FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8207, 3 August 1915, Page 2

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

The fortnightly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held last evening. Present:—His Worship the Mpyor (Mr Robert Galbraith), and Councillors F. Z. D. Ferriman, G. D. H. Hefford, H. A. Lloyd, G. W. Andrews, R. K'err, P. L." Orr, G. H. Buchanan, H. R. C. McElrea, and J. B. Christian. Tlic Mayor reported a debit balance on the Temporary Loans Account of £6500," and a debit balance at the Bank of New. Zealand of £1412 0s 6d, making an actual overdraft of £7912 0s 6d. The amounts received since the last meeting had totalled £401 15s 2d, including rates £153 -3s 9d, refund (channelling) £126i.105^3d, .rents £79 ss, and refund (insurance) £15 9s 2d.

.. Correspondence. In connection with the." proposed visit of the Council's Abattoir .Committee to the Oamaru Municipal' Abattoirs, letters were received • from Messrs J. Kerrigan and A. M. Paterson, of" the Government Live Stock Department,' expressing their willingness to make the trip with the Committee, if'possible.-—lt was decided to ask the Chairman of. the Ashburton Butchers' Association (Mr E. J..' Cox) to go to Oamaru.'with the ■Committee.

/ Tlio .Ashburton--High School Board wrote stating that it did not wish to retain the dea.se of T.S. 914.—Received* ■;•- <.A-r ■"; •■:-

The New Zealand .Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association applied to have the goodwill :of reserve 1642, Tancred Street, transferred from Charlotte J. Hill to Henry Martin Bushell.— Granted.- ' ;

Mr C.-A. Fussell wrote offering to take up the Glasgow lease of T.S. 1261 at the upset rental, or' £6, £7, and £8 per annum, for the first, second, and third periods of seven years, respectively. The writer also applied-for the necessary soil, at a reduced cost, to make the section up to the street level.:—The offer for the lease was accepted, and in connection with the application for soil. It was decided to let Mr Fussell have the amount 'required at the reduced charge made in such cases. ,

The Suva Municipal Council wrote asking for information as to the Council's arrangements or agreements with private companies for the supply of electric light.—Tho information was ordered to be sent. Reports. The Finance and Abattoir Committee recommended: (1) That Messrs DunI ning and Lewis, of Dunedin, be engaged to draw up plans and specifications of the proposed abattoirs; and (2) that the following increases in salaries be granted :—Town Clerk, £20 , por annum; Foreman of Works, £8 per annum;. curator of Domain, £5 per. annum.—Jji connection with clause 1, the Council went into'committee.'to dis- ' cuss the appointment of the architect. —On resuming in open Council, it was. reported that clauso 1 had been adopted. —Clauso 2 was:''amended to read that the Foreman of Works be given an increase of £12 instead of £8, and the claus9 was then adopted. i

The Town Clerk , reported having issued tho following^ building permits during th-9 past fortnight:—Residence on T.S. 414-5, at an estimated value of £497; residence on T.S. 333; at an estimated value of £500; and additions to residence on rILS- 167, at an estimated value of £75. —The report was adopted.

Tho 1 Foreman's and Inspector's reports on the work carried out by him since last meeting were ; adopted. The report of tho caretaker of the Women's Rest Room was received. She stated that the visitors for the .first week had totalled 79. This number had risen to a weekly average of 337 (exclusive of children in arms) by the middle of July, and had since been sligbtly increased. A large majority of tho persons taking advantage of the rooms were residents of country districts and travellers. There was reason to assume- that of the total users of the rooms 75 per cent, were country residents. Very general satisfaction had been expressed by "the public with the arrangements. Tho hours had been found to be inadequate, and it would be advantageous to extend the time of closing to 6.30 p.m. or 7 p.m. on Saturdays during the summer months.—The alteration of. hours for closing was agreed to, and it was decided to for- J ward a copy of the' report to the Ash- i burton County Council;;' , . ' - An oral report was received from the Library and Lighting ,Committoe (per Cr. Buchanan) and was adopted. The p^undiceeper's report was received and. adopted. General. i Licenses were granted as follows:— Milk-vendor's, Joseph Hopwood; carriage driver's, Alex. Anderson and John O'Connor. The offer of N. D! Gill for the Glasgow lease of T.S. 914, at a rental of £6 for tho first seven years, £7 for the second seven years, and £8 for the third seven years, was accepted. Accounts amounting to £218 2s 6d were passed for payment, and the Council sat as tho Ashburton DOMAIN BOARD.

The Ashburton Sports Association jwx'ote applying for a close day for the football grounds for' August 19 for the annual seven-a-side football tournament, and -also for a close day for August 26 for the annual match between the representatives of the local Banks and Professions v. tho Auctioneers:- For the latter, tho Domain Oval was" asked for, the applicants .undertaking not to damage tho grounds.— . All tho requests were agreed to. The curator's report on works car-' ried out since the last meeting was read and adopted.