ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7734, 2 March 1909, Page 4

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING

A special meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held last evening, when all the councillors were present with the exception of Cr Wood, who sent an apology for absence. The Mayor (Mr H. Davis) presided. TENDERS FOR THE WATER LOAN. The Mayor explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of considering tenders for the high pressure water supply loan and works and to transact any other business of a.general character.. With regard to the tenders for the loan of £15,000 he stated that only two had been received and these were only for a total amount of £2,000. Of the £2,000 I for which tenders had been received, £500 was at £95 2s 6d per centum, and £1,500 at £91 10s. He would therefore advise t the Council not to accept the money and to return the tenders. Had the subscribed amount been for, say, £10,000, the Council would have been justified, under the circumstances, m considering the tenders. Having given the question personal consideration, he would advise the Council to hold any further action m abeyance- for three or six months—he preferred three months —when the new Council would have been elected, and the matter' could then be fully considered. The Act provided that any action on the lines he had indicated would be perfectly legal. Ho had simply outlined the case and it was for the Council to decide what steps they intended to take. It was explained that under "The Loans to Local Bodies Amendment Act, 1908," the Government guarantees local bodies loans and also agrees to pay half of the sinking fund (1 per cent) out of the Consolidated Fund. Cr- Nicoll, after endorsing the Mayor's remarks, moved that the money tenders be returned, and that the tenderers be informed that the matter- would be held m abeyance. j This was seconded by Cr Stewart and , carried unanimously. ! Cr Stewart moved that all the tenders for pipes and machinery be returned to the tenderers, and that the whole matter be held m abeyance. Cr Davison seconded the motion, and it was also carried unanimously. Cr Nicoll then moved that particulars of all tenders be supplied to all tenderers. He stated that ho did this because two of the councillors —Messrs Hillier and Orr—had, on behalf of the respective firms with which they were associated, been tenderers for the supplies m question. As members of the Council they now knew the amount of all the tenders, and m the event of fresli tenders being called they would thus have an advantage over other tenderers who had no means of knowing these figures. To put all on a equal footing m the future he moved the resolution, while, at the same time, he did not mean to cast any aspersion on the councillors concerned. Or Davison seconded the motion, pro forma. A desultory discussion ensued, m which Cr Burgess, m supporting _ the motion, made a statement (immediately withdrawn) which drew heated replies from both Cr Orr and Cr Hillier. It was stated that Messrs John Chambers and Sons' tender was the lowest, and also that m the event of their respective firms' tenders having been the lowest Cr Orr and Cr Hillier would have resigned from the Council. Eventually, the motion was, with the consent of the Council, withdrawn, and, at the suggestion of Cr Davison, Crs Clark and Stewart moved that m returning the tenders, the tenderers be informed that if they were re-ten-dering they would be given particulars of the present tenders on application. This was carried without dissent. OTHER BUSINESS, A letter was read from Professor Bickerton, of Christchurch, applying for a close night m the Domain on March 25 (after the A.A.C. and A.C. sports), and offering £3 3s and half the pavilion receipts to the Council for the privilege. The offer was accepted and the application granted, on the motion of Crs Davison and Gibson. In consequence of the Council having decided to introduce a new system regarding the disposal of rubbish and nightsoil, the question of purchasing a plant for the work was considered at some length. „,.,*. After discussion, at was decided that the Council should purchase the present contractor's night-cart, and the matter of procuring a suitable rubbishcart was left m the- hands of Crs Orr and Stewart. . : ;. . . The, Council then adjourned.