ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7728, 23 February 1909, Page 4

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held last evening. Present—all the Councillors, and the Mayor (Mr H. Davis) in the chair. FINANCE. The Mayor reported a debit balance i at the hank-of £1088 5s 4d, and a revenue -.■•.-.'.■> hi si- weting of £89 19e, the r'-v-i '■:t-ui-i of which were: £30 12s, Domain account; £26 4s, rente of reserves ; £19 8s Gd, rates for 1908. i HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE. A sum of £10, the borough's share towards the maintenance of the County Hospital, was passed for payment. THE.LOCAL BODIES LOANS ACT. A circular was read from the Auckland City Council directing attention I to the provisions of Section 25 of "The Local Bodies Loans Amendment Act, ]908," and pointing out that, despite the objection raised against the section, it had been passed through Parliament. The letter asked the co-ope-ration of the Ashburton Council in endeavouring to secure the repeal of the section in question, and also pointpel out that the section had the effect of curtailing the power of local bodies in the management of their own affairs. —It was decided to accede to the request of the Auckland Council; and to write to the local member of Parliament asking him to assist in having the section repealed. FENCING. Mr H. A. Vesty wrote-asking the Council to pay half cost or a sum_ towards the erection of a galvanised iron fence between T.S. 1192 and the borough reserve in Havelock street. The whole cost of the fence would probably amount to £19 15s.—It was decided to pay half the cost—l7s Gd per chain. ERECTION OF A GRAIN SHED. Messrs Robertson and Co., flourmillers, Ashburton, wrote asking for permission to erect a grain shed on a section held under Glasgow lease from the Council. —Granted on the usual terms. SANITARY MATTERS. The Sanitary Committee reported that it had considered the steps to be taken to bring into operation, the new scavenging system as set forth in its report, which was adopted by the Council in October last, and made the following recommendations : 1. That applications be invited from suitable persons to undertake the whole work of emptying the nightsoil pans within the borough at a salary of £275 per annum, the successful applicant to provide all the necessary labour to carry out the work in a thoroughly efficient manner. Applicants must forward names of two approved sureties who will enter into a bond for the sum of "£25, to protect the Council and to ensure the proper execution of the work. 2. That the Council provide the necessary plant and horse for carrying out the work, such horse and plant to be stationed at the Council yard, and feed for the horse to be.provided by the Council. 3. That a schedule of duties be drawn up for the scavenger, and applications be invited to be in by the next ordinary meeting of the Council. 4. That the Works Committee he asked to see that the necessary plant and horses are provided for the scavenging and removal of rubbish. 5. That the sanitation fee to he levied for the ensuing year be 10s per pan per annum, and that the charge for scavenging to non-rateable properties be the same as charged under the previous contract; namely, 3d per pan where there is one pan in a buildIng, and 2id per pan where there aretwo or more pans belonging to the same premises. The Mayor congratulated the committee on the report submitted. _ For many years the matter of sanitation had been under consideration, but no report had been framed that had been favourably received by the Council; nor had any of the recommendations made offered a satisfactory solution of the question. Cr Orr moved the adoption of the report. In reply to Cr Davison, Cr Orr 6aid that the committee would expect the scavenger to work six days per week. The Mayor also explained that the Council would, under the new proposal, if carried, provide disinfectants, which the scavenger would be expected to use. Cr Davison: "Would the scavenger, under the new arrangement, be permitted to go outside the limits of the borough ?" In reply, the Mayor said that was a matter that would have to be considered, Cr Stewart thought the nightsoil cart should be housed on the dumpingground when not in use. Cr Orr said that, if adopted, the new arrangement would be self-sup-porting. The Mayor stated, in reply to Cr Burgess, that it had been found necessary to slightly increase the former charges to place the Council in a safe position. The proposal was experimental to some extent, but if it was found that the income was much greater than the expense, the charges would be reduced. The report, afi a whole, was adopted without amendment, and a rough draft of the schedule of duties of the scavenger was read and approved with slight additions. The clerk was instructed to advertise for applications for -the position of scavenger. ' ' MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS. The Town Clerk. reported that there were no cases of infectious diseases since last meeting. The Ashburton branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association had erected a building on their premises in contravention of the by-laws, and without having first notified the Council of their intention. The building in question had been erected within fifteen feet of an existing building. A letter on the matter was received from the manager of the Farmers' Co-operative Association, regretting the inadvertent breach of the by-laws. The Mayor reported at gome length on the question, and suggested that under the circumstances the defendant firm should be dealt with leniently. It was decided that in the event of the Farmers' Co-operative Association paying the license fee, the breach on this occasion would be overlooked. The Inspector's report on fine sanitary condition of the town was in the main satisfactory. It was pointed _ out that two ratepayers had been given notice to lay down proper drains. Both reports were adopted. HORSE FEED. The chairman, of the works committee was authorised to purchase a quantity of feed for the horses. TRAIN SERVICE. Cr Wood suggested that, now the new Minister of Railways had the matter of revising the time-table in hand, the Council should bring under his notice the danger from the trains passing each other at Bankside. j It was decided that the Department of Railways bo again written to, and that the Mayor and Cr Wood be appointed to interview the Minister for Railways on the next occasion he passed through Ashburton. ! FIRE BRIGADE MATTERS. Cr Clark explained that a satisfactory arrangements could be entered into regarding the auditing of the Fire Brigade's books. A letter was also read from the secretary of the Fire Brigade, inviting the Council to attend at the Brigade rooms and inspect the books. Crs Stewart, Nicoll and Gibson thought the Council's request in asking the secretary of the Brigade to attend the Council Chambers was quite reasonable. Cr Stewart thought the Council should demand the Brigade's books and balance-sheet. It seemed to him that the Brigade was setting the Council at defiance, and had done no for some time. The Mayor: "This might lead to the disbandnient of the Brigade." Cr Stewart: "Probably; the sooner the better." Cr Nicoll moved that the Brigade be asked to forward its books, vouchers and balance-sheet to the Town Clerk for the purpose of audit. This wa6 not seconded.

It was subsequently decided that the Brigade be asked if it intended to for-. ward its balance-sheet and books to the Council! for inspection. TECHNICAL CLASSES. The Mayor was unanimously elected the Council's delegate to the Technical Classes Association. LEASES. The Mayor was appointed to attach the Council's seal to a number of borough leases. SPECIAL MEETING. It was decided to hold a special meeting of the Council on Monday next to deal with tenders for the water pressure scheme loan. TENDERS. The tender of Mr G. T. Russell for a supply of street lamps at £2 14s lid was accepted. The liir^liesfc tender was £2 19s 6d. VALUATION ROLL. The Mayor reported that the valuation roll "had been completed, the increase on last year's figures being about £2000. The increase was.chiefly accounted for by the erection of new business place;? and residences. RATES. It was resolved to take immediate action to effect the recovery of outstanding rates for 1908. LICENSES. Licenses were granted as follows : Carriage—lT. Dalle-v and V. Porter : drivoriP—H. Dallev. W. Porter and .f. T Cooper; traction engine—W. IT. Bell. PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £107 10s 6d were passed for payment. The Council then sat as a DOMAIN BOARD. In reply to a request, it was decided to grant a number of young girls the use of the old football ground for hockey-playing purposes, and that Mr Davison be deputed to confer with the chairman of the Sports Association on the matter. The secretary of the Ashburton Bowling Club wrote stating what it was intended to do with regard to re-laying the green. Mr Stewart stated that, under the circumstances, the Bowling Club would bo put to considerable expense m the re-laying of the green, besides losing a part of its season. It was pointed out that the bowling green had been originally made up with surplus soil. After discussion, it was decided to assist the Bowling Club m the re-laying of the green. The Curator (Mr John Readhead) reported on the work carried out since last meeting, and suggested that steps be taken at an early date to top-dress the various playing greens.—The report was adopted. The Mayor was re-elected chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. The annual report as read wa6 approved, and the secretary was instructed to forward a copy to the Department. Mr Gibson moved that a copy of the report be sent to the County Council, and that the members of that body be asked to inspect the permanent improvements of the Domain and general worl& that had and were proposed to be carried out.—This was seconded by Mr Stewart and carried. CEMETERY BOARD. The chairman reported a credit balance of £365 5s Id, and a revenue6ince last meeting of £3 17s 6d. He had conferred with a member of the Hampstead Town Board regarding the proposal to asphalt tho footpath on the continuation of Ea6t street, and that gentleman had promised to inspect the locality and report at the next meeting of his Board. The chairman also pointed ou,t that he intended to bring the matter before the chairman of the County Council, as he considered tho work of repairing the footpath m question was very necessary. The meeting then adjourned.