ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5056, 6 March 1900, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

The usual meeting of the Council was held last night Present—Bis Worship thy Mayor, (Mr H. Friedland r) ami Cra I). Thomas, J Davidson, J. H. Pauling, Davis, and J Sealyj Apologies for absence were received from Crß Jones and Paul. FINANCE. The debit balance was stated to be £27 5s 4d. The receipts during the fortnight had been £64 2a 2d inclading rates £20 0 id. j CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence waa read from the Upper Ashburton Road Board, forwarding a resc- ! sution of the Board to terminate all existing arrangements with the Council to take water along Winter's and the Aiford Forest road?. His Worship explained the action of the Board was merely a friendly matter. Leave to convey the water had been granted by letter as far back as 1880, and the Board now sought to have the matter in more legal form, and in the meantime the Board to be indemnified for any accidents that might occur through the races. After * short discussion the matter wat left in the hands of the committee appointed at Ust meeting, to ascertain full particulars and report to next meeting. The Ashburton County Council wrote applying for £20 towards the water ranger. Passed for payment. From T. Bullock, asking for channelling to be done in Winter Street, between Cameron and Havelook Streets. The work to be dona in rotation. From C. H. Dowding. asking to have reserve T.B. 1146 transferred to F. Emmerson.— Granted. From Mrs McGregor, applying to rent) the Council's Bhop in East Street.—Left in the hands of the Mayor to deal with. J. R. Hart asked for compensation for a fowl-house should he at any time vacate the reset ye leased by him from the Council. Decided to inform him that provided it was not attached to the ground he could remove id. TUB GAS WORKS. The Secretary of the Gas Company wrote stating that, subject to the consent of the shareholders, the directors would favour-b!y consider an offer of £9000. The letter was ordered to be acknowledged with thankp. WORKS COMMITTEE'S AND ENGINEER'S REFOBT The Works Commit cc's and engineer's report was as follows : — Mr Tennant's Application—The Works Committee recommend that a reply be sent to Mr Tennant that the work of channelling the moat urgent part of the town are first being put in hand, and that this street will be channelled in its turn, as it has been placed on the schedule of streets to be done. Channelling—The Works Committee have selected certain stree'a to bo channelled, amounting to 257 chains, which work will probably be completed before the winter. Horse —As there is a difficulty in procuring a suitable horse for the Domain at the price named, your committee recommend that another horse be purchased for the Council work instead, Buildings—The Works Committee have decided to consider the question of the erection of the library buildings, and the additions to the curator's lodge, etc., and the architectural commission thereon, during the winter, so that tenders can be called by the Ist of September next. Coteman'e Application—lnstead of erecting new closets at Coieman's buildings, as we previously understood, it is now proposed to make certain improvements to the present ones. We met the Inspector of Factories on the premises, and consider that the alterations suggested by him as contained in the letter forwarded by Mr Coleman to the Council will effect considerable improvement. Labour Gang—The men have been engaged during the fast two weeks in preparing and tarring footpaths, forming West Street for asphalting, making and fixing bridges arid culverts, forming streets, carting soil to footpaths recently channelled, watering streets, attending to the water supply and sundry maintenance works, It was decided to hanJ to each councillor a Hat of the streets selected to be done, to enable them to tick the work off as it progressed. '" Cr Davis urged that the erection of the library buildings, and the additions to the curator's cottage, be duna at oace. He 1 moved an amendment on the report to that erf ct. Cr Thomas seaonded the amendment, which was carried It wae decided to call tenders for the adrfitioDS to the curator's cottage, the Worka Committee to be empowered to accept; a tender at their meeting on Tuesday next. Cr Davis objected emphatically to tha matter being left in the hands of the Works Committee. The tenders should be considered by the whole Council. He moved to that effect. The motion was not seconded. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES, The Inspector of Nuisances reported the yards to be in a satisfactory condition. Two aasea of riding bioyolea on the footpath were reported, and the inspector was instructed to tako action. The drain at Saunders' building was not yet done. It was decided the work must be dons during the next fortnight. The medical men reported but few cases of infectious disease in the town. The number of traps driven without lights was mentioned. It wa? agreed tome action must be taken. NOTICE OF MOTION LAPSED; Owing to the absence of Cr Jolliffe, the motion of which he had given notice was allowed to lapse. OUTSTANDING BATES. A discussion took place on the question of suing for about £60 of outstanding rates. It) wai decided to place the collection in the handa of the Inspector of nuisances, at a commission of 5 per cent. He to receive strict instructions to sue, without discrimination, all tho c who had not paid within a month from date. ppG LICENSES. Only ten had been taken out. The Inspector to take immediate steps to get in ttye balance. ACCOPNrg. Accounts amounting to £345 17s 2d were passed for payment. Routine business was transacted and the Council adjourned. DOMAIN BQARD. A meeting of the Domain Board was then held. The reports of the curator, and tha Board's solicitor, on the destruction of waterfowl in the Domain, were considered in committee, The grant] of £25 from the County Counoil towards the maintenance of the grounds, was received and ordered to be acknowledged with thanks. The Springbnrn School Committee wrote for a refund of £2 2*, paid for the use of the Domain. It was decided to refund the amount. Members thought, however, schools using the Domain should clean up afterwards. ■ The Malvern School Committee had written asking for the use of the Domain, and now wrote to say they could not afford the £2 2a asked. Rather than disappoint the school, it was decided, on the suggestion of Cr Thomas, seconded by Cr Pauling, to telegraph first thing the following morning, remitting the charge providing the school undertook to clear up. The meetine then terminated.