ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7822, 15 June 1909, Page 4

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton. Borough Council was held last evening. Present: The Mayor (Mr H. Davis), presiding, and Councillors P. Stewart, M. J. Burgess, D. Wood, C. W. Nicoll, G. W. Hillier, J, Davison, T. F. Gibson, R. Clark and Armer A. Orr. ' FINANCE. The Mayor reported a debit balance at the Bank of £46 3d,,and a revenue since last meeting of £1920 Is 9d, including £1500, money received.on.der posit. Other items 4*' of revenue were: Rents of reserves £189 12s 3d, rates, 1909, £178 13s 6d, sanitation fees £26, Domain account £13. The Paymaster-General wrote, advising the payment of £1 5s to the credit of tho Council, being a refund of the revenue derived from the collection of fees, fines and penalties for the quarter ended March 31, 1909 in the Magistrate's Coxirt under the by-laws.—Re-ceived. UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING The following letter was read from the General Secretary of the National League of New Zealand: "I am requested by the General Council of the National Defence League of New Zealand to solicit the assistance of yourself (the Mayor) and the borough over which you preside in keeping the movement in favour of the universal training of the youth of the Dominion prominently before- the public. Several City and Borough Councils have already by resolution, directed the attention of the Government to the strong public feeling in favour of universal training, while others have convened public meetings to consider and resolve on the matter. Mr R. McNab, exMinister of Defence, is now addressing public meetings on the subject in various centres, and if he has not already arranged to speak in your town we hope your Council will see its way clear to invite him. to speak and arrange a public meeting so that the electors of your borough may be fully informed on this pressing national question." The Mayor explained that the letter had been received after Mr McNab's visit to Ashburton. It was for the meeting to decide whether steps should be taken to form a branch of the League in Ashburton. •It was moved by Cr Nicoll, and seconded, that the matter be left in the hands of the Mayor to take steps to form a branch of the League if he thought such steps were necessary—Car- - ried. FINANCIAL PROPOSALS. Mr J. D. Gobbe wrote as follows: "In answer to your letter stating you will be pleased to consider my proposal with regard to the financing of the Ashburton water supply scheme if I will put my proposition in writing and forward to y0u,.1 do not think it would bet fair, to me to do so, as I should not be able to combat, any arguments you might bring.. forward against it if I were not present. I would therefore suggest that yoii appoint a committee to discuss the matter with me, when I shall be. very pleased "to lay my proposals before you, ,as I have every confidence that it is a sound and practical scheme. I hope you will consent to this." The Mayor moved that the letter be referred to the Finance and Water Supply> Committee, with a recommendation that Mr Gobbe be met, at a date to be fixed. , Cr Nicoll seconded the motion, which was carried. BOROUGH RESERVES. Mr Wm. i Patching wrote at some length in respect to the expiry of a lease held by him on October 31st, and suggesting that it be offered at as early a date as possible under the Glasgow tenure for 21 years, and that the buildings should be thoroughly renovated. It was moved by Cr Davison, seconded by Cr Clark, and carried, that the matter be referred to the Reserves Committee to report upon at next meeting.- , SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS. Mr H. E. Vincent, architect, wrote stating that he had been engaged to prepare plans, etc., for complete sanitary arrangements at the rear of Coleman's buildings, and that the work would be put in hand at an early date. . The Mayor explained that this step had been taken as a result of a report presented to the Council by the Inspector, who had condemned several small outbuildings at the rear of Coleman's block as being, unsuitable. The letter was received, and it was resolved to notify those responsible that the Council expected that the work would be commenced before next meeting. ' REMOVAL OF A BUILDING. Mr T. Bullock wrote, asking' the Council's permission to shift the small building below Glenie's stables, as he intended to erect a brick building on the site, in accordance with the byCr Clark contended that the building by-laws had been altered to meet the convenience of the Union Bank of Australasia, and the Council could now offer no objection to, the removal of the building. ' . , ' Cr Davison moved, which was seconded and carried,.that the application of Mr' Bullock be .granted, subject to the work being carried out under the supervision of the engineer. Cr Stewart said the Council should encourage, as far as possible, the expenditure of money on public buildings and other town improvements. WATER 1 CHANNELLING. Mr U. Hosken wrote asking the Council to turn, the water running in Dobson street into William street, so as to permit of him draining into it.— The matter was referred to the Works Committee, : with power to act. Mrs Louisa, Thomas wrote asking the Council to put down two chains of concrete channelling fronting her property in Grey' street, being T.S. 965-6, in consequence of the present system being defective and a menace to public health. If: the Council agreed to construct the concrete channel she would be prepared to put down a connecting concrete drain on her property. ' The Mayor, urged that the application should he considered. The matter was referred to the Works Committee to report upon at | next meeting. STEAM ROAD ROLLER. Messrs H. • Matson and Company wrote stating that they had an Aveling- and Porter steam road roller, weighing 14 tons, for sale at £250. The machine was in good order and was complete' with regard to extras, etc. ' Cr •'Stewart-said that if the machine was in good order it was a bargain. . The Mayor said there was no provision •in the estimates for such an expenditure. It was decided that Messrs Matson and Co. be informed that the Council carindt'entertain the offer. GENERAL LABOURERS' DISPUTE. The Clerk of Awards wrote stating that the Arbitration Court would sit ho hear the general labourers' dispute in the Provincial Chambers, Christchurch, on Thursday, July Bth, at 10 a.m. Cr Stewart: "I will move that the man who is engineering this be put in gaol." The matter was held over till next meeting. ' ""■-" A PETITION. A petition signed by a number of ratepayers was received, praying that certain trees bo removed from reserve 762 iv Havelock and Tancrcd street west. The matter was referred to the Reserves Committee to report upon at next meeting. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The Reserves Committee reported as follows: Fence on Res. T.S. 211.—Your committee recommends that a six feet iron fence be erected b-< T the Council along the north-west boundary between this reserve and T.S. 209, owned by Messrs Friedlander Bros., a distance of about 40 feet, at a cost of about £5 10s, and that Messrs Friedlander Bros, bo asked if they will contribute half the cost of such fence. , W. Patching's Premises. —lour committee recommends that the upstair rooms of the premises occupied by Mr W • Patching as a monthly tenant be repapered, also that the outside wood^work be; painted'and the windows re-i

puttied, and that tenders be invited for carrying out this work. Trees on N.W. Belt.—As several of the oak trees in the plantations along the N.W. Belt are being crowded out by the pines, your committee recommends that the curator of the domain be asked to mark the trees in this plantation that should be removed. Wills Street Reserve. —As there are still 9 sections in this reserve that are still unlet, your committee recommends that the unlet portion be temporarily fenced off by the Council and tenders be invited for the yearly lease, thereof for'grazing only, the tenure to be subject to termination at any time on. one month's notice being given. ..Sanitation. —As more land is now required for the burial of the nightsoil, your committee recommends. that another acre be taken from riverbed paddock No. 3 for this purpose and be fenced off by the Council. The report was adopted, and it was decided to remit 25s of rent per year to the present tenant of the riverbed reserve. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Financo Committee reported as follows: Your committee has considered Mr B* Dawson's letter submitting a scheme for providing moneys for loans on mortgage on real estate, and, while _ the individual' members of the committee favour the -proposals set forth it does not consider that the matter comes within the scope of this Council. Your committee also begs to report that it has accented on behalf of the Council the sum of £1500 on deposit by way of temporary loan from the Christchurch Tramway Board, interest at 3? per cent per annum, the principal- being subject to withdrawal any. time on 7 days notice being given. The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reported as follows: Metalling Streets. —Your committee has invited tenders for hiring a traction engine for the purpose of working the stone-crusher, and the tenders received will be laid Jaefore the Council.. Culvert. I—Yourl —Your * committee recommends that a' concrete culvert be placed diagonally across the intersection of Tancred Street and West Street for the purpose- of diverting the_ storm water from, the north-west side of West Street and taking it_ into the drain along the south-east side. In moving the adoption of the report, Cr Stewart expressed the opinion that the Council would be in a position to commence work on the roads in the , couree of a week. The report was adopted. OFFICERS' REPORTS. \ ■ The Town Clerk reported that there "had been one case of scarlatina since last meeting, and that the case had been isolated. "A permit to erect a building not exceeding £200 had been granted in. the outer area.— Adopted. . The inspector reported that the sanitary state of the borough was satisfactory, and he suggested that some gorse and broom be grubbed off a road near Dr Trevor's.— Adopted. ' The Foreman of Works (Mr John Blackler) reported on the work carried out by the workmen since last meetr mo- a^nd this was>deemed satisfactory. He also presented a statement regarding roads and streets that should be improved. The report was adopted. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr Nicoll desired to know if the Premier had replied to the Council s letter regarding the . high-pressure water supply loan. ' The Mayor reported that no reply iiad been received. _ Cr Nicoll: "Is this considered to be an act of courtesy ?" . ■ Cr Orr referred to the unsatisfactory way in which people walked, in arid out of a certain house in which a scarlatina patient was supposed to be isolated. He thought, in the interests of the public health, that a house in which •there were infectious diseases should be entirely isolated. "I saw," said Cr Orr, "a. man hawking fish at the back door of this house, 1 and this man subsequently went to other, houses in the same street. I consider that if something cannot be done to protect the public health in matters of this iind it is scandalous." The clerk explained that the attention of the Health Officer could be directed to the case. : Cr Gibson said that persons having diseases of this class should be prevents ■ed from coming into the town when so affected. * The 'Mayor said that it_ frequently occurred that persons stricken with scarlatina and diphtheria did not Icnow what was actually the matter with them till they had visited a doctor. On the application of Cr Nicoll,, it was decided to have a return prepared regarding the borough reserves, tenants of same, and other matters regarding the length of tenure, etc. NAMING STREETS. Cr Nicoll moved the motion standing in his name —■" That that portion ot Wakanui road within the borough be named Victoria street." He had spoken to a number of the residents abutting on the road, and they ■ had favoured the change. ; Cr Stewart seconded the motion. : Cr Clark advocated the matter being referred to a committee, and the renaming of other streets and belts. ,Cr Nicoll pointed out how confusing and wide was the present term of " Wakanui road." The motion, was carried unanimously. METAL CRUSHING. Cr Stewart advocated opening a gravel-pit on the reserve near the trafno bridge occupied by Mrs Hyland. Cr Burgess objected _ to borough reserves, being, used for this purpose. The Works Committee was authorised to procure shingle from the riverbed reserve, provided Mrs Hyland's permission could be obtained. Four \ tenders were received for ' j>he supply of a traction engine for driving the stone-crusher, but two were not accompanied with a deposit, and were thrown out. The tender of Mr Peter Stewart at £1 18s per day was accepted. UNEMPLOYED. . Cr Stewart asked what steps the Council intended to take in regard-to the unemployed, and if it was decided to engage any men out of work, what was the rate of pay to be ? ; The Mayor said that he would advocate a wage (say) of not more than' 6s j per day to men who were strangers to the town,' but he would always favour | giving first consideration to borough ratepayers who happened to be out of work. ' . In reply to Cr Hillier, the Mayor said that he did not know of any cases of actual want in the town. He, however, could spend £50 per month.in giving assistance to poor people.' '.Frequently he had put his hand in his own pocket to assist deserving cases. He had always advocated that the Mayor of the town should have a seat on the Charitable Aid Board. We, as ratepayers, paid a yearly sum to the Charitable Aid Board, and had no say in its distribution among our own poor. The matter of engaging men and the rate of pay was left in the hands of the _ Mayor and Or Stewart, with discretionary power. LICENSES. A license to sell meat was granted to Messrs Kerr Bros, on application. PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £118 7s 3d were passed for payment, including £10 as the borough's share towards tho maintenance of th© Public Hospital; In regard to the Gas Company's account, Cr Nicoll moved, seconded by Cr. Gibson—" That the amount be reduced by 3s 2d, as a protest against several of the lamps not having being lighted of ]ate."-Carried. Tho meeting then sat as a DOMAIN BOARD. The Curator reported on the work carried out in tho Domain since last meeting, and this was.approvod. CEMETERY BOARD. The same body sat as a Cemetery Board. The chairman reported a credit balance at the bank of £351 9 S Bd, and a revenue since 'last meeting of £8 7s 6d. S The meeting then adjourned.