BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 47, 13 January 1880, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

— l usual fortnightly meeting was hold at the Borough Chambers yesterday. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Parkin, Saunders, Robinson, R. Friedlandcr, St. Hill, and Orr. The Mayor made his statement which referred to tlie action taken by him during the fortnight, c anniented on tho correspondence to be laid before the Council that evening, and gave a digest of the financial position of the Municipality. THE CIRCUS. The Rev. W. Keall wrote complaining that the circus had been allowed to pitch on a Sunday by his dwelling, disturbing his quiet, and inducing trespass by boys and others upon his ground, destroying his (prick fence and vegetables, and generally damaging his rest by the barking of a herd of dogs. Mr. Robinson thought a bye-law had been passed prohibiting dogs from barking. Mi. St. Hill thought the letter an insult, and proposed it be returned. The Mayor stated he had instructed the the clerk to reply to the letter in question as follows ; “ Ashburton Borough Council, “Ashburton, Cth Jan., 1830. “ Sir —lam instructed by his Worship to reply to yours of the 15th, and to express Id's iegret than any annoyance should have boon caused to Mr. Keall. Permission had been given to pitch tho circus on a reserve two sections distant from his property. The Mayor had no power t" prevent the circus from breaking in upon the Sunday quiet, more especially as the Government shifted them from Christchurch to Ashburton on that day. ” The Council approved of the reply sent by the Clerk. COURT HOUSE. Mr. E. G. Wright wrote re his action in Parliament in reference to the Court House. The Mayor explained that he had interviewed Mr. Wright on the matter, and he had stated that if it were left in his hands the Borough would not faro badly. THE FIRE BRIGADE. The Insurance Association wrote, stating that they could not subscribe more than L 25 towards the Fire Brigade, which was in proportion to the amounts subscribed to other districts. AT--, George Parkin thought the amount subscribed a miserable one from so larg e an Association. Mr. Saunders considered it ought to bo pointed out that tho amount was inadequate to the requirements of tho Brigade, and as the town had increased the expenses of tho Brigade had proportionately increased. He would move that the Insurance Association he communicated with, pointing out tho necessity of supporting the Brigade, and requesting them to re-consider the amount of their subscription. Mr. St. Hill seconded, and the resolution was carried. THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. Mr. C. T. Hick. Mayor of Christchurch, wrote, stating that there was only room for 15 persons to sit in the room proposed to bs rented. The Mayor explained that Mr. Bullock had advised him that it would bo bettor to hold the meeting after harvest was over. Air. G. M. Robinson thought delay only meant aggravation of tho evil, and it would be more difficult to got a full meeting in one, two, or three months than at present. Mr. G. St. Hill would move that tho meeting be postponed for a month, in consequence of the busy season. His Worship would like to consult the Council as to whether it would be possible to advise other Boroughs as to the preliminary business, and as full harvest operations would not commence for three weeks, it would perhaps bo advisable to delay the meeting for a time. It was finally resolved, on the motion of Mr. St. Hill, that the meeting be held on Wednesday, the 28th day of J anuary. Mr. Geo. Parkin proposed, and Air. Orr seconded, “That the Mayor and Mr. Thos. Bullock bo delegates from the Ashburton Municipality to the Conference,” which was carried. His Worship thanked the meeting for the honor conferred upon himself and Air. Bullock, and asked the Councillors present to bring forward any matters 0 interest to the Borough. PROCESSIONS. Mr. St. Hill brought forward the subject of public processions, and asked that the delegates would make it imperative that they should bo authorised by Government.

MESSRS. ROOKS AND SON’S ACCOUNT. Messrs. C. E. Fooks and Son wrote, stating their account was for work entirely outside the terms of their agreement for the work of the Board. Mr. Friecllander stated that he was one of a Committee appointed to inquire into this account, and as Mr. Fooks, senr., had not returned, ho hoped the account would be allowed to stand over until his return. It was ultimately resolved that, as prior arrangements bad been made in reference to the account, it be paid. WORKS COMMITTEE. Mr. Parkin, Chairman of the Works Committee, reported that the footpath at Butler’s Hotel had been completed, and a well sunk in the Borough property. The report was approved of. A BROKEN LAMP. Mr. Friecllander reported a lamp-post having been broken by a runaway buggy. His Worship stated that the owner of the buggy had expressed his willingness to pay for the damage. hardley’s well. His Worship said the Committee could not report fully on tins matter at present as they intended having a further trial. SLAUGHTERING LICENSE. An application from Messrs. Robson and Co. i'or a slaughtering license was left in the hands of the Mayor. FIRE BRIGADE ACCOUNT. The Fire Brigade applied for the sum of LSI 15s. due by the Council. And reported that after some trouble they had succeeded in sinking a well competent to supply the engine at Saunders’ Buildings, but could not draw the tubes of the old well. Mr. St. Hill would like to know who passed this tube well at Saunders’ Buildings ? It had cost L 32, and nothing had been said about it, and it had proved utterly useless. Mr.' Friecllander said he had fully explained at the time that the cause was the depth of the water at that part of the town. Mr. Parkin corroborated this statement, and pointed out that tho present well was a success. DEPUTATION. Messrs, J. Ivcss and E. Mossman here attended as a deputation in reference to the Burnett street drain. Mr. Mossman stated that he had suffered inconvenience and ill-health from tho effects of the nuisance, and proposed certain remedies. He pointed out the cause as being easily discoverable, and the neighbors were willing to take legal measures to relieve themselves of the nuisance, but thought it better to first consult the Council. Mr. Ivcss corroborated Mr. Mossman s remarks, and further stated that on Thursday last disinfectants had to be resorted to to relieve the nuisance. He hoped tho Council would take measures 10 redress the grievance. The Mayor said the Council would endeavor to meet the views of the deputation to abate the nuisance, but difficulty of drainage precluded tho entire removal of it. THE FIRE BRIGADE ACCOUNT. This question was resumed. Mr. St. Hill wanted to know if the cause of the pipes not being drawn was not from the fact that they had been driven so hard that they had been beaten up like an octopus, Mr. Parkin said every endeavor had been ma.de to draw the pipes by levers and tackles, and all attempts were unsuccessful. Mr. Friecllander proposed that the pipes be allowed to remain where they are, which was carried. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Friecllander, —“ That the sums of—L2s, Insurance Association’s grant ; Ll 5 155.,. special grant by the same for fire-bell ; and £25, grant by the Borough— total Ls6lss.—be paid to the Brigade, and the balance of the LSI when the Borough is • in funds.” The report of the Brigade was then received and adopted. DEFECTIVE -DRAINAGE. The Inspector of Nuisance reported on several sti’oets, which were a nuisance, in consequence of defective drainage. Considerable discussion took place on the matter, and it was resolved to put a man on specially to keep the water channels clear, Burnett street to receive particular attention. His Worship said the subject of the drainage of the town was a largo one, and he was only waiting for the return of Mr. Fooks to go carefully into some definite scheme. At present he did not see how the evil could be cured. He could inform the Council the pipes for the water scheme had arrived in port. It appeared on explanation that it was not by any means certain if the pipes belonged to tho Borough, as they were consigned to the County Council. SUNDRY WORKS. Some work in connection with the immigrants’ cottages was referred to the "Works’ Committee. SHARE OF SUBSIDY. Mr. Friedlandor brought forward tho subject of the share of the subsidy due to the Borough from funds now in the hands of the Longbeach Road Board. His Worship was appointed to wait on the Board in reference to the matter. The question of a necessary culvert in West street was left to the Works Committee. The clerk was instructed to apply to the Upper Ashburton Hoad Board for payment of the balance of cost of tho construclion of the North East I own Belt. THE BYE LAWS. Tho Borough solicitor’s account was submitted, and complaints were made as to tlie unfinished state of the bye laws. His Worship explained that Mr. Crisp had offered to retire from Ids engagement, but as Mr. Fooks would soon return and make arrangements for the building clauses of the bye laws, it would bo advisable to continue tho engagement. UNPAID RATES. It was resolved to instruct the collector to sue at once fur all unpaid rates. VALUATION LIST. A committee consisting of Messrs. Friedlander, Saunders, Orr, and St. Hill was appointed to inspect the valuation list. The pay sheet was passed, and the Council adjourned. Robbery at Rakaia. —For some days past this town has been visited daily by swarms of men of all descriptions on the look-ont for work, so many of them arriving that numbers of them have be unable to find sleeping room at the hotels and lodging houses, and as a consequence they have had to pass the night under the gorse hedges. On Friday night one of these men was robbed of L4O, the thief cutting out the man’s pocket with a very sharp instrument, probably a razor. The man, who was drunk, was in the company of Mary Ann Cook, who was brought up at the Court held at Rakaia on Wednesday on the charge of vagrancy. The woman was apprehended by Sergeant Pratt on Saturday morning and taken to Ashburton. Her husband, who was also with them, is not to he found. A man known as Piccolo Charley was apprehended with the woman. A New Tramway. —A tramway has just been opened in the fine old City of Brunswick on a new principle. The rail has no groove. It is laid exactly flush with the road’s level, and may thus be passed at any angle with any description of conveyance without any jar or disturbance. The car is guided and kept in its place on the rail by slight steel studs on the tyre of the wheels, which fit in to corresponding holes punched in the rail at a distance of every five inches. The invention is that of an architect at Birmingham, and may be said now to have merged from the experimental stage into that of accomplished fact.

MOUNT HUTT ROAD BOARD. The usual monthly meeting of the Mount Hutt Road Board was held at Mcthveu on the Bth instant. Present— Messrs. Allington, Jackson, Panuett, and M'Millan. Mr. E. Chapman wrote, apologising for his unavoidable absence, and was re-elected Chairman for the ensuing year. Mr. Allington was voted to the Chair for the present meeting. THE WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE. The Committee appointed to inspect and report on the best means of obtaining a water supply for the Plains, asked for and were granted an extension of time. WATER CHANNELS ON HOADS. The Overseer was instructed to attend to all watercourses emptying on roads, and to turn off all water likely to flow down any roads and thereby damage them. POUND. Mr. John Grigg wrote to the Board, offering a site on his land, in any convenient position, for a public pound. It was decided to choose a site adjoining the Road Board premises, and recommend the same to the County Council. THE RAKAIA AND ALFORD FOREST RAIL V/ AY. It was resolved that Mr. M'Millan should accompany Mr. F. B. Passmore over the Rakaia and Alford Forest Railway, and point out all crossings, &c., considered unsafe for traffic. BROOM PARK ROAD. No tenders were received for formation or open crossings on Broom Park Road. GRAVEL PITS. The Board resolved that where gravel pits were taken on private lands, an area of one acre should be taken in all cases, and that the pits should be fenced before being opened. SUNDRY BUSINESS. The Clerk of the County Council wrote, offering a safe for sale. The Board considered the one offered too large for their requirements, and decided not to purchase one at present. Mr. Robert Patton applied for a culvert on the coach road. Granted, provided the applicant carted and erected the same. The pay-sheet was passed, and the Board adjourned.