ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxix, Issue 7350, 3 December 1907, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

The Borough Council met last night. Present—Mr H. Davis, the Mayor (in the chair), and Crs D. Wood, D. Thomas, T. F. Gibson, P. Stewart, C. W. Nicoll, J. Davison, A. A.. Orr and Hugo Friedlander. The Mayor reported that tho overdraft stood at £645 10s sd. The amounts received since last meeting amounted to £189 7s 3d,tho principal item being rates £144 18s. . 1 CORRESPONDENCE. Tho clerk of the Hampstead Town Board wrote stating that the Board xas prepared to contribute £7 per annum for use of Fire Brigade's services. It was decided to accept.this amount annually. The clerk of the Hampstead Town Board asked that the formation of roadway on South-east belt be deferred for a time, as recent heavy expenditure did not allow funds to be allocated for this purpose. Cr Thomas moved that the work be deferred accordingly. Seconded by Cr Stewart, and carried. The clerk of the County Council isked for £10, contribution to the Hospital.—Passed for payment. Mr George Traill wrote in reference to concrete channelling in William Street.

Cr Stewart said that as the street, needed "making np," nothing could be done at present. On the motion of Cr Friedlander. seconded by Cr Thomas, it was deckled to consider the application when the street was attended to.

Cr Thomas said this work was one that should he done at an early date.

The secretary of the Technical School j asked for £s'towards the funds-of the Technical Classes Association. —Passed 1 for payment. The Fire Brigade applied for the half-yearly subsidy.—Passed for pay- 1 ment. REPORTS. The Reserves Committee reported as follows: Fence on south-west end of reserve 774, East Street.—As this fence, which is on a property leased to a monthly tenant,is in a very dilapidated c'ondittion, the committee recommend that a now six feet, galvanised iron fence he erected on this reserve.

The report was adopted. The Works Committee reported as follows :

1. Numbering houses.—Tho committee lias considered Mr Tlios. Mullins' application to number the houses within the borough, but cannot recommend the Council to take any action in this master at the present time.

.2. Asphalting Streets.—About 250 chains of asphalt footpaths have been repaired and re-tarred this season, and there still remains about 170 chains in Pc-ter Street, Cox Street, Wills street, and part of East Street that requires to be done. The amount placed on tho estimates for this work has already been expended, but as the re-tarring of the streets mentioned is very necessary to prevent the footpaths breaking up, and the cost will not exceed £25, the committee recommends that this work be completed this summer. ,t«.

3. Concrete Channelling.—The committee recommended that three chains of channelling, be laid in William Street near Miss Carson's. property, which was applied for some months ago, and also five chains in William Street between Havelock and Cameron Streets.

4. Borough Engineer.—As it is necessary that some person should be appointed Borough Engineer in order that the building regulations and other matters under the by-laws should be carried out, the committee recommended that the Town Clerk, Mr H. H. Fooks, be appointed Borough Engineer for the meantime.

In regard to numbering streets, tho Mayor thought that this should b© proceeded with.

A discussion took place in regard to asphalting. Cr Nicoll stated that in one street perambulator wheel marks, boot marks, hoof marks, etc., could be seen. The asphalt took too long to set.

Cr Stewart replied that a horse did escape and gallop down, but the money tor the repairing could bo collected from the owner.

Several applications were received from engineers for , the position of borough Engineer. . The matter was referred to the works Committee to report to next meeting. The report was adopted, with modifications.

The Town Clerk reported that there had been no infectious diseases during the last-, fortnight. The Inspector of Nuisances forwarded his usual report. The Foreman of Works reported on the works in progress. One person had refused to repair fences on' a reserve. Cr Davison said that the fences should bo put in order, and a small additional amount charged the tenants On the motion of Cr Orr, seconded by Cr Stewart, the wholo? matter of fencing was referred to, the Reserves Committee. J: REPORTS. Cr Nicoll moved that committee reports he given to Councillors afc least 24 hours before the meetings. He saiel that, without full consideration, a Councillor might vote wrongly. Cr Friedlander seconded the motion. He eaid that if a Councillor was unable to be preson'u he would, if the proposed change were made, be enabled to get another Councillor to speak for him? Tho motion was carried unanimously. REST-ROOM FOR WOMEN. Mrs Lill'-s letter, held over from last meeting,' was considered. •

Cr Orr (chairman of the Sanitary Committee) said this matter had nothing to do with his committee. The committee was not really considering this question, and it had not had the matter before it.

Cr Nicoll moved that Mrs Lill be informed that the funds of the Council did not permit them to go beyond the oiler already made. The Council was already losing £26 per annum in rent. Cr Stewart seconded the motion.

Cr Thomas said 'lie was sorry a red herring* had been drawn across the track. The question had been dealt with by the Council. Ho was of opinion that the Council should give the building and provide the two water closets. Tho body it would be let to would not bo the W.C.T.U. The money could be raised outside the Council.

The motion was carried, Cr Thomas being heard in dissent.

Mr F. K. Cooper, the present occupier, waited on the Council' and asked if tho matter was finally decided upon. Cr Orr said the best thing for Mr Cooper to do was to put in an application for the place. Mr Cooper was informed that he would be given a definite reply when Mrs Lill replied. ' A FOOTPATH. 'Cr Thomas asked, on behalf of the High School, that the footpath in Cass Street should be improved. The matter was referred to the i Works Committee. LICENSES. In connection with licenses, Cr Friedlander said that the By-law Committee could do nothing, and he asked authority to get local bodies to send delegates to a meeting of the committee to decide the matter. The motion was carried. Accounts amounting to £189 7s 3d were passed for payment, and the Council sat as the DOMAIN BOARD. The Domain Committee reported as follows: 1. Sanitary Arrangements at Sports Grounds. — After inspecting the grounds, tho committee recommended that a brick building containing six closets be erected for women and children amongst the trees on the top of the terrace behind the grandstand; also that, as soon as this building is erected, that the closets behind the small pavilion on the sports ground be removed and be - re-erected alongside of tlie closets used by men near the swimming baths and that tho small pavilion be removed to the curator's lodge for a waslihouse, as, previously agreed on. . 2. Drive through Domain paddocks. —The committee recommended that the curator bo authorised to put in band the work of forming the drive from the sports ground through the Domain paddocks to the north-easi belt opposite Creek road, and also of fencing the saute, the fence-to consist

of jarrah posts and six wires, two barbed. . , " Cr Nicoll moved that* the, erection pi •fcim closets be deferred until next-fannn-cial year. He recognised, however, the necessity for the convenience, but the finances wanted watching. U miflit cost £70 or more. The Mayor said that the funds were not all that could be desired, but, still, the money would be well spent. Cr Wood spoke in favour of the committee's report. Cr Nicoll withdrew his motion, v The Mayor and Cr Stewart spoke against clause 2, on the ground of expense. The matter was held over until the next financial year, and the report was adopted, with the exception of clause 2.

The Curator reported on the works in urogress. The meeting then adjourned.