforms and equipments, be paid to the Waimate Fire Brigade, was, in his absence, moved by Cr. Nicol aud seconded by Cr. Barclay. , v Cr. Cohman would vote against It on principle. The Council had decided not to go over J 645, and were not justified in going further. The belts should not have been included any more than the caps were. Cr. Inkster thought tne bare uniform was all that was intended to be pro-

vided. Cr. Barclay, as seconder of the motion, thought there waa something in the technical objection, but, considering the services of the Brigade in the past years, they should pass the amount. The voting resulted as follows •:• For, Cra. Nicol, Barclay, Jones and Cameron ; against, the Mayor and Crs. Inkster, 0 oilman and Bitchener. His Worship said he would give his casting vote against in accordance with the previous resolution fixing the amount to be voted. He was not insensible to the great value of the brigade's services. General accounts amounting to were.passed for payment.

DOMAIN BOABD. The Council then sat as a Domain Board. The caretaker's report asked for timber for garden seats, which he would make himself. Mr Inkster suggested putting in several good seats, but it Was decided to simply grant the caretaker's request in the meantime. Accounts amounting to J>6 8s 6d were passed, and the Board rose.